Homing Laser (Final Fantasy VIII)

Homing Laser is a mid- to lategame Limit Break for Quistis in Final Fantasy VIII that deals non-elemental magic damage to a chosen enemy depending on her Magic stat and the current Crisis Level, a hidden stat in the game. It is learned from a Laser Cannon. Blue Magic is available randomly when Quistis is on low health or under Aura.
The enemy version of this ability is the Mobile Type 8 boss's probes' laser attacks.
==Obtained==
The player teaches Homing Laser to Quistis by using a Laser Cannon in the inventory. Laser Cannons are obtained from Mobile Type 8, a late-game boss. Much earlier in the game, Laser Cannons also drop from a level 30+ Belhelmel, fought on the world map outside where Galbadia Garden is stationed. It is a rare drop when Rare Item is not equipped, and so can be a grind to get.
The earliest the player can get a Laser Cannon is by mugging a level 30+ Elastoid with Laguna's party in the Centra Excavation Site. The player can have Mug from Diablos at this point, but it would be a grind to get the party's average level to 30+ and to amass enough Ability Points to learn Mug at this point. 
==Mechanics==
Homing Laser deals non-elemental magic damage to an enemy as per the following formula:
:Damage = Magic + Power
:Damage = Damage \times (265 - Target's~Spirit) / 4
:Damage = Damage \times Power / 256
Where "Magic" is Quistis's Magic stat, "Spirit" is the target's Spirit stat, and "Power" is one of the following values depending on the current Crisis Level:
:Crisis Lv 1: 100
:Crisis Lv 2: 150
:Crisis Lv 3: 200
:Crisis Lv 4: 250
This makes Homing Laser stronger than any magic the player can use normally besides Apocalypse, a spell only usable in the final battle in a normal playthrough.
Crisis Level is a hidden stat calculated based on how low the party's current HP is compared to their maximum, the number of dead allies, and the number of ailments the party members are afflicted with. The worse off the party is, the better Limit Break outcomes the player can expect. Crisis Level is also raised with the Aura status.
All damage is randomized slightly:
:Damage = Damage \times ([0..32] + 240) / 256
If the target has Shell, damage is halved. Limit Breaks never miss and are unaffected by Elem-Atk junctions.
==Use==
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Homing Laser is a Limit Break for Quistis that she likely gets in the mid-to-late-game; the player needs to go out of their way to procure it if they want it earlier than the late-game Mobile Type 8 boss. As Homing Laser is one Quistis's stronger Blue Magic spells, it may be worth doing. However, the male party members already have strong multi-hit Limit Breaks from the onset, and Quistis's strength lies in her versatility rather than raw damage potential, and she has many other Blue Magic spells she can use for damage even without the player going out of their way to get Homing Laser at the earliest.
Homing Laser is a good Limit Break for the rest of the game after being learned, bested only by Quistis's ultimate Blue Magic spell, Shockwave Pulsar, which can break the damage limit. Against groups, she can use Ray-Bomb or her elemental spells. Because almost all of Quistis's Limit Breaks are magical, it is worth prioritizing her Magic stat with junctions and give her a Guardian Force with Mag-J and Mag+% abilities.
If the player is investing in the card game since the start, they may get numerous Blue Magic items early, such as a Black Hole that teaches Degenerator, which is one of her most useful Blue Magic spells. Homing Laser is better than Degenerator against enemies that are immune to Degenerator, such as Vysage, Lefty, and Righty, or bosses. Homing Laser is Quistis's best Limit Break against Adel, as the player must only use single-target attacks.
==Citations==
Category:Blue Magic in Final Fantasy VIII