Shockwave Pulsar (Final Fantasy VIII)

Shockwave Pulsar is the ultimate Limit Break for Quistis in Final Fantasy VIII that deals non-elemental magic damage to all enemies depending on her Magic stat and the current Crisis Level, a hidden stat in the game. It is notable for being one of few abilities in the game that can break the damage limit. Shockwave Pulsar is learned from a Dark Matter. Blue Magic is available randomly when Quistis is on low health or under Aura.
The enemy version of this ability is used by one of the final bosses; it does not break the damage limit when used by the enemy, and so the player can survive it without Invincibility.
==Obtained==
The player teaches Shockwave Pulsar to Quistis by using a Dark Matter in the inventory. Dark Matters are made Siren's Tool-RF ability from 100 Curse Spikes. In the PlayStation version, Siren needs to be on level 100. This is no longer a requirement in the PC version or Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. If the player missed Siren, or removed Tool-RF with Amnesia Greens, Shockwave Pulsar is missed. It is the only missable Blue Magic spell.
Tri-Faces are a good source of Curse Spikes, fought in numerous quantities in the mid-game Battle of the Gardens event, in the area before the auditorium. The player could grind here till they get 100 Curse Spikes and make a Dark Matter early, especially doable in the versions where Siren does not need to be on Level 100 for it to work. This area has a hidden save point revealed with Siren 's Move-Find. Tri-Faces are also the sole enemies fought in certain areas of the Deep Sea Research Center; enemies stop spawning here after Ultima Weapon is defeated.
The player can also get Curse Spikes from Malboros and Forbiddens. The latter is a good low stakes farming target, appearing on the Winter Island near mountains. The player could farm here for Curse Spikes as soon as they get the means to freely traverse the world map after the events in Fishermans Horizon.
==Mechanics==
Shockwave Pulsar deals non-elemental magic damage to all enemies 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: 150
:Crisis Lv 2 & 3: 200
:Crisis Lv 4: 250
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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Shockwave Pulsar is Quistis's ultimate Limit Break that she can get mid-to-late-game. It is easier to get in PC and Remastered versions, where Siren does not need to be on Level 100 for a Dark Matter to be made. The player needs to go out of their way to procure it, as Dark Matters are not available any other way. As Shockwave Pulsar is Quistis's strongest Blue Magic spell, 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. Dark Matter is also useful for other purposes than for learning Shockwave Pulsar, which the player may find preferable if they do procure one.
Shockwave Pulsar's notable trait is that it can break the damage limit and do up ~34,000 damage if the target has Vit 0. 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.
As Quistis's most powerful Blue Magic, Shockwave Pulsar is good against all tough opponents, such as Ultima Weapon and Omega Weapon and final bosses.
==Etymology==
==Citations==
Category:Blue Magic in Final Fantasy VIII