Bahamut (Final Fantasy VIII boss)

Bahamut is an optional boss in Final Fantasy VIII found in Deep Sea Research Center. To fight it, the player must reach the blue light in the middle. Whenever the blue light is shining the player fights random enemies, but if the player moves when the light dims, they can avoid the battles.
Once the party inspects the pillar of blue light they must answer "It is not our will to fight" to the first question, "never" to the second question, and choose the secret third option for the third question. Ruby Dragons are fought after each answer, one of them in an unavoidable back attack. Defeating Bahamut obtains it as a Guardian Force.
==Stats==
== Battle ==
At the start of the battle, there will be a brief conversation:
:Bahamut: "I am...Bahamut."
:Squall: "The Great GF...Bahamut."
:Bahamut: "...GF? I...?"
:"Using my powers..."
:"...it is you humans...I fear..."
Bahamut's physical attack is Claw Swipe and it uses Stop, Thundaga and Tornado. Its special attack is Mega Flare, a non-elemental attack that will ignore the party's Spirit stat that Bahamut can cast twice in a row. Bahamut is susceptible to Blind.
Upon its defeat, Bahamut will say:
:"Have you seen the light...?"
=== Strategy ===
Blinding Bahamut is useful to avoid its Claw Swipe. Its magic attacks can be countered by elemental defense on Thunder and Wind, and having Auto-Haste helps Stop wear off faster. The player may also wish to junction some Stop spells to status defense to reduce the chances of it hitting. Mega Flare's damage may be mitigated by Shell and using the Defend command.
One strategy involves a party of Squall, Quistis, and Selphie. One should junction Pandemona and Doomtrain to Squall and Cactuar to Quistis and both should have the Initiative support ability. Quistis and Selphie should be in critical status. When the battle begins, Squall should summon Doomtrain or cast Meltdown while Bahamut is busy talking. Initiative is useful for Quistis for clearing the two Ruby Dragons immediately before Bahamut with Degenerator.
Selphie can cast Wall on the party, or Quistis can use Mighty Guard. Next Selphie can cast Full-cure or Quistis can cast White Wind to heal the party. The battle will be over faster if Bahamut's Vitality is down to zero; Doomtrain is better than Meltdown, because Bahamut is vulnerable to Blind. Casting Haste and Aura on Squall and following through with Renzokuken will finish the battle quickly.
As Bahamut is in the habit of casting Mega Flare twice in a row it is good to keep a party member ready to perform an action at all times. Kamikaze can be a great help in defeating it as well, as the player effectively does not lose anything from using it to defeat a boss.
== Other appearances ==
=== Final Fantasy Record Keeper ===
==Behind the scenes==
In Ultimecia Castle there is a boss called Tiamat that resembles Bahamut and has a similar move to Bahamut's Megaflare (D-A-R-K-F-L-A-R-E).
The first sentence of Bahamut's Scan description in the English language release of Final Fantasy VIII contains a spelling mistake, reading "Called the King of GF; its Mega Flare ignores all defense, giving a powerful blo". In the PlayStation Greatest Hits (Platinum) release this error is corrected so that the first line ends with simply "ignores all defense".
The way the party reaches Bahamut—by fighting two Ruby Dragons first—resembles the way Cecil and his party encounter Bahamut on the Red Moon during Final Fantasy IV: by defeating two Behemoths in a row.
== Gallery ==
Bahamut boss from FFVIII Remastered.png
FFVIII Claw.png|Claw attack.
FFVIII Mega Flare EA.png|Mega Flare.
de:Bahamut (FFVIII)
Category:Bosses in Final Fantasy VIII