Cardinal

In Final Fantasy VIII, the Cardinal (カーディナル) is one of the signature weapons of the main female character, Rinoa Heartilly. It is a throwing weapon, similar to a boomerang, that is launched from a mechanism attached to Rinoa's arm. While not the most powerful weapon in the game, the Cardinal has a high hit rate and decent attack power. Players can obtain it by purchasing from shops, stealing from enemies or crafting. In the game, upgrading the Cardinal will further improve its attack and hit rate. Notably, the Cardinal has also appeared in other entries in the Final Fantasy series in different forms, such as appearing as an ultimate weapon in Dissidia Final Fantasy. It is often associated with Rinoa or characters related to her concept. The design of the Cardinal is inspired by the real-life cardinal birds, and the weapon's shape also embodies the characteristics of these birds. Apart from being a weapon, the Cardinal also appears as a symbol in the Final Fantasy series, representing Rinoa's bravery, independence, and pursuit of freedom. Thus, the "Cardinal" holds a high status among fans and is one of the classic symbols of Final Fantasy VIII.