Protect

In Final Fantasy VIII, 'Protect (プロテス)' is a crucial support magic spell that applies the 'Protect' status to a target, halving the physical damage they receive. This status lasts approximately 32 seconds, and a notification appears at the top of the screen when it wears off. Besides casting the spell directly, 'Protect' can be applied through other means, such as Selphie's Limit Break 'Slot' and Quistis's Blue Magic 'Mighty Guard'. Furthermore, 'Protect' can be junctioned to character stats, notably boosting Vitality. Players can draw this magic from various enemies or refine it from specific items using Leviathan's 'Supt Mag-RF' ability. Similar to the 'Shell' spell, 'Protect' can be removed with the 'Dispel' spell. Overall, 'Protect' is a vital tool for late-game physical damage mitigation, with players benefiting from its diverse uses to improve their party’s survivability.