Defend

In Final Fantasy VIII, "Defend" (ぼうぎょ) is a crucial command ability that allows characters to enter a defensive stance, significantly reducing damage taken. Unlike other titles in the series, "Defend" is not a basic command but must be learned from specific Guardian Forces (GF). Both the GF Brothers and Cactuar can learn this ability for 100 AP. When using "Defend," a character becomes immune to physical attacks and reduces magical damage by half, lasting until the next command is selected. Furthermore, "Defend" does not interrupt reaction abilities such as Counter and Cover. This skill is vital when facing powerful enemies like Omega Weapon, effectively mitigating its high-damage attacks. Unlike the "Defend" command in other Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy VIII's version provides greater protection, and the ability to go into a defensive state when needed, making it a highly useful strategic choice. While defending, a character can also trigger certain special skills.