Lunar Base & Ragnarok - FF8 Guide
At the top of every page of my Final Fantasy 8 Walkthrough I will have a list of the most important GF Abilities for you to learn as well as my personal preference for who to junction GFs to for this part of the story. The game's auto order for GFs learning abilities is extremely terrible so it's strongly recommended you interfere and do the abilities in the order I provide here.
Throughout the game you can also refine Cards into Items and then those Items into magic. I've provided a list of the refinements that you can do for the cards that you will most likely have in your possession at this time during the story below as well. This same information will be provided at the top of every page during the full walkthrough, keep checking it as it'll change as the story progresses.
GF Abilities to Learn:
Carbuncle: Vit+20%, Vit+40%, Vit Bonus, Boost, Mag-J, HP-J, Vit-J, ST-Def-J, ST-Atk-J, Counter, Recov Med-RF
Leviathan: Supt Mag-RF, Spr+20%, Spr+40%, Spr Bonus, Mag-J, Spr-J, Elem-Defx2, Boost, GF Recov Med-RF
Pandemona: Spd-J, Elem-Defx2, Boost, Spd+20%, Spd+40%, Str+20%, Str+40%
King Tonberry: Familiar, Haggle, Sell-High, Call Shop, Initiative, Boost
Cerberus: Spd-J, Spr-J, Mag-J, ST-Def-J, ST-Atk-J, Spd+20%, Spd+40%, Auto-Haste, ST-Def-Jx2, ST-Def-Jx4
Alexander: Med Data, Med LV Up, High Mag-RF, Elem-Defx4, Elem-Atk-J, Boost, Revive, Spr+20%
Doomtrain: Forbid Med-RF, ST-Def-Jx4, Elem-Defx4, Auto-Shell, Boost
GF Junctioning:
Squall: Siren, Brothers, Carbuncle, Leviathan, Tonberry
Zell: Shiva, Diablos, Pandemona, Doomtrain
Quistis: Ifrit, Quezacotl, Cerberus, Alexander
(Or whomever you choose as your party; junction them as you see above)
When you arrive on the Lunar Base the first person you're going to want to speak with is Piet (dressed in white) and give him the letter. Afterwards speak with Rinoa who is at the bottom/left of the screen (just off screen). You'll pick her up and have to carry her to the room just outside this one on the left.
Once you've put Rinoa down on the bed return to the room with the Save Point and use it. Head out into the hallway and follow it to the end to find the control room with Piet inside (pictured below). In the upper right hand corner of this room you'll find the control panel which you'll want to examine for a scene. Return and save your game again (you can't leave that room until you examine the control panel and we may need to reset the game coming up).
Then return to the control room and challenge Piet to a game of cards. Keep playing him until you abolish the Random rule. Once you've done that save your game again then return to Piet and play him for real. You'll want to win the Alexander Card from him before saving your game again.
Note: If you don't feel like winning the Alexander Card because the rules here are terrible that's ok. It's used in the Queen of Cards Side Quest but chances are if you don't like playing cards you're not even bothering with that side quest.
Now go up the stairs that are south of the control room and follow them to the room at the end. Here you will find Ellone sitting on a bed. Play her in a game of cards to win the Laguna Card from her. Return to the Save Point and save your game then talk to Ellone to advance the story forward.
Head down towards the medbay with Ellone for some scenes then follow Rinoa to the control room. Once Rinoa leaves the control room examine the monitor with your party member and then head up to the second floor of the Lunar Base. There will be another scene up here after which you will want to go into the locker room (the man who is unconcious on the ground is basically pointing at the room).
Inside the locker room put on a space suit then chase Rinoa out into space. The door will close on you before you can reach Rinoa, after which you'll want to return to the control room back inside and speak with Piet then Ellone. Follow Ellone after talking to her and go down the elevator.
Talk to Ellone inside the escape pod then get in your own - prepare for a mini game in space! For this next part you will be flying around space - you will have to find Rinoa (usually starts in the top right) and put her in the middle of your screen at all times.
Press/hold Triangle to boost yourself and fly towards Rinoa. Here is a video of me catching Rinoa in space if you'd prefer to watch that rather than use my directions. Basically you fly towards Rinoa the entire time and you'll be pressing Triangle to quickly change directions and intercept her. Don't hold Triangle the whole time otherwise you'll use up all your fuel.
Once you catch Rinoa there will be a few scenes and before you know it you'll find yourself onboard the Ragnarok. Use the Save Point and then head further inside of the ship - soon enough you will bump into an alien type of enemy named a Propagator... These guys work in a bit of a unique way, you can either defeat 25 of them in total or do a trick to get rid of them.
Basically, there are two of every color Propagator enemy and if you defeat both colors without engaging any other colored Propagator you'll permanently defeat that pair.
Junction Tips: Use Sleep Status Junctions to make all of these fights a total breeze
Junction Tip x2: Take Mug off of your characters since their drops are better than what you can Mug
The easiest order to do the Propagators in is Purple, Red, Yellow then Green. It's easier for you watch this video that shows every Propagator location than for me to explain it through text. The Ragnarok is all close quarters and left/left/right/left directions are too difficult to follow.
When all of the Propagator enemies are defeated ride the elevator up that the stationary Green Propagator was standing on. You'll now be in the cockpit of the Ragnarok where you'll watch a bunch of different scenes.
Once Rinoa leaves outside the Ragnarok return inside and go into the room just left of the elevator that leads up to the cockpit. There will be a long scene in here after which you'll want to go up to the cockpit. When you're in control of the Ragnarok you'll want to fly it over to the Sorceress Memorial on the peninsula east of Esthar. This is where Rinoa is!
Continue to The Beginning of the End
Return to Tears' Point, Lunar Gate, Esthar (Part 2) and Lunatic Pandora