The Deep Sea Research Facility is the hardest area in Final Fantasy VIII with a powerful foe at the bottom and two Guardian Forces available (Bahamut and Eden). Not only are the monsters hard but with Diablos Enc-None every 8 steps you will have a battle, with Enc-Half it is every 4 steps and without it is every 2 steps.

This page will go into detail about accessing Eden through the Ultima fight and will walk you through the two possible ways down (with and without Zell in your party).

PREPERATIONS

First you will need to have access to the Ragnarok, once you do fly to the most south western tip of the world map where you will find Battleship Island.

Enter the facility and check out the object in the middle. It says that the blue light leads all to death, well in this case it's right. Moving while the light is flashing will trigger a random battle all the time, even if you have the Enc-None ability equipped.

Upon reaching the middile a voice calls out of nowhere. You need to answer three questions correctly.

1. Q. "So you wish to challenge me". A. "It's not our will to fight."
2. Q. "Begging me for mercy?". A. "Never."
3. Q. "Damned imbeciles. Why do you wish to fight?". A. The invisible third option.

This will now trigger the fight with the Guardian Force Bahamut.

FIGHT: BAHAMUT

Boss Profile:				Picture:
Bahamut
HP:	EXP:	AP:	Location Found:
10,800~90,000	-	40	Deep Sea Research Facility
Weakness:	Defends:	Immune:	Absorb:
-			-
Draw:		Win Item:	Mug:
Flare, Curaga, Full-Life, Dispel		Hyper Wrist Bahamut Card	-
Boss Strategy:
Your party can inflict signifcant damage on Bahamut with Limit Breaks, such as Zell and Squall, who both attack numerous times. Protect your party with Shell and Protect and cast Triple using Cerebrus. Bahamut doesn't attack much. However, when he does, it can be quite devestating. Keep your HP above 4000 and inflict an organized combination of magic and physical attacks.

Once you have defeated Bahamut you will need to leave and enter the Ragnarok and talk to Irvine to depart (or do something else, entirely up to you), to meet a "waiting" requirement.

Now, from the large hole that remained after defeating Bahamut, there will be a save point and a large vine structure going down. Save your game and descend. You have two choices, you can either have Zell in your party or not and remember to set Enc-None as this will reduce encounters to every 8 steps instead of 2 also make sure to have Move-Find on to reveal a hidden Save Point by your destination (you WILL want to save).

Your party will store 20 data "blocks" for moving throughout the facility. Use 4 to open the door to the next room.

WITH ZELL

Go down and check the computers close to the stairs. Use 2 blocks each on the first two computers and 1 block each on the two afterward. You'll approach a much larger machine giving you a choice to use 4 blocks or have Zell repair it. Choose Zell to repair it to save your remaining blocks. You should have 10 left. Enter the left door that opens.

WITHOUT ZELL

Check the computer close to the stairs and use 2 blocks. The door will open, revealing another computer. Ignore it. Head to the computer on the left and use 4 blocks. The door with the signal 'O' will open. The glowing computer will add 7 blocks. Go back to the computer you previously ignored and choose the first option. Repeat it until you come to a large machine. Use 4 blocks on it to open the next area.

PRE-FIGHT PREPERATIONS

Once you have reached the save point area you will want to get ready for an extremely tough fight with Ultima Weapon. Junction the Auto-Haste ability to Squall. Junction 100 Hastes to each character's speed. Also junction Revive and Recover abilities to your party. Keep as many X-Potions, Mega Phoenixs, Elixirs, and Megalixirs at hand as possible. All characters must have 5000+ in order to keep your party alive. Hero Drinks and Holy Wars can prove quite benefical. If any of your characters have a level that is the multiple of 5, junction as many Death magics to status defense. With your characters set in this manner, use all your abilities to inflict damage. Remember to Draw Eden during the fight!

FIGHT: ULTIMA WEAPON

Boss Profile:				Picture:
Ultima Weapon
HP:	EXP:	AP:	Location Found:
51,100~160,000	-	40	Deep Sea Research Facility
Weakness:	Defends:	Immune:	Absorb:
-	-	-	-
Draw:		Win Item:	Mug:
Regen, Dispel, Ultima, Eden		Ultima Stone Eden Card	-
Boss Strategy:
Ultima will likely use Light Pillar so get ready to revive the fallen commrade. Cast Meltdown on Ultima Weapon and Aura on Squall and let him unleash his Renzokuken. Just remember to Draw Eden as Squall's Renzokuken is dangerous to Ultima Weapon.

Congratulations on defeating the Deep Sea Research Facility and the two most powerful Guardian Forces in the game!