The Islands Closest to Heaven and Hell

Discover the locations of the Islands Closest to Heaven and Hell in Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. Learn where to find powerful magic and dangerous monsters.

Alright, so you've got the Ragnarok airship and you're ready to explore some of the most dangerous, yet rewarding, spots in Final Fantasy VIII Remastered: the Islands Closest to Heaven and Hell. These aren't marked on your map, but don't worry, I'll guide you right to them. They're packed with high-level magic draw points and some seriously tough enemies, so be prepared!

First up, the Island Closest to Heaven. Think of it as being off the northeast coast of the Esthar continent. If you've been to the Chocobo Forest in the Grandidi Forest area, it's just nearby. The whole peninsula is covered in trees, so it's pretty hard to miss once you're in the general vicinity. Just fly around that area with the Ragnarok, and you'll spot it.

Now, for the Island Closest to Hell. This one's a bit further out. It's a jagged-looking island way out west, off the coast of the Galbadian continent. It's pretty isolated, so keep an eye on your map as you travel west from Galbadia.

A quick tip: if you're ever unsure if you've found the right place, just open your menu while you're on the island. If it's one of these special locations, it'll be named properly right there on your screen. If not, you might need to consult the main world map or the screenshots provided to get your bearings.

These islands are no joke. Every enemy you encounter here is level 100, no matter what your party's average level is. That means you'll be facing Chimaeras, Malboros, Ochus, and Tri-Faces on Heaven, and Blue Dragons, Grendel, Hexadragons, Malboros, Ruby Dragons, and T-Rexaurs on Hell. The Malboro's 'Bad Breath' attack is particularly nasty, so if you plan on fighting these guys, make sure you've got abilities like Initiative and junctioned magic for Status Defense (Berserk, Confuse, Pain, Sleep) or, if you're lucky, the Ribbon ability from Chocobo World. Honestly though, your best bet for focusing on drawing magic is to use the Enc-None ability to just bypass these monsters altogether for now.

Speaking of magic, these islands are loaded with draw points for some of the best spells in the game. You'll find Aura, Flare, Full-Life, Holy, Meteor, Triple, and Ultima scattered across both islands. The Island Closest to Hell also has Quake and Tornado draw points. While you might only draw a few spells from each point even with a high Magic stat, there are a lot of them, so it's worth the trip.

Here's a quick rundown of what you can draw where:

When you're done harvesting spells, or if you just want to move on, your next objective in the guide is to seek out and defeat the Jumbo Cactuar. But remember, you can always come back to these islands later to stock up on magic as you continue your journey!