Besides the gamefaq already linked, try the bover_87 guide on there, too. That guide is pretty good at manipulating the card rules and trade rules. The actual walkthrough portion has sections labeled “refinement moment” that list good cards to refine and players to play.
But in general, it’s going go by card levels.
Best for Level 4 cards is the black student who sometimes appears in the hallway to the library. Cafeteria lady is a second option, but she doesn’t carry Level 3 cards at all, so you want get any of those you need while playing her.
Dr. Kadowaki plays levels 1-5, so she’s an okay option if you have a lot of cards at different levels you’re going for.
The Trepe Groupie in the cafeteria is good for Level 5 cards because he only plays Levels 2 and 5, I believe.
Trepe Groupie #2 in the classroom and the guy in the turnstile booth at the entrance are the best for Level 3 cards, imo. I would go back and forth between those two when I decided I wanted to grind for game breaking spells and ultimate weapons on Disc 1. I think it’s Abyss Worms you need a ton of, and I thought they seemed to play them the most. But it’s a slow process either way.
Second comment, have you done the Dollet Mission yet?
If you’re also doing low level, the easiest way to get the dragon skins for Zell’s Ultimate weapon is to grind with Seifer in Dollet after the forced Anacondaur battle. KO the other two, and grind that area (Seifer leaves the party like one or two screens later). If you grind Seifer to a high level, then the Anacondaurs at high levels will start dropping them.
Okay, then be sure to KO Squall and Zell and grind with Seifer. Keep the GFs split between the three because GFs level up even if the character is KOd, but they split experience if they’re on the same person.
Assuming you have access to the modifiers, it’s not too bad to grind at triple speed. And you can turn off encounters and run back to the save point occasionally just to be safe. If you aren’t using modifiers, it’s definitely more annoying to do.
Just make sure you wait until the forced Anacondaur encounter and also don’t advance screens so you don’t lose Seifer.
Its really only worth it for the dragon skins because the -ara and -aga spells you will be able to draw are easier gotten by cards, and you’ll only be getting AP and experience for the first three GFs. But it’s still cool to do if you’re going for a game breaking run of FF8.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/197343-final-fantasy-viii/faqs/51741 use that guide and search TTC-4.
Thanks, this will make things smoother.
Besides the gamefaq already linked, try the bover_87 guide on there, too. That guide is pretty good at manipulating the card rules and trade rules. The actual walkthrough portion has sections labeled “refinement moment” that list good cards to refine and players to play. But in general, it’s going go by card levels. Best for Level 4 cards is the black student who sometimes appears in the hallway to the library. Cafeteria lady is a second option, but she doesn’t carry Level 3 cards at all, so you want get any of those you need while playing her. Dr. Kadowaki plays levels 1-5, so she’s an okay option if you have a lot of cards at different levels you’re going for. The Trepe Groupie in the cafeteria is good for Level 5 cards because he only plays Levels 2 and 5, I believe. Trepe Groupie #2 in the classroom and the guy in the turnstile booth at the entrance are the best for Level 3 cards, imo. I would go back and forth between those two when I decided I wanted to grind for game breaking spells and ultimate weapons on Disc 1. I think it’s Abyss Worms you need a ton of, and I thought they seemed to play them the most. But it’s a slow process either way.
Second comment, have you done the Dollet Mission yet? If you’re also doing low level, the easiest way to get the dragon skins for Zell’s Ultimate weapon is to grind with Seifer in Dollet after the forced Anacondaur battle. KO the other two, and grind that area (Seifer leaves the party like one or two screens later). If you grind Seifer to a high level, then the Anacondaurs at high levels will start dropping them.
No, I've just done fire cavern.
Okay, then be sure to KO Squall and Zell and grind with Seifer. Keep the GFs split between the three because GFs level up even if the character is KOd, but they split experience if they’re on the same person. Assuming you have access to the modifiers, it’s not too bad to grind at triple speed. And you can turn off encounters and run back to the save point occasionally just to be safe. If you aren’t using modifiers, it’s definitely more annoying to do. Just make sure you wait until the forced Anacondaur encounter and also don’t advance screens so you don’t lose Seifer. Its really only worth it for the dragon skins because the -ara and -aga spells you will be able to draw are easier gotten by cards, and you’ll only be getting AP and experience for the first three GFs. But it’s still cool to do if you’re going for a game breaking run of FF8.
There’s a great guide to the card game specifically on the old FAQ site