Squall Leonhart

Lone Mercenary

The protagonist of Final Fantasy VIII, a lone mercenary affiliated with the Galbadia Army. Despite his taciturn and unfriendly personality, he possesses outstanding abilities.

Quotes

  • Don't leave my side.
  • I'm fine being alone.
  • As the Sorceress's Knight, I'll protect Rinoa.
  • I can live alone without relying on others.
  • Griever is my pride.

Trivia

  • The scar on his forehead was inflicted during training with Seifer.
  • The lion 'Griever' is known as his symbolic talisman.
  • Name can be changed, but default name is Squall Leonhart.
  • A character with a similar name appears in the Kingdom Hearts series.
  • The gunblade weapon is a rare hybrid sword-gun in recent years.

Alternate names

Squall Leonhart Squall Griever's Knight

Tags

Final Fantasy VIII Final Fantasy RPG Junction Gunblade Mercenary Sorceress's Knight Garden Protagonist

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Profile

Species
Human
Gender
Male
Birthday
August 23

Appearance

Overall appearance
A tall 177cm youth with black hair. Often calm, composed, and expressionless, he always wears a silver necklace adorned with a lion. His weapon is a gunblade.
Height
Approximately 177cm
Eye color
Brown
Hair color
Black
Distinguishing features
  • Scar near the eye
  • Expressionless
  • Silver lion necklace
Iconic items
  • Gunblade
  • Lion necklace
  • Silver ring
  • Weapon with lion emblem

Personality and abilities

Core personality
Calm
Detailed personality
Taciturn and unfriendly, with a personality that refuses to open up to others and maintains solitude, but gradually deepens trust in comrades and grows. Possesses strong pride and sense of responsibility.
Keywords
  • Cool
  • Aloof
  • Strong sense of responsibility
  • Passionate inside
  • High pride
  • Indifferent but reliable
Motto
Live without relying on others, survive alone
Talents
  • Exceptional swordsmanship talent
  • Calm judgment
  • Strong mental fortitude
  • Excellent leadership
  • G.F. (Guardian Force) junction ability
Skills
  • Gunblade handling
  • General combat as a mercenary
  • Magic junction
  • Special technique 'Renzokuken'
  • Tactical thinking
Motivation
Escape from loneliness and protect comrades. Become the Sorceress's Knight and protect Rinoa.
Habits
Taciturn and curt, but occasionally strict with comrades. Treasures the lion necklace.
Favorite foods
Secret
Favorite colors
Silver, Black
Disliked situations
Fear of connecting hearts with others, Showing weakness

History

Backstory
Raised in an orphanage during childhood, he closed off his heart when Ellone, whom he admired like a sister, suddenly disappeared. At age 5, he entered Balamb Garden with Seifer and experienced memory loss due to G.F. While treading the path of a mercenary as a SeeD, he grows through exchanges with Rinoa and comrades, eventually coming to call himself the 'Sorceress's Knight.'
Debut date
February 11, 1999
Work title
Final Fantasy VIII
Media type
Game

SeeD Exam Passed

Significant event
SeeD Exam Passed
Description
Passed the SeeD certification exam at Balamb Garden and became an official mercenary.

Conflict with Seifer

Significant event
Conflict with Seifer
Description
Harbors intense emotional friction with Seifer, his childhood friend and greatest rival.

Encounter and Romance with Rinoa

Significant event
Encounter and Romance with Rinoa
Description
Meets resistance member Rinoa in Timber and later builds a romantic relationship.

Battle with Sorceress Edea

Significant event
Battle with Sorceress Edea
Description
Confronts Edea, who rampages as a sorceress, struggles but restores her sanity and comrades' bonds.

Battle Against Time Compression

Significant event
Battle Against Time Compression
Description
Challenges the final battle against future sorceress Ultimecia, engaging in a grand battle transcending time and space.

Resolve as Sorceress's Knight

Significant event
Resolve as Sorceress's Knight
Description
Awakens to his duty as the 'Sorceress's Knight' to protect Rinoa.

Ending Reunion

Significant event
Ending Reunion
Description
After defeating Ultimecia, heals his wounded heart through Rinoa's love.

Relationships

Raine Loire

Woman who raised him in childhood. It is suggested that Squall is the child born between her and Laguna.

Laguna Loire

Biological father. Also a stepfather in a sense, but has no direct interaction with him; known to the audience through dreams or flashbacks.

Rinoa Heartilly

Love interest

Starts from the dance encounter at the party, eventually becoming partners with deep mutual love.

Quistis Trepe

Mentor

As an instructor, guides SeeD while showing understanding and encouragement toward Squall.

Zell Dincht

Teammate

Acts together as fellow SeeD members and deepens mutual trust.

Selphie Tilmitt

Teammate

Friend since joining SeeD as a transfer student, undertakes missions together.

Irvine Kinneas

Ally

Joins the journey as Galbadia Army sniper and gradually recognized as a comrade.

Seifer Almasy

Rival

Repeatedly clashes as childhood friend and arch-nemesis, holding the key to the story.

SeeD

SeeD: leader

Balamb Garden

Balamb Garden: unknown

Media appearances

Final Fantasy VIII

Game / Protagonist

February 11, 1999 PlayStation version

Final Fantasy VIII for PC

Game / Protagonist

October 3, 1999 Windows version release

Final Fantasy VIII Remastered

Game / Protagonist

Released September 3, 2019

Kingdom Hearts series

Anime / Supporting

Appears as Squall (Leon)

Dissidia Final Fantasy

Game / Protagonist

Appeared in 2010

Voice cast and creators

Hideo Ishikawa

Voice actor
Hideo Ishikawa
Language
Japanese
Version or series
PlayStation version / Various related works

Masato Nakamura

Voice actor
Masato Nakamura
Language
Japanese
Version or series
Motion capture action

Kazushige Nojima

Creator name
Kazushige Nojima
Role
Original author

Tetsuya Nomura

Creator name
Tetsuya Nomura
Role
Character designer

Yoshitaka Amano

Creator name
Yoshitaka Amano
Role
Illustrator

Kazushige Nojima

Creator name
Kazushige Nojima
Role
Writer

Square (now Square Enix)

Creator name
Square (now Square Enix)
Role
Animation studio

Square (now Square Enix)

Creator name
Square (now Square Enix)
Role
Publisher

Related goods

Squall Figure

Item name
Squall Figure
Category
Figure
Availability
Regular

Gunblade Replica

Item name
Gunblade Replica
Category
Accessory
Availability
Limited

FINAL FANTASY VIII Original Soundtrack

Item name
FINAL FANTASY VIII Original Soundtrack
Category
Digital
Availability
Regular

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