There are a total of 16 Guardian Forces (GF's) in FF8. They are as follows:
| Guardian Force | Summon Name | How to get it | Disc(s) Available |
| Shiva | Diamond Dust | You get her automatically if you try to leave Garden, or if you check the Tutorial at your desk in the classroom. | Disc 1 |
| Quezacotl | Thunder Storm | You get it automatically if you try to leave Garden, or if you check the Tutorial at your desk in the classroom. | Disc 1 |
| Ifrit | Hell Fire | Defeat him in the Fire Cavern at the start of the game. You have to get him. | Disc 1 |
| Siren | Silent Voice | Draw from Elvoret at the Dollet Communications Tower (the winged boss monster). | Disc 1 or 4 |
| Brothers | Brotherly Love | Defeat Sacred and Minotaur in the Tomb of the Unknown King, and they will join you as this GF team. | Discs 1 through 3 |
| Diablos | Dark Messenger | When Cid gives you the Magic Lamp before your first SeeD mission, you can use the lamp to face off Diablos. Defeat him to get him. | All Discs |
| Carbuncle | Ruby Light | Draw it from the Iguions that attack Rinoa during the parade on Disc 1. | Disc 1 or 4 |
| Leviathan | Tsunami | Draw it from NORG when you fight him in Garden on Disc 2. | Disc 2 or 4 |
| Pandemona | Tornado Zone | Draw it from Fujin during the fight against her and Raijin in the Balamb Hotel. | Disc 2 or 4 |
| Cerberus | Counter Rockets | Fight him in Galbadia Garden when you assault it on Disc 2. | Disc 2 |
| Alexander | Holy Judgement | Draw it from Edea when you fight her in Galbadia Garden on Disc 2. | Disc 2 or 4 |
| Doomtrain | Runaway Train | Gather together 6 Malboro Tentacles, Steel Pipes, and Remedy+ items (6 of each), and use the Solomon Ring (found at Tear's Point). | Disc 3 or 4 |
| Bahamut | Megaflare | Defeat Bahamut on Battleship Island (he's in the light pillar), and he will join you. | Disc 3 |
| Cactuar | 1,000 Needles | Defeat the Jumbo Cactuar on Cactuar Island (it pops up out of the ground in random spots), and you will get this GF. | Disc 3 and 4 |
| Tonberry | Chef's Knife | Defeat 20 Tonberry monsters in the Centra Ruins (all at once; fight near the statue), and King Tonberry will appear. Defeat him to get the Tonberry GF. | Disc 2 and 3 |
| Eden | Eternal Breath | Draw it from Ultima Weapon on Battleship Island after you defeat Bahamut (go down the pillar). | Disc 3 or 4 |
NON-JUNCTIONABLE GF'S: There are a few GF's that can be acquired that do not allow you to junction them. Here the are:
| Guardian Force | How to get it | How to summon it |
| Boko (Chicobo) | Catch a chocobo, and the Chocoboy will give you this GF. You need a PocketStation to make Boko useful. | Use a Gyshal Greens item in battle. |
| Odin | Defeat him in the Centra Ruins, and he will appear randomly in battle and slay all enemies. | He appears randomly, according to your luck. |
| Phoenix | Get and use a Phoenix Pinion in battle. | Use a Phoenix Pinion, or hope that it appears randomly in battle. |
| Gilgamesh | Have Odin when you face off Seifer on Disc 3. Gilgamesh will take his place. | Gilgamesh works just like Odin does. |