Lots of people go straight to the guard at the front gate or the Trepie in the cafeteria, but these two are so easy to beat when you only have the starting cards. If you need Elnoyle, Abyss Worm, Tonberry King, Adamantoise, etc. just head to the library as soon as you get your first cards. These two are seriously bad at Triple Triad and drop everything you need in the early game.
HP and STR are basically everything. ๐คฃ Tornado ftw!
Ultimecia Castle always drives me completely nuts since there's no going back. I'm not sure I ever actually completed it properly either.
Do you have a favorite GF? Mine is Alexander. Maybe Gilgamesh because of the scene with Seifer. I always try to get that scene.
Diablos definitely. The time and status magic refine, early Mug, Ability X3, his % based attack. And then his whole design and cutscene. His fight is really fun too, even though Cid is a total a-hole for giving you a lamp that might kill you.
Doomtrain might be number 2.
Oh heck yes. Diablos has incredible utility! I like to be ready to fight him right away, but even if you fight him well prepared he can just incidentally clap you! Best of all is encounter-none!
Doom train is so tedious to get when you're also trying to stack that one ammo for Irvine. Can't not get him though.