The Cactuar is an enemy in Final Fantasy XIII found on Gran Pulse. If the player takes a trip to the hill on the Eastern Tors of the Archylte Steppe (the area is guarded by Adamantortoises, but it is easy to sneak past them), they will witness a cutscene involving Sazh Katzroy and a Cactuar. Following it, Cactuars have spawned throughout the Archylte Steppe.
Unlike most enemies, Cactuars will never openly engage the player in the field. Instead, they flee to the outermost point of their territory, meaning the player must corner them or catch up to them to initiate the battle. It will always run to the right of its starting position, thus the player can make it easier to catch up to it by moving slightly to the right of where it is standing before it notices them.
Stats[]
The Cactuar has, in most cases, stats related to the number 7. This is seen in its Level, HP, Strength, Chain Resistance, and Stagger Point.
Battle[]
The Cactuar has uncharacteristically high HP and uses a moderately-strong Kick attack, though it lacks the 1000 Needles ability like Cactuars of previous games. If one does not attack the Cactuar while it uses Cactus Dance, it will grow into a stronger kind of Cactuar, the Giant Cactuar.
While players just arriving on the Archylte Steppe in Chapter 11 will find it difficult to defeat the Cactuar, they pose little threat when fought later in Chapter 13.
Strategy[]
A team of Fang, Sazh, and Vanille works well, with Fang as the leader. The paradigms "Evened Odds" (SAB/SYN/MED) and "Relentless Assault" (COM/RAV/RAV) are recommended, with "Evened Odds" as the active paradigm. While the Cactuar is doing "Cactus Dance", the player should Daze it and not attack until the paradigm has been changed. Sazh should cast Haste, Enfire, Vigilance, Bravery, and Faith. Once this is done, the player can switch to "Relentless Assault" and attack until healing is needed, or the party needs to renew any of the support Sazh has given. Even without the Enfire, a party with Ravagers who know Fire spells can deal with it easily enough in Tri-disaster paradigm. The Cactuar's stagger point is so high it is unlikely the player can stagger it, but the higher the chain the more damage each attack will do.
Other appearances[]
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
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Etymology[]
Sabotender (サボテンダー, Sabotendā?) is derived from mixing the Japanese word for cactus (サボテン, saboten?) and the English word "pretender" (プリテンダー, puritendā?).
Related enemies[]
Final Fantasy XIII-2[]
- Cactuar
- Giant Cactuar
- Cactuaroni
- Cactuarama
- Flowering Cactuar
- Metallicactuar
- Metal Gigantuar
- Gigantuar