Cactuar (Server)

From FFXIclopedia, the free Final Fantasy XI encyclopedia

This was the server for beta testing of the North American releases of FFXI on Windows and the PS2. It originally contained only the content of the original FFXI and all updates, not Rise of the Zilart. However, for the last few weeks of beta testing, content from Rise of the Zilart was offered to beta players with high enough levels.

Cactuar Server saw some events which did not occur on any other server. In Late August 2003, an Event Notorious Monster appeared outside San d'Oria, Bastok, and Windurst, the Gigantoad. It was a powerful creature with extraordinarily high HP which took dozens of players fighting it all at once to defeat. The Gigantoad never appeared on any other server (Note: This was a test to determine how well the servers can handle dozens of participants engaged in the same battle. The test was a success and a monster requiring dozens of players to defeat, Twinkling Treant, was added as an Event Notorious Monster in late December 2003). When beta testing ended, several GMs appeared before players on the final day and displayed to them various equipment (such as Artifact Armor from Expansion Jobs) and teleported groups of players to fight Notorious Monster like King Behemoth, Serket, Roc, Simurgh, Colossus, Capricious Cassie. The GMs fought alongside the players.

ID Number: N/A

Activation Date: June 12, 2003

Deactivation Date: October 14, 2003

Some believe that Cactaur server was reactivated as Asura. This speculation is based on North American beta characters being available for reactivation on Asura during the Return Home to Vana'diel campaign.

History in the FF Series

Cactuar was one of the most common, recognizable enemies in the Final Fantasy series, but as a Summon, it appeared only in Final Fantasy VIII and the remake Final Fantasy VI Advance. The enemy, Sabotender (the Japanese name), first appeared in Final Fantasy VI as an enemy located in the deserts of the World of Ruins. This enemy had incredible evade, able to dodge most attacks or spells (only special Commands like Tools, Slots, or Blue Magic could hit it). It would used 1000 Needles (translated as Blow Fish in English initially) and if the battle ran for long enough, it would be "bundling needles" (10 consecutive 1000 Needles). The English translation rendered this enemy Cactrot. Future versions of the regular enemy would only use 1000 Needles, not the 10,000 Needles or other such moves. In the Game Boy Advance remake, defeating ten cactuars in the desert near the town of Miranda allows you to fight the boss Gigantuar, who uses 10,000 Needles. Upon winning, the player is rewarded with the Cactuar esper. When summoned, it can either deal 1,000 damage (1000 Needles) or 9,999 damage to all enemies (10,000 Needles) randomly.

It appeared in FFVII in the Corel Desert where the Gold Saucer was located, as well as Cactus Island, a remote, unmapped desert island and the remote desert area north of Corel. In FFVIII, it appeared in the Kashkabald Desert on the southern continent. In FFIX, it appeared in the desert wastes of the Outer Continent. In FFX, it appeared in the deserts on Bikanel Island and the Thunder Plains.

Final Fantasy VIII had some optional summons based on enemies, Cactuar & Tonberry. Summons have generally depicted unique entities, not enemies which could be called up. Enemies as Summons was only depicted previously in Final Fantasy IV, where Goblin/Imp, Bomb, Cockatrice, and MindFlayer/Mage could be summoned. It appeared as a regular Cactuar. A single Cactuar appears, leaps into the air, briefly emits golden rays of light, then rains down a plethora of needles on the enemy.

• In FFVIII, it could be obtained by defeating the Jumbo Cactuar, a towering, ancient Cactuar who appeared on Cactus Island off the coast from the Kashkabald Desert in the Esthar region.

Moves:

"1000 Needles"- deals damage to all enemies equal to 1000 x ([Cactuar's LV]/10*) *= rounded up at Levels ending in 5,6,7,8,9 (FF8)

Attributes:

Final Fantasy VIII

Stat Junction: Eva-J, Luck-J

Command Junction: Magic, GF, Draw, Item, Defend, Kamikaze

Character Ability: Eva+30%, Luck+50%, Initiative, Move-HP Up, HP Bonus, Str Bonus, Vit Bonus, Mag Bonus, Spr Bonus, Auto-Potion, Expendx2-1

Party Ability: N/A

GF Ability: GFHP+10%,20%,30%

Refine Ability: N/A

Compatibility Item: Cactus Thorn

GF Rival: None (slightly lowers compatibility with the other 15 GFs)

Compatibility-Boosting Magic Spells: None

Compatibility-Lowering Magic Spells: None

Historical Background

Cactuar is the English translation of an enemy called Sabotendaa in Japanese (rendered Sabotender in English). Sabotendaa means "to almost be a cactus" in Japanese (saboten- "cactus" + da "to be" + -a "almost"). Cactuar is believed to be the words Cactus + Jaguar merged, with jaguar implying fast and agile (the Cactuar is the most agile monster in the entire Final Fantasy series). In Final Fantasy VI's English translation, it was called Cactrot (Cactus + Trot), namely because it always runs away and dodges attacks with great ease.