Final Fantasy X-2
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Cactuar Nation

The Cactuar Nation side quest begins in the Bikanel Desert when you reach Chapter 3. A cutscene will trigger as soon as you land. Nhadala will ask for your help with a ‘cacti situation.’ She asks Yuna, Rikku, and Paine to represent the Al Bhed to the Cactuar Nation by taking Benzo and acting as a liaison to speak with Marnela.

Nhadala letting the Gullwings know that Marnela would like to speak with them

Speak to the hover operator and select “Cactuar Nation” from the menu (you’ll have no other options). Benzo will translate for Marnela, and Marnela the cactus will task you with tracking down a bunch of Cactuars known as the “Ten Gatekeepers.”

Mission overview screen for “The Cactuar Connection” in Cactuar Nation

To summarize, one of the cacti here at the Cactuar Nation will activate and ask you to track down a specific Cactuar hidden somewhere in Spira. They’re not too hard to find, especially with a guide. But you don’t just get to gather them up when you find them. You’ll have to play a mini-game called…

Everything’s Coming Up Cactuars

The controls for this mini-game are as straightforward as they’re described in the tutorial message:

  • Press the PlayStation Cross or X ButtonXbox A ButtonNintendo Switch A Button button to fire
  • Press the PlayStation R1 ButtonXbox RB ButtonNintendo Switch R Button button to dodge the cactuar’s attacks

If the Cactuar hits you with its counterattack, you’ll lose bullets equal to its HP, and you may potentially run out of bullets before you deplete the Cactuar’s HP and win the game. Annoyingly, there are no do-overs, but thankfully, you don’t have to win this mini-game to complete the side quest.

Two important tips:

  • Take your time and plan your shot for when the Cactuar appears on screen. If you’re not bang on and go a little too early or a little too late, the Cactuar’s odds of counterattacking go up
  • As soon as you press the PlayStation Cross or X ButtonXbox A ButtonNintendo Switch A Button button to shoot, hold the PlayStation R1 ButtonXbox RB ButtonNintendo Switch R Button button every single time. There isn’t enough time to find out whether the Cactuar is going to counterattack, so just assume that it’s going to do it every single time.
Tutorial message screen explaining how the controls work for the Cactuar Round-up missions

Chapter 3

In Chapter 3, you can capture the first 6 Cactuars. You have to leave the remaining 4 until Chapter 5. Their locations are listed below:

#CactuarLocationScreenshot
1LobiviaBikanel Desert, out at the Oasis.Yuna approaching the Oasis with the hover visible
2ToumeyaBesaid Island, sunbathing on the beach.Approaching Toumeya on the beach of Besaid
3LobeiraGuadosalam, inside a treasure chest in one of the rooms off the Chateau’s hidden passageway.Opening the treasure chest that Lobeira was hiding in somewhere in Chateau Leblanc
4 & 5Areq & ArrojaThe snowy stretch between the Calm Lands and Mt. Gagazet, riding a chocobo. The brothers are found together and count as two of the ten.Stopping Areq and Arroja on their Chocobo in the Gorge/Canyon area of the Calm Lands
6IslayaThunder Plains, beside a cactuar stone a little east of the waiting shed. Enter from Macalania Woods and exit south to land right next to him.Approaching Islaya near the Cactuar statue in the Thunder Plains

The seventh clue, for Chiapa, is not a location at all. Benzo’s translation makes it sound like a riddle, but the mother cactus is telling you to leave him alone for now. Chiapa is not anywhere in Spira during Chapter 3, and because the clues are handed out in order, that clue is where the hunt stops until Chapter 5.

Chapter 5

The last 4 Cactuars are listed below:

#CactuarLocationScreenshot
7ChiapaKilika Woods. Cross the bridge, turn right, and follow the path until you find a fallen tree lying over the water. Climb it to reach him.Finding Chiapa in the trees at the top of Kilika Woods
8ErioMt. Gagazet. Head down from the summit to the Prominence.Ambushing Erio along the Mt. Gagazet trail
9BartschellaKilika, inside Dona’s house at the base of the stairs.Spotting Bartschella in Don’s Hut at the Kilika Ports
10FraileaSee below.A close-up of the Frailea Gang in the Cactuar Hollow

Cactuar Hollow

The 10th and final Cactuar can be found inside the Cactuar Hollow. This area is blocked off by a green, glowing, Cactuar-shaped magical barrier at the north end of Cactuar Nation.

Traveling through the Cactuar Hollow dungeon

Passage of Sand

Those sneaky cactuars have set a trap! Hurry through the tunnel before it fills with sand!

You must run through a narrow passage that slowly fills with sand. There is a time limit of 60 seconds, and when the time runs out, the sand engulfs Yuna and sends her back to the beginning of the passage. You can climb onto various ledges to obtain items, and if you miss any, you can simply let time run out to redo the passage.

Cactuar Hollow

Map of the Cactuar Hollow Player position Destination Treasure1 Treasure2 Treasure3 Treasure4 Treasure5 Treasure6 Treasure7 Treasure8 Treasure9 Treasure10
Legend
Treasure1Item IconEther
Treasure2Silver Accessory IconFaerie Earrings
Treasure3Item IconMega Phoenix
Treasure4Item IconHi-Potion
Treasure5Item IconMegalixir
Treasure6Bronze Accessory IconTwist Headband
Treasure7Item IconEther
Treasure8Silver Accessory IconMute Shock
Treasure9Silver Accessory IconBeaded Brooch
Treasure10Item IconPhoenix Down

Once you reach the end, you’ll have to face…

Jumbo Cactuar and two Cactuars
Boss Battle

This is a pretty easy fight, because Jumbo Cactuar won’t attack you at all. Instead, it’ll just cast Ability IconHastega on the two accompanying Cactuars. The Cactuars will do ordinary kicks and “1000 Needles,” so this fight doesn’t require much in the way of complicated strategy.

Boss Battle against Jumbo Cactuar
EnemyHPStealDrop
Jumbo Cactuar22,222Item IconStamina TonicItem IconStamina TonicRare: Gold Accessory IconRabite’s Foot
Cactuar2,002––

This will complete the Cactuar Nation quest, but you’re not quite done yet. Head back to the walkthrough page: