Local Enemy Bestiary

Let’s back up a moment. First get some things in the game for me: Reraise, Curaga, and 2,000+ HP per character. Do that or get Ultima doing 9,999 damage and characters with 2,001+ HP and you’ll be okay.

Personally, I like the latter - those spells are faster to learn, mainly because, after all of this sidequesting, you’ll have them… Hopefully.

First, head into Maranda and find a man speaking about Cactuars. (Maranda is the southern town of the west continent.) Speak with the man, then head into the desert. Kill 10 Cactuars (physically or via Ragnarok), then head to the southwestern bit of the desert. You’ll eventually fight something else…

Gigantaur¶

The Gigantuar has a simple move reportoire. His own turns are filled with two uses of 1,000 Needles (except on the third, seventh, eleventh turns where he uses it four times). He’ll counter attack with Knockdown (which is powerful beyond sense) almost all of the time, and will use 10,000 Needles (ten 1,000-Needles attacks) upon dying. More on that later.

There are two strategies to this fight I’m providing. One needs Curaga, Reraise, and preferably Quick. The other, Ultima. With each, you will want at least 2,000 HP for all (the first only requires 1,001+, but that will not be very good).

With the first strategy, you’ll simply want to put Reraise on everyone and keep them fully healed while attacking. Ultima is a nice idea, but not at all needed. Usage of Fenrir, Golem, and Hastega are good ideas as well for some defensive help; Ultima and Bahamut are the best offense. And, to deal with 10,000 Needles, having party-wide Reraise on characters having 1,001+ HP is sufficient.

The other strategy is trickier. All you need is Ultima and 2,001+ HP per character. Continually use Ultima and the boss will be down shortly. If you did it fast enough (using Quick or having multiple Ultima users), you shouldn’t be able to take damage. If you do, BEFORE THAT FOURTH ULTIMA, heal and then use it. Reraise is also a good idea.

After the battle, you’ll receive the Cactuar Magicite .