CACTUARS

Cactuars, sometimes known as "sabotenders", are a curious variety of Seedkin. Succulents, they store water in their flesh, not unlike nopales and aloes--but very unlike them, cactuars often pick themselves up and trot about. (1)

Still, the benefits of consuming said "water" are undeniable, along with flesh and fruit. (2)(3)(4)(5)

(1) Encyclopaedia Eorzea Vol. 1, p. 278
(2) Quest: A Tall Drink of Aqua del Sol
(3) Quest: Prickly Patients
(4) FATE: Let Them Eat Cactus
(5) Quest: A Dab'll Do Ya

But despite their edibility and their quirky charm, cactuars are naught to trifle with. They, like the cactus they pretend to be, come equipped with thousands of razor-sharp needles, which they are prepared and often quite willing to unleash on any who draw too near. (1)

These needles, in fact, are so sharp and hard, that they prove a persistent threat to travelers' feet even when not made into projectiles. (6) The needles are prized by weavers, who employ them precisely as the name implies. (7)

(1) Encyclopaedia Eorzea Vol. 1, p. 278
(6) FATE: Needles to Slay
(7) GSM recipe: Thousand Needle

Known species/types of cactuars:

- Cactuar
- Cochineal cactuar
- Uncommon cactuar
- Polis cactuar
- Sabotender
- Flowering sabotender

- Territorial sabotender
- Territorial flowertender
- Sabotender guardia
- Sabotender soldado
- Sabotender Bailarina
- Cactuar Jack

- Sabotender corrido
- Sabotender del sol
- Sabotender emperatriz
- Sabotender desertor
- Sabotender campeador
- Sabotender bailaor

CACTUAR

Simply known as "cactuars", these unassuming seedkin are content to spend their days pretending to be cactus around the Eighty Sins of Sasamo. They are generally not aggressive, unless provoked.

However, this does not make them less a threat to public safety. Cactuars still shed their hundreds of needles on the highways, and are the fourth most frequent cause of foot injury to man and chocobo alike. For this cause, young adventurers are called upon to cull their numbers. (6)(8)

(6) FATE: Needles To Slay
(8) Hunting Logs: Gladiator, Pugilist, Thaumaturge

Habitat:
- Western Thanalan, The Eighty Sins of Sasamo
- Western Thanalan, Hammerlea (FATE only)

Combat Rating: 3-4

CACTUAR JACK

Cactuar Jack spends his days lingering on the south side of Nophica's Wells. Unlike his near cousins, he is decidedly not peaceable, unleashing his hundred needles upon any who draw too near. He appears wholly unwilling to discuss the matter, either, and so is often driven away by adventurers. (9)

(9) FATE: The Villain

Habitat:
- Western Thanalan, Nophica's Wells (FATE only)

Combat Rating: 9

COCHINEAL CACTUAR

Not much different from their cousins in other regions of Thanalan, cochineal cactuars spend their lives pretending to be cactus along the Royal Allagan Sunway.

These particular cactuars, though, seem much more edible than the others; the Sultana has ordered that food supplies granted to refugees outside the city be supplemented with leaves from these creatures. (4)

(4) FATE: Let Them Eat Cactus

But the virtue of these Seedkin is not merely as foodstuffs; indeed, their "blood"--sap, water, nectar, whatever you might call it--is sometimes used in lotions and tonics for the skin, excellent for keeping it supple. (5)

Whatever be the case, young Ul'dahn adventurers are oft assigned by their trainers to hunt and cull cochineal cactuar; for, despite their unassuming appearance and lack of aggression, can nonetheless spray a hundred needles or more in their own defense. (3)(9)

(5) Quest: A Dab'll Do Ya
(8) Hunting Logs: Thaumaturge, Gladiator, Pugilist
(9) Ability: 100 Needles

Habitat:
- Central Thanalan, The Clutch
- Central Thanalan, Lost Hope (FATE only)

Combat Rating: 3, 11

SABOTENDER

Some call them cactuars, some call them sabotenders, and usually, the words are synonymous. However, some naturalists insist that the differences are enough to merit treating them as entirely separate species--particularly as pertains to their fruits. The untrained eye cannot see the difference between a cactuar fruit and a sabotender fruit, but apparently, so they are. (10)

(10) Item Tooltip: Sabotender Fruit

Sabotender needles--when not being rained by the hundreds upon their foes--make for marvelous sewing needles once sharpened with a basilisk whetstone, and their fruit can be steeped into a tea that will relieve fever. (7)(3)

(7) Goldsmith recipe: Thousand Needle
(3) Quest: Prickly Patients

Habitat:
- Southern Thanalan, Burnt Lizard Creek
- Southern Thanalan, Broken Water

Combat Rating: 25-27

SABOTENDER BAILAOR

"Bailaor" (pronounced "BYE-la-OR") is a word, in some other tongue, that means "dancer"; and this larger-than-average sabotender certainly moves with a curious grace as it tiptoes about and strikes poses.

With their greater size comes a greater number of needles with which to shower their foes; ironically, this trait draws Blue Mages to seek them out to learn the "Thousand Needles" technique. (11)

(11) Blue Mage spell "1000 Needles"

Habitat:
- Southern Thanalan, Burnt Lizard Creek

Combat Rating: 26

SABOTENDER BAILARina

"Bailarina" (pronounced "BYE-la-REE-na") means "dancer", not unlike bailaor; however, unlike the sabotender bailaor, this grand specimen boasts a flower atop its head.

Also unlike the bailaor, this flower exudes a peculiar scent maddening to its fellow cactuar. Fortunately, bailarinas only bloom once every two-score years; so long as they are swiftly culled, Thanalan is in no danger of being overrun by angry and prickly seedkin. (12)

(12) Hunter-scholar: Central Thanalan

Habitat: Central Thanalan, various
(Link goes to FFXIVHunt.com)

Combat Rating: 50, A rank

SABOTENDER CAMPEADOR

In another tongue, "campeador" (pronounced "CAHM-pay-a-DOOR") means "champion". This name, in Eorzea, was given to sabotenders who took up arms--such as they were--to protect the Sabotender Emperatriz in the Sunken Temple of Qarn. (13)

(13) Boss fight: Sabotender Emperatriz

Habitat:
- Sunken Temple of Qarn (Hard), The Cameral Chamber

Combat Rating: 50

SABOTENDER DESERTOR

"Desertor" (pronounced "dess-air-TOR") is one of the words that means what it appears to mean: "deserter". Roaming the mid levels of Cutter's Cry, it is uncertain what these cactuar are accused of deserting, unless it is the free air and sun.

They are not terribly friendly, indeed territorial, of their underground homes, so care must be taken. (14)

(14) Mob location: Cutter's Cry

Habitat:
- Cutter's Cry

Combat Rating: 38

Special Note:
Sabotender desertors are no less dangerous for living underground; their Thousand Needles can send the unwary to a prickly grave, especially if they manage to ambush you while you are fighting other creatures.

SABOTENDER EMPERATRIZ

In the foreign tongue that gives names to sabotenders, "emperatriz" (pronounced em-PEAR-a-TREES) means "empress". The flower-crowned sabotender that claimed the Sunken Temple of Qarn as its domain was so called, boasting an entire court of her cactuar kin to defend her.

But her dominance was not without warrant, as she was known to be able to shower her foes with a hundred-thousand needles--if given enough time and concentration to count them out.

(13) Boss fight: Sabotender Emperatriz

Habitat:
- Sunken Temple of Qarn (Hard), The Cameral Chamber

Combat Rating: 50

Special Note:
Should one encounter such a sabotender, interrupt her count of her needles as swiftly as possible. Take great care to eliminate any of her minions who give her cover, as well.

SABOTENDER GUARDIA

The sabotender guardia (pronounced "GWAR-dee-a", not as we pronounce "guard") stands "head" and shoulders above its soldado kin, quite literally. But it does so figuratively; it is the single great defender of the Emperatriz, and can cast magicks--the spell "Cover"--to shield her from all harm.

(13) Boss fight: Sabotender Emperatriz

Habitat:
- Sunken Temple of Qarn (Hard), The Cameral Chamber

Combat Rating: 50

Special Note:
Should you encounter an Emperatriz and her Guardia, disable or slay the guardia first, lest she complete the count of her needles and annihilate you with a death by a hundred-thousand needles.

SABOTENDER SOLDADO

"Soldado" (pronounced "sole-DAH-do") means "soldier", and so the sabotender soldado is. These club-wielding, behelmeted seedkin swarmed to the defense of the Sabotender Emperatriz when she was confronted in the Sunken Temple of Qarn.

(13) Boss fight: Sabotender Emperatriz

Habitat:
- Sunken Temple of Qarn (Hard), The Cameral Chamber

Combat Rating: 50