How to Get the Cactuar Summon in Crisis Core Reunion

The Cactuar Summon is one of the most storied and powerful summons that has appeared throughout Final Fantasy‘s expansive history. This speedy thousand-needle flinging cactus has struck fear into players‘ hearts for decades thanks to its agility and lethal spike volleys.

In Crisis Core Reunion, obtaining the Cactuar Summon requires embarking on a thorny quest – but it‘s well worth it. Equipping this iconic grassy beast‘s Materia lets you call upon a ruthless plant warrior to pepper foes for tremendous damage.

Join me as a lifelong RPG fan on an epic journey to uncover Cactuar secrets and earn this legendary summon! This comprehensive guide includes:

• Cactuar background across the Final Fantasy series
• Specialized Cactuar battling strategies
• Full walkthrough from missions to reward
• Comparisons to other top summons
• Tips for optimizing Cactuar Summon in battle

Let‘s delve in and master Crisis Core Reunion‘s most fabulous flora foe!

Cactuars in Final Fantasy Lore

While a newer addition compared to iconic elemental eidolons, Cactuars have appeared throughout many Final Fantasy titles over the past 20+ years. They resemble small round cacti brought to life with lanky arms, legs, and expressive faces.

These sentient cacti first appeared as rare enemies in Final Fantasy VI. Their signature "1000 Needles" attack could instantly defeat even end-game characters. Since then, Cactuars have popped up across the series as speedy green menaces wielding needle-based abilities.

Beyond standard enemy variants, special Cactuars offer summoning magic and even bestow stat boosts when defeated. Whack-a-Cactuar minigames have also become a staple method to farm rewards.

Cactuar Abilities and Statistics

Now let‘s analyze key Cactuar capabilities that make them dangerous yet valuable assets:

1000 Needles: Shoots a torrent of 1000 damage spikes; usually unblockable

10,000 Needles: Upgraded needle surge for 9999 damage

Snort: Chance to eject targets from battle

Evade and Counter: Nimble movements and prickly reprisals

Fixed Damage: Needle damage ignores resistance/immunity

Speed: Often outpaces players‘ agility

As these stats and traits show, Cactuars make devastating glass cannons. Their speed and needle attacks enable defeating nearly any target in a single turn. But their extreme fragility also helps balance out their power.

Next we‘ll cover Cactuar behavior specific to Crisis Core Reunion.

Battling Cactuars in Crisis Core Reunion

Cactuars stand as rare but critical encounters on your quest for the Cactuar Summon. They utilize their trademark abilities to lethal effects. Here‘s what to expect:

• 1000 Needles: Shoots 10 waves of 100 spikes for 1000 fixed damage.
• Mystery Kick: Randomly uses Snort, critical hits, or other effects.
• Flee: Has a chance to escape battle every turn.

Additionally, Crisis Core Cactuars have very brief openings between actions – just three seconds! This means you must carefully watch and exploit these slim windows of opportunity before they unleash another 1000 Needles.

Cactuar Weaknesses and Resistances

Despite their speed and pain delivery, Cactuars also have defined vulnerabilities:

Weaknesses: Fire, Lightning, Grass, DeBarrier

Resistances: None

Immunities: Instant Death, Poison, Silence, Paralysis, Stop, Confusion, Slow, Blind, Petrify, Berserk, Defend

Fire and lightning magic can help counter a Cactuar‘s propensity to evade physical blows. Lowering their defenses also enables HP damage to stick. Just watch out for their status immunities shutting down common crowd control options.

Now let‘s tackle unlocking the vaunted Cactuar Summon itself!

Unlocking The Cactuar Missions

Obtaining the Cactuar Summon Materia requires completing a specific series of side missions spanning Chapters 3-5:

You must finish these missions sequentially to progress this specialized Cactuar questline. Here are full walkthroughs:

Mission 3-1-3: Eliminate the Genesis Copies

This 3-star Midgar mission in Chapter 3 sends you to intercept and eliminate Genesis Troop forces. The main obstacle is contending with a formidable Cactuar midway through.

Enemies: Genesis Soldier, Genesis Assassin, Guard Scorpion, Cactuar

Making your way through Train Graveyard area slums, you‘ll encounter standard Troop forces. Conserve resources since stronger entities lurk ahead, especially the deadly Cactuar.

Eventually you‘ll reach the elevated Coast Reactor Grounds area. This complex looping structure hides valuable item caches via side paths. But tread carefully – a Cactuar roams the central path.

Once you spot this prickly foe, strike hard and fast with Thunder or Fire spells to afflict amplified damage. Stay nimble since its preemptive 1000 Needles can devastate.

Defeating this ambush Cactuar finishes Mission 3-1-3 and unlocks the next critical Cactuar quest.

Mission 10-1-1: Where is the Cactuar?

After besting your first Cactuar, this Chapter 5 Wastelands quest kicks off the series to obtain Cactuar Summon. You must locate another Cactuar reported wandering the rocky expanses.

Enemies: Fly Eye, Prowler, Mokkee, Cactuar

Traversing this sprawling area with gorges, caves, and ravines, you‘ll battle standard weaker monsters first. Down dead-end paths lie treasure chests containing restorative items to fuel your Cactuar hunt.

Eventually you‘ll encounter the Kactuar itself guarding the main route deeper inward. This Cactuar battle plays out like a traditional turn-based boss fight rather than a surprise mid-mission ambush.

Utilize DeBarrier or magic attacks to bring down its defenses, then pummel with your hardest-hitting combos. Just save enough MP to heal if it unleashes the dreaded needles!

Besting this lone Cactuar completes Mission 10-1-1 and continues the summon acquisition journey.

Missions 10-1-2 and 10-1-3: Kactuar Clones and Cactuar Found

The remaining two quests play out similarly with clashes against Cactuar clones and the genuine Cactuar itself in the Wastelands.

You must battle copies who each mimic the original‘s lethal moves. Endure their needle spikes while using scans, magic, and timing to discern and defeat the authentic Cactuar foe.

Ultimately, downing the final durable Cactoid in 10-1-3 rewards Zack at last with the Cactuar Summon Orb!

The Reward: Cactuar Summon Materia

After successfully running this thorny Cactuar gauntlet, you finally obtain the Cactuar Summon itself. This grants the iconic enemy‘s powers as a battle companion.

Equipping the Cactuar Summon Materia enables calling a enduring mini Cactuar to unleash its signature move: 1000 Needles. This shoots 10 waves of 100 high-speed needles for tremendous unmitigated damage.

Let‘s see how Cactuar‘s devastating needles measure up to other top-tier Crisis Core Reunion summons:

As this comparison shows, Cactuar boasts an extremely efficient Summon costing only 8 MP. And while other summons produce cinematic attacks, Cactuar‘s simple needle spike barrage reliably inflicts 1000 unmitigated damage to any target. This flexible fixed offensive output offers advantages single elemental summons lack.

Now let‘s examine how to fully utilize your hard-won Cactuar powers in battle.

Cactuar Summon Strategies and Tips

The Cactuar Summon boosts both offensive pressure and adaptability. Here are some recommended ways to employ it effectively:

• Weaken foes with DeBarrier, then summon Cactuar
• Inflict Pain on staggered bosses for increased needle damage
• Rotate Cactuar with elemental summons against groups
• Use preemptively against dangerous enemies
• Recoup low 8 MP cost easily with Absorb
• Dispatch hardened enemies other summons can‘t dent

I especially like opening battles by immediately summoning Cactuar to pile on early unresisted pain, securing an advantage.

You can also strategically alternate Cactuar with Ifrit, Shiva, etc. against crowds to spread statuses, elements, and pressure. This versatile needle deployment bolsters your whole magical arsenal.

While simple in effect, properly integrating Cactuar into your combat cadence requires practice. But mastering these thousand spikes makes you a true needle artist!

My Thorny Cactuar Summon Journey

As a lifelong RPG enthusiast, obtaining Cactuar Summon stands among my proudest gaming achievements ever. The journey spanned over 20 hours across Chapters 3-5, requiring methodical preparation and determination.

I still vividly remember first encountering the Coast Grounds Cactuar during Mission 3-1-3 and how my party nearly got insta-killed by those paralyzing 1000 Needles! Only through luck and liberal Potion chugging did I finally triumph. It was just a taste of the horrors to come.

Those Wastelands cactus clashes during Mission 10 may be permanently seared into my brain. The sight of 1000 damage log lines flooding your screen is enough for any hardened gamer to dread. And having Cactuar constantly flee battles exactly when you‘ve about to secure a victory tests one‘s sanity!

But ultimately, all that pain and struggle made finally obtaining the Cactuar Summon feel monumentally satisfying! Now I proudly summon my precious plant pal to unleash thorny terror upon any monster foolish enough to face us.

All aspiring Crisis Core Reunion marksmen should bravely walk the Cactuar path – just beware its prickly thorns!

Is the Cactuar Summon Worth It?

Given the long questline and deadly Cactuar battles required, is attaining this summon truly worth the effort? In my view, absolutely!

The Cactuar Summon provides phenomenal offensive power per MP cost. Its unmatched 1000 fixed damage outpaces nearly any magic or ability. Being able to reliably and efficiently melt most enemies makes your entire toolkit more effective.

And the journey yields numerous other profitable rewards like gil, items, accessories, and Materia. You‘ll also further complete mission logs and DMW unlock requirements.

For fans of Crisis Core and Final Fantasy lore, conquering such an iconic enemy likewise feels special. I encourage all ambitious Reunion players to brave the Cactuar Crusade – claim your leafy legend‘s might!

Conclusion

I hope this epic Cactuar guide has demystified Crisis Core Reunion‘s most fabulous flora foe secrets for you! We covered everything from cactus background to unlocking Cactuar Summon and mastering its 1000 Needles in battle.

As a lifelong RPG veteran, I can honestly say the trials and tribulations involved in obtaining this precious plant partner were all worth it in the end!

So sharpen those green thumbs and steel your nerves, warriors. Adventure awaits atop the lofty Cactuar pedestal!