Cactiball

The Cactiball is a recurring monster in the Dragon Quest series. Introduced in Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, they are, as the name would suggest, ball-shaped cactus monsters.

Dragon Quest monster Cactiball

Art by Akira Toriyama Japanese サボテンボール Romaji Sabotenbōru First appearance Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride Old localisation CactiBall

Characteristics

A Cactiball's name is an adequate description itself; the only other notable aspects of the monsters' appearance are limbs, small compared to the rest of its body, a devious face and a flower at the top of their head/body.

Cactiballs are fairly energetic given how they dance about in their idle animation. For their actual dances they will curl in their arms and legs and roll about. When attacking, a Cactiball will extend and enlarge its spikes and may perform a jumping attack that has a chance of landing a devastating blow. They aren't exactly dangerous monsters, however, as they are encountered early on in most of the games they appear in and will only pose a threat to a low-leveled player, though this can apply just as well to other monsters in the area.

Appearances

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

Cactiball (サボテンボール, Sabotenbōru ) Big Book of Beasts No. : 019

Sprites Attributes SFC PS2 DS & Mobile HP MP EXP Gold Attack Defence Agility Evasion Recruit Rate File:Cactiball DQVII PSX.gif 25 0 16 9 24 14 17 0/64 N/A

Resistances Frizz Sizz Fire Breath Bang Crack Cool Breath Woosh Zap Whack Kamikazee 0% 0% 0% 0% 67% 67% 0% 67% 0% 0% Drain Magic Poison Stun Poof Dazzle Sleep Fizzle Confusion Sap 100% 0% 0% 67% 20% 20% 100% 0% 0%

Additional information Spells Skills Locations Dropped item None Cannonballs one character (25% chance to ignore defence) Faerie Lae Medicinal herb1⁄16 Notable changes in the remakes None

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

Cactiball (サボテンボール, Sabotenbōru ) Big Book of Beasts No. : 007

Sprite Attributes File:Cactiball DQVII PSX.gif HP MP EXP Gold Attack Defence Agility Evasion Recruit Rate 14 0 4 (PS1) 6 (3DS) 5 (PS1) 8 (3DS) 18 14 10 0⁄64 1⁄16

Resistances Frizz Sizz Fire Breath Bang Crack Cool Breath Woosh Rock Zap Whack Paralysis 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 10% Army Poison Stun Poof Dazzle Sleep Fizzle Fuddle Sap Drain Magic Ban Dance 0% 0% 0% 80% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 100% 100%

Additional information Spells Skills Locations Dropped item Flee Rainbow Mines The Tower Thorn whip1⁄256 Notable changes in the remakes

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

This article is a stub. You can help by expanding it.

Dragon Quest Monsters

Stores water
inside the body to
survive in deserts

Cactiballs (then CactiBall, with the 'b' in uppercase) appear in the first Monsters game as basic monsters: one can easily be bred by using a plant pedigree and bug mate. They can also be found behind the Gate of Labyrinth and the Gate of Demolition.

Dragon Quest Monsters 2

Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart

Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime

When they get in a
huff, watch out for
their puff! You could
get yourself caught in
a real spinefield.

Cactiballs are Platiosi and thus members of the Plob in this spin-off game. They often wander about, occasionally stopping to shake some maracas, and will turn themselves into an unapproachable ball of spikes if Rocket gets too close. They are first encountered in Tootinshleiman's Tomb and later in Flucifer's Necropolis where they hide under the sand with only the tops of their heads exposed but will jump out and immediately extend their spikes if approached. Like other normal enemies, it is possible to have a Cactiball as part of the tank crew after sending at least 30 back to town and speaking to the Cactiball in the Museum.

Related monster

Gallery

• 
  Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime

Trivia

• In Rocket Slime a flattened Cactiball has an uncanny resemblance to a Cactuar.