Cactiball

Dragon Quest monster Cactiball

Art by Akira Toriyama First appearance Dragon Quest V

The Cactiball (originally CactiBall / Cacti Ball, Cactus Ball in fan-translations) is a recurring monster in the Dragon Quest series. Introduced in Dragon Quest V, they are, as the name would suggest, ball-shaped cactus monsters.

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

#19 - Cactiball
HP MP Experience Gold 25 16 9 Attack Defense Speed 24 14 17
Dropped Item	Medicinal herb
Locations	Faerie Lae
Skills	Body Slam
Bestiary #	19
Game	Dragon Quest V
Console	SNES, PS2, DS, Mobile

First appearance in the series, players are likely to first encounter them when visiting the world of the faeries.

Dragon Quest VII

#7 - Cactiball
HP MP Experience Gold 14 4 5 Attack Defense Speed 18 14 10
Dropped Item	Rosevine Whip
Locations	Rexwood
Family	Plant
Capture Rate	Easy
Bestiary #	7
Game	Dragon Quest VII
Console	PSX

The Cactiball can be found in the Rexwood Tower in the past and the Colorstone Mine in the present.

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. His name is Spine Les.

Variants

Fandangow

The Fandangow is an orange Cactiball reminiscent of sunset in the American southwest.

#32 - Fandangow
HP MP Experience Gold 33 19 13 Attack Defense Speed 35 30 16
Dropped Item	Hardwood headwear
Locations	Coburg area
Skills	Weird Dance
Capture Rate	1/32
Bestiary #	32
Game	Dragon Quest V
Console	SNES, PS2, DS, Mobile

Gallery

• 

  Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime

• 

  The ps2 rendering of the Cactiball

• 

  The Fandangow

Trivia

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