1,000 Needles in Final Fantasy IX.
Shoots tiny needles at an enemy, dealing 1000 damage.
Final Fantasy VI description
1000 Needles (針千本, Hari Sen-bon?), also known as Blowfish, is a Blue Magic spell and a monster ability. Although it is not exclusive to them, the attack has become the trademark ability for the cactuar. The spell sprays a steady stream of needles at a target, and deals exactly 1,000 HP damage regardless of Defense, armor, Protect or (at times) Evasion.
It is useful against enemies with low HP and high defensive abilities. There is sometimes a stronger version exclusive to enemies called 10000 Needles. A weaker version called 100 Needles can also be used by enemies in Final Fantasy VII and low level cactuar type in Final Fantasy XIV.
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Appearances
Final Fantasy V
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Deals 1,000 damage to one enemy.
Description
1000 Needles (also known as Blowfish) is a spell taught by Lamia and Hedgehog to a Blue Mage. It costs 25 MP to cast. The player can also use it by catching and releasing a Lamia, Cactus, or Hedgehog.
Final Fantasy VI
Template:Sideicon The Cactuar can use 1000 Needles (also known as Blowfish) up to ten times in a row for a total of 10,000 HP damage. The Brainpan and Face also know the spell. Strago can learn 1000 Needles as a Lore, which costs 50 MP to cast. It can be learned from Angler Whelk, Brainpan, Cactuar, Dark Force, Face, Humbaba, Samurai Soul, and Gilgamesh.
The Cactuar esper, When summoned for 50 MP, randomly uses 1000 Needles on all enemies that does 1,000 damage, or an attack called 10,000 Needles? that does 9,999 damage.
Final Fantasy VII
Template:Sideicon The Cactuer on Cactus Island may use 1000 Needles to deal exactly 1000 damage to its target.
The Death Machine uses a similar named attack, 100 Needles, but it is a normal attack and its damage can range.
Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-
Template:Sideicon The Cactuar can use the 1000 Needles ability.
Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-
Template:Sideicon Enemies have access to 1000 Needles, 10,000 Needles and 100,000 Needles, which deal ten hits of 100 damage, 1,000 damage and 10,000 damage respectively. 1000 Needles is also Cactuar's Limit Break on Chocobo Mode. It deals 18 consecutive hits, whose damage depends on the level, to every enemy on the field.
The damage dealt for each hit is as follows:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 500 | 1000 | 1500 | 2000 |
1000 Needles is a level 8 Independent Materia that boosts the chance of Cactuar appearing on the Digital Mind Wave. It begins at 5x, and increases by 1x each level up to 9x. It is a reward for Mission 9-4-3 and is bought from Junon Souvenirs.
Final Fantasy VIII
Template:Sideicon The Cactuar uses 1000 Needles when it is attacked. Humorously, the attack itself displays hundreds of '1's to signify each needle attacking the target, but this is only done for comedic effect as the actual damage is shown after the attack has ended.
Final Fantasy IX
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Reduces the enemy's HP by 1,000.
Description
The Cactuar counters all attacks with 1000 Needles when hidden in the ground. It can't be reflected and works with Return Magic. Quina can learn 1000 Needles by eating a Cactuar. It costs 8 MP to use. 1000 Needles can be useful to deal controlled damage to reduce an enemy's HP to low digits, giving Quina the chance to eat it.
Final Fantasy X
Template:Sideicon Qactuars can use 1000 Needles while Cactuars have the 10,000 Needles attack. The Cactuar King from the Monster Arena can use 10,000 Needles and 99,999 Needles, which kills instantly.
Final Fantasy X-2
Template:Sideicon 1000 Needles is a Blue Bullet learned from Cactuars. It costs 24 MP to cast. 3000-Needle Special is used by an Oversoul Cactuar, which does three 1,000 damage attacks to random party members.
Final Fantasy XI
Template:Sideicon Nearly all the members of the Sabotender family can perform the special TP Move 1000 Needles. It does 1000 damage divided among all members of the party or alliance. This damage cannot be reduced by Protect or Phalanx, although Stoneskin absorbs some. As damage is divided among members, this makes the attack particularly effective against one person. Because of the specific damage inflicted to players, the advanced community has used the attack to test the true mathematics behind the Stoneskin spell and the nature of equipment that enhances its effect.
1000 Needles can be learned by Blue Mages from Cactuars. It shoots multiple needles at enemies within range for Light-elemental damage adding up to 1000 points. It costs 5 Blue Magic Points to set, but at 350 MP per cast, it proves to be an unpopular spell.
Many variants exist among higher-level monsters, including but not limited to 2000, 4000, and 10,000 Needles. The High Notorious Monster Cuijatender uses a unique version called ??? Needles, which can deal a maximum of 68,000 damage divided among unfortunate recipients.
Final Fantasy XII
Template:Sideicon 1000 Needles is a Technick. Only the Flowering Cactoid Mark uses this attack, as Cactites and related enemies are docile and often asleep.
In the original version it is purchased at the Mosphoran Highwaste for 7,000 gil and it takes 35 LP to learn. In the Zodiac versions, 1000 Needles costs 40 LP and can be used by the Archer, Bushi and Shikari. It can be found in the Sochen Cave Palace.
Even if the user is blinded, 1000 Needle's base hit chance barely decreases. Using it to end an enemy when afflicted by Sight Unseeing (in which the user must be in Blind status to use) almost always hits. 1000 Needles is useful for the controlled demise of enemies when paired with gambits such as "Foe: HP<=1000: 1000 Needles".
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Template:Sideicon 1000 Needles is the Esper Cactoid's attack, but it does not necessarily inflict 1000 HP of damage.
Final Fantasy XIII
Template:Sideicon 1000 Needles is Cactuar Prime's main attack, and inflicts 1000 damage with every hit, as well as containing a possibility of inflicting Pain or Fog. The Gigantuar Mark uses 10 000 Needles, which has a base damage of 10 000 and the same chance of inflicting Pain and Fog. However, it is considerably slower compared to the Cactuar Prime.
Final Fantasy XIII-2
Template:Sideicon The Gigantuar uses 1000 Needles, an attack that hits one party member. It has a high chance of inflicting Pain and/or Fog. The Metal Gigantuar uses 10000 Needles as a group attack that is deployed every 7 turns. The regular Cactuar can also use 1000 Needles as a Feral Link.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
Template:Sideicon 1000 Needles can be used by the Cactuar, Cactair and Cactuar Ω. Lightning's Guard abilities do little to mitigate the damage. The Cactair's first two 1000 Needles attacks fail as the needles get stuck in its hair.
Final Fantasy XIV
Template:Sideicon The cactuar family can use 1000 Needles and its variants. Since cactuars are encountered at low-to-mid levels, most only use weaker forms, like 100 Needles. The full 1000 Needles move is generally reserved for boss-type cactuars seen in FATEs or quests.
Final Fantasy XV
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Cactuar's needle attack.
Enemy attacks are not named, but cactuar-type enemies shoot needles. The bestiary entry mentions it thusly:
Quick-footed creature shrouded in mystery. Rumors about this legendary spiny sprinter running across the continent date back to antiquity, yet few have actually seen the cactuar with their own eyes. It is said to launch exactly 1,000 needles at its foes in self-defense, but biologists have yet to find an explanation for the precision of its attack.
Final Fantasy Type-0
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This section about an ability in Final Fantasy Type-0 is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Template:Sideicon 1000 Needles exists according to Cactuar, but it is not listed on List of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles enemy abilities.
This section about an ability in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy Dimensions
Template:Sideicon Gigantuar can use a version of 1000 Needles: instead of hitting a single target for 1000 points of damage it attacks randomly 5 times, each time dealing 1000 points of damage, and potentially inflicting Stun. It can also use a single-shot version of 1000 Needles as a counterattack.
Final Fantasy Dimensions II
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This section about an ability in Final Fantasy Dimensions II is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Dissidia Final Fantasy
Template:Sideicon 1000 Needles is the ability of the Cactuar summon. It instantly inflicts 1000 points of Brave damage to the opponent. If their Brave is lower than 1000, 1000 Needles reduces their Brave to zero instead of inflicting Break status.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
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This section in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia
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This section about an ability in Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Pictlogica Final Fantasy
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This section about an ability in Pictlogica Final Fantasy is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade
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This section about an ability in Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy All the Bravest
Template:Sideicon 1,000 Needles is the enemy ability that is used by the Cactuar during battle.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper
Template:Sideicon 1000 Needles is used by Cactuars when they appear in various dungeons, as well as by boss-type Cactuar variants such as the Jumbo Cactuar. It always deals 1000 damage to the target.
Final Fantasy Explorers
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Launch a blur of needles straight ahead that deals exactly 1,000 damage (or 2,000 for criticals).
Blue Magic description
1,000 Needles is used by Cactuars and Gigantuars. A Blue Mage can learn it by defeating an enemy who has used it in the presence of the Blue Mage. As a Blue Magic, 1,000 Needles costs 100 AP to cast, has a cooldown time of five seconds, and hits the target once for 1,000 damage. It can be moderately useful early in the game, but is outclassed when other abilities become capable of dealing more than 1,000 damage per hit.
1,000 Needle Mode is a Crystal Surge that, when activated, makes all attacks deal 1,000 damage. Critical hits during 1,000 Needle Mode deal 10,000 damage. It can be useful for racking up fast damage by attacking as rapidly as possible, and even basic attacks from mashing the Y-button deal the same damage. It can be dangerous for the players, since enemy attacks are also affected by the Crystal Surge, and a single critical hit can kill an explorer. 1,000 Needle Mode can add the ability mutation Critical Power↑.
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
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This section about an ability in World of Final Fantasy is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales
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This section about an ability in Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy Trading Card Game
Template:Sideicon The Cactuar card can use an ability based on 1000 Needles. By Dulling the Cactuar, the player deals 1000 damage to a Forward of their choice.
Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances
Mario Hoops 3-on-3
1000 Needles is the special shot of the unlockable Cactuar character.
Gallery
_SR.png "FFAB 1000 Needles - Blue Mage (M) SR.png (24 KB)")
_SR%2B.png "FFAB 1000 Needles - Blue Mage (M) SR+.png (23 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (SSR) [FFVI].](/wiki/File:FFAB_1000_Needles_-_Sabin_SSR.png "FFAB 1000 Needles - Sabin SSR.png (8 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (SSR+) [FFVI].](/wiki/File:FFAB_1000_Needles_-_Sabin_SSR%2B.png "FFAB 1000 Needles - Sabin SSR+.png (8 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (SSR) [FFVI].](/wiki/File:FFAB_1000_Needles_-_Sabin_Legend_SSR.png "FFAB 1000 Needles - Sabin Legend SSR.png (9 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (SSR+) [FFVI].](/wiki/File:FFAB_1000_Needles_-_Sabin_Legend_SSR%2B.png "FFAB 1000 Needles - Sabin Legend SSR+.png (9 KB)")
This gallery is incomplete and requires Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-, Final Fantasy X (PS3), Final Fantasy X-2 (PS3), Final Fantasy XIV, Final Fantasy Type-0, Final Fantasy All the Bravest and Final Fantasy Trading Card Game added. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by uploading images.Etymology
1000 Needles (harisenbon) is Japanese for blowfish.
In Japan, there is a popular children's rhyme recited while making pinky promises, which says if someone breaks the promise, they must swallow a thousand needles.
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