Template:Sideicon Template:Enemy Template:See Also The Guard Scorpion, incorrectly titled Scorpion Guard in the European manual, is the first boss the player encounters in Final Fantasy VII. Cloud and Barret fight it in the Sector 1 Reactor at the Mako Reactor's Core.
Unlike most other bosses in the game, Guard Scorpion's battle music is "Opening ~ Bombing Mission" and not "Those Who Fight Further".
Stats
Template:FFVII Enemy Stats
Formations
| # | Formation |
|---|---|
| 324 | Guard Scorpion |
Locations
| No.1 Reactor | |
|---|---|
| Core | 324 (fixed) |
Battle
Cloud giving his suggestion to the player.
A misleading battle message has Cloud tell the player to attack Guard Scorpion while its tail is raised, but doing so will cause it to always use Tail Laser, which deals a large amount of damage to both Cloud and Barret. This is its only strong attack.
Guard Scorpion has two forms. It starts in Form 1 and its second form is when it raises its tail. It will transform to Form 2 after using two damaging attacks, and will revert shortly. Guard Scorpion has a fixed attack pattern: Search Scope, Attack, Search Scope, Attack, Transform to Form 2, Wait, Wait, Transform to Form 1, and it starts from Search Scope again. It always uses Search Scope on the victim of its attacks before attacking, and Search Scope does nothing. Also his two basic attacks Rifle and Scorpion Tail just do damage in a decent amount, but not much else.
Strategy
Cloud should cast Bolt while Barret attacks. The player can set Barret in the back row to take less damage, as he has a ranged weapon. Eventually, Guard Scorpion will raise its tail, and counter attack with Tail Laser whenever hit. It is best to do nothing but heal when it raises its tail.
AI script
Declare Stage = 0
Declare Count = 0
Declare Warning = 0
Declare SelectedTarget
SelectedTarget = random opponent
Use Search Scope on SelectedTarget
Display Message "Locked On Target"
Count = Count + 1
If (Self HP < 1/2 * Self Max HP) Then: Use Scorpion Tail on SelectedTarget
Else: Use Rifle on SelectedTarget
1/3 Chance: Use Scorpion Tail on SelectedTarget
Count = Count + 1
Use Raise Tail
Stage = 1
Self Defense = 255
Self Magic Defense = 384
If (Barret is dead) Then: Display Message "Cloud "It's gonna fire that laser..."
Else: Display Message "Cloud "Barret, be careful!"
Display Message ""Attack while it's tail's up!"
Display Message "It's gonna counterattack with its laser.""
Display Message "Barret "I dunno what's goin' on, but..."
Display Message "it looks pretty bad."
Display Message "Let's see what it does when it's tail's up..."
Warning = 1
Count = 5
Count = Count + 1
Use Drop Tail
Stage = 0
Self Defense = 40
Self Magic Defense = 256
Count = 0
If (Stage == 1) Then: Use Tail Laser on all opponents
If (Stage == 1) Then: Use Drop Tail
Notes
- Guard Scorpion's tail is up while Stage equals 1, and down while Stage equals 0. In addition to a difference in stats and attack pattern, the two stages also have different idle animations and flinch animations.
- Depending on who's alive when Guard Scorpion raises its tail, the in-battle dialogue changes. It remains unclear to the player how to adequately respond in each scenario.
Gallery
Etymology
Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping pedipalps and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger.
Trivia
- In the 1996 demo version of Final Fantasy VII, Guard Scorpion is replaced by an enlarged Sweeper accompanied by two Grunts.
- The Manasvin Warmech from Final Fantasy XIII resembles the Guard Scorpion, having a similar tail. Both are the first boss of their respective games.
- In Final Fantasy Type-0, there is a powerful Magitek Armor boss in the fourth chapter that resembles the Guard Scorpion.