Li'l Cactus (サボテン君 Saboten-kun, lit. Little Saboten) is a recurring character in the Mana series of games, debuting in Legend of Mana. An anthropomorphic cactus, Li'l Cactus is described as shy and of few words, although he is inclined to think about many things.
Profile[]
See also: Cactus Diaries
Legend of Mana[]
Li'l Cactus serves as a recorder in this game, taking up residence in a pot that is located in the Hero/Heroine's house in their upstairs bedroom. Whenever the player leaves the room after having recounted the details of their most recent adventures with him, the prickly plant runs over to his leaf journal (tacked onto a pillar) and jots down his thoughts on said adventures.
Sword of Mana[]
- See also: Li'l Cactus's Diary
This mysterious plant lives in the Hot House. He moves from place to place extremely quickly, never getting out in the open. Trying to talk with him will render some rather unique journal entries. It can be first found inside the hot house in the southern part of Vinquette Vicinity, once bought and plant the Cactus Essence, and later on the game, in the hot houses of Mushboom Forest, Pickly Desert, Glass Desert, Rocky Wilds and Mana Sanctuary.
Unlike Legend of mana, the protagonist interacts with this one, but this one says nothing, but similarly, when leaving the scene, the cactus leaves its vase and makes the entry in the diary. The protagonist can do successive sidequests, once completed this one does not lose his entry in the diary, unless he fails to complete it, just interacting with Li'l cactus to give his entry in the diary.
Personality[]
As his in-game description states, Li'l Cactus is a rather shy character, choosing to remain inanimated and silent each time he is in the presence of his master/mistress. His diary entries lend a whole new dimension to his personality, however; for one, it is evident that he has a very short attention span, given how most of his entries depict him butchering the stories that his master/mistress imparts to him, albeit in an endearing fashion.
Through this endearing writing style, one can deduce that Li'l Cactus is as juvenile and mischievous as he appears; his simplistic summaries of his master/mistress' adventures are peppered with quips that make light of the situations that they find themselves embroiled in.
In Legend of Mana, Li'l Cactus' mischievous, impish personality is explored through Daddy's Broom, where, in a fit of naughtiness, he steals Lisa's broom and discards it in the Junkyard, referring to it as "rubbish".
Despite this, Li'l Cactus does not have malicious intents; his actions in the eponymous Li'l Cactus quest proves as much, where, upon learning that Bud's has come down with an illness, he selflessly sets out from Home and goes on an unseen adventure that culminates with him obtaining a curative potion from pirates.
Appearances[]
Trials of Mana[]
Li'l Cactus appears in an optional sidequest exclusive to the 3D version. It hides in 50 locations throughout the world; for every 5 found, the player will unlock a new feature or reward to be claimed. Only one of these is mandatory.
Sword of Mana[]
The Li'l Cactus participates in the sidequest Poor Old Guy in Lorimar Castle.
Legend of Mana[]
Character Information[]
| Portrait(s) | Sprite(s) |  Encyclopedia Description
|
 Li'l Cactus |
|
A shy little cactus. He is a cactus of few words, but he happens to be thinking about many things.
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Trivia[]
- There are signposts in Dawn of Mana that resemble Li'l Cactus.
Gallery[]
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