In the vast, sun-scorched Corel Desert of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, four elusive Cactuar Rocks await discovery-each a gateway to thrilling battles and the quirky Cactuar Crush mini-game. From rocky ledges to hidden caves, mastering their locations is key to unlocking unique challenges and rewards in this expansive new chapter of the beloved RPG. Ready your grappling hook and prepare to outwit these prickly foes as you explore Corel’s secrets like never before.
Note that at first, you’ll only be able to do two of the Protorelic objectives. After you finish the first two, the related NPC will tell you that he’ll be in touch when you can do the others. You’ll be able to complete the later two Protorelic spots toward the end of chapter 12.
As you get to each Protorelic area, you’ll be tasked with immediately finding a Cactuar-shaped stone in the desert to open the door to the cactus-covered reactor. Below, we detail where to find all Cactuar rocks in the Corel desert in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Cactuar rock #1 location
The first Cactuar Rock in Corel is located east of the Modular Reactor, near a rocky area not far from a Chocobo Stop. After obtaining the Cactuar Statue from the Modular Reactor, hold up on the D-Pad to emit a green beam that points directly to the rock’s location. Once there, players must stand in front of the rock, hold up on the D-Pad, and defeat a group of Orange Cactrots. Interacting with the rock afterward triggers a humorous pose from Cloud and unlocks further progress in the Protorelic quest, including the Cactuar Crush mini-game inside the reactor.
You don’t need to climb up any specific way to get to this Cactuar rock. From the north, you’ll be able to walk up a naturally-formed ramp. Walk around the machinery and just head straight towards the marked location above.
Cactuar rock #2 location
The second Cactuar Rock in Corel is located northeast of the second Modular Reactor. To reach it, players need to climb a series of ledges and use the grappling hook to access higher ground. Once at the top, raising the Cactuar Statue will cause three golden Cactuars to spawn, which must be defeated to interact with the rock and progress the quest. This location is characterized by rocky terrain and requires some platforming skills to reach.
To get to the second Cactuar rock, you’ll need to approach it from the cliff to the west of the rock. You can climb up the cliff by using yellow ledges, if you approach the cliff from the south (marked by a star in the above map). One you climb up, you can use your grappling hook to get across the gap on to more yellow ledges, which lead you to the rock.
Cactuar rock #3 location
Cactuar Rock #3 in Corel is located across the river, west of the Modular Reactor, in a cave near the Desert Prison. To reach it, players need to climb down some yellow beams inside the cave. Upon arrival, they will face a Gigantuar battle. This location becomes accessible after completing the Musclehead Colosseum fight in Chapter 12. After defeating the Gigantuar, players can return to the Modular Reactor to continue the Cactuar Crush mini-game with Yuffie.
If you teleport straight to the Scrapyard Prison Cell (where you found Dyne), exit the scrapyard and turn right, towards the above marked area. You’ll be able to see the glow of the cactuar rock in that big hole straight ahead. To get into there, walk left of the hole, along the edge, and follow the path. You’ll have to climb down and then up some yellow ledges, but following this way will lead you straight to the Cactuar rock.
Cactuar rock #4 location
Cactuar Rock #4 in the Corel region of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is located on a ledge overlooking the ocean to the east of the final Modular Reactor, in the southern part of Corel. To reach it, fast travel to the nearby Chocobo Stop, then climb some yellow beams and use the grappling hook to swing across to the area where the rock is found. Upon arrival, players must defeat a Gargantuar before they can investigate the rock and continue the quest. This location is near the site of the Tonberry King fight and becomes accessible after completing certain story progressions around Chapter 12.
The last Cactuar rock is on the peninsula part of the eastern Corel desert. To get to the cliff with the rock on it, head to where the star marker is on the above map. You’ll see yellow ledges to climb up a cliff and following the path straight – which involves more grappling hook and cliff climbing action – will take you to the rock.
The world of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is huge, but we have your back if you need help. We have a beginner’s guide, list of side content rewards, and even an explainer on how to plan ahead for your Gold Saucer date.
Where is the easiest Cactuar rock to find in Corel for beginners
The easiest Cactuar Rock to find in Corel for beginners is Cactuar Rock #1. It is accessible without any complicated climbing-players can simply walk up a naturally-formed ramp from the north, navigate around some abandoned machinery, and head straight to the marked location on the map near the Modular Reactor area. This location is available early on, around Chapter 9, making it the most straightforward for new players exploring the Corel Desert.
Is Cactuar Rock #1 the easiest for beginners to find in Corel
Yes, Cactuar Rock #1 is considered the easiest to find for beginners in Corel. It does not require any special climbing or grappling hook use; you can simply walk up a big hill from the north past some abandoned mining equipment to reach it. This location is accessible early in the game, around Chapter 9, making it straightforward for new players exploring Corel.
