Guard Scorpion
Guard Scorpion is the boss of Reactor 1.
| Level | HP | MP | ATK | Magic Atk | Defence | Magic Def | Dex | Def % | Luck | Exp | AP | Gil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 800 | 0 | 30 | 15 | 40 (255*) | 256 (384*) | 60 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 10 | 100 |
*During 'tail laser phase' these stats increase, other stats persist when the tail is lowered
Weaknesses
Lightning (2X)
Drops
Assault Gun
Strategies
Depending on whether this run performs Guard Skip, it will be necessary to exit this fight with either just a limit stored on Cloud or a limit stored on both Cloud and Barret.
Guard Scorpion has a fixed attack pattern (search scope, attack, search scope, attack, raise tail, wait, lower tail) and attack consists of either rifle or scorpion tail.
If Guard Scorpion has half of its maximum HP or more when it tries to attack, then it has a 2/3 chance to use Rifle and a 1/3 chance to use Scorpion Tail. If it has less than half of its maximum HP, then it will always use Scorpion Tail.
When the tail is raised, it will always counter attack with Tail Laser and otherwise not attack.
The most common strategy below on is on ATB Active and uses limit breaks to get extra turns.
Example Guard scorpion fight:
As fight begins the user would try for a first turn, if ATB is highest with Barret hold circle, if ATB is highest with Cloud hold down + circle, in the below example there was no luck for a first turn.
Search Scope
Guard scorpion targets Barret with search scope, therefore the user would change the turn order using triangle ensuring to attack with Barret then Bolt with Cloud.
Rifle Gun
Guard scorpion attacks Barret, commonly rifle gun will not be enough to give Barret a limit break, the user also has an opportunity to change the turn order as the attack is going off but will need to be quick, chances are if you attempted for a first turn this is your chance to reorder
Search Scope
Guard scorpion targets Cloud with search scope, therefore the user would change the turn order selecting Cloud first, then Barret
Scorpion Tail
Guard scorpion attacks Cloud, commonly this will be enough damage to do a limit but is based on damage rolls, in this scenario Cloud has a limit from the attack and same as before the user also has an opportunity to change the turn order as the attack is going off but will need to be quick. Provided the turn order is Cloud then Barret the user will hold circle and get the braver off before the tail is raised.
Tail Laser Phase (raised tail)
At this point Cloud would need a limit so would need to cast bolt twice or cast bolt once and attack with Cloud depending on the HP of guard scorpion, during this example bolt is cast twice and tail laser number 1 hits Cloud but misses Barret and the second hits Barret whilst the user is buffering the attack with Barret. Now Barret has a limit but the attack command was selected and the cursor is on guard scorpion so when it is put through Barret will attack instead of limit
Search Scope (lowered tail)
Barret puts through the attack that was buffered and at this point the user will just hold circle, will bolt with Cloud then do Barrets limit and guard scorpion is killed before the Search scope goes off.
Visual representation of the fight
(Davesterio's tutorial, starts at 10:20)
Damage Rolls
Since in basically every speedrun the only fight that is won before this fight starts is the first fight against two MP enemies by the train, the set of possible stats Cloud could have at this point is very narrow, and Barret always has the same stats since he has not won any fights.
Cloud Magic
At level 6 when the game starts, Cloud has a base magic stat of 19. After the first fight, Cloud's magic stat increases with the following distribution:
| Cloud's Level 7 Base Magic Stat | |
|---|---|
| 1/8 Chance | 19 |
| 3/8 Chance | 20 |
| 3/8 Chance | 21 |
| 1/8 Chance | 22 |
Note that this is Cloud's base magic stat, not his net magic stat. Since Cloud has Lightning and Ice materia equipped, plus the Buster Sword, his net magic stat is 4 more than his base magic stat.
The following is a breakdown of the damage rolls you get for each of Cloud's potential magic stats
| 19 Base Magic (23 Net Magic) | |
|---|---|
| 73/256 Chance (28.5%) | 84 |
| 91/256 Chance (35.6%) | 86 |
| 91/256 Chance (35.6%) | 88 |
| 1/256 Chance (0.4%) | 90 |
Expected Damage: 87.1640625
| 20 Base Magic (24 Net Magic) | |
|---|---|
| 77/256 Chance (30.1%) | 86 |
| 89/256 Chance (34.8%) | 88 |
| 89/256 Chance (34.8%) | 90 |
| 1/256 Chance (0.4%) | 92 |
Expected Damage: 88.109375
| 21 Base Magic (25 Net Magic) | |
|---|---|
| 85/256 Chance (33.2%) | 90 |
| 85/256 Chance (33.2%) | 92 |
| 85/256 Chance (33.2%) | 94 |
| 1/256 Chance (0.4%) | 96 |
Expected Damage: 92.015625
| 22 Base Magic (26 Net Magic) | |
|---|---|
| 5/256 Chance (2.0%) | 90 |
| 83/256 Chance (32.4%) | 92 |
| 84/256 Chance (32.8%) | 94 |
| 83/256 Chance (32.4%) | 96 |
| 1/256 Chance (0.4%) | 98 |
Expected Damage: 93.9375
Cloud Limit (Guard Skip)
In categories that perform Guard Skip and then perform Preemptive Aps, it is necessary to exit this fight with a limit on Cloud.
Cloud + Barret Limits (No Guard Skip)
In categories that don't perform Guard Skip and therefore fight Air Buster as the next boss, it is necessary to exit this fight with a limit on both Cloud and Barret. This is typically more difficult and slower than exiting this fight with a limit on only Cloud.
No Limits (NG+, no Preemptive Aps)
In some cases, it would not be significantly beneficial to exit this fight with a limit break stored, so it is not necessary to have one stored.
AI script
Start of Battle
Declare Stage = 0 Declare Count = 0 Declare Warning = 0 Declare SelectedTarget
Turn
If (Count == 0 OR Count == 2) Then:
SelectedTarget = random opponent
Use Search Scope on SelectedTarget
Display Message "Locked On Target"
Count = Count + 1
ElseIf (Count == 1 OR Count == 3) Then:
2/3 Chance:
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
Else If (Count == 4) Then:
Use Raise Tail
Stage = 1
Self Defense = 255
Self Magic Defense = 384
If (Warning == 0) Then:
If (Cloud is alive) Then:
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.""
Else:
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
Else If (Count == 5 OR Count == 6) Then:
Count = Count + 1
Else:
Use Drop Tail
Stage = 0
Self Defense = 40
Self Magic Defense = 256
Count = 0
Counter (Attacked)
If (Stage == 1) Then:
Use Tail Laser on all opponents
Counter (Death)
If (Stage == 1) Then:
Use Drop Tail
Reference https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Guard_Scorpion_(Final_Fantasy_VII)