Archylte Steppe (Final Fantasy XIII-2)

Archylte Steppe is a vast grassland in the world of Gran Pulse. In Final Fantasy XIII-2 it is visited in an unknown time period (??? AF), and is inhabited by a village of hunters who have a weather-controlling device. There are thus four "versions" of the steppe, as the enemies depend on the weather. There is no sign of Cocoon on the horizon.
Though the Archylte Steppe appeared in Final Fantasy XIII, none of the area is reused for Final Fantasy XIII-2, and it is thus effectively a different area.
==Datalog==
;Travel Guide: Archylte Steppe
;Area Information
The Archylte Steppe is a broad plain located in a remote corner of Pulse. The few explorers who reach the steppe return with reports of a tribe of fiercely independent nomadic hunters who have lived off the land here for centuries, cut off from the rest of human civilization.
The actual location has not been made public, but tourists with a bent for adventure might consider renting an airship and putting together their own expedition.
;From the Editor's Desk:
Some believe that the hunters are descendants of the original inhabitants of Pulse, while others claim they are a lost tribe of Cocoon. If you could get close enough to win their trust, they might tell you their story.
==Story==
Serah, Mog, and Noel travel to Archylte Steppe to fix an anomaly affecting the Sunleth Waterscape 300 AF, and find themselves in a sandstorm-filled field. They come across a hunters' settlement that has a weather-changing device. The chocobo breeder mentions that she and the others were previously citizens of Cocoon who had to acclimate to life on Pulse, though they were initially fearful of the transition.
After earning the hunters' trust by defeating a pack of Goblins and retrieving wool, Serah and Noel are taught how to use the weather machine. They uncover the Faeryl, a monster sucking up Miniflan. The path to the Faeryl is blocked by a Long Gui, but Serah and Noel use the device again to remove it, as it doesn't like thunder. They defeat the Faeryl and discover that it accidentally ate a Fragment, which meant whatever Miniflan it would swallow would be transported to the Sunleth Waterscape. With fragment in hand and the paradox seemingly solved, the two return to the Sunleth Waterscape.
==Quests==
===Component farming===
There are several notable "farming" locations for the components needed to level up the Paradigm Pack monsters.
The areas of Stonestump Wastelands and Grave Ridge (Sunny) have plentiful Buccaboos that drop the Grade 3 biological monster component Potent Orb.
In Clearwater Marsh (Rainy), the player can encounter Hedge Frogs, Mud Frogs, Swampmonks, and Caterchipillars, all of which drop Potent Essence, a Grade 4 biological monster component.
In Clearwater Marsh (Sunny), the Microchu spawn in mass numbers, allowing the player to collect many Potent Crystals, as well as the rare item component Sunpetal, making this the best location for farming Grade 5 biological monster components. It is also reasonably frequent during the rainy season, allowing the player to collect a number of Potent Crystals at the same time as collecting Potent Essences.
The Vampire Cie'th on Grave Ridge, Stonestump Wastelands, and the Clearwater Marsh (Stormy), offer a 20% chance of dropping Potent Generators, making them the only realistically farmable choice for this Grade 5 mechanical monster component.
===Weather===
There is a weather-controlling device in the hunters' settlement the player can use after doing an errand for the hunters.
*Cloudy = Both levers upright
*Rainy = Left lever upright, right lever lowered
*Stormy = Left lever lowered, right lever upright
*Sunny = Both levers lowered
The player can use the golden cactuar waypoint that appears as a tornado on windy weather to teleport the party to the west side of the steppe. Sheep roam the plains in cloudy weather. Stormy weather causes only Cie'th to appear on the plains. 
See the Enemies section for what enemies spawn in each weather.
===The three Gigantuars===
To unlock the Time Gate covered with chaos found on the steppe, the player must defeat three Gigantuars. These are the Cactuar statues found in the Archylte Steppe. One is found on the Stonestump Wasteland in any weather. There is another in Clearwater Marshes (northeast) behind a rock. It needs to be uncovered with Moogle Hunt in sunny weather. A third statue is found in Clearwater Marshes (Central) that needs to be uncovered with Moogle Hunt in rainy weather.
==Areas==
In the northeastern side of the Steppe there is a nomad village where hunters live and possess a device that can change weather on the steppe.
*
*
*
*
*
*
==Treasure==
Item 	Location 	Requirements
Remedy x2 	Plains of Eternity 	None
Potion x3 	Plains of Eternity 	None
Mana Droplet x8 	Nomad Camp 	None
Grimoire Hat 	Nomad Camp 	None
600 gil 	Nomad Camp 	None
Power Sliver x8 	Sanctorium 	Moogle Throw
Fractured Horn x2 	Plains of Eternity 	None
Vitality Droplet x6 	Stonestump Wastelands	None
Mana Chip x8 	Grave Ridge 	Moogle Throw
Phoenix Down 	Grave Ridge 	Moogle Hunt
Mana Bolt x8 	Grave Ridge 	None
Vitality Sliver x9 	Grave Ridge 	Moogle Hunt
Single Horn 	Grave Ridge 	Moogle Hunt
Guardian's Edge 	Clearwater Marshes 	Moogle Throw
Wild Artefact 	Clearwater Marshes 	Moogle Throw
Gysahl Greens x3 	Clearwater Marshes 	Moogle Hunt
700 gil 	Clearwater Marshes 	None
Unicorn Horn 	Clearwater Marshes 	Moogle Hunt
Dragon Hide Backpack & Mog's Clock	Sanctorium 	Defeat Faeryl
Chichu 	Plains of Eternity 	Improved Moogle Throw
Nanochu 	Clearwater Marshes 	Improved Moogle Throw
==Enemies==
The appearance of enemies depends on the area's weather. Defeating the Ochu during rainy weather, Long Gui during sunny weather, Immortal during cloudy weather, and Yomi during stormy weather, earns the player the "Big Game Hunter" achievement/trophy.
Weather can be changed by moving the levers on the weather machine in the hunter's camp.
Monster 	Area 	Weather 	Notes
Barbed Specter 	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge 	Cloudy 	
Blue Chocobo 	Clearwater Marshes 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Buccaboo 	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Buccaboo Ace 	Stonestump Wastelands 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Buccaboo Ace 	Grave Ridge 	Sunny, Rainy 	
Cactuar 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny 	
Cactuaroni 	Plains of Eternity 	Rainy, Cloudy 	
Caterchipillar 	Clearwater Marshes 	Rainy 	
Chelicerata 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Cloudy 	Stops appearing after Goblin Fragment is obtained.
Chelicerata 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny 	Stops appearing after Faeryl is defeated.
Chocobo 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	This is a normal yellow chocobo.
Chonchon 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Stormy 	
Clione 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny 	Stops appearing after defeating Faeryl.
Clione 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Cloudy 	Stops appearing after obtaining the Goblin Fragment.
Cloudburst 	Stonestump Wastelands 	Cloudy 	Good ravager to have in the monster pack.
Debris 	Grave Ridge 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Faeryl (Boss) 	Sanctorium 	Any 	Must first be triggered through Sunny weather and story events before it may be fought in any other weather.
Flanbanero 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny 	Appears after Faeryl is defeated.
Flangonzola 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny 	Appears after Faeryl is defeated.
Flowering Cactuar 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny 	
Fomoire 	Clearwater Marshes, Grave Ridge 	Stormy 	
Gancanagh 	Stonestump Wastelands, Clearwater Marshes 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Gancanagh Ace 	Stonestump Wastelands, Clearwater Marshes 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Ghast 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Stormy 	
Gigantuar (Fixed) 	Stonestump Wastelands, Clearwater Marshes 	1st tablet - Any2nd - Rainy3rd - Sunny	In the Clearwater Marshes, the Cactuar tablets must be found using Moogle Hunt. All three tablets appear once Faeryl is defeated.
Goblin 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	Appears after obtaining Goblin Fragment.
Goblin Chieftain 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	Appears after obtaining Goblin Fragment.
Hedge Frog 	Clearwater Marshes 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Immortal (Fixed) 	Stonestump Wastelands 	Cloudy 	Sidequest target. Available after defeating Faeryl. Will reappear after defeat when weather is changed from and back to Cloudy.
Ispusteke 	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge, Clearwater Marshes 	Stormy 	
Long Gui (Fixed) 	Sanctorium 	Sunny 	Appears as a fixed encounter in Sunny weather. Will reappear after defeat when weather is changed from and back to Sunny.
Major Moblin 	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge, Clearwater Marshes 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Malebranche 	Clearwater Marshes 	Stormy 	
Metal Gigantuar 	Stonestump Wastelands 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	Rare monster. Appears as a spacetime distortion.
Mewmao 	Clearwater Marshes 	Rainy 	
Microchu 	Stonestump Wastelands, Clearwater Marshes 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Miniflan 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny 	
Moblin 	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge, Clearwater Marshes 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Mud Frog 	Clearwater Marshes 	Rainy 	
Navidon 	Clearwater Marshes 	Rainy 	
Ochu (Fixed) 	Clearwater Marshes 	Rainy 	Sidequest target. Available after Faeryl is defeated. Will reappear after defeat when weather is switched from and back to Rainy.
Pulsework Gladiator	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge 	Cloudy 	
Reaver 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny 	
Red Chocobo 	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Samovira 	Grave Ridge 	Sunny, Cloudy 	
Scutari 	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Seeker 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Stormy 	
Silver Lobo 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Swampmonk 	Clearwater Marshes 	Rainy 	
Testudo 	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge 	Cloudy 	
Triffid 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny 	
Vampire 	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge, Clearwater Marshlands	Stormy 	
Varcolaci 	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge, Clearwater Marshlands	Stormy 	
Vodianoi 	Grave Ridge 	Sunny, Cloudy 	
Vouivre 	Sanctorium, Plains of Eternity 	Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy 	
Wladislaus 	Stonestump Wastelands, Grave Ridge, Clearwater Marshes 	Stormy 	Previously seen in Final Fantasy XIII as a sub boss in Orphan's Cradle.
Yomi (Fixed) 	Grave Ridge 	Stormy 	Sidequest target. Available only after Faeryl is defeated. Will reappear after defeat when weather is switched from and back to Stormy.
==Musical themes==
The Archylte Steppe has multiple themes depending on the weather. During sunny weather, the "Plains of Eternity" plays, composed by Naoshi Mizuta and with vocals performed by Joelle, while its non-lyrical counterpart, "Plains of Eternity -Aggressive Mix-" plays whenever enemies appear. The "Gapra Whitewood" theme plays during rainy weather. The "Vile Peaks" theme plays during cloudy weather, and "Will to Fight" plays in stormy weather.
==Other appearances==
===Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade===
==Behind the scenes==
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimania Omega has a concept art that depicts the capital of Cocoon, Eden, crashed to Archylte Steppe after the events of Final Fantasy XIII. This idea was never used. Other concept artworks depict Archylte Steppe in 900 AF covered in a vast city with a building reminiscent of the government building in Eden in Final Fantasy XIII. This area would have had two versions: daytime and sunset.
There were also plans to have a downloadable scenario to take place in the Archylte Steppe where Snow would have ridden his Shiva Sisters motorbike across the steppe, killing monsters, but this idea was abandoned.Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimania Omega Director and Producer Interviews
Eden-in-archylte-steppe-artwork-ffxiii2.png|Eden in Archylte Steppe from Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimania Omega.
Archylte-Steppe-900AF-Sunset-Version.jpg|Archylte Steppe 900 AF concept artwork from Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimania Omega.
FFXIII-2 Scrapped Snow Motorcycle Minigame.png|Scrapped DLC idea of Snow riding a motorcycle on the Archylte Steppe.
==Gallery==
FFXIII-2_NPC_Artwork_2.jpg|Nomad hunters concept.
FFXIII-2 New Area.jpg|The hunters' camp.
FFXIII-2 Sunny Archylte Steppe.png|Sunny Archylte Steppe.
FFXIII-2 Rainy Archylte Steppe.png|Rainy Archylte Steppe.
FFXIII-2 Cloudy Archylte Steppe.png|Cloudy Archylte Steppe.
FFXIII-2 Stormy Archylte Steppe.png|Stormy Archylte Steppe.
FFXIII-2 Archylte Steppe - Nomad Camp.png|Nomad Camp.
FFXIII-2 Archylte Steppe Chocobo Ranch.png|The chocobo ranch.
FFXIII-2 Archylte Steppe - Grave Ridge.png|Grave Ridge.
FFXIII-2 Archylte Steppe - Stonestump Wastelands.png|Stonestump Wastelands.
FFXIII-2 Archylte Steppe Lake.png|Clearwater Marshes.
Archylte_Steppe_-_Year_Unknown_1.jpg|Archylte Steppe - Year Unknown.
Archylte_Steppe_-_Year_Unknown_2.jpg|Archylte Steppe - Year Unknown.
Archylte_Steppe_-_Year_Unknown_3.jpg|Archylte Steppe - Year Unknown.
Archylte_Steppe_-_Year_Unknown_4.jpg|Archylte Steppe - Year Unknown.
Archylte_Steppe_-_Year_Unknown_5.jpg|Archylte Steppe - Year Unknown.
XIII-2_Weather_Control.jpg|The weather control machine in Archylte Steppe - Year Unknown.
FFXIII-2_Riding_Chocobos.jpg|Noel and Serah riding chocobos in cloudy weather.
Archylte steppe nomad village.jpg|Nomad Village in cloudy weather.
Sheep in archylte steppe.jpg|Sheep in Archylte Steppe.
FFXIII-2_Lightning_Rods.jpg|A thunderstorm in the Archylte Steppe.
FFXIII-2 Long Gui.png|Long Gui.
Faeryl in archylte steppe.jpg|Faeryl appears.
Red cactuar tablet.jpg|Red cactuar tablet.
Archylte_Steppe_-_Year_Unknown_Map.jpg|thumb|The map of Archylte Steppe - Year Unknown.
==Citations==
Category:Plains
Category:Locations in Final Fantasy XIII-2