Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Guide: Canvas of Prayers Walkthrough - The Dead Dunes

This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247. Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team.

Need help with Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII? You've come to the right place. USgamer has a fully comprehensive walkthrough of the game, conveniently split into multiple parts. Here's where you can find the rest of the walkthrough, including details about each area's main quests and strategies on defeating the bosses there, step-by-step guides to each areas's side quests, plus a full guide to the epic Canvas of Prayers quest line.

Now on with this part of the guide.

Quest: A New Application

Difficulty: 2 Stars

Client: Barkeep

Quest Item: Lizard Tail x20

Prerequisite: Complete the Yusnaan side quest Family Food

Reward: 1,600 gil, Craftsman's Beard x1, Regent's Mustache x1, Maximum HP +20, Strength +2, Magic +1

All throughout the Dead Dunes, you will come across small lizards. Take them down with a quick attack and they may drop a Lizard Tail.

Quest: A Treasure for a God

Difficulty: 2 Stars

Client: Priest Menot

Quest Item: Pilgrim's Crux x3

Prerequisite: Complete Main Quest 4-5

Reward: 600 gil, Sky Blue Silk Hat, Maximum HP +10, Magic +1

As you progress through the Main Quest in this region, you will come across a good number of Pilgrim's Crux. However, if you do not have any to complete this quest, you can buy them from the Crux Hunter inside the main hall in Ruffian.

Quest: Bandits' New Weapon

Difficulty: 3 Stars

Client: Gunsmith Mannon

Quest Item: Organic Carapace x5, Cactuar Doll x5

Prerequisite: Complete For My Child, and Heightened Security Canvas of Prayers

Reward: 1,300 gil, Electric Guitar x1, Yellow Propeller x1, Maximum HP +30, Strength +2, Magic +2

You need to kill the Gurangatch to obtain the Organic Carapace, and the Cactuar to obtain the Cactuar Doll. Gurangatch can be found around the Giant's Sandbox. While you can find Cactuars all around the Dead Dunes, it's best to search the area around the Oasis Lighthouse to make it easier to acquire all five Cactuar Dolls.

Quest: Banned Goods

Difficulty: 1 Star

Client: Bandit Psmith

Quest Item: Goblot Hairball x8

Availability: Day 1

Reward: 240 gil, Lebreau's Rainbow Tattoo x1, Tribal Tattoo x1, Maximum HP +10, Magic +1

You need to kill the Goblot to obtain the Goblot Hairball. It can be found all around the Dead Dunes.

Quest: Biologically Speaking

Difficulty: 1 Star

Client: Professor Pannono

Quest Item: Dried Scale x3

Availability: Day 1

Reward: 200 gil, Long Gui's Shell x1, Maximum HP +10, Strength +1

You need to kill the Desert Sahagin to obtain the Dried Scales. It can be found around the Giant's Sandbox.

Quest: Climbing the Ranks I

Difficulty: 1 Star

Client: Bandit Zellio

Quest Item: Dead Man's Teeth x5

Availability: Day 3

Reward: 200 gil, Replica PSICOM Epaulet x1, Maximum HP +10, Strength +1

You need to kill the Skeletons to obtain the Dead Man's Teeth. They can be found in the Temple Ruins and shrines.

Quest: Climbing the Ranks II

Difficulty: 2 Stars

Client: Bandit Boddel

Quest Item: Dead Man's Teeth x20

Prerequisite: Complete Climbing the Ranks I Canvas of Prayers

Reward: 600 gil, PSICOM Mobile Medal x1, Maximum HP +20, Strength +2, Magic +1

You need to kill the Skeletons to obtain the Dead Man's Teeth. They can be found in the Temple Ruins and shrines.

Quest: Desert Cleanup

Difficulty: 3 Stars

Client: Bandit Rimmich

Quest Item: Desert Rose x10, Dried Scale x30

Prerequisite: Complete Flower in the Sands, and Biologically Speaking Canvas of Prayers

Reward: 1,700 gil, Crystal Petal x1, Ether x1, Maximum HP +40, Strength +5, Magic +2

You need to kill the Desert Sahagin to obtain the Dried Scales, and the Earth Eater to obtain the Desert Rose. Both enemies are found in the Giant's Sandbox, but the Earth Eater is not easy to defeat, so you will have to wait until Lightning is relatively seasoned.

Quest: Flower in the Sands

Difficulty: 2 Stars

Client: Bandit Marie

Quest Item: Desert Rose

Availability: Day 1

Reward: 700 gil, PSICOM Air Medal x1, Maximum HP +20, Strength +1, Magic +2

You need to kill the Earth Eater to obtain the Desert Rose, which is found around the Giant's Sandbox and Temple Ruins. It is an extremely difficult enemy. Do not attempt to defeat it until you have completed almost all of the side quests and Canvas of Prayers quests to level up Lightning as much as possible.

Quest: For My Child

Difficulty: 3 Stars

Client: Mattisse

Quest Item: Cactuar Doll

Availability: Day 3

Reward: 500 gil, Cactuar Figurine x1, Mint Chip Ice Cream x1, Maximum HP +20, Magic +3

You need to kill the Cactuar to obtain the Cactuar Doll. It can be found all around the Dead Dunes.

Quest: Heightened Security

Difficulty: 2 Stars

Client: Armorer Coxilla

Quest Item: Organic Carapace

Availability: Day 4

Reward: 700 gil, Replica PSICOM Badge x1, Emblem Bandage x1, Maximum HP +20, Strength +1, Magic +2

You need to kill the Gurangatch to obtain the Organic Carapace. It can be found around the Giant's Sandbox.

Quest: Lucky Charm

Difficulty: 1 Star

Client: Bounty Hunter Bosk

Quest Item: Lizard Tail x3

Prerequisite: Go to Yusnaan at least one time

Reward: 400 gil, Pumpkin Head x1, Maximum HP +10, Strength +1

All throughout the Dead Dunes you will come across small lizards. Take them down with a quick attack and they may drop a Lizard Tail.

Quest: Miracle Vintage

Difficulty: 2 Stars

Client: Bandit Tapp

Quest Item: Pot Shard x10

Availability: Day 4

Reward: 500 gil, Yellow Bow Tie x1, Canned PuPu Logo x1, Maximum HP +20, Strength +1, Magic +2

You need to kill the Schrodinger to obtain Pot Shards. It can be found in the Temple Ruins.

Quest: Pride and Greed I

Difficulty: 1 Star

Client: Bandit Moogor

Quest Item: Yellowed Skull x3

Availability: Day 3

Reward: 300 gil, Commissioned Pilot's Badge x1, PSICOM Medic Medal x1, Maximum HP +10, Magic +1

You can find Yellowed Skulls by breaking the skeleton statues in the shrines found in the Dead Dunes.

Quest: Pride and Greed II

Difficulty: 1 Star

Client: Bandit Reglan

Quest Item: Yellowed Skull x5

Availability: Day 7

Prerequisite: Complete Pride and Greed I Canvas of Prayers

Reward: 500 gil, Gadot's Blue Emblem x1, Dark Knight's Shades x1, Maximum HP +10, Strength +1

You can find Yellowed Skulls by breaking the skeleton statues in the shrines found in the Dead Dunes.

Quest: Pride and Greed III

Difficulty: 2 Stars

Client: Bandit Coconan

Quest Item: Yellowed Skull x20

Availability: Day 9

Prerequisite: Complete Pride and Greed II Canvas of Prayers

Reward: 1,500 gil, Staff of Judgment x1, White Guitar x1, Maximum HP +20, Strength +1, Magic +2

You can find Yellowed Skulls by breaking the skeleton statues in the shrines found in the Dead Dunes.

Quest: Supply and Demand

Difficulty: 1 Star

Client: Merchant Dolph

Quest Item: Lizard Tail x5

Availability: Day 3

Prerequisite: Complete Lucky Charm Canvas of Prayers

Reward: 800 gil, Dandy's Mustache x1, Servant's Mustache x1, Maximum HP +10, Magic +2

All throughout the Dead Dunes, you will come across small lizards. Take them down with a quick attack and they may drop a Lizard Tail.

Quest: The Real Client

Difficulty: 2 Stars

Client: Bandit Lilly

Quest Item: Goblot Hairball x10, Pot Shard x5

Prerequisite: Complete Banned Goods, and Miracle Vintage Canvas of Prayers

Reward: 600 gil, Blue Newsboy Cap x1, NORA Logo x1, Maximum HP +20, Magic +3

You need to kill the Goblot to obtain Goblot Hairballs, and Schrodinger to obtain Pot Shards. Goblots are found all around the Dead Dunes, while Schrodingers are found in the Temple Ruins.

This article was compiled with help from Prima Games

You can find many more hints and tips in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, plus strategy guides and over 65,000 cheat codes, unlocks, achievements, trophies, Easter eggs and secrets at Prima Games.