Coup de Grâce (必殺技, Hissatsu waza?, lit. Surefire-killing/ultimate technique), called Deathmoves in Dragon Quest VIII, are special battle abilities in the series.

Appearances edit

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King edit

Deathmoves can be performed by two or three monsters when certain special teams are formed. They have various effects, ranging from group attacks, to party buffs, and even combining together to form an even more powerful monster. Since monster teams cannot be controlled by the player, it is random if a monster team will perform their deathmove. One drawback is that when a deathmove is performed, that monster will only act once even if they are capable of performing two actions.

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies edit

Each vocation has a different Coup de Grâce with different effects that can be used at will once the character enters the activation state. The ability becomes available for characters that are at least level 10 and can be triggered under a variety of conditions; the higher that character's level then the longer the player will have the option to activate a Coup de Grâce. When a character is able to use a Coup de Grâce, a notification is given saying:

[Party member] is primed to perform a coup de grâce!

The effects of Coup de Grâce do not cost any MP but will only last for only a short period of time. They do not carry over after the battle ends, or if the character dies. If all four party members are primed for a Coup de Grâce, they can together perform a Co-op de Grâce.

Priming persistence edit

Level range Turn amount
10~24 6
25~49 7
50~74 8
75~99 9

Triggers edit

The frequency of a Coup de Grâce occurring per turn is amplified by the following conditions:

Condition Boost
Critical fan equipped +6%
Overcritical fan equipped +7%
Hypercritical fan equipped +8%
Dire critical fan equipped +10%
Combat action medal +3%
Martial artist, Ranger, or Luminary +3%
1 other party member primed +0.8%
2 other party members primed +10%
3 other party members primed +36%
10% damage taken +0.75%
20% damage taken +1.5%
30% damage taken +3%
40% damage taken +6%
50% damage taken +12%
60% damage taken +24%
70% damage taken +48%
80% damage taken +95%

List of Coup de Grâce by vocation edit

Vocation Name Effects
Warrior Critical Claim This coup de grâce unleashes an attack that always inflicts a Critical Hit.
Martial Artist Roaring Tirade Similar to War Cry, except it cannot be resisted. Further, it also increases tension by one level.
Priest Choir of Angels Restores 30%~40% of Max HP to allies and cures status effects at once
Minstrel Rough 'n Tumble Evasion increases to 50% and the ability to counterattack goes to 25%.
Mage 0 Zone Reduces MP cost to zero for a short while.
Thief Itemised Kill Guaranteed item drop from the enemy it is used on.
Paladin Knight Watch Attacks will do nothing for a few turns on the person who used it (not even Disruptive Wave can get through). All of the opponents are enraged to the person who used it.
Ranger Brownie Boost Boosts the user's attack, defense, and Breath resistance by 25%.
Gladiator Tension Boost Boosts tension up to 50 or 100 (maximum).
Armamentalist Voice Of Experience Increases the amount of EXP you get from the battle if you win by a variable amount (1.1~2.0 multiplier)
Sage Spelly Breath Recovers 20%~50% of Max MP to the caster.
Luminary Disco Tech Causes all enemies to boogie and raises tension by one level. This is functionally identical to Roaring Tirade.

Co-op de Grâces edit

If all four party members are primed for a Coup de Grâce, then upon using them they will perform a Co-op de Grâce, selected from a menu. The available choices for Co-op de Grace are based on the party's current vocations. For example, if the party is made up of only warriors and rangers, only the Quadraslash option is available.

Vocations Name Effects
Warrior
Ranger
Quadraslash All four party members attack at once. Damage is sum of allies attack minus enemy defence.
Martial Artist
Gladiator
Omnipotense Increases all party members' tension by 3 levels.
Priest
Paladin
Soul Asylum Renders the entire party invincible for a few turns (similar to Knight's Watch).
Mage
Sage
Cast Away Reduces the party's MP cost to zero for a few turns.
Armamentalist
Thief
Haulellujah Chance to earn extra exp., gold, and items. Exp and gold multiplier is 1.5~3.0
Minstrel
Luminary
Electro Light Turns all enemies into metal slimes.

Dragon Quest X edit

Much like in Dragon Quest IX, each vocation can use a Coup de Grâce. Originally, each vocation had access to one. With the 6.3 update, a second Coup de Grâce was added to each one of them. Some of the second Coup de Grâce are with a Charge Time.

They are charged at relatively random timings of the battle, said timing can be accelerated with buffs from various pieces of equipment. After being charged, the player can use one of their Coup de Grâce by selecting the command from the menu, and after some time it'll wear out.

Additionally, the master vocations have a Pep Power instead, but it largely functions the same.

List of Coup de Grâce by vocation edit

Vocation Name Effects
Warrior Critical Claim Attacks target and other enemies around with a critical hit.
Chant of Champions Increases attack, defence and critical hit chance on self.
Priest Saint's Song Revives allies on range, heals HP and various status conditions.
Blessed Boon Heals allies on range, and gives them Divine Intervention effect.
Mage 0 Zone Grants user no MP usage for spells, strengthens attack spells, shortens casting time, and unlocks damage limit.
Frizz Cracker Powerful neutral-attribute attack on a direct line.
Martial Artist Roaring Tirade
Punch Out
Thief Itemised Kill
Seeing Stars
Minstrel Rough 'n Tumble
Haze Over
Gladiator Tension Boost
Blind Rage
Paladin Knight Watch
Holy Grail
Armamentalist Magic Roulette
Energy Fall
Ranger Brownie Boost
Anubis Attack
Sage Spelly Breath
Lively Light
Luminary Shocking Twist
Industry Expert
Monster Wrangler Wild Side
Tooth and Claw
Item Master Gadget Type-0
Absolute Ray
Dancer Deity Dance
Supreme Score
Fortune Teller Zodiac Code
Wild Card
Druid Mark on Nature
Pea Shocker
Gadabout Hocus Pocus
Surprise Spinner
Death Master Death Power Boost
Hades' Banquet
Demon Swordsman Demonic Method
Dark Mark
Pirate Ultra Cannon
Panic Cannon

Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below edit

Each playable character has their own Coup de Grâce, which can be performed when they enter High Tension mode. It will be performed automatically once their tension meter has run out or it can be activated early by pressing the Tension button, which will end High Tension mode early.

Character Coup de Grâce
Luceus Gigagash
Aurora Gigaslash
Doric Royal Rumble
Isla Love Gun
Alena Great Ball of Fire
Kiryl Kathwack
Terry Lightning Storm
Jessica Magic Burst
Yangus Axes of Evil
Bianca Ribbon Let Die
Nera Big Banga
Maya Puff!
Psaro Secret of Evolution

Dragon Quest Heroes II edit

Each character activates their Coup de Grâce via the same method as in the previous game. Returning characters have access to the same abilities as before as well.

Character Coup de Grâce
Lazarel Gigagash
Teresa Gigagash
Desdemona Whopper Chop
Cesar Blade of Ultimate Power
Angelo Pearly Gates
Carver Boulder Toss
Maribel Hellfire
Meena Starfall
Ruff Lambpede
Torneko Golden Oldies
Ragnar* Summons Healie

Dragon Quest Tact edit

Coups de Grâce are exclusive to characters belonging to the Hero family. They cannot be used right away in battle, requiring a few turns to charge, and most can only be used once per battle.

Character Coup de Grâce
Ragnar Phoenix Dance
Alena Great Ball of Fire
Kiryl Über Maulstrom
Bianca Zenithian Strike
Nera Big Banga
Debora Livid Mode
Rickerd Cannock Clash
Peronel Moonbrooke Prayer
Kiefer Searing Sunder
Maribel Infernal Flames
Ruff Ruff Rider
Carver Über Knuckle Sandwich
Terry Secret Lightning Storm
Ashlynn Magic Burst
Yangus Über Parallax
Jessica Multi Masher
Angelo Heaven's Rain
Maam Magic Bullet Gun Hellburst
Popp Donk
Dai Avan Strash
Hyunckel Farewell Bloody Scryde
Santa Alena Über Extra-Large Holiday Present
Jade Pink Tornado
Veronica Awakening Magic Seal
Erik Criminal Genius
Young Terry Great Trelixir
Mjoll Heavenly Flurry
Hussar Battle-Hardened Slash
Anlucia the Luminary Twin Lightning Edge
Hero Erdrick Giga Crosscut
Beach Goddess Jessica Super Sexy Beam
Mont (King of Leonis) King of Leonis
Halloween Veronica Trick and Treat!
Starry Knight Ashlynn Shooting Star
Maya Puff!
Meena Wheel of Fortune
Hero Solo Big Banga Slash
Dark Armour Spear Hyunckel Grand Cross
Martial Artist Maam Refractor Fist
Mage Popp Medroa
Dragon Knight Dai Avan Strash Cross
Illusia Shining Shroud
Anlucia the Lightning Luminary Sunderbolt Flash
Pankraz Gotha Immutable Stance
Legendary Monster Wrangler Extreme Exhalation
Parry Zenithian Kazap
Madchen Madchen Cannon
Scion of Erdrick Light of Alefgard
Princess Gwaelin Princess's Pledge

Dragon Quest Smash/Grow edit

Each weapon in Dragon Quest Smash/Grow has a Coup de Grâce that can be unleashed when the Coup de Grâce meter is full enough. There are 12 points in total - some weapons only require the meter to be filled up to 5 points to be able to unleash the Coup de Grâce, whilst others require 6 points. The meter is filled whenever an enemy takes damage, whether from blessings or normal attacks, or by consuming a pep pop. The meter is depleted after using a Coup de Grâce, by the amount of points it says that it needs. The meter can also be depleted through enemy interference, like when Treefaces perform a Weird Dance, draining the meter rather quickly.

Weapon Coup de Grâce
Iron Broadsword Flame Slash
Silver Rapier Crack Slash
Oak staff Woosh
Faerie Staff Crack
Iron Lance Mercurial Thrust
Imp Spear Slime Skewer
Bronze Claws Shining Strike
Cat's Claws War Bellow
Bronze Boomerang Icy Throw
Soarin' Steel War Bellow
Rosewhip Flutter Lash
Battle Whip Flame Lash
Steel Broadsword Dragon Slash
Platinum Sword Lightning Slash
Bluefin Buster Crack Slash
Tantagel Sword Lightning Slash
Wizard's Staff Frizzle
Spirit Staff Crackle
Partisan Cattle Prod
Holy Lance Soothing Breeze
Silver Claws Can Opener
Panther Claws Earth Blow
Edged Boomerang Wind Sickles
Gusterang Tornado Toss
Spiked Steel Whip Trammel Lash
Demon Whip Devil's Whip
Fire Blade Inferno Slash
Falcon Blade Urfalcon Slash
Sandstorm Spear Hellstorm
Shiverstick Kacrack
Platinum Plumes Fizzlerang
Crystal Claws Flashing Talons
Queen's Whip Shining Whip
Metal Slime Sword Metal Slash
Metal Wing Boomerang Unerring Throw
Erdrick's Sword Kazap
Dragonlord's Staff Kasizz