Ramia is a legendary phoenix that plays a prominent role in Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation. In each subsequent appearance, she is depicted as a gigantic bird-like being of godly majesty and grace, resembling a white peacock.
When the party first discovers the Rimland shrine, Ramia is only an egg being guarded by a pair of twin sisters who speak in unison. In order to hatch her egg, the hero and his/her party must gather the Six Orbs from around the world and place them on pedestals surrounding it. Once hatched, Ramia serves as the series' first aerial transportation, allowing access to such places as Baramos' castle and the Dragon Queen's castle in the central continent. However, Ramia cannot travel to the underworld, nor can she land where the player cannot walk, such as high mountains and bodies of water.
The theme that plays while riding Ramia is Heavenly Flight.
Speaking to her attendants after her hatching reveals that Ramia is a servant of the Goddess and will only allow those pure of heart to ride upon her, cementing the Hero's destiny as a savior. The twins further state that Ramia has incarnated many times in the past, aiding heroes in times of crisis.
Ramia is the true name of Empyrea, which the bird reveals to the protagonists as she departs their world after the death of Rhapthorne. She explains that Empyrea is the name that the seven sages of legend gave her after the sealing of Rhapthorne centuries ago, and that she kept the name in their world out of respect for their bravery.
Ramia is not normally available in the game, being given away as part of a Nintendo Power contest held during October of 2001 in issue 151. Since this contest has ended, cheating devices and ROM hacks are the only way to gain access to the phoenix.
Ramia appears alongside her Empyrea design, and both can be in the same party. She is a rank SS, size-three monster, and was available in 2012 via a limited distribution through McDonalds fast food restaurants in Japan along with Captain Crow. One year later, the monsters were made available in-game through an official update patch.
Holy immortal brid of legend who escorted heroes across the skies on her back. A visitor to many worlds, it's said she can take on an even greater number of guises
Ramia appears as a S-rank member of the ??? family as part of the limited True Dragon Quest III event. She will join the party by collecting the Six Orbs and can be fully awakened by collecting Ramia crystals which can be farmed in the Liamland stages in Awaken, Ramia! of the event quests. She can also be synthesized in the Japan-only Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince event at the Alter of Amalgamation by combining a Great keeper Might and two Snowbird Mights together. Ramia also stars in her own Battle Road.
Breath Tricks / Stats Up Crack Res +25 / Stats Up Immortal Soul: Before HP hits 0: Preserves HP at 1, up to 1 time per battle. / Raises Phoenix Exhale Recovery +5% / Stats Up Bang Res +25 / Stats Up Eternal Wing: Heals 30% of the user's max HP when HP drops to 1% or less, 1 time per battle. / Raises Phoenix Exhale Recovery +5% / Stats up
Perks
Basic perks
Max MP +15 Max HP +30 Phoenix Flap: Action start: Heals 100 HP for all allies in the surrounding large rhombus. Raises Phoenix Exhale Recovery +5%
Leader perk
Lowers breath MP cost for all allies, including herself, by 10% in a 5x5 square around her.
Awakening perk
Breath Tricks: Lowers breath ability MP cost by 10%, raises potency and recovery by 10%.
The Rimland priestesses who accompany Ramia in both of her main series appearances are a reference to the faerie-like attendants of Mothra known as the Shobijin. Both sets wear clothing reminiscent of Pacific islanders, speak on behalf of a divine begin, talk in unison, and pray for the hatching/manifestation of their holy one.
Mothra herself is mentioned by Yuji Horii as a part of his trivia quiz in the developer's room ending of Chrono Trigger.
The iconography of Erdrick bears a distinct resemblance to Ramia, appearing on the sword, shield, and armor of legend. Even the Hero's emblem bears Ramia's visage, likely owning to her significance in III's chain of events.
Akira Sakuma, the creator of the Momotaro Densetsu series, was the first person outside of the Dragon Quest III development staff to see Ramia's finalized design when he visited Yuji Horii's home[1].
Ramia (ラーミア Lamia)
The Hero riding Ramia, circa 1989
Ramia taking flight, circa 1996
Ramia as she appears on the cover of the GBC version of III
Flying with a different party in 2024
Ramia as depicted on the main artwork for the 2025 Dragon Quest Carnival
Ramia hatching in Rivals
Ramia render.
Her alternate card
The shrine maidens waving Ramia off as she departs her shrine.
The logo of the HD-2D remake depicts an altered emblem
Artwork of Ramia adorns the storage box of the remake’s collector edition.
40th anniversary artwork for Dragon Quest the DIVE.
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