Monster recruitment
The system of recruiting monsters started in Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride and has since been present in various other titles. Although, prior to that, Dragon Quest IV also had a few ally monsters.
Monster recruitment has also been a core aspect of the Dragon Quest Monsters spin-off series since its inception in 1996 , as the player takes the role of a Monster Wrangler who is unable to fight his or her own battles.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
Monster recruitement was added in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake in a system very similar to Dragon Quest VIII. However, in this case, there is no need to defeat said monsters in battle.
At different areas on the game, there will be friendly monsters the player can interact with. Some will be instantly recruited by just talking to them, while some might require the player to have a Monster Wrangler with them (or the Padfoot ability, the item Musk, the item Fading Jenny or the Fade ability, depending on what they're sensitive to), or Ra's Mirror if they turned to the shape of a human.
Once the player gathered three monsters, he can participate on the Monster Arena which can be found on several towns. Each town's arena has their own rewards.
Also, for every monster variety that can be recruited, there are different locations to find them. Each new recruit of an already recruited variety will strengthen that monster. For example, recruiting 2 Slimes will not actually let you have 2 Slimes in the party, but the Slime will be at its second rank of strengthening.
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
While the game did not technically feature a system of recruiting monsters, there were a few ally monsters that would join the party.
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest V incorporated monster recruitment as part of its main system, and the majority of playable party members are recruitable monsters. The system is unlocked as soon as the player reaches the second part of the game and obtains the wagon.
Then, after the end of a battle, a monster might be recruited. These are the basic rules:
- A recruitable monster was defeated during this battle (it is a specific list)
- If multiple monsters that can potentially be recruited were defeated during the battle, only the last one will be taken into consideration
- A recruitable monster will ask to join the party at the end of the battle on a specific probability depending on the monster
There's a total of 41 recruitable monsters in the original SFC release. With the PS2 version onwards, 28 monsters were added to the list for a total of 69. On the DS version onwards, 2 new monsters were made recruitable for a total of 71.
Also, for the mobile versions of the game, there is the Monster magnet accessory that helps at recruiting monsters by increasing their chances to ask to join the party.
| Sprite | Monster Name | SFC | PS2 | DS & Phone | Tame Rate | Level required | Recruitment locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Saber | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | Roundbeck |
 |
Slime | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄2 | 7 | Whealbrook Adit, Fortuna outskirts, Dominicus Dominion, Desert near Talon Tower |
 |
Dracky | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄4 | 7 | Coburg area, Fortuna area |
 |
Bad apple | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄4 | 7 | Faerie Lea, Dwarf's Den |
 |
Fat rat | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄2 | 7 | Talon Tower area |
 |
Jailcat | No | No | Yes | 1⁄16 | 7 | Fortuna area |
 |
Prestidigitator | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄4 | 10 | Scary Lair area, Fairy Lea, Lodestar Harbor area, Zoomingale area |
 |
Ghost | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄2 | 7 | Porgie Estate |
 |
Wax murderer | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 7 | Porgie Estate |
 |
Healslime | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 7 | Abovitall Tower, Faerie Lea |
 |
Fandangow | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 9 | Coburg area |
 |
Slime knight | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄4 | 7 | Fortuna area, Coburg area |
 |
Brownie | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄4 | 7 | Whealbrook Adit, Fortuna area, Talon Tower area |
 |
Rotten apple | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄2 | 7 | Coburg area |
 |
Ticking timeburrm | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 7 | Whealbrook area, Fortuna area |
 |
Metal slime | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄256 | 7 | Whealbrook Adit (G2), Abovitall Tower, Scary Lair, Cataract Caves, Dominicus' Dominion, Neverglade, Nadiria, Estark's Labyrinth |
 |
Funghoul | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 7 | Coburg area, Zoomingale area, Whealbrook area, Fortuna area |
 |
Walking corpse | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 7 | Coburg castle dungeon, Whealbrook Adit |
 |
Powie yowie | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 7 | Coburg area |
 |
Small fry | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 7 | Fortuna area, Coburg area |
 |
Grudgerigar | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 9 | Coburg castle dungeon, Fortuna area |
 |
Hulagan | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 9 | Abovitall Tower, Hay area |
 |
Cross eye | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 9 | Abovitall Tower, Scary Lair, Zoomingale Tunnel |
 |
Restless armour | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄64 | 10 | Scary Lair area, Abovitall Tower, Zoomingale area |
 |
Mudraker | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄4 | 11 | Scary Lair |
 |
Liquid metal slime | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄256 | 20 | Central Continent, Gotha Path, Riteof Passage, Knightmare Towers, Ancient Ruins area (G3), Mantleplace, Nadiria, Estark's Labyrinth, |
 |
Pocus poppet | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 10 | Scary Lair, Zoomingale outskirts, Lodestar Harbor outskirts |
 |
Magic marionette | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 12 | Mostroferrato area, Scuttlebutt area |
 |
Chimaera | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 15 | Mount Magmageddon |
 |
Rockbomb | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄64 | 15 | Mount Magmageddon, Knightmare Towers |
 |
Goodybag | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 16 | Mount Magmageddon, Cataract Caves |
 |
Cureslime | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄64 | 16 | Dominicus' Dominion area, Cataract Caves, Helmunaptra area |
 |
King slime | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄64 | 10 | Helmunaptra area, Dominicus' Dominion area |
 |
Flamethrower | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄64 | 16 | Helmunaptra area, Mount Magmageddon |
 |
Drag-goof | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 18 | Gotha Path, Gotha area |
 |
Minidemon | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 20 | Gotha Path, Knightmare Towers |
 |
Samigina | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 20 | Gotha area, Riteof Passage, Knightmare Towers |
 |
Orc king | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄4 | 21 | Gotha area, Riteof Passage |
 |
Hawk man | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 23 | Knightmare Towers |
 |
Hellion | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 23 | Knightmare Towers |
 |
Hoodlum | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 25 | Stairway to Zenithia, Lofty Peak area, Central Continent |
 |
Golem | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄4 | 25 | Lofty Peak area, summoned by Metal dragons and Muddy hands. |
 |
Revaulting horse | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 27 | Central Continent |
 |
Blizzybody | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄64 | 26 | Estuary Sanctuary |
 |
King cureslime | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄64 | 28 | Stairway to Zenithia |
 |
Warhog | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 28 | Diggery Pokery, Talon Tower, Mantleplace |
 |
Hades' helm | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄64 | 29 | Diggery Pokery, Mantleplace |
 |
Bomboulder | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄256 | 30 | Neverglade, Talon Tower, Estark's Labyrinth |
 |
Moosifer | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄4 | 30 | Neverglade, Talon Tower |
 |
Snowbird | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 34 | Nadiria |
 |
Mandrake marshal | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 32 | Talon Tower, Crocodilopolis, Estark's Labyrinth |
 |
Beastmaster | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄4 | 30 | Mantleplace |
 |
Archdemon | No | No | Yes | 1⁄64 | 30 | Mantleplace |
 |
Great dragon | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄64 | 35 | Nadiria, Estark's Labyrinth |
 |
Killing machine | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄256 | 34 | Nadiria, Estark's Labyrinth |
 |
Hyperanemon | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄64 | 41 | Estark's Labyrinth |
 |
Gigantes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 34 | Nadiria, Estark's Labyrinth |
 |
Barbatos | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄256 | 41 | Estark's Labyrinth |
 |
Man o' war | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄2 | 18 | Ocean |
 |
Old man of the sea | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 25 | Ocean |
 |
Pip fighter | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 7 | Faerie Lea |
 |
Battle pip | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 7 | Faerie Lea |
 |
Epipany | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 7 | Faerie Lea |
 |
Wiz pip | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄16 | 7 | Faerie Lea |
 |
Conkuistador | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 27 | Neverglade area, Stairway to Zenithia area |
 |
Conkerer | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 27 | Neverglade area, Stairway to Zenithia area |
 |
Conkuisitor | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 27 | Neverglade area, Stairway to Zenithia area |
 |
Conkjurer | No | Yes | Yes | 1⁄32 | 27 | Neverglade area, Stairway to Zenithia area |
 |
Dwight | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | Dwarf's Den (3rd generation) |
 |
Rebjørn | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | The Pothold |
 |
Starkers | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | Estark's Labyrinth -Stark Raving T'N'T board |
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation
For Dragon Quest VI, the monster recruitment system vastly differs depending on the SFC version or DS version.
Lizzie is a specific case of a monster recruit that's available in both versions due to it being from a story event.
SFC version
In this version, the system was almost identical to Dragon Quest V. Some monsters are recruitable, and they need to be defeated at the end of the battle to have them joining the party under a probaility. An addition to the system is that one character in the party needs to have the Monster Wrangler vocation, and the vocation's rank would also matter for the monsters that can be recruited.
Also, as the monster recruits are a less major part of the global system, the number of recruitable monsters is significantly smaller, having 18 monsters.
| Sprite | Monster Name | Tame Rate | Rank required |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Slime | 1⁄2 | 1 |
 |
Feralball | 1⁄4 | 1 |
 |
Lips | 1⁄64 | 1 |
 |
Slime knight | 1⁄4 | 2 |
 |
Healslime | 1⁄16 | 2 |
 |
Mud mannequin | 1⁄64 | 2 |
 |
Walking corpse | 1⁄32 | 2 |
 |
Sluggernaut | 1⁄4 | 3 |
 |
Lesser demon | 1⁄4 | 3 |
 |
Gustbluster | 1⁄64 | 3 |
 |
King slime | 1⁄64 | 5 |
 |
Liquid metal slime | 1⁄256 | 6 |
 |
Rockbomb | 1⁄32 | 4 |
 |
Damned ram | 1⁄16 | 4 |
 |
Dreamaera | 1⁄32 | 4 |
 |
Boss troll | 1⁄16 | 5 |
 |
Overkilling machine | 1⁄64 | 7 |
 |
High djinks | 1⁄256 | 8 |
DS version
The system was largely revamped in the DS release. Instead of recruiting monsters after the end of a battle, monsters are recruited through specific in-game events, most of them being optional. As such, the Monster Wrangler vocation was also repurposed into the Monster Master vocation.
Also, all the recruitable monsters in this version of the game are of the Slime family.
| Sprite | Monster Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
 |
Goowain | Howcastle |
 |
Healie | Clearvale |
 |
Curie | Suite Dreams |
 |
Shelley | Underwater Inn |
 |
Spot | Castle Graceskull |
 |
Kingsley | Château de Sass |
 |
Goober | Slimopolis |
 |
Mercury | Suite Dreams |
Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past
In Dragon Quest VII (PSX/3DS/mobile), instead of recruiting monsters, it is possible to send them to a wild life reserve named Monster Meadows, which is its own extended side content to complete.
Also, defeating some monsters while the player has Monster munchies might award the player with their hearts. A few other Monster Hearts can be found on specific chests. Using those hearts allow the characters to change their vocation to a monster vocation.
For more details, see: List of vocations in Dragon Quest VII.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
In the Reimagined remake, the systems around monsters have been greatly revamped.
The Monster Meadows is not present in this version of the game, so there is no system to have the monsters travel there either.
Monster Hearts are present, but function vastly differently. There is no monster vocation in this version. Instead, hearts function as accessories with varying effects.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Monster recruiting is present in Dragon Quest VIII, but for the new system of Morrie's Monstruous Pit that functions as a Monster Arena.
As soon as the player encountered Morrie for the first time, they can fight and recruit specific monsters. These monsters are shown wandering in the overworld. (On the 3DS version, all monsters are wandering in the overworld. Instead, recruitable monsters are shown with a sword symbol over them)
Defeating these specific monsters will have them recruited to the Monster Arena, the player can them form a team of three different monsters to participate in 3v3 monster battles, to earn several rewards.
PS2 Version
| Portrait | Name | Species |
|---|---|---|
|
Archer (a.k.a. Sharpshooter) | Bodkin bowyer |
|
Archfiend (a.k.a Arch-archdemon) | Archdemon |
|
Arges (a.k.a. Big Blue Bully) | Cyclops |
|
Big Al (a.k.a. Al Gee) | King kelp |
|
Bladewolf (a.k.a. Loopy Lupus) | Jumping jackal |
|
Bishop (a.k.a. Wight Highpriest) | Wight priest |
|
Blizag Jr. (a.k.a. Cold Fire) | Frostburn |
|
Bones (a.k.a. Old Soldier) | Skeleton |
|
Brickman (a.k.a. Bricklayer) | Golem |
|
Brontes (a.k.a. Gigantes Guardman) | Gigantes |
|
Bush-W (a.k.a Bushwhacker) | Berserker |
|
Capers (a.k.a. Fantom of the Chopera) | Phantom fencer |
|
Clio (a.k.a. Colossal Clione) | See angel |
|
Cowboy (a.k.a. Buffalo Bill) | Bullfinch |
|
Curer (a.k.a. Angel of Curing) | Cureslime |
|
Cybot (a.k.a. Attack Bot Mk II) | Killing machine |
|
Deadnoble (a.k.a. Occult Rider) | Bone baron |
|
Dolldrums (a.k.a. Puppet Pugilist) | Puppet master |
|
Doug (a.k.a Mole Major) | Mad mole |
|
Dumbking (a.k.a. King of Dumbira) | Notso macho |
|
Fat Cat (a.k.a. Death Tabby) | Jailcat |
|
Faunus (a.k.a. Fertiliser) | Silenus |
|
Flameman (a.k.a. Living Flame) | Dancing flame |
|
Fletch (a.k.a. Shortshooter) | Bodkin archer |
|
Foul fowl (a.k.a. Raging Rooster) | Fowlfighter |
|
Frillsaur (a.k.a. Jumbo Dilophosaur) | Frou-frou |
|
Goldman (a.k.a. Goldbricker) | Gold golem |
|
Gryphus (a.k.a. Gryphon General) | War gryphon |
|
Hackzilla (a.k.a. Axoraptor) | Hacksaurus |
|
Hazel (a.k.a. Femme Fatale) | Witch |
|
Healer (a.k.a. Family Doctor) | Healslime |
|
Hev (a.k.a. Heavy Metal) | Metal king slime |
|
Hoodwink (a.k.a. Hooded Hacker) | Hoodlum |
|
Hori (a.k.a. Slime Creator) | King slime |
|
Hork (a.k.a. Old-school Drooler) | Walking corpse |
|
|
Jack Frost (a.k.a. Big Blizzard) | Frostburn |
|
Jewelbag (a.k.a. Jewel Juggler) | Goodybag |
|
Jockey (a.k.a. Bone Racer) | Skullrider |
|
Klub Kong (a.k.a. Abominable Ape) | Gorerilla |
|
Lonely Joe (a.k.a. Hollow Knight) | Restless armour |
|
McHammer (a.k.a. Mullet Mallet) | Brownie |
|
Mechabubo (a.k.a. Automaton Aviator) | Mecha-mynah |
|
Metabble (a.k.a. Metal Babble) | Liquid metal slime |
|
Metaly (a.k.a. Quick Silver) | Metal slime |
|
Mornstar (a.k.a. Headless Flailsman) | Dullahan |
|
Moppet (a.k.a. Punchin' Judy) | Puppeteer |
|
Nightwing (a.k.a. Nightstalker) | Night emperor |
|
|
Nohi (a.k.a. Killing Director) | Killing machine |
|
Octurion (a.k.a. Octavius Maximus) | Octavian sentry |
|
Orcus (a.k.a. Wild Spearman) | Orc king |
|
Orrid (a.k.a. Ochre Ogre) | Buffalogre |
|
Pa Troll (a.k.a. Troll Patroller) | Boss troll |
|
Potbelly (a.k.a. Potty Dragon) | Jargon |
|
|
Roborg (a.k.a. Roboster Mk I) | Killing machine |
|
Robster (a.k.a. Little Nipper) | Yabby |
|
Sagittari (a.k.a. Poisonous Sniper) | Bodkin fletcher |
|
Salsa (a.k.a. Pelvic Thruster) | Redtail hipster |
|
Scorpius (a.k.a. Sand Slayer) | Scorpion |
|
Seasaw (a.k.a. Terror Talons) | Riptide |
|
Sippy (a.k.a. Pain in the Neck) | Dracky |
|
Skeledoid (a.k.a. Man-at-arms) | Hell gladiator |
|
Slime Shady (a.k.a. Gloopy Groupie) | Slime |
|
Slimehopper (a.k.a. One Knight Stand) | Slime knight |
|
|
Slurpy (a.k.a. All Day Sucker) | Dracky |
|
|
Smiles (a.k.a. Slimy Smiley) | Slime |
|
Snap Case (a.k.a. Man-eater Chest) | Cannibox |
|
Spike (a.k.a. Muscly Mohawker) | Mohawker |
|
Squiggles (a.k.a. Squiggly Squiggler) | Khalamari kid |
|
|
Steropes (a.k.a. Gigantes Gangster) | Gigantes |
|
Stoneman (a.k.a. Stonemason) | Stone golem |
|
|
Sugi (a.k.a. Shadow Conductor) | Dracky |
|
Talos (a.k.a. Crazed Colossus) | Living statue |
|
|
Torchman (a.k.a. Living Torch) | Dancing flame |
|
|
Tori (a.k.a. Slime Designer) | Slime |
|
Trick Bag (a.k.a. Bundle of Joy) | Bag o' laughs |
|
Twiggy (a.k.a. Root of Evil) | Treeface |
3DS exclusive:
| Portrait | Name | Species |
|---|---|---|
|
Barry Wight (a.k.a. King of RIP) | Wight king |
|
Bo Lete (a.k.a. Majour Flavour) | Funghoul |
|
Damon (a.k.a. Pre-curser of Death) | Demon thunderer |
|
Digby (a.k.a. L'il Digger) | Mischievous mole |
|
Dimples (a.k.a. Ms. Impetuous) | Imp |
|
|
Dugan (a.k.a. Ace of Spades) | Mischievous mole |
|
Harry (a.k.a. Heavenly Hunter) | Hawk man |
|
Hayden (a.k.a. Condor from the Yonder) | Hades condor |
|
Kim Myra (a.k.a. Flappacinno) | Chimaera |
|
Lumpy (a.k.a. Whizzkid) | Lump wizard |
|
Madge (a.k.a. Psychedelia) | Morphean mushroom |
|
Michael J. (a.k.a. Teen Fox) | Fencing fox |
|
Mudison (a.k.a. Mr. Bo Dangles) | Mud mannequin |
|
|
Mushy (a.k.a. Snore Spore) | Morphean mushroom |
|
Noddy (a.k.a. Famous Five) | Soulspawn |
|
Othello (a.k.a. Mr. Stalkative) | Hellstalker |
|
Philippa (a.k.a. Apocalips) | Lips |
|
Pierce (a.k.a. Drive-Thru) | Spiked hare |
|
Priestley (a.k.a. Sinister Minister) | Dark minister |
|
Ray Churls (a.k.a. Lucky Old Sun) | Spitnik |
|
Sir Bodless (a.k.a. Caped Inspectre) | Phantom swordsman |
|
Starsky (a.k.a. Cosmic Doom) | Solaris |
|
Ziggy (a.k.a. Star Duster) | Dark star |
Fusions
| Portrait | Monster | Required Team |
|---|---|---|
|
Gracky | Sippy + Slurpy + Sugi |
|
Mazin | Brickman + Goldman + Stoneman |
|
Ultrus | Slime Shady + Smiles + Tori |
| 3DS Only | ||
| N/A | Guaca Mole | Digby + Doug + Dugan |
Dragon Quest X
In Dragon Quest X , it is also possible to recruit monsters, in a manner more similar to Dragon Quest V or SFC Dragon Quest VI. Like in past games, a few specific monsters are potential targets for recruiting.
The player is required to be either a Monster Wrangler or an Item Master and to have used the book item related to the monster they want to recruit. After that, once during battle, use the ability Scout Attack towards that monster, and they'll have a chance to ask to join you after battle.
There are 16 monsters recruitable with Monster Wrangler, and 15 with Item Master, for a total of 31.
Any of the recruited monsters can be added to the party, however only one can be added by player. By default, a monster can only be added on the party when the player is on the specific vocation that recruited it. But this restriction can be lifted if the monster reaches 100 happiness.
List of Monster Wrangler monsters:
| Image | Monster Name | Version available | Weapon | Armour | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Mischievous mole | 2.0 | Staves | Clothing | Monster drop |
 |
Chimaera | 2.0 | Wands | Robes | Casino prize |
 |
Great sabrecat | 4.1 | Claws | Clothing | Monster drop |
 |
Slime | 2.0 | Boomerangs | Clothing | Sold at tavern |
 |
Slime knight | 2.0 | Swords | Heavy armour | Sold at tavern |
 |
Dracky | 2.3 | Heavy wands | Robes | Monster battle road prize |
 |
Small fry | 2.2 | Claws | Clothing | Sold at tavern |
 |
Meowgician | 2.0 | Heavy wands | Robes | Sold at tavern |
 |
Hacksaurus | 2.0 | Axes | Heavy armour | Casino prize |
 |
Brownie | 2.4 | Hammers | Heavy armour | Monster battle road prize |
 |
Jailcat | 2.0 | Claws | Robes | Monster drop |
 |
Imp | 2.2 | Spears | Robes | Sold at tavern |
 |
Healslime | 2.0 | Wands | Robes | Sold at tavern |
 |
Teeny sanguini | 2.0 | Wands | Robes | Sold at tavern |
 |
Mandrake major | 2.0 | Swords | Heavy armour | Sold at tavern |
List of Item Master monsters:
| Image | Monster Name | Version available | Weapon | Armor | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Prancing pillar | 2.1 | Fans | Clothing | Sold at tavern |
 |
Goodybag | 2.1 | Fans | Robes | Casino prize |
 |
Killing machine | 2.2 | Greatswords | Heavy armour | Sold at tavern |
 |
Golem | 2.1 | Greatswords | Heavy armour | Sold at tavern |
 |
Restless armour | 2.1 | Swords | Heavy armour | Sold at tavern |
 |
Bambooligan | 2.1 | Spears | Heavy armour | Sold at tavern |
 |
Wardrobe mimic | 2.4 | Bows | Robes | Sold at tavern |
 |
Harmour | 2.1 | Swords | Heavy armour | Casino prize |
 |
Needleman | 2.1 | Knives | Clothing | Sold at tavern |
 |
Magic marionette | 2.2 | Knives | Clothing | Sold at tavern |
 |
Fromage fray | 2.1 | Heavy wands | Robes | Sold at tavern |
 |
Hat hamwitch | 2.1 | Heavy wands | Robes | Monster drop |
 |
Pocus poppet | 4.2 | Boomerangs | Clothing | Monster drop |
 |
Mecha-mynah | 2.1 | Claws | Clothing | Sold at tavern |
 |
Hellbound horror | 2.3 | Axes | Clothing | Sold at tavern |
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
While the game does not feature recruitable monsters, there is another system of interaction with monsters, as it is possible to ride on some of them, after having defeated them in battle.
Some monster rides allow the player to reach otherwise unreachable areas, while some just help for navigation.
Dragon Quest Builders 2
For further details, see List of recruitable monsters in Dragon Quest Builders 2.
On explorer's shores after Skelkatrez, one can recruit monsters with Monster munchies. When a monster that can be tamed is defeated, there is a chance that it will stand up instead of fading away and a thirty second timer will begin to count down--the munchies must be used in this period or the monster will become annoyed and go away.
Tamed monsters join the residents of the Island of Awakening as NPCs, who go about their daily routines as the other islanders do, and some have special effects: the Chimaeras can be ridden to fly, the Powie yowie can be given an ice lolly to spread snow, the Liquid metal slime will play tag once a day for 100 hearts, etc.
| Monster | Location | Gimmick |
|---|---|---|
|
Blossom Bay | Double-jump mount |
|
Sunny Sands | |
|
Blossom Bay | Flying mount |
|
Rimey Reef | |
|
Iridescent Island | |
|
Unholy Holm | Plays with islanders Crafts items at workstations |
|
Soggy Skerry | |
|
Laguna Perfuma | Bartender |
|
Soggy Skerry | |
|
Rimey Reef | |
|
nearly all Explorer's Shores | Casts Heal in battle Bartender |
|
Iridescent Island | Demolishes blocks marked with a smashing sign |
|
Sunny Sands | |
|
Rimey Reef (one per visit) | Produces dyes at stain extractors |
|
Unholy Holm | |
|
Rimey Reef | Feed ice lollies to freeze ground |
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Laguna Perfuma | Farmer |
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Rimey Reef | |
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Laguna Perfuma | Plays tag |
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Sunny Sands (one per visit) | Can use terraforma tiles Mount |
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Coral Cay | |
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Iridescent Island (one per visit) | |
|
Blossom Bay | Double-jump mount |
|
Soggy Skerry |
Dragon Quest Monsters 1 & 2
While monsters retain a base chance to join the player upon defeat as in previous games, the chance can be greatly enhanced by using monster munchies in battle.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker series
Recruitment is implemented via the Scout option in the battle menu. When selected, the player's team of monsters will perform a group assault on the target to impress the monster into joining. The percentile chance is displayed onscreen, and can easily reach 100% if the group's sum attack power is high enough. However, if the enemy is too durable then the assault can easily leave the player with a big fat 0%--it is imperative to apply Oomph and Sap to raise the chances even higher.
- In Joker 2, tossing a bundle of beastie bites at the foe will raise the chance by a flat 10%.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince
Monster recruitment builds upon the foundation laid by the Joker sub-series, but now the wisdom stat will be used for scouting calculation if it is higher than a monster's attack stat. Additionally the Big Bully and Little Menace will increase the scouting chance when used against larger or smaller monsters.
Gallery
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Level requirements and percentages in V. -
