The dreaded Pandora's box is a recurring monster in the Dragon Quest series. Introduced in Dragon Quest VII, they are monstrous treasure chests of an imposing black color rimmed on the edges with gold and green tongues hanging out. Because they can cause instant death to the player's party (unless properly equipped), they are regarded as some of the most fearsome regular enemies in the entire series.

Characteristics

Pandora's box is essentially the most powerful form of the treasure chest monsters. It can use sudden-death moves that target the whole party, move more than once per round, and steal MP from its opponent when its own MP, which is rather low, gets too depleted for it to cast its spells.

Appearances

Dragon Quest III

Absent from other versions, though used in the Game Boy Color exclusive version in the Ice Cave.

Dragon Quest IV

While absent from the original, Pandora's box makes appearances in the remakes as a monster encountered in the bonus dungeon. Given its strength and the absence of items that hamper sudden-death, it is one of the most dangerous enemies in the game, especially when encountered as a group.

Pandora's box
Big Book of Beasts No.: 172
Sprite Attributes
File:Pandoras box1.png HP MP EXP Gold Attack Defence Agility Evasion
900 10 1,250 280 240 200 131 1⁄32
Resistances
Frizz Sizz Bang Crack Woosh Zap Whack Kamikazee Poof Dazzle Sleep Drain Magic Fizzle Confusion Sap Deceleratle
0% 25% 0% 75% 25% 75% 100% 100% 100% 75% 100% 25% 100% 75% 75% ?
Additional information
Spells Skills Locations Dropped item
Drain magic
Whack
Desperate attack
Sweet Breath
Fungeon Pink Leotard(1⁄128)


Dragon Quest VII

#243 - PandorasBox
File:Pandorasbox DQVII PSX.gif
HP MP Experience Gold
900 10 630 280
Attack Defense Speed
240 200 131
Dropped Item Light Robe
Locations Treasure Chest
Zion Cave
Skills Brutal Hit
Sleep Air
Spells Defeat
Rob Magic
Family Material
Capture Rate Moderate
Bestiary # 243
Game Dragon Quest VII
Console PSX

The first game to feature Pandora's box (localized as DorasBox due to display issues). It can be found in the Zion Cave.

Dragon Quest VIII

[[File:DQ8 Material Family Icon.png|link=Material family]] Pandora's box
Defeated Monster List No. : 226
Image Attributes
  HP MP EXP Gold Attack Defence Agility Evasion
405 255 560 184 369 210 130 1⁄32
Resistances
Attack Frizz Sizz Fire Breath Bang Crack Cool Breath Woosh Rock Zap Whack
0% 50% 50% 50% 25% 50% 50% 50% 0% 0% 100%
Army Poison Stun Paralysis Dazzle Sleep Fizzle Fuddle Sap Drain Magic Ban Dance
0% 100% 50% 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% 100% 100% 100%
Additional information
Spells Skills Locations Dropped item
Drain Magic
Thwhack
Attacks twice per turn
Brutal hit
Sweet Breath
Dragovian Path Recovery ring1⁄32
Orichalcum1⁄128
Description Like a demented jack-in-the-box, this well-camouflaged monster lives to surprise unwary travellers. Often carries precious materials that can be used in the alchemy pot.
Notable changes in the remake


Dragon Quest IX

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

Pandora's box
Defeated Monster List No. : 062
Model Experience Gold
1068 113g
Field Notes
Location(s) Arba Town – Captain, Protector's Pathway - Saviours of the Shrine, Sentinel's Square - Defenders of the Desert, The Fault - Hero
Item(s) Dropped Sainted soma, Slipweed

Dragon Quest Heroes II

Pandora’s box
Defeated Monster List No. : 128
Model Experience Gold Marked Version?
10214 1500g No
Field Notes Crafty chests who consign booty looters to hell with a combination of speedy strikes and killer curses.
Darkness and despair lie in store for any who dare to peek beneath their lid.
Location(s) Battle of the Pinnacle: Center
Item(s) Dropped Molten globules

Etymology

Pandora's box originates from Greek mythology as a container said to hold all the evils that were loosed upon mankind with the exception of hope. Unfortunately, unlike the myth, there is little hope to be had against this monster.


Related Enemies