Haystack needler

Dragon Quest monster
Haystack needler
	; Art by Akira Toriyama
Japanese	かれくさネズミ
Romaji	Karekusa nezumi
First appearance	Dragon Quest XI

The Haystack needler is a recurring monster in the Dragon Quest series, first appearing in Dragon Quest XI. It is a small mouse-like creature wielding a sharp sewing needle.

Characteristics

Haystack needlers are diminutive humanoid creatures with brown cotton fluff balls like dry straw on their bodies. Along with the sharp needles they use as weapons, this variety of needlers have bolstered their offensive capabilities by hurling small bombs at their enemies. They have light grey skin, a maroon grass skirt, brown shoes, and a brown leather mask with eyes shaped like buttons. The needlers have two fluff balls coming out of the tops of their masks and fluff on their chins in the shape of a beard, as well as a fluffy tail.

Appearances

Dragon Quest XI

Haystack needler (かれくさネズミ, Karekusa nezumi )
Defeated Monster List No. : #053

Image	Attributes
	Family	HP	MP	EXP	Gold	Attack	Defence	Agility
	Humanoid	39	12	50	23	46	44	45

Resistances
Fire	Ice	Wind	Lightning	Earth	Dark	Light	MP Theft	Insta-Death
-110%	-110%	-110%	-110%	-110%	-110%	-110%	0%	0%
Poof	Dazzle	Fizzle	Confusion	Paralysis	Poison	Sleep	Blunt	Deceleratle
50%	0%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
Sap	Spooky Aura	Stumble	Stun	Charm	Beguilement	Double Down	Elem Res Down
0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%

Additional information
Spells	Skills	Locations	Dropped item
None	Throws a bomb (~30 damage to a party member) Sultry Dance Flee	Gallopolis Region - Celestial Sands (first act) The Cryptic Crypt (second act)	Lambswool¹⁄₃₂ Rockbomb shard¹⁄₂₅₆
Description		These dapper dancers are said to have the deftest steps in the business, and spend their days sashaying across the sands with friends and family.

Malicious haystack needler (かれくさネズミ・邪, Karekusa nezumi・ja )
Defeated Monster List No. : #588

Image	Attributes
	Family	HP	MP	EXP	Gold	Attack	Defence	Agility
	Humanoid	439	18	1,172	256	310	276	206

Resistances
Fire	Ice	Wind	Lightning	Earth	Dark	Light	MP Theft	Insta-Death
-110%	-110%	-110%	-110%	-110%	-110%	-110%	0%	0%
Poof	Dazzle	Fizzle	Confusion	Paralysis	Poison	Sleep	Blunt	Deceleratle
100%	0%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
Sap	Spooky Aura	Stumble	Stun	Charm	Beguilement	Double Down	Elem Res Down
0%	0%	0%	25%	0%	0%	0%	0%

Additional information
Spells	Skills	Locations	Dropped item
None	Throws a bomb (~200 damage to a party member) Sultry Dance Flee	Gallopolis Region (third act, day only) The Hotto Steppe (third act, 3DS version only)	Lambswool¹⁄₃₂ Rockbomb shard¹⁄₁₂₈
Description		Haystack needlers who have morphed into a truly malevolent form under the malign influence of infinite evil.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland 3D

Haystack needler appears as an E-rank monster of the Beast family exclusive to the SP version of the game.

Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca's Marvelous Mysterious Key

Haystack needler appears once again as the same rank and family in the SP version.

Etymology

The haystack needler's name is based on the English idiom "like finding a needle in a haystack", which means something that is difficult or impossible to locate or something that is needlessly complex.

Related monsters

Gallery

XI polygon model
A malicious haystack needler
Rivals card
A haystack needler in Keshi Keshi