Mad cap

The mad cap is a rather unique headgear mainly found in the early entries of the Dragon Quest series that cuts the cost of spells. Its name is a pun based on the term "madcap".

Mad cap
Japanese	ふしぎなぼうし
Romaji	Fushigina bōshi
Old localisations	Mysterious hat Magic helmet
Found in	Dragon Quest II Dragon Quest III Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Dragon Quest VII Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Dragon Quest VIII
Effect	Reduces MP required for magic

Characteristics

The mad cap is a wide-brimmed pointed blue hat of the same kind typically worn by wizards and witches in fiction. It has a band of yellow cloth around it with a red gemstone in the center. The hat's most distinctive feature is the series of eyes with vertical pupils with yellow sclera and either red or orange pupils running up the length of the hat.

Appearances

Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line

Game	Description
	Reduces the amount of MP consumed by spells

The hat reduces MP consumption in battle by 25% (rounded up) and provides a Defence of +4 (+8 in the remakes.)

They are dropped by tyrannodactyls, Pazuzu, and Hargon at a rate of ¹⁄₁₂₈, and at a rate of ¹⁄₁₆ by liquid metal slimes in the Android/iOS version. Fortunately, each of the remake versions also feature a mad cap obtainable in a chest found in the Cave to Rendarak. It is the only helmet equippable by both the Prince of Cannock and the Princess of Moonbrooke.

A female Priest wearing the hat. The mad cap is characterized by a series of eyes running along the front.

Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation

The hat reduces MP consumption by 25% (rounded up) as before, and provides Defence of +8. They are dropped by hocus chimaera at a rate of 1/64 and by firn fiend at a rate of 1/128, and may be equipped by Priests, Mages, Merchant, Gadabouts, and Sages, as well as Thieves in remake versions. The MP reduction rate can be combined with the Glombolero for extra-economic casting. Because of the minuscule drop rate and the absence of any chests that contain the topper, it is strongly recommended to bring a thief when attempting to snag one.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake

Mad cap

Description
A helpful hat that reduces the amount of MP needed to cast spells
Stats	Vocations
Defence +18
Notes
MP cost reduced by 25%
Price	Location
NA/6	Dropped by: Hocus chimaera (1/64) Firn fiend (1/128)

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

Returning after a long absence, the mad cap can be equipped by everyone except for Kiefer, increases defence by +8, style by +5, and now cuts MP costs by 50%. One can be found in the Cave to Another World and more can be acquired by winning them as prizes from the Lucky Panel at the Casinos found at Buccanham and The Haven.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined

The mad cap boosts defence by 32 oints and the magical might by 27 points, and reduces MP consumption by 25%. It can be equipped by the Hero, Maribel, Ruff, Aishe, and Sir Mervyn. It cannot be purchased nor sold, and it is only dropped by Baron von Bellycose.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

Game	Description
	A helpful hat that magically cuts MP consumption.

The mad cap only appears in the 3DS port of Dragon Quest VIII, with only two being available; one in the bonus dungeon, the Dragovian Path and another in the Altar of Wroth. It may be equipped by everyone, meaning that if the Hero has mastered his Courage skillset, he can cast Omniheal for a scant 14 MP. It bolsters Defence by +32.

See also

• Raving Mad Cap
• Glombolero

Influence on Pokémon

In a 1998 interview, Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri revealed that his frustrations over obtaining the mad cap were one of the main inspirations for the data exchanging feature his series would become famous for. To wit, he explained he felt a great deal of envy when his childhood friend (and Pocket Monster illustrator) Ken Sugimori managed to get two of them on his save file, and had absolutely no way to share the unneeded one with Tajiri.

Gallery

• 
  The Princess of Moonbrook wearing the cap, from the official guidebook
• 
  The mad cap from Dragon Quest III
• 
  Artwork for VII Reimagined
• 
  The mad cap as featured in the Dragon Quest Legend Items Gallery