View source for Critical Hit

'''Critical Hits''' are a recurring feature of the ''[[Dragon Quest (series)|Dragon Quest]]'' series. 

==Function==
Every time any character makes an attack, they have a small chance of that attack being a "Critical Hit," which drastically increases the damage dealt on that particular turn. Since critical hits ignore defence, it makes them an instant kill on all [[metal monsters]], provided the monster does not dodge the critical hit. Weapons that strike multiple times, such as the [[Falcon Knife Earrings]], can critical but weapons that strike multiple targets cannot. This means flails, whips, and boomerangs. 

However, many monsters also can get critical hits, usually termed a ''terrific blow'', ''brutal hit'', or ''desperate attack''.

==Appearances==
==={{DQ}} & {{DQ2}}===
The critical hit rate is fixed at {{fraction|1|64}}. 

==={{DQ3}} & {{DQ4}}===
[[Martial Artist]]s and [[Tsarevna Alena]] have rate depends on their level, being calculated as ''Level/256''. The cap is level 64, with a rate of 25%.

In the Nintendo DS and cell phone versions of ''IV'', Alena's critical hit rate was tweaked to  ''(Level x 0.75)/256''. In the Nintendo DS version, the effect stops at level 64 still, making her critical rate cap at 18.75%; however, the phone version raises the cap to level 89, granting her a rate of 26.07% - provided, of course, the player is willing to raise her that high.

==={{DQ5}}===
The critical hit rate returns to {{fraction|1|64}} and cannot be improved.

==={{DQ6}} & {{DQ7}}===
Characters have the standard {{fraction|1|64}} rate unless they become martial artists at [[Alltrades Abbey]]. After taking up the art of the fist, the character's rank in the vocation will improve their chance to land a critical until they hit the cap of {{fraction|1|8}} at rank 8. This gives a party of martial artists a 50% chance to score a critical when using normal attacks and single-target skills that utilizes their strength stat.
*[[Paladin]]s have a similar vocation trait, in that they have a chance to instantly slay a target based on rank. Though this will not work on boss monsters, it will still slay metal slimes at a {{fraction|1|8}} rate when mastered.

==={{DQ8}}===
A character will double their critical hit rate to {{fraction|1|32}} after investing enough skill points in the appropriate section. [[Yangus]] can raise his rate to {{fraction|1|8}} by equipping the [[Megaton hammer]]

==={{DQ9}}===
Beginning in ''Dragon Quest IX'' and carrying forwards to ''X'' and [[Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below|Heroes]]'', the frequency of critical hits became dependent on a character's deftness.

For ''IX'', the algorithm is ''Deftness/100 + 3% (with weapon skill trait boost)''. Wearing the Critical Acclaim will add another 4%, and thus the maximum rate is 16.99% at 999 deftness. The natural, unbolstered rates for each vocation are:
*[[Ranger]]: 500 -> 5%
*[[Thief]]: 402 -> 4%
*[[Minstrel]]: 304 -> 3%
*[[Mage]]: 304 -> 3%
*[[Luminary]]: 259 -> 2.5%
*[[Gladiator]]: 256 -> 2.5%
*[[Martial Artist]]: 256 -> 2.5%
*[[Priest]]: 206 -> 2%
*[[Warrior]]: 111 -> 1%
*[[Armamentalist]]: 110 -> 1%
*[[Paladin]]: '''9 -> 0.09%'''

==={{DQ10}}===
{{Stub}}

==={{DQ11}}===
Every 200 points of deftness increases the critical hit chance by 1%, leading to a natural cap of 5%. Skill panel, pep boosts and equipment bonuses can raise this chance even further.

===''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''===
Critical Hits are a unique trait to [[Hero (Super Smash Bros.)|Hero]]'s moveset in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. Any of his Smash Attacks can result in a Critical Hit, which gives him increased attack power and knockback. The Critical Hit sound effect from the ''Dragon Quest'' series plays when it occurs.

==Weapons==
Certain weapons can guarantee the chances of a character getting a critical hit in exchange for low accuracy. The [[Hela Hammer]] has an accuracy of 3/8ths, the [[Headsman's Axe]] has a 3/4ths accuracy, a 1/8th chance to critical, and a 1/8th chance to miss outright. The [[Megaton Hammer]] has a 1/8th critical chance and no reduction to accuracy at all.

These weapons would lose these traits as the series adopted deftness-based calculations with the ninth entry, and would often simply be powerful members of their respective weapon families in subsequent games.

==Skills==
With the implementation of skills in ''V'', certain abilities were designed with instant critical hit rates in mind. These skills would often have a paltry MP cost, but suffer the same low accuracy as the above mentioned weapons in older titles.
*[[Hatchet man]]
*[[Thunder Thrust]]
*[[Frenzy]]
*[[Whopper Chop]]

==Spells==
==={{DQ9}}===
Beginning with ''IX'' spells can also become critical hits, where the spell "goes haywire". This not only increases damage output of attack magic, but also boosts healing spells. If a status-changing spell goes haywire, its chance of working increases to 100% (barring the target being immune).

==={{DQ11}}===
The [[Zam]] line of spells have a four-times higher chance to critical than other spells.

{{Series_mechanics}}
[[Category:Recurring elements]]
[[Category: Game mechanics]]