Thin Air

Thin Air Japanese しんくうは
しんくう波 Rōmaji Shinkūha Type Skill

Thin Air is a recurring ability in the Dragon Quest series that strikes all enemies with a chi-based shockwave. The skill bears the Woosh element, making it ineffective against certain monster families.

Appearances

Dragon Quest IV

In the remakes, Thin Air is one of the special abilities that Psaro can learn. He learns it at level 44 (or earlier depending on his Wisdom stat). Thin Air deals a fixed 85~104 damage range and isn't affected by Psaro's level. Also, thin air is not affected by Bounce even though it is listed as a one of the character's spells.

Dragon Quest VI

Thin Air attack is learned after advancing to the second rank of the Paladin vocation. Damage is calculated as ((Level*2 +30)+/-10%) and caps at level 60 for a range of 135~165.

• In the Nintendo DS and mobile phone versions of VI, Thin Air has been tweaked so that it caps at level 50 and damage is calculated as ((Level*2 +50)+/-10%).

Dragon Quest VII

Thin Air is again learned by reaching rank 2 as a Paladin in both versions of the game, and is also re-learned at rank 1 of Champion, rank 4 as a Pirate, and rank 3 for Hero in the 3DS remake. The latter version the damage formula has slightly changed as well, being (Level*2)+50. It can also be learned by advancing to rank 7 as a Dingbat. On the enemy side, it can be used by Cumulus vex.

Dragon Quest VIII

Thin Air is a Fisticuffs technique that the Hero, Yangus, and Jessica can learn. It requires 42 skill points by both the Hero and Yangus, and 68 skill points by Jessica. Damage is figured as (((Level*2 +30) *0.8)+/-10%), capping at level 60 for a range of 108~132. On the enemy side, it can be used by both Captain Crow and the Lord of the Dragovians.

• In the 3DS version, Red and Morrie will learn Thin Air after investing 33 and 42 skill points to their Fisticuffs skill, respectively.

Dragon Quest IX

Though not available to player characters, Thin Air is a skill used by some enemies. When used by Legacy Bosses, the damage calculation is (53 + (3 * level)) * 0.9~1.1, giving it a base range of 126~154 and a cap of 315~385.

Dragon Quest X

Thin Air can be learned by Martial Artists by investing 180 skill points into their Fisticuffs skill. It costs 5 MP to use, has a charge time of 120 seconds, and inflicts Woosh-element damage proportional to the user's Attack stat to all enemies in a straight line.

Dragon Quest XI

Thin Air returns to being an enemy-only skill that can be used by Whirly girlies, inflicting around 20 Woosh-element damage to the entire party. The version used by Malicious whirly girlies inflicts 100 damage to the entire party.

Dragon Quest Monsters

Called Vacuum in this game, it is an upgraded form of WindBeast. WindBeast grows into Vacuum when the monster reaches level 19 with 112 HP, 114 attack and 132 agility. It can be learned naturally by Durran, GiantMoth, LizardFly, NiteWhip, Pteranod, and WingSlime.

Dragon Quest Monsters 2

The requirements to learn Vacuum are unchanged.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2

Thin Air deals a combination of Woosh and Zam-element damage and inflicts around 60~115 damage to all enemies for 8 MP. It can be learned from:

• Bird Brain (100 points)
• Dual duellers (13 points)
• Missing lynx (30 points)
• Mortella (36 points)
• Sagittar (43 points)
• Stormsgate Citadel

Dragon Quest Tact

Thin Air is known naturally by Metal dragon at level 1 and can be learned by Great sabrecat at level 26 and Wyrtoise at level 46. It costs 26 MP to use and inflicts moderate Woosh-type martial damage to all enemies in a radius of 1 around the user. Thin Air can also be taught to any unit using an ability scroll, which can be purchased from the Dragon Quest II event swap shop for 1,500 medals or received as a reward for completing the seventh stage of Cumulus vex's Battle Road.

Thin Air (しんくうは Shinkūha)

Ability information

Thin Air
Role *	Type *	Element	MP cost
Attack	Martial		26
Range		Additional effects
Radius 1		None
Description
Deals moderate Woosh-type martial damage to all enemies in area of effect
Naturally learnt by
Great sabrecat, Metal dragon, Wyrtoise

Related skills

• Gust Slash
• Thin Air Blast
• Vacuum Smash
• Vacuum Thrust
• Wind Shear

Etymology

Thin Air's Japanese name makes reference to the fifth element in Japanese philosophy, known as 空 (Kū), which can be translated as "void", "sky", or "aether", referring to the emptiness of the sky. Kū often appears in Japanese media where martial arts combine with the supernatural and individuals are able to manipulate it with enough mental discipline. It appears in Pokémon, Final Fantasy, Street Fighter, and other video games.

Gallery

• 

  The Lord of the Dragovians using Thin Air.