Defending Champion

Defending Champion
Rivals card Japanese だいぼうぎょ
大ぼうぎょ Rōmaji Dai bōgyo Type Skill Older names StrongD
Big Defence

Defending Champion is a recurring ability in the Dragon Quest series. Unlike the standard Defend command that cuts damage in half, this technique reduces damage taken by the user by 90%.

Appearances

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen

Unavailable to players, Chow Mein makes excellent use of the technique during the boss battle in the Fungeon.

Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation

Defending Champion is learned by advancing to rank 6 of the Ranger vocation. While physical strikes and magical damage will always be reduce, the skill has no effect on breath attacks, Body Slam, Puff-Puff (male version), Pearly Gates, Tsunami, Lightning, Gigaslash, Lightning Storm, Magic Burst, and Ferocious Roar, so caution must be used depending on the monsters encountered.

On the enemy side, it is used by Grim grinners, Iron tortoises, and Mortamor's second form.

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

Defending Champion is learned by reaching rank 6 of the Pirate vocation in the PSX version and rank 4 of the same in the 3DS remake. It features the same capabilities as in VI. In the 3DS version, it is an advanced skill that can only be used as a Pirate.

On the enemy side, it can be used by Crabble-rousers, Deathcargots, Escudogres, and Wolfram wartoises.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

Defending Champion is a fisticuffs technique that both Eight and Angelo can learn. It requires 11 skill points by Eight, and 68 skill points by Angelo. The characters must be unarmed to use the technique and costs no MP to use, but the skill is affected by Tension; while in a state of Super High Tension, a character can reduce damage to 1.3% (¹⁄₇₅).

• In the Nintendo 3DS version, Red can also learn the skill by investing 7 points into her Fisticuffs skill.

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

Defending Champion can be learned with 18 skill points invested into the Shield skill, now costing 3 MP to use. So long as a shield is equipped, a character can use the skill regardless of what weapon they wield.

The Coup de Grâce Knight Watch can be seen as an advanced version of this skill, as it prevents everything from touching a character, even Disruptive Wave.

Dragon Quest X

Defending Champion can be learned exclusively by Paladins by allocating 100 points into their Virtue skill. It costs 8 MP to use and puts the user into a defensive stance for 15 seconds, greatly reducing damage taken. The damage reduction formula is calculated as 50 + (Resilience ÷ 20)%. No other action can be performed while using the skill, but it can be ended early by pressing the cancel button. It is even possible to reduce damage taken by 100% by combining Defending Champion with other skills.

• In the Offline version of the game, the Hero will learn Defending Champion as a Paladin at level 50 and it costs 4 MP to use. When used, it reduces damage taken by 50%, the same as the Defend command in other games. The damage reduction rate increases by 1% for every 20 points of Resilience.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Hendrik can learn the skill through the Fraternity panel in his character builder in the postgame for 16 skill points. It costs 2 MP to use and lasts one turn.

Dragon Quest Monsters

Known as StrongD in this game, it requires the monster to reach level 14 with 98 max HP and 84 DEF. It is naturally learned by the Digster, Golem, IceMan, IronTurt, RainHawk and RockSlime.

Dragon Quest Monsters 2

The requirements to learn StrongD are unchanged. It is naturally learned by the Golem, Orligon and StoneMan.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker

Defending Champion can be learned from:

• Barricade (14 points)
• Defender (42 points)
• Hive Mind (65 points)
• Martial Artist (49 points)

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2

Defending Champion can be learned from all the skills it could be previously, though Defender now requires 40 points, and Martial Artist now requires 32 points.

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

Defending Champion can be learned by Yangus by spending 6 skill points and costs 5 MP to use. It surrounds him with a dome-shaped barrier that nullifies all physical attacks. However, the stance will be cancelled if Yangus attacks or moves even slightly. It can be used in combination with the Whistle skill to focus enemy attacks on Yangus while defending his allies.

Game	Description
	A defensive stance that can stave off enemy attacks entirely.

Dragon Quest Rivals

Defending Champion appeared in the 5th card pack, "Heroic Tales of Bravery" as a normal card exclusive for Warrior leaders. It cost 2 MP to use and would give a +2/+2 status buff to an allied unit.

Dragon Quest Tact

Known as Big Defence in this game, it is known naturally by Cluboon ace at level 1 and costs 32 MP to use. It reduces damage taken by the user by 90% for a single turn.

Big Defence (だいぼうぎょ Dai bōgyo)

Ability information

Big Defence
Role *	Type *	Element	MP cost
Support	Martial		32
Range		Additional effects
Self		Damage Cut
Description
Reduces damage by 90% for the user for 1 turn
Naturally learnt by
Cluboon ace

Related skills

• Defend
• Pincushion
• Blockenspiel
• Brace Position