Prestidigitator (Dragon Quest)

Dragon Quest monster Prestidigitator
Art by Akira Toriyama Japanese まほうつかい Romaji Mahōtsukai First appearance Dragon Quest

The Prestidigitator (formerly known as Magician) is a monster introduced in the original Dragon Quest. It is a humanoid monster capable of casting spells, likely being the first enemy that the Hero encounters that can do so. Although they appeared in the series debut, these cloaked mages have yet to reappear in any of the main series, as their role as basic spellcasters has been taken over by other monsters.

Characteristics

Prestidigitators are cloaked figures whose bodies are completely obscured. They wear long grey robes that cover their entire body, showing only their hands and their eyes from underneath their cloaks. Some of them are seen carrying wands.

Appearances

Dragon Quest

Prestidigitator (まほうつかい mahōtsukai)

Original (NES)

Sprite	HP	MP	Experience	Gold	Attack	Defense	Agility
	13	8	4	12	11	12	12

Spell(s)	Sizz
Location(s)

Evasion	Fizzle Resistance	Snooze Resistance	Sizz & Sizzle Resistance
1⁄64	0⁄16	0⁄16	0⁄16

Remakes (SFC, GBC, Mobile)

Sprites	HP	MP	Experience	Gold	Attack	Defense	Agility
	12	8	8	16	8	12	6

Spell(s)	Sizz
Location(s)	Kol region

Evasion	Fizzle Resistance	Snooze Resistance	Sizz & Sizzle Resistance
?	?	?	?

Etymology

Prestidigitation is more popularly known as sleight of hand, techniques involving quick-hand movement to perform magic tricks with objects such as cards and coins. A prestidigitator is a practitioner of these techniques, the name suiting the monster given its magical talents and emphasized, upraised hands.

Variants

Dragon Quest monster Legerdeman
Art by Akira Toriyama Japanese まどうし Romaji Matōshi First appearance Dragon Quest

Legerdeman

Legerdeman (previously known as Warlocks or Druins) are slightly more capable Prestidigitators wearing a red-orange robe instead of plain grey. They are also carrying bronze staves topped with red orbs.

Dragon Quest

Legerdemen (まどうし matōshi)

Original (NES)

Sprite	HP	MP	Experience	Gold	Attack	Defense	Agility
	30	?	13	34	28	22	22

Spell(s)	Sizz, Snooze
Location(s)	Craggy Cave

Evasion	Fizzle Resistance	Snooze Resistance	Sizz & Sizzle Resistance
2⁄64	1⁄16	3⁄16	0⁄16

Remakes (SFC, GBC, Mobile)

Sprites	HP	MP	Experience	Gold	Attack	Defense	Agility
	28	10	28	50	26	24	15

Spell(s)	Sizz, Snooze
Location(s)	Craggy Cave

Evasion	Fizzle Resistance	Snooze Resistance	Sizz & Sizzle Resistance
?	?	?	?

Etymology

Legerdemain is another word for sleight-of-hand. Druin appears to be a misspelling of druid, a member of an order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain who appear in legends as prophets and sorcerers.

Vis mager

Dragon Quest monster Vis mager
Art by Akira Toriyama Japanese だいまどう Romaji Daimadō First appearance Dragon Quest

Vis magers, previously known as Warlock and DruinLord, are Prestidigitators with yellow robes and a golden staff topped with a red orb. They are the most powerful sorcerers in the original game, second only to the Dragonlord himself.

Dragon Quest

(だいまどう daimadō)

Original (NES)

Sprite	HP	MP	Experience	Gold	Attack	Defense	Agility
	65	?	50	164	80	70	70

Spell(s)	Sizzle
Location(s)	Near Cantlin

Evasion	Fizzle Resistance	Snooze Resistance	Sizz & Sizzle Resistance
1⁄32	7⁄16	15⁄16	15⁄16

Remakes (SFC, GBC, Mobile)

Sprites	HP	MP	Experience	Gold	Attack	Defense	Agility
	70	16	120	185	71	60	49

Spell(s)	Sizzle, Fizzle
Location(s)	Near Cantlin

Evasion	Fizzle Resistance	Snooze Resistance	Sizz & Sizzle Resistance
?	?	?	?

Etymology

Vis mager is a combination of vis major, a Latin term which means an overwhelming, unexpected, and unpreventable event usually caused by a natural disaster and mage, a term for a spellcaster.

Gallery

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  Prestidigitator in Dragon Quest Builders

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  A trading card featuring a prestidigitator.

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  Legerdeman vintage art

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  Legerdeman in Dragon Quest Builders

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  Vis mager in Dragon Quest Builders

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  Vis mager in Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road Victory

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