Treasure map (Dragon Quest IX)

A treasure map is a specialty item in Dragon Quest IX, which can be acquired in a number of different ways. When opened, a treasure map marks a particular spot on the world map where a secret grotto can be found. Treasure maps come in 2 varieties: normal and legacy boss. Overall, treasure maps play a key role in extending Dragon Quest IX's post-game by adding enormous amounts of additional content.

Receiving treasure maps

There are numerous methods to receive treasure maps in Dragon Quest IX.

Non-random treasure maps

The following methods of receiving treasure maps yields non-random maps.

• Via Tag Mode
  • Treasure maps can be received via Tag Mode with other Dragon Quest IX games. When entering Tag Mode, the player is able to choose a single treasure map which they possess to share with other games in Tag Mode. This map will be "copied", meaning the original player does not lose it by sharing it on Tag Mode. This method of sharing treasure maps is also used for various Dragon Quest IX events in order to share some of the legacy boss maps.
• Via Quests
  • Several of the quests which can be completed within the game have treasure maps as prizes. This includes the first map the player received, as well as 1 of the legacy boss maps. See List of quests in Dragon Quest IX for more info.
• Via legacy boss item drop
  • This method only applies to the legacy boss maps. After defeating a legacy boss multiple times, the possibility exists that the boss will drop the map of another legacy boss. However, this drop is not random and only certain legacy bosses drop the maps of other legacy bosses.
• Via DQVC
  • Occasionally when connecting to the DQVC, a new treasure map will be automatically downloaded. This is commonly a way for legacy boss maps and other specialty grotto maps to be shared via wifi.
• From King Schott
  • King Schott of Stornway Castle will give the player 1 treasure map when speaking with him after completing the game.

Random treasure maps

Random treasure maps are those which are randomly generated by the game at the time they are received. This type of map is the most commonly acquired one as getting one does not require any outside communication (Tag Mode, DQVC) and is able to be repeated an infinite amount of times.

By completing an existing map

Each normal treasure map has a specific number of floors, always culminating with a boss monster on the final basement. Defeating this boss monster gives the player another random treasure map. This is the primary method of obtaining new treasure maps, as their is no limit to the number of random maps a player can generate in this method. A new map is only given the first time a treasure map is completed.

World map locations

With the exception of the first map the player receives via a quest, all of the world map locations are randomly generated from a fixed number of possible locations.