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) |
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) |
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) |
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
Prestidigitator in Dragon Quest Builders
A trading card featuring a prestidigitator.
Legerdeman vintage art
Legerdeman in Dragon Quest Builders
Vis mager in Dragon Quest Builders
Vis mager in Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road Victory
