The Hocus-Poker is a recurring monster in the Dragon Quest series, first appearing in Dragon Quest III. It is a high-ranking warlock in the service of a Demon Lord.
| Dragon Quest monster | |
|---|---|
| Hocus-Poker | |
 Art by Akira Toriyama | |
| Japanese | アークマージ |
| Romaji | Ākumāji |
| First appearance | Dragon Quest III |
| Old localization | Archmage |
Characteristics
Hocus-pokers are evil sorcerers that resemble Prestidigitators wearing magenta robes with white or purple belts tied around their waists. They have green or yellow eyes glowing from their hoods and have their hands outstretched from the sleeves of their robes, ready to cast magic on their enemies. Hocus-pokers have an impressive magical arsenal at their fingertips, and they are also capable of breathing ice on their enemies. For their reappearance in XI, the hocus-pokers lost their position as the second most powerful of their sorcerous brethren to the leger-de-men.
Appearances
Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation
| Hocus-Poker (アークマージ Ākumāji) |  |
| Sprite | Level | HP | MP | |
 |
43 | 130 | 100 | |
| Attack | Defense | Agility | Experience | Gold |
| 90 | 150 | 75 | 2,850 | 140 |
| Bestiary No. | #119 |
| Spell(s) | Kaboom Kazing |
| Skill(s) | Cool Breath |
| Location(s) | Alefgard Nail Mark Zoma's Citadel |
| Item Dropped | Staff of strife1⁄128 |
| Evasion | Fire Resistance * | Crack Resistance * | Woosh Resistance * | ||
| 1⁄16 | 70% | 70% | 0% | ||
| Zap Resistance * | Drain Magic Resistance | Whack Resistance * | Kamikazee Resistance | ||
| 0% | 25% | 70% | 0% | ||
| Poof Resistance | Fuddle Resistance | Snooze Resistance | Dazzle Resistance | ||
| 70% | 25% | 100% | 25% | ||
| Fizzle Resistance | Sap Resistance * | Deceleratle Resistance * | |||
| 70% | 25% | 70% | |||
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
| Hocus-poker (アークマージ Ākumāji) |  |
| Sprite | HP | MP | Attack |
 |
159 | 14 | 94 |
| Defense | Agility | Experience | Gold |
| 125 | 81 | 384 | 80 |
| Bestiary no. | #221 |
| Family | Humanoid |
| In-game description | Sorcerers who sought to augment their already impressive abilities and, having grown drunk on their new-found power, became terrible tyrants. |
| Spell(s) | Boom Zing Co-Boom (Pep power, with Hocus-poker) |
| Skill(s) | Becomes Pepped up |
| Location(s) | Heliodor Dungeons - Upper Level (second act) The Costa Valor (second act, 3DS and Definitive Editions only) |
| Item(s) dropped | Magic water1⁄32 Tsunami staff1⁄128 |
| Evasion | Fire Resistance * | Ice Resistance * |
Wind Resistance * | |
| N/a | 0% | 0% | -110% | |
| Rock Resistance * | Light Resistance * | Dark Resistance * | Zap Resistance * | |
| 0% | 25% | -125% | 0% | |
| Drain Magic Resistance | Whack Resistance * | Poof Resistance | Poison Resistance * | |
| 0% | 50% | 100% | 0% | |
| Paralysis Resistance * | Fuddle Resistance * | Snooze Resistance * | Dazzle Resistance * | |
| 50% | 50% | 50% | 25% | |
| Sap Resistance * | Blunt Resistance | Deceleratle Resistance | Spooky Aura Anathematise Resistance |
|
| 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | |
| Fizzle Resistance * | Stun Resistance * | Stumble Resistance * | Charm Resistance * | |
| 25% | 99% | 0% | 100% | |
| Beguile Resistance * | Double Down Resistance * | Elemental Resistance * | ||
| 25% | 0% | 0% | ||
| Malicious hocus-poker (アークマージ・邪 Ākumāji・ja) | |
| Sprite | HP | MP | Attack |
| |
321 | 56 | 162 |
| Defense | Agility | Experience | Gold |
| 255 | 135 | 1,475 | 372 |
| Bestiary no. | #436 |
| Family | Humanoid |
| In-game description | Hocus-pokers who have morphed into a truly malevolent form under the malign influence of infinite evil. |
| Spell(s) | Kaboom Kazing Co-Kaboom (Pep power, with Abracadabrer) |
| Skill(s) | Becomes Pepped up |
| Location(s) | Heliodor Sewers (third act) |
| Item(s) dropped | Magic water1⁄32 Tsunami staff1⁄128 |
| Evasion | Fire Resistance * | Ice Resistance * |
Wind Resistance * | |
| N/a | 0% | 0% | -110% | |
| Rock Resistance * | Light Resistance * | Dark Resistance * | Zap Resistance * | |
| 0% | 25% | -125% | 0% | |
| Drain Magic Resistance | Whack Resistance * | Poof Resistance | Poison Resistance * | |
| 0% | 50% | 100% | 0% | |
| Paralysis Resistance * | Fuddle Resistance * | Snooze Resistance * | Dazzle Resistance * | |
| 50% | 50% | 50% | 25% | |
| Sap Resistance * | Blunt Resistance | Deceleratle Resistance | Spooky Aura Anathematise Resistance |
|
| 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | |
| Fizzle Resistance * | Stun Resistance * | Stumble Resistance * | Charm Resistance * | |
| 50% | 99% | 0% | 100% | |
| Beguile Resistance * | Double Down Resistance * | Elemental Resistance * | ||
| 25% | 0% | 0% | ||
Dragon Quest Rivals
Hocus-poker appeared as a rare card exclusive for Mage leaders in the 5th card pack, "Heroic Tales of Bravery".
Etymology
Hocus-Poker's name is derived from the term, "hocus pocus", an exclamation used by magicians in order to bring about a change of some sort, but it can also be a term to refer to magic tricks or sleight-of-hand in general.
Gallery
XI polygon model
A malicious hocus-poker
Rivals card
A hocus-poker in Keshi Keshi.
