Maelstrom
Maelstrom is a powerful spell that first appeared in Dragon Quest VII. When conjured, it crushes a group of foes with a biblical deluge of water. Despite the spells' nautical nature, it actually uses the woosh attribute for resistance checks in most of its appearances.
| Maelstrom | |
|---|---|
| |
| Japanese | メイルストロム |
| Rōmaji | Marustoromu |
| Type | Offensive |
| Older names | Whirlpool |
Appearances
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
Appearing only in the remakes, the spell is put to use by the menacing Croaked king and hits all party members for 120~150 non-elemental damage. Because no armor or shield in IV dampens the spell, it makes encounters with the colossal catfish especially dangerous.
Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past
In the original version, Maelstrom can only be learned by mastering the Pirate vocation. In the 3DS remake, it can now be learned by reaching rank 7 as a Pirate, rank 2 as a Druid, and rank 5 as a Hero. In either case, it deals 120~150 Wind damage for 12 MP.
- Additionally, it can be used for free via the Sea Serpent Sabre sword.
When used by monsters, it carries no element at all and can be weathered by donning the Bottlenose buckler and Aeras shield or by being a Pirate. The rate of resistance to this spell increase with the vocation's rank, capping at half damage at rank 8.
Dragon Quest X
Pirates learn Maelstrom at level 80. It has a casting time of 60 seconds and requires 24 MP, dealing colossal Wind damage to all enemies within an 8 meter radius of the pillager.
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Maelstrom is an enemy-only spell, being used by sea monsters such as Alizarin. It deals around 80 damage to all party members, marking the first break from the traditional range. While all other water-themed abilities use the ice element, Maelstrom stubbornly sticks to wind as a reference to VII.
Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below
Nera can use Maelstrom as one of her exclusive skills. It works as a vortex and crowd control ability, dealing no damage, but drawing in monsters and trapping them in a surge of water briefly. Additionally, the vortex affects the flight pattern of Nera's Hubble Bubbles to draw them into the center.
Dragon Quest Treasures
Maelstrom deals Water-element damage for the first time that players have had access to the spell in this spin-off. It is learned by Icy draglings and Soggy hands at level 32 and costs 8 MP to cast, dealing damage to enemies within a wide circle similar to the higher-tier Frizz spells.
