Morph

Morph is a spell in the Dragon Quest series.

Morph Japanese モシャス Rōmaji Moshasu Older names Transform

Effect

Whichever ally the spell is used on allows the caster to take on the attack & defense power, as well as the abilities of the target.

The spell is also a fan-favorite when used by enemies, as the beasts' sprites are replaced with those of the targeted hero and thus provide a rare glimpse of the main characters in mid-battle.

Appearances

Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation

The spell is learned by both Mages and Sages at Level 37 and costs 12 MP. Special effects of weapons and armor are not copied, but the special effects of the user's equipment are used despite their stats not being used. As such, it is highly powerful in conjunction when copying a high-Attack ally (such as a Warrior) while the user themselves has a weak weapon with a strong special effect (such as Falcon Blade or Boomerang); the user will be able to use their powerful weapon without being held back by their weapon's low base Attack.

In the original NES version, if a character under the effect of Transform attempts to cast a spell from the person they have transformed into, and Zoma casts Disruptive Wave before they get to act, that spell will still be cast even if it happens after Disruptive Wave in the turn order and even if the Transform caster does not themselves know the spell. In all subsequent remakes, if Disruptive Wave hits before a Transform caster gets to act, they will lose their action that turn.

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen

The spell is used by Eliza to pose as The Hero so that he/she won't be killed by Psaro the Manslayer's army. She demonstrates the spell earlier in the Prologue in the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo DS versions, in which she turned into a frog & rabbit.

It is also used by Float-o-copiers, but can be undone by use of the Zenithian sword and the Ra's Mirror.

The Hero can also learn it at Level 30, but only in the NES Version.

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

Admirers are the only foes that will cast Morph, and will only copy the recruited monsters the player has in their party. If none are present, the Admirer will never cast the spell.

Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation

The spell is only usable by Devil glasses, Haunted mirrors and Infernal panes. These transformations can be undone by the Ra's Mirror.

The mirrors display a character's over world sprite in the SFC and thus have not attack animations, but were given very detailed and smoothly animated sprites in the DS remake.

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

Admirers and Knight shifts make use of the spell in both versions of the game. In the original PSX, a static sprite would be utilized while a moving 3D model would appear in the 3DS version. In either case the transformation would only reflect the character's default appearance and disregard vocations and equipment.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

A young girl in Alexandria expresses an interest in mastering the spell (referred to in the game as Transform), despite Jessica recommending her to start from the bottom with simple spells like Frizz. If she's visited later, she will demonstrate being able to use the spell, but not being able to control the results very easily as she wanted to become a Hammerhood, but turns into a Rockbomb and then a Walking corpse before reverting back.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age S:Definitive Edition

The Hero and party are sent to the Hidden Valley prior to the events of Dragon Quest IV as Eliza is still perfecting the spell. The spell is undone by them through the use of the Supreme sage's staff.

Dragon Quest Monsters

Called Transform in this game, it requires the monster to reach level 21 with 92 HP and 88 intelligence. It is naturally learned by the Copycat and MadMirror.

Dragon Quest Monsters 2

Transform now requires 159 intelligence to learn. It is naturally learned by the CatMage.

Gallery

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  DQIII Famicom art

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  A pair of devil glasses botching the finer details of the spell, to the party's ire