Headless horseman
The Headless horseman is a recurring monster in the Dragon Quest series, first appearing in Dragon Quest XI. It is an undead knight on horseback resembling the legendary headless horseman.
| Dragon Quest monster | |
|---|---|
| Headless horseman | |
 Art by Akira Toriyama | |
| Japanese | デュラハンナイト |
| Romaji | Deyurahan naito |
| First appearance | Dragon Quest XI |
Characteristics
Headless horsemen are decapitated knights that wield a long spiked flail that drags along the ground and a shield with a horrific screaming visage on it, mounted on the backs of heavily-armoured horses. They wear breastplates, gauntlets, and greaves made of plate mail over chain mail, faulds made of brass scales, and have ragged red capes that hang from their shoulders. The knights swing their flails with reckless abandon and can spur their mounts into performing a bloodcurdling whinny that strikes fear into the hearts of their enemies. Their mounts are able to be ridden after defeating the rider in battle. The headless horseman and its kin can also be faced as foot soldiers.
Appearances
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
If a headless horseman is sparkling, its mount can be ridden after defeating it in battle. The headless horseman's mount functions similarly to a normal horse, having the ability to gallop at high speeds. In the Nintendo 3DS and Definitive Edition of the game, this horse actually moves at a higher speed than a normal one. Additionally, the headless horseman's mount is able to perform a whinny in the 3DS version, which forces monsters hidden underground to jump out and startle them.
Vicious
Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca's Marvelous Mysterious Key
Headless horseman appears as an A-rank monster of the Undead family exclusive to the SP version of the game.
Trivia
- In Celtic mythology, a dullahan is a rider clad in black and riding a black horse that carries its severed head in its hand like a lantern. It is said that when it stops riding or calls out someone's name, they will die. The dullahan is believed to be repelled by golden objects. It is believed to be the embodiment of the Celtic god Crom Dubh.
Gallery
XI polygon model
A vicious headless horseman
Rivals card
Scan Battlers card
