Cumulus vex

Dragon Quest monster Cumulus vex

Art by Akira Toriyama Japanese ヘルクラウダー Romaji Hell Clouder First appearance monster Old localization HellCloud

The Cumulus Vex is a recurring monster in the Dragon Quest series, first appearing as a boss in Dragon Quest VII. It is a king of the skies whose body is made up of clouds.

Characteristics

Cumulus vex has the appearance of an old wizard whose body and clothes are completely composed of golden clouds. It has solid green eyes, pointed ears, and a long majestic beard that reaches down to its feet. On top of its head, it has two long strands of "hair" that stick up like horns while the rest seems to blend in with the billowing robes it is wearing. Its hands have three digits each and the bottom of its body is surrounded by grey stormclouds. It is a fearsome enemy to face in battle, calling upon razor-sharp blasts of wind that rip apart its enemies and overwhelming the unprepared with sheer numbers due to its ability to call upon sky fries to aid it in battle. In the Nintendo 3DS version, it speaks in wind-based puns. Although the cumulus vex was a boss in its first appearance, it went on to become a regular enemy when it reappeared in IX.

Appearances

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

Cumulus vex (ヘルクラウダー Heru kuraudā)

Sprite	HP	MP	Attack	Defense
	3080	Unlimited	185	91
Agility	Experience	Gold	Tame Rate
96	2160	604	N/a

Bestiary No.	#291
Spell(s)
Skill(s)	Can act twice per turn. Wind Sickles Thin Air Call for help. (Sky fry)
Location(s)	Sanctum of the Cirrus
Item(s) Dropped	N/a

Evasion	Frizz Resistance *	Sizz Resistance *	Fire Breath Resistance *
2⁄64	0%	0%	0%
Bang Resistance *	Crack Resistance *	Ice Breath Resistance *	Woosh Resistance *
0%	0%	50%	100%
Strike/Rock Resistance *	Zap Resistance *	Drain Magic Resistance *	Whack Resistance *
0%	0%	100%	100%
Poof Resistance *	Poison Resistance *	Burning Breath Resistance	Fuddle Resistance *
100%	100%	100%	100%
Snooze Resistance *	Dazzle Resistance *	Fizzle Resistance *	Ban Dance Resistance
100%	100%	100%	100%
Stun Resistance *	Sap Resistance *	Army Resistance *
100%	100%	100%

3DS version changes

None

• Floating-type

Stategy

The Cumulus vex is a tough boss, being able to attack twice in one turn. It uses wind-based attacks like Thin Air, that hits all of the party for about ~60 HP, and Wind Sickles, that hits one party member for ~80 HP (~100 in the 3DS version). Its ability to summon multiple sky fries makes the battle more difficult. Thankfully, sky fries can be put to sleep, have their spells sealed away, or confused to take them out of the action.

Attacks that hit more than one enemy are very helpful. The Flametang boomerang that can be purchased in Aeolus Vale is also helpful because it hits all enemies with decreasing damage. Boom is effective as well. Unfortunately, Ruff's Call of the Wild and the Shepherd's Lambpede are completely useless in the battle. Physical attackers should focus their attacks on the Cumulus vex or use Sword Dance. Spellcasters should keep the party healed, cast Kabuff and Oomph when necessary, and use group attack spells to defeat the sky fries. Magic Barrier can also be cast to help protect the party, but in the 3DS version, it no longer reduces the damage taken from its wind attacks.

Make sure that you keep your party's health is above ~100 HP and that you are sufficiently buffed to achieve victory.

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

#190 - Cumulus Vex
HP MP Experience Gold 268 40 1400 144 Attack Defense Speed 169 246 161
Dropped Item	Thunderball (common, 1/16) Seed of sorcery (rare, 1/256)
Locations	Realm of the Mighty Tower of Nod Grotto
Skills	Lightning Weakening Wave
Family	Elemental
Bestiary #	190
Game	Dragon Quest IX
Console	DS
Romanized Jap.	Heru kuraudā
Description	These kings among clouds rule the skies of hell, and can channel the power of lightning into a Weakening Wave. These monsters may be the result of a mutation in the misty genes of the freezing fog.

Dragon Quest Tact

Cumulus vex appears as an A-rank monster of the Inorganic family as part of the limited Dragon Quest VII event. It will join the player in Chapter 4, Episode 4 of the event quests, entitled The Cumulus Vex and it stars in its own Battle Road. Cumulus vex can be fully awakened by completing the Cathedral of Blight stages based on the Howling Cave at any difficulty.

Cumulus Vex (ヘルクラウダー Hell Clouder)

Stats

Family		Rank		Role
Inorganic				Support
Max Level		HP	MP	Move
120		1,037	411	2-3
Attack	Defense	Agility	Wisdom	Weight
291	281	365	195	35

Basic Skills

First		Second		Third
Invigorate		Thin Air Blast*		Healing Wave*

Awakening Skills

First	Second	Third
Move +1/Stats Up	Frizz Res +25/Stats Up	Healing Wave Effect +5%/Stats Up
Fourth	Fifth
Zam Res +25/Stats Up	Healing Wave Effect +5%/Stats Up

Leader Perks

First

Inorganic Martial Potency +10%: Raises inorganic martial potency of allies, including itself, by 10% in a 5x5 square around it.

Basic Perks

First	Second	Third
Max HP +20	AGL +15	Healing Wave Effect +2%

Perk Details

First

Move +1: Raises Move by 1.

Frizz Resistance *	Sizz Resistance *	Crack Resistance *	Woosh Resistance *
Half Res	Normal	Very Weak	Normal
Bang Resistance *	Zap Resistance *	Zam Resistance *	Snooze Resistance
Very Weak	Normal	Half Res	Normal
Poison Resistance	Physical Lock Resistance	Spell Lock Resistance	Martial Lock Resistance
Half Res	Normal	Super Weak	Half Res
Breath Lock Resistance	Hobble Resistance *	Stun Resistance *	Dazzle Resistance
Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
Curse Resistance	Paralysis Resistance	Confusion Resistance	Charm Resistance
Normal	Immune	Normal	Super Weak

Etymology

Cumulus vex is named after cumulus clouds, a type of cloud with a puffy white base that often leads to other types of clouds due to several factors and the English verb vex, which means to annoy or irritate.

Gallery

• 

  Boss encounter in the 3DS version.

• 
• 

  Cumulus vex in Walk.

Related monsters

• Sky fry
• Fire fry
• Cumulus rex
• Cumulus hex