View source for Hero (Dragon Quest)

<center>{{for
 |about=the Hero in the first {{DQ}} game
 |for=other uses of the term '''''Hero''''' in Dragon Quest
 |see=Hero
}}</center>
<br/>
{{Character
| Name="Hero"
| Game=''[[Dragon Quest|Dragon Quest I]]''
| Image= [[Image:DQHeroArt.png|300px]]
| Sprite=[[File:Alef original fc ver.gif|class=pixels|Original sprite of Hero in Dragon Quest FC]][[Image:Dq1hero-sprite-NES.gif|class=pixels]]
| Japanese name=勇者
| Roumaji=Yuusha
| Title=Erdrick
| Class=Hero
| Race=Human
| Age=16
| Family=[[Erdrick]] (ancestor)
|Voice Actor   = [[Toshihiko Seki]] ([[Dragon Quest I CD Theater|CD Theater]])
|}}

The '''Hero''' of the first {{DQ}} game is a descendant of [[Erdrick]] who set out to rid [[Alefgard]] of the evil tyranny of the dreaded [[Dragonlord]] and bring [[Ball of Light|light]] back to the kingdom.

His name in the Japanese [[Dragon Quest I CD Theater|CD drama]] and novelization is '''Alef''' (アレフ).
==Appearance and personality==
The seminal Hero is often depicted as a young man of athletic build, wearing the traditional armor of Erdrick (including his [[Erdrick#The Helmet of Erdrick|helm]] and [[Erdrick#The Shield of Erdrick|shield]]) and a bright red cape billowing behind him.

The sprite used for the original 8-bit adventure is dressed appropriately for combat, donning blue [[Full plate armour|Full plate armor]], a helm that superficially resembles the helmet of [[Ortega]] with an added orange pony-tail, a large circular shield embedded with a red jewel in its center (possibly a ruby), and an impressively sized claymore sheathed at his side.

Setting the narrative standard for all other ''Dragon Quest'' protagonists to follow, the Hero is utterly silent, only communicating in answers of 'Yes' and 'No'. This was a conscious decision made by series creator Yuji Horii to help draw the player into the world of Alefgard on a more personal level, rather than viewing the events of the game as an observer.
{{clear}}
==Appearances==
==={{DQ}}===
====Stats====
{| style="width:65%; height:100px; text-align:center" border="1" 
|-<---!Headings are up first.!---> style="font-weight:bold; background:#A3AB47"
| Attribute || Starting Stats || Maximum Stat A || Maximum Stat B
|- style="font-weight:normal"
| Level || 1 || 30 || 30
|-
| HP || ? || 195 || 177
|-
| MP || ? || 193 || 178
|-
| Strength || ? || 136 || 122
|-
| Agility || ? || 126 || 114
|-
| Resilience || ? || 63 || 57
|-
| Initial gear || [[Bamboo spear]] in the remakes
|}
'''Note:''' The Hero's initial stats are randomly decided by a complex formula that uses the letters selected by players. This is why there is a high maximum and low maximum for level 30 stats, and why certain names make the beginning of the game easier than others.
{{clear}}
{{clear}}
====Spells====
Setting the standard ''magic knight'' archetype of the series' protagonists, the descendant of Erdrick is equally adept at magic as he is with weapons.

{| style="width:65%; height:100px; text-align:center" border="1"
|- <---!Headings are up first.!---> style="font-weight:bold; background:#E42E2E"
| Level Learned || Original Japanese || Dragon Warrior || Dragon Quest || MP || Description
|- style="font-weight:normal"
| 3 || ホイミ <br>''[[Hoimi]]'' || Heal || Heal || 4/3 || A simple healing spell; recover 10 - 30 HP.
|-
| 4 || ギラ <br>''[[Gira]]'' || Hurt || Sizz || 2 || A small fireball attacks the enemy.
|-
| 7 || ラリホー ''[[Rarihoo]]'' || Sleep || Snooze || 2 || Try to put the enemy to sleep.
|-
| 9 || レミーラ ''[[Remiira]]'' || Radiant || Glow || 3/2 || Provides greater illumination than a torch.
|-
| 10 || マホトーン ''[[Mahotoon]]'' || Stopspell || Fizzle || 2 || Try to block the enemy's spell.
|-
| 12 || リレミト ''[[Riremito]]'' || Outside || Evac || 6 || Exit a cave with this spell.
|-
| 13 || ルーラ <br>''[[Ruura]]'' || Return || Zoom || 8 || Cast to return to Tantegel Castle.
|-
| 15 || トヘロス ''[[Toherosu]]'' || Repel || Holy Protection || 2 || Walk safely over dangerous terrain.
|-
| 17 || ベホイミ ''[[Behoimi]]'' || Healmore || Midheal || 10/8 || A stronger form of Heal; recover over 75 HP.
|-
| 19 || ベギラマ ''[[Begirama]]'' || Hurtmore || Sizzle || 5 || A powerful fire spell.
|}
{{clear}}
====Experience table====
{{VersionTabs|NES| {{CharacterExpList|header|title=Dragon Quest|subtitle=NES}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=1|exp=0}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=2|exp=7}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=3|exp=23}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=4|exp=47}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=5|exp=110}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=6|exp=220}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=7|exp=450}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=8|exp=800}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=9|exp=1300}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=10|exp=2000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=11|exp=2900}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=12|exp=4000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=13|exp=5500}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=14|exp=7500}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=15|exp=10000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=16|exp=13000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=17|exp=16000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=18|exp=19000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=19|exp=22000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=20|exp=26000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=21|exp=30000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=22|exp=34000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=23|exp=38000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=24|exp=42000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=25|exp=46000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=26|exp=50000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=27|exp=54000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=28|exp=58000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=29|exp=62000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=30|exp=65000}} {{CharacterExpList|footer}}|Remakes| {{CharacterExpList|header|title=Dragon Quest|subtitle=Remakes}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=1|exp=0}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=2|exp=7}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=3|exp=23}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=4|exp=47}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=5|exp=110}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=6|exp=220}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=7|exp=450}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=8|exp=800}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=9|exp=1300}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=10|exp=2000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=11|exp=2900}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=12|exp=4000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=13|exp=5500}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=14|exp=7500}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=15|exp=10000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=16|exp=13000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=17|exp=16000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=18|exp=19000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=19|exp=22000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=20|exp=26000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=21|exp=30000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=22|exp=34000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=23|exp=38000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=24|exp=42000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=25|exp=46000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=26|exp=50000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=27|exp=54000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=28|exp=58000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=29|exp=62000}} {{CharacterExpList|entry|level=30|exp=65000}} {{CharacterExpList|footer}}
{{CharacterExpList|footer}}}}

==={{DQB}}===
{{spoiler|start}}
The setting of ''Builders'' is a hypothetical world where the Hero chose to accept the Dragonlord's offer of ruling half the world. Several characters ponder aloud as to why such a man would descend into darkness, but the game leaves it to players to speculate for themselves. The fallen Hero is encountered in person in the fourth chapter as a boss, with the epitaph ''Fallen Hero--The King of Darkness''. Perhaps most tragically is that the Builder will see crude tents scattered in front of the grounds before his keep--Goddess only knows how many people prayed for their hero to return in vain.

Far from being the equal to the Dragonlord, the Hero has been reduced to a cackling lunatic cloistered away in a small fortress near Alefgard. He believes himself to be the true king of the world, and declares that the penalty for the Builder invading his "real" shall be death. During battle he is armed with his original copies of the Sword of Kings and Hero's shield, and can perform a spin attack. He has just enough sense left to taunt the Builder during their skirmish, and will summon monsters to aid him when his health drops to half and 1/4th. When beaten, he flees and is never seen again.
{{spoiler|end}}

==Notes==
Though every picture and even the game sprite show the Hero wearing a helmet, the equip menu in the game doesn't have a slot for a helmet. The helmet worn by the sprite resembles the horned helmet given to [[Ortega]], the father of the [[Hero (Dragon Quest III)|Hero]] of {{Dragon Quest III}} at the beginning of the game, which later becomes the The Helmet of Erdrick. 

It's possible to speculate that the Hero of {{DQ}} is simply wearing the Helmet of Erdrick the entire game, as that is the only equipment the Hero of ''Dragon Quest III'' kept for himself due to being the last memento of Ortega, and would have presumably been passed down to his/her descendants. The Hero would have no need to upgrade to another helmet, since no others would offer better protection. Erdrick's Shield is also unavailable in ''Dragon Quest''; however, the shield that the Hero wields in official illustrations clearly has the crest of Erdrick on it.

==Gallery==
<center><gallery>
File:DQ Hero classic pose.png|Iconic pose
Image:Dq1hero.jpg|Hero artwork
File:DQ Talking to a villager.png|Talking to a villager
Image:DQIHeroChibi.png|Chibi art
File:DQ Hero Jumping Down.png|Casting Evac
File:DQI and II Hero and Gwaelin pose.png|The Hero and Princess Gwaelin
Image:DQI and II_Hero_and_Gwaelin.png|Art from the back of the SFC box
File:DQI_Hero_and_Slimes.png|Beset by slimes
Image:DQIHeroInomata.png|Mutsumi Inomata art
Image:Gwaelin and Hero.png| Princess Gwaelin and the Hero, circa 1993
File:DQI and II Hero laughing.png|''Dragon Quest I + II''
Image:DQI_Hero_Erdricks_armour.png|The hero wearing [[Erdrick's armour]]. Artwork for the Super Famicom remake.
File:DQ 4Koma Gekijou Extra 3.png|4koma comics
Image:DQIHero25thAnn.png|Artwork for the 25th Anniversary
Image:DQHerosofubi.jpg|[[Dragon Quest Sofubi Character]] merchandise series by Square Enix.
Image:DQI Hero Figure.jpg|''Dragon Quest Character Figure Collection Roto no Monshou'' series.
File:Gwaelin and Hero mini.jpg|Figurine of the Hero carrying the princess home
File:DQHII Razel Alt Costume.png|''Dragon Quest Heroes II'' alternate costume for Razel
File:DQHII Teresia Alt Costume.png|''Dragon Quest Heroes II'' alternate costume for Teresia
File:King of Darkness.png|The fallen Hero in ''Builders''
File:FinalSmashHeroes.png|I's Hero in the [[Hero (Super Smash Bros.)|Hero]]'s Final Smash.
File:Conklave 1 and 2.jpg|[[Conklave]] cosplay parody
</gallery></center>

==See also==
*[[Alefgard armour]]

{{Hero}}
{{DQI}}
{{SSBU}}
[[Category:Party members]]
[[Category:Dragon Quest I characters]]
[[Category:Dragon Quest Rivals characters]]