Hero (Dragon Quest)

This article is about the Hero in the first Dragon Quest game. For other uses of the term Hero in Dragon Quest, see Hero.


"Hero"
Dragon Quest I
DQHeroArt.png
Sprite(s) Original sprite of Hero in Dragon Quest FCDq1hero-sprite-NES.gif
Japanese name 勇者
Romaji Yuusha
Title Erdrick
Class Hero
Race Human
Age 16
Family Erdrick (ancestor)
Voice actor Toshihiko Seki (CD Theater)

The Hero of the first Dragon Quest game is a descendant of Erdrick who set out to rid Alefgard of the evil tyranny of the dreaded Dragonlord and bring light back to the kingdom.

His name in the Japanese 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 helm and 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 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.

Appearances

Dragon Quest

Stats

Attribute Starting Stats Maximum Stat A Maximum Stat B
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.

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.

Level Learned Original Japanese Dragon Warrior Dragon Quest MP Description
3 ホイミ
Hoimi
Heal Heal 4/3 A simple healing spell; recover 10 - 30 HP.
4 ギラ
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
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.


Experience table

Dragon Quest (NES) 
Level Experience
1 0
2 7
3 23
4 47
5 110
6 220
7 450
8 800
9 1300
10 2000
11 2900
12 4000
13 5500
14 7500
15 10000
16 13000
17 16000
18 19000
19 22000
20 26000
21 30000
22 34000
23 38000
24 42000
25 46000
26 50000
27 54000
28 58000
29 62000
30 65000

Dragon Quest (Remakes) 
Level Experience
1 0
2 7
3 23
4 47
5 110
6 220
7 450
8 800
9 1300
10 2000
11 2900
12 4000
13 5500
14 7500
15 10000
16 13000
17 16000
18 19000
19 22000
20 26000
21 30000
22 34000
23 38000
24 42000
25 46000
26 50000
27 54000
28 58000
29 62000
30 65000

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Dragon Quest Builders

Warning: Spoilers!
Click expand to view content

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 The 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.

Dragon Quest Treasures

A statue of the original Hero appears as Treasure No. 327, with a base value of 5,000,000.

Dragon Quest Tact

The Hero is called the Scion of Erdrick and he appears as a S-rank member of the Hero family as part of the limited True Dragon Quest I event, appearing on his own banner alongside the Blue dragon. He can participate in the Death scorpion's Battle Road as a party member.

Scion of Erdrick (ロトの血を引く者 Roto no chiwohiku-sha) 
Stats


Family Rank Role
 
Hero
   
Attack
Max Level HP MP Move
140 1,504 521 3
Attack Defense Agility Wisdom Weight
709 593 520 310 65
Basic Skills
First Second Third
Muster Courage
Character Builder: Zoom
Shining Slash* Brave Blade*
Coup de Grâce: Light of Alefgard*
Awakening Skills
First Second Third
Surging Strength / Stats Up Sizz Res +25 / Stats Up Physical Potency/Recovery +5% / Hero's Compassion: Action start: Heals 15% of max HP and restores 4% of max MP / Stats Up
Fourth Fifth
Crack Res +25 / Stats Up Physical Potency/Recovery +5% / Max HP +100 / Stats Up
Leader Perks
First
Raises ATK of all allies, including himself, by 15% in a 5x5 square around him.
Basic Perks
First Second Third
Max HP +30
DEF +20
Hero's Pride: Reduces damage by 50% from enemies at a range of 2 spaces or more. Physical Potency/Recovery +2%
Perk Details
First
Surging Strength: Action start on odd turns up to turn 10: Raises ATK, DEF, WIS, and AGL for 3 turns
Frizz Resistance * Sizz Resistance * Crack Resistance * Woosh Resistance *
Normal Half Res Half Res Very Weak
Bang Resistance * Zap Resistance * Zam Resistance * Snooze Resistance
Normal Normal Very Weak Normal
Poison Resistance Physical Lock Resistance Spell Lock Resistance Martial Lock Resistance
Normal Normal Normal Normal
Breath Lock Resistance Hobble Resistance * Stun Resistance * Dazzle Resistance
Normal Normal Normal Normal
Curse Resistance Paralysis Resistance Confusion Resistance Charm Resistance
Normal Normal Normal Normal



Trivia

  • 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 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 Dragon Quest 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

See also