Hero (Dragon Quest VIII)
Hero | |
Dragon Quest VIII | |
Japanese name | 主人公 |
Romaji | Shujinkō |
Title | Captain of the Guard |
Class | Hero |
Race | |
Age | 20 |
Family |
The Hero of Dragon Quest VIII is a 20 year-old low-ranking royal guardsman at Castle Trodain, before becoming a refuge of the kingdom in the prologue of Dragon Quest VIII. He was one of the small band who survived Dhoulmagus' deadly attack, along with King Trode, Medea and his pet mouse, Munchie. As is the series' tradition, the Hero is a silent protagonist whom the player is meant to project themselves upon, using him as an avatar to explore and interact with the game's world.
The Hero is a versatile character, as equally proficient in armed combat as he is in using healing spells and support magic. His preferred weapons are swords, spears and boomerangs.
Appearance and Personality
Due to his aforementioned status as a silent protagonist, very little can be said of the man's character that isn't decided by the player. That being said, the youth has demonstrated a remarkably humane nature in certain cutscenes. This is most apparent in the flashback to his meeting with Yangus, who accidentally broke the rope bridge that he was blocking while attempting to extort money from King Trode. Instead of letting the bellicose bandit fall to his death, the former guard pulled him to safety despite Trode's considerable umbrage.
In contrast to heroes of previous games, this Hero dresses very casually and historically coherent, wearing a saffron overcoat with a blue tunic, simple red bandana, and plain grey trousers with brown boots.
Background
An amnesiac since his early youth, the Hero grew up in Castle Trodain, eventually serving as a guard for some time before the events of the prologue took place. For much of Dragon Quest VIII, the hero journeys with his faithful mouse friend, Munchie, King Trode, Medea, and Yangus. The hero is eventually joined by Jessica and Angelo, enlisting their aid in pursuing and confronting the wicked Dhoulmagus.
Munchie
The Hero carries around his pet, Munchie, wherever he goes. A highly intelligent Pig-Rat, Munchie is capable of entering small spaces and exploring areas the party would otherwise have no access to. If you give Munchie cheese items, he gains special abilities. Munchie rides in the pocket of the Hero's coat most of the time. Munchie will show his true significance only after the game.
Stats
Attribute | Starting Stats | Maximum Stats |
Level | 1 | 99 |
HP | 22 | 806 |
MP | 0 | 478 |
Strength | 8 | 400 |
Agility | 6 | 200 |
Resilience | 6 | 215 |
Wisdom | 5 | 366 |
Initial gear | Soldier's sword, Plain clothes, Bandana |
- the Hero also has a 25% resistance to zap
Abilities
Sword
Name | MP | Points | Target | Tension | Info | Oomph |
Attack +5 | -- | 4 | -- | no | Increase the sword attack +5. | no |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dragon Slash | 0 | 9 | one | yes | Inflicts 150% damage on dragons (otherwise normal damage). | yes |
Flame Slash | 0 | 15 | one | yes | Inflicts 130% damage (reduced if enemy is resistant to fire). | yes |
Attack +10 | -- | 22 | -- | no | Increase attack by ten when a sword is equipped. | no |
Metal Slash | 0 | 30 | one | yes | Inflicts 1~2 damage to metal slimes. | no |
Attack +15 | -- | 40 | -- | no | Increase attack by fifteen when a sword is equipped. | no |
Critical Hit rate up | -- | 40 | -- | no | Increase the critical hit rate from 1/64 to 1/32. | no |
Falcon Slash | 0 | 52 | one | yes | Slashes one enemy twice, each cut dealing 75% damage for 150% total. | First hit |
Attack +25 | -- | 66 | -- | no | Increases attack by twenty five when a sword is equipped. | no |
Miracle Slash | 4 | 82 | one | yes | Inflicts 125% damage and restores HP by 50% of damage inflicted. | yes |
Gigaslash | 20 | 100 | group | yes | Inflicts up to 207~239 damage to each member of a group. | no |
Gigagash | 20 | 100* | group | yes | Inflicts up to 271~331 damage to each member of a group. |
no |
- Requires 100 points in both swords and courage
Spear
Name | MP | Points | Target | Tension | Info | Oomph |
Attack +5 | 0 | 3 | -- | no | Increase attack by five when a spear is equipped. | no |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mercurial Thrust | 0 | 7 | one | yes | Strike first at 80% power. | yes |
Thunder Thrust | 3 | 12 | one | yes | 25% for a critical hit, 25% for a normal stab, 50% to miss altogether. | no |
Attack +10 | no | 18 | -- | no | Increase attack by ten when equipped with a spear. | no |
Multithrust | 4 | 25 | random | yes | Skewers 3~4 targets at half strength per jab. | first hit |
Critical Hit rate up | no | 40 | auto | no | Increase the critical hit rate from 1/64 to 1/32. | no |
Clean Sweep | 0* | 45 | group | yes | Strike/rock element with decreasing damage range: 80% -> 64% -> 56% -> 40% -> 25% -> 16%. Chance for Demon spear's effect to trigger on each enemy. |
first hit |
Lightning Thrust | 0 | 59 | one | no | More powerful version of Thunder Thrust, 50% to land a critical hit. | no |
Attack +25 | -- | 77 | -- | no | Increases attack by twenty five when equipped with a spear. | no |
Lightning Storm | 25 | 100 | all | yes | Inflicts 190-220 damage to all enemies. | no |
- Clean Sweep costs 2 MP in the 3DS version.
Boomerang
Name | MP | Points | Target | Tension | Info | Oomph |
Crosscutter Throw | 2 | 6 | all | yes | The first enemy is hit twice. Strike/rock element. | first hit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attack +5 | -- | 12 | -- | -- | Increases attack by five when a boomerang is equipped. | -- |
Power Throw | 4 | 18 | all | yes | 80% strength, but damage does not decrease per bonked monster. Strike/rock element. | first hit |
Attack +10 | -- | 25 | -- | -- | Increases attack by ten when a boomerang is equipped. | -- |
Firebird Throw | 6 | 32 | all | yes | 36-44 fire damage to all enemies. | no |
Attack +15 | -- | 40 | -- | -- | Increases attack by fifteen when a boomerang is equipped. | -- |
Super Throw | 4 | 52 | all | yes | 120% damage, does not decrease per monster. Strike/rock element. | first hit |
Attack +20 | -- | 66 | -- | -- | Increase the boomerang attack +20. | -- |
Starburst Throw | 8 | 82 | all | yes | 76-84 bang damage to all enemies. | no |
Gigathrow | 15 | 100 | one | yes | Inflicts up to 233~284 zap damage to a single enemy. | no |
Fisticuffs
Name | MP | Points | Target | Tension | Info | Oomph |
Attack +5 | -- | 4 | -- | -- | Increases attack by five when unarmed. | -- |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Defending Champion | 0 | 11 | self | yes | More powerful defending action (damage reduced by 90%). | no |
Stone's Throw | 0 | 17 | group | yes | 8-20 strike/rock damage to a group of enemies. | no |
Knuckle Sandwich | 2 | 24 | one | no | Inflicts 150% points of strike/rock damage. | yes |
Attack +20 | no | 33 | auto | no | Increases attack by twenty when unarmed. | no |
Thin Air | 2 | 42 | all | yes | Inflicts up to 108~132 points of damage on all enemies. | no |
Critical Hit rate up | no | 52 | auto | no | Increase the critical hit rate from 1/64 to 1/32. | no |
Multifists | 0 | 70 | random | yes | Four random swings at 33% power each. | first hit |
Boulder Toss | 4 | 82 | all | yes | Inflicts 72-104 strike/rock damage on all enemies. | no |
Attack +50 | -- | 100 | -- | -- | Increases attack by fifty when unarmed. | -- |
Courage
Name | MP | Points | Target | Tension | Info | Oomph |
Zoom | 1 | 8 | party | no | Teleports player to entrance of known location (outdoors only). | no |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tingle | 2 | 16 | party | no | Cures party of sleep and parlyzed status changes. | no |
Fizzle | 4 | 28 | group | no | Prevents enemy group from using magic. | no |
Holy Protection | 3 | 40 | party | no | Random encounters with enemies whose level is lower than the hero are avoided. | no |
Zap | 6 | 48 | all | yes | Inflicts up to 72~88 damage on all enemies. | no |
MP discount | -- | 56 | -- | -- | Reduces the MP cost to 3/4. | -- |
Kamikazee | 1 | 70 | all | no | The Hero sacrifices himself to deal high damage to all enemies. | no |
Omniheal | 36 | 82 | party | no | Restores full HP to all party members. | no |
MP discount | no | 90 | auto | no | Reduces the MP cost to 1/2. | no |
Kazap | 15 | 100 | group | yes | Inflicts up to 180~220 damage to a group of monsters. | no |
Gigaslash | 20 | 100 | group | yes | Inflicts up to 207~239 damage to each member of a group. | yes |
Gigagash | 20 | 100* | group | yes | Inflicts up to 271~331 damage to each member of a group. | no |
- Requires 100 points in both swords and courage
Magic
Name | MP | Level | Target | Tension | Info |
Heal | 2 | 3 | one | yes | Restores 30-40 HP to one character. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Squelch | 2 | 4 | one | no | Cures one character of poison and envenomation. |
Evac | 2 | 6 | party | no | Teleports player back to dungeon entrance. |
Sizz | 4 | 11 | group | yes | Inflicts up to 29~35 fire damage on each member of a group. |
Midheal | 3 | 18 | one | yes | Restores 75-90 HP to one character. |
Sizzle | 6 | 20 | group | yes | Inflicts up to 53~62 fire damage on each member of a group. |
Fullheal | 6 | 27 | one | no | Restores all HP to one character. |
Zing | 8 | 29 | one | no | Revives a dead character with 50% of HP (50% success rate). |
Kasizzle | 10 | 32 | group | yes | Inflicts up to 150~170 fire damage on each member of a group. |
Dragon Soul | 64 | 65/70* | one | yes | Inflicts 420~520 non-elemental damage to one enemy. |
- Dragon Soul is learned at level 70 in the 3DS version and deals 375~450 damage.
Equipment
Dragon Quest VIII (All) | |
---|---|
Helmet | Modifier(s) |
Bandana | Defense +1 |
Leather Hat | Defense +3 |
Turban | Defense +8 |
Feathered Cap | Defense +9 |
Iron Helmet | Defense +16 |
Bronze Helmet | Defense +20 |
Hermes' Hat | Defense +20 |
Mercury's Bandana | Defense +23 |
Iron Mask | Defense +25 |
Pirate's Hat | Defense +30 |
Platinum Headgear | Defense +30 |
Iron Headgear | Defense +32 |
Hades' Helm | Defense +33 |
Mythril Helm | Defense +38 |
Great Helm | Defense +45 |
Dragovian Helm | Defense +50 |
Sun Crown | Defense +52 |
Metal king Helm | Defense +55 |
Dragon Quest VIII (All) | |
---|---|
Armor | Modifier(s) |
Plain Clothes | Defense+4 |
Wayfarer's Clothes | Defense+7 |
Leather Armour | Defense+11 |
Scale Armour | Defense+17 |
Bronze Armour | Defense+24 |
Iron Armour | Defense+32 |
Full Plate Armour | Defense+39 |
Silver Mail | Defense+50 |
Magic Armour | Defense+55 |
Dragon Mail | Defense+60 |
Spiked Armour | Defense+68 |
Platinum Mail | Defense+72 |
Alistair's Armour | Defense+80 |
Sacred Armour | Defense+84 |
Mirror Armour | Defense+92 |
Liquid Metal Armour | Defense+101 |
Dragovian Armour | Defense+110 |
Metal King Armour | Defense+120 |
Dragon Quest VIII (All) | |
---|---|
Shields | Modifier(s) |
Leather Shield | Defense+4 |
Scale Shield | Defense+7 |
Bronze Shield | Defense+10 |
Iron Shield | Defense+15 |
Light Shield | Defense+17 |
Steel Shield | Defense+22 |
Magic Shield | Defense+27 |
Dragon Shield | Defense+30 |
Ice Shield | Defense+33 |
Power Shield | Defense+38 |
Mirror Shield | Defense+43 |
Ogre Shield | Defense+45 |
Silver Shield | Defense+48 |
Ruinous Shield | Defense+50 |
Thanatos' Shield | Defense+55 |
Dragovian Shield | Defense+60 |
Metal King Shield | Defense+65 |
Dragon Quest VIII (All) | |
---|---|
Accessories | Modifier(s) |
Agility Ring | Agility +15 |
Argon Ring | Attack +20 Agility +20 |
Catholicon Ring | Defence +15 |
Devil's Tail | Agility +10 |
Dragon Scale | Defence +5 |
Elevating Shoes | Agility +5 |
Full moon Ring | Defence +10 |
Goddess Ring | Wisdom +20 |
Gold Bracer | Defence +4 |
Gold Ring | Defence +10 |
Gold Rosary | Wisdom +5 |
Gospel Ring | Defence +5 |
Holy Talisman | Defence +10 |
Life Bracer | Defence +5 Max HP +30 |
Meteorite Bracer | Agility +50 |
Mighty Armlet | Attack +15 |
Prayer Ring | Defence +5 |
Recovery Ring | Defence +15 |
Ring of Awakening | Defence +10 |
Ring of Clarity | Defence +10 |
Ring of Immunity | Defence +10 |
Ring of Truth | Defence +10 |
Ruby of Protection | Defence +15 |
Scholar's Specs | Wisdom +15 |
Skull Ring | Agility +15 |
Slime Earrings | Defence +4 |
Sorcerer's Ring | Wisdom +10 Max MP +30 |
Strength Ring | Attack +5 |
Templar's Ring | Defence +5 |
Templar Captain's Ring | Attack +10 Wisdom +10 |
Titan Belt | Attack +10 |
Tough Guy Tattoo | Attack +8 |
Skill Tips
Swords pay off if you are in pursuit of metal monsters, with Metal Slash (30 points) being particularly useful. If you accumulate 100 points in swords and courage you learn the almighty gigagash, although this takes quite some time to achieve.
Spears are ideal for hunters of metal monsters in particular, with Thunder Thrust (12 points) and Lightning Thrust (59 points). The Multithrust (25 points) is also worth a try against single enemies.
Boomerangs are a real boon in the beginning of the game because they attack all enemies. Later, however, this skill becomes less useful (over 40 points: Attack + 15), so it is advisable to switch to developing different skills.
Fisticuffs is largely ineffectual to the other skills, although some actions are worth a try like Thin Air (42 points). The Hero can only make a real impression when he learns Attack + 50 (100 points).
Courage is extremely useful as a means of learning traits that reduce MP consumption (at 56 and 90 points). Don't ignore the advanced attacks either (Zap, 48 points and Kazap at 100 points), or the Omniheal spell at 82 points.
Suggested Strategies: Learn Courage up to 8 points (Zoom) initially, then learn Boomerangs up to 40 points (Attack + 15) followed by courage up to 100. Next, increase your Swords skill to 66 (Attack + 25) or Spears up to 59 (Critical Hit).
Another option would be to forgo Boomerangs altogether and start by dividing points equally between Swords and Courage (up to Swords 66), then switching to Spears and Courage.
However, since you come across some extremely effective spears in the opening stages of the game, you may prefer to concentrate on mastering spears from the outset.
Trivia
- In the PS2 version of the game, when the hero's tension is maxed, his appearance changes drastically. His bandana flies off and his hair spikes up, making him resemble Super Saiyan Son Goku of Dragon Ball Z fame. This little feature was added to the Western release of the game, as a shoutout to fans of Toriyama's work.
- Munchie is an obtainable monster in Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 Professional.
Gallery
Hero wearing the Dragovian Equipment.
Hero wearing the Metal king armour, shield and helm.
Hero wearing the Gothic mitre and Gothic vestment (3DS Version only.).
Videos
Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road Victory finishing move