Whipping Boy

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Whipping Boy is an ability in the Dragon Quest series. The user shields a party member from all harm, taking the enemy's attacks in their place for a single turn. It is the Warrior's equivalent of Forbearance.

Appearances

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

This ability is learned with 8 skill points allocated into Courage skill.

Dragon Quest X

Whipping Boy can once again be learned by Warriors by investing 8 skill points into their Courage skill. It costs no MP to use and will protect an ally for 15 seconds. Whipping Joy can be learned by investing 110 skill points into Courage and will reduce the damage taken by 30%.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Whipping Boy can be learned by Sylvando through the Chivalry panel in his character builder for 10 skill points after it has been expanded in the third act. It costs 0 MP to use.

  • It can be further enhanced with the skill Whipping Joy, which can be learned for 14 skill points and reduces damage taken by 50% when Whipping Boy is used. Whipping Ploy can be learned for 14 skill points, as well, and will give Sylvando a chance to perform a counterattack for double damage to any attack performed against the protected ally. In 3D versions of the game, Sylvando will not counter if he is equipped with a whip.

Dragon Quest Tact

Known as Cover in this game, it is known naturally by Dragurn, Glacial golem, and Leery lout at level 1. It costs 11 MP to use and will take all attacks for any allies in the squares adjacent to the user until their next turn. Although it is not stated, Cover gives the user a 20% reduction in damage taken, up to a total of 40% if Cover is used again the next turn.

Cover (かばう Kabau)Tactlogo.png
Ability information
Cover
Role * Type * Element MP cost
Support Martial DQTact Non-elemental.png 11
Range Additional effects
DQTact RangeAround.png
Self
DQTact Cover.png
Selflessness
Description
Takes attacks for directly adjacent allies for 1 turn
Naturally learnt by
Dragurn, Glacial golem, Leery lout


Etymology

A whipping boy is a boy that would receive corporal punishment in the place of a misbehaving prince or young ruler that he was educated alongside. The prince would not be punished because his royal status would exceed that of his tutor and it was believed that witnessing his friend being punished would provide motivation for the prince not to repeat the offense. In modern English, a whipping boy has come to mean someone that is punished for the errors of others, a scapecoat.

Related skills