Avan Strash

From Dragon Quest Wiki

"Slice the earth. Slice the sea. Slice the air. And then cut through everything."

Avan Strash is a recurring sword skill introduced in Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai as the signature technique of the hero Avan which he used to defeat Hadlar 15 years before the story begins. It is performed with a unique stance where the wielder's sword is held in the reverse hand and then swung in a wide sweeping motion. The word "strash" is a combination of the words "strike" and "flash".

Appearances[edit]

Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai[edit]

Avan Strash is the ultimate technique of the Avan-style sword techniques, usable only after mastering the Earth Slash, Wave Slash, and Air Slash. Since Dai's time as one of Avan's pupils was limited, he could initially perform only an incomplete version combining the principles of Earth and Sea, but he was later able to learn Air Slash and use the technique in its perfected form.

The technique comes in two variations - the projectile Avan Strash Arrow, and the stronger but slower dash attack Avan Strash Break. Dai later develops a third version, Avan Strash Cross, where he launches an Arrow and then chases it down with a perfectly-timed Break to create an X-shaped impact with five times the power of a standard Strash.

Using the Dragon Knight's power to imbue spells into weapons, Dai can combine Avan Strash with the Zapple spell to produce Zapple Strash, a prototype of the Gigaslash technique from later games. By using the Sword of Dai's sheath to amplify his lightning magic, Dai later develops the Giga Strash, a monstrously powerful combination of Avan Strash and Baran's Gigabreak technique.

While it is not a regular part of his fighting style, Hyunckel can also use an incomplete Avan Strash similar to Dai's. After mastering the Sky principle to use Air Strike, he becomes capable of using Avan Strash in its true form; however, he feels unworthy of inheriting the named technique of a man he betrayed, and claims that if he ever did use it he would call it something else.

Dragon Quest XI[edit]

Although the skill itself does not appear in the game, the Luminary will perform the various -splitter skills using the same motion as Avan Strash.

Dragon Quest of the Stars[edit]

Avan Strash (アバンストラッシュ Abansutorasshu)Dragon Quest of the Stars English logo.png
Ability information
Avan Strash
Type & Rank Target CT Restriction
DQotS Red B.png Single Enemy 30s* DQotS Sword.png
Effect
230%* potency non-elemental attack.
Notes
N/a
How to obtain
Avan's Sword



Dragon Quest Tact[edit]

Avan Strash can be learned by Dai at level 80 and costs 72 MP to use. It inflicts 400% potency Zap-type physical damage to all enemies in a range of two squares in front of him. Since it is a Coup de Grâce, it takes 2 turns to charge and can only be used three times per battle. Upgrading the skill increases its damage and reduces the amount of MP it costs to use. Avan Strash's potency can be increased another 50% through Talent Blossoming.

Avan Strash (アバンストラッシュ Abansutorasshu)Tactlogo.png
Ability information
Avan Strash
Role * Type * Element MP cost
Attack Physical DQTact Zap.png 72
Times usable: 3
Range Additional effects
DQTact RangeVertical1.png
Straight line
None
Description
Deals 400% potency Zap-type physical damage to all enemies in area of effect
Turns needed: 2
Naturally learnt by
Dai


Related skills[edit]

Trivia[edit]

After learning that the two forms of Avan Strash are "Avan Strash Arrow" and "Avan Strash Break", Dai switches to calling those names when performing them. Avan himself, however, always calls the attack as simply "Avan Strash" regardless of form.