Hell's gatekeeper (recurring)

From Dragon Quest Wiki
For the hulking club-wielding beasts of the same name from IX, see Hell's gatekeeper.

The Hell's gatekeeper is a recurring monster in the Dragon Quest series, first appearing in Dragon Quest VIII. It is a powerful variant of the Dullahan wearing red armor with a ragged dark blue cape.

Characteristics[edit]

Hell's gatekeepers are undead headless men-at-arms wielding spiked flails and shields bearing a horrific screaming visage on it, both made from purple metal. They are wear heavy reddish pink armor, which consists of a breastplate, gauntlets, and greaves, over golden suits of chain mail, faulds of golden scales, and torn dark blue capes hanging from their shoulders. The knights often drop their accursed shields after battle. Unlike its fellow Dullahans, hell's gatekeepers are willingly evil until they die trying to kill their enemies of their masters. They can strengthen themselves either by psyching up or casting Oomph, then unleash devastating attacks by swinging their flails. The knights can call for aid from elysium birds and they themselves can be called upon by dark devildogs to assist them in battle. Starting with XI, it gained a mounted variant in the form of the Headless norseman.

Appearances[edit]

Dragon Quest VIII[edit]

Hell's gatekeeper (ヘルガーディアン Herugādian)DQ8-LOGO-ICON.png
Original (PS2)
Sprite HP MP Attack
DQVIII PS2 Hell's gatekeeper.png 625 0 354
Defense Agility Experience Gold
225 105 662 68
Bestiary no. #234
Family Undead
In-game description A monster that stands guard to the netherworld. Calls forth an elysium bird to drive your monster team back into reserve.
Spell(s) None
Skill(s) Desperate attack
Call for backup (Elysium bird)
Psyche Up
Location(s) Dragovian Path (Summoned by Dark devildog)
Heavenly Dais
Item(s) dropped Platinum mail1128
Ruinous shield1128
Evasion Attack Resistance Frizz Resistance * Sizz Resistance *
064 0% 0% 0%
Fire Breath
Resistance
*
Bang Resistance * Woosh Resistance * Crack Resistance *
0% 100% 25% 0%
Ice breath
Resistance
*
Strike/Rock Resistance * Zap Resistance * Drain Magic Resistance
0% 25% 25% 100%
Whack Resistance * Poison Resistance * Paralysis Resistance * Fuddle Resistance *
100% 15% 100% 100%
Snooze resistance * Dazzle Resistance Fizzle Resistance Ban Dance Resistance
100% 100% 100% 100%
Stun Resistance * Sap Resistance * Army Resistance *
100% 15% 25%
Remake (3DS, Mobile)
Notable Changes
Thanatos' shield1128 replaces Platinum mail as drop.



Dragon Quest X[edit]

Reappearing from the start of Version 6 onwards, they cast Oomph and swing with reckless abandon.

Dragon Quest XI[edit]

Hell's gatekeeper (ヘルガーディアン Herugādian)DQXI Logo EN.png
Sprite HP MP Attack
Hells gatekeeper XI sprite.png 666 27 252
Defense Agility Experience Gold
282 132 1,680 366
Bestiary no. #406
Family Undead
In-game description Unlike dullahans, these devilish dead knights willingly sell their souls, shedding both head and humanity wholesale.
Spell(s) None
Skill(s) Deflects attacks with its shield
Desperate attack
Becomes Pepped up
Call for backup (Malicious Elysium bird)
Swings its weapon with reckless abandon (three random attacks on party members at 60% damage each)
Air Pollution
Epic Flail (Pep power, with Hell's gatekeeper)
Location(s) Sniflheim Region (third act)
The Snærfelt (3DS and 2D mode only, third act)
The Manglegrove - Whale Way Station (third act)
Castle Trodain (3DS and Definitive Edition only)
Item(s) dropped Macabre mantle1128
Ruinous shield1256
Evasion Fire Resistance * Ice
Resistance
*
Wind Resistance *
N/a -110% 0% 0%
Rock Resistance * Light Resistance * Dark Resistance * Zap Resistance *
0% -125% 25% -125%
Drain Magic Resistance Whack Resistance * Poof Resistance Poison Resistance *
0% 100% 75% 0%
Paralysis Resistance * Fuddle Resistance * Snooze Resistance * Dazzle Resistance *
50% 50% 25% 50%
Sap Resistance * Blunt Resistance Deceleratle Resistance Spooky Aura
Anathematise Resistance
0% 0% 0% 0%
Fizzle Resistance * Stun Resistance * Stumble Resistance * Charm Resistance *
100% 99% 0% 100%
Beguile Resistance * Double Down Resistance * Elemental Resistance *
50% 0% 0%

This monster does not have a vicious, nor a malicious variant.

Dragon Quest Rivals[edit]

The hell's gatekeeper appeared in the 3rd card pack, "Cries of the Phoenix and Mother Earth" as a special token summoned by playing a Dark devildog card, which is exclusive for Fortune Teller leaders.

Trivia[edit]

The hell's gatekeeper's amount of HP in XI may be a reference to 666, the number of the beast, a number that appears in the Book of Revelations of the New Testament in relation the Beast, an antagonistic figure often identified with the Antichrist or the devil.

Gallery[edit]

Related monsters[edit]

Similar species[edit]

Close cousins[edit]