Skullrider

Dragon Quest monster Skullrider

Art by Akira Toriyama Japanese スカルライダー Romaji Sukaruraidā First appearance Dragon Quest VI Old localization SkulRider

The Skullrider is a recurring monster in the Dragon Quest series, first appearing in Dragon Quest VI. It is a demonic ninja that rides on the back of a skeletal beast.

Characteristics

Grim goblins dressed in blue ninja suits that ride on the backs of six legged skull beasts, slashing at foes with fiendishly sharp swords at lightning-fast speeds. The steeds themselves possess a hellish visage, helping to strike fead into foes with their endlessly gnashing and grinding teeth surrounded by desert-bleached bones. So speedy they can attack twice in a turn, they use the fiery flame slash to sizzle up foes and cause extra panic, leaving them open to sweep adventures right off their feet. In some games, the riders are considered part of the Undead family due to their skeletal mounts.

Appearances

Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation

Skullrider (スカルライダー Sukaruraidā)

Original (SFC)

Sprite	HP *	MP	Attack	Defense
	66	0	88	63
Agility	Experience *	Gold	Tame Rate
61	114	49	N/a

Bestiary No.	#062
Spell(s)	None
Skill(s)	Flame Slash Leg Sweep
Location(s)	Caverns in Mountain Pass (Dragon Quest VI) (Lower World)
Item(s) Dropped	Bone stake1⁄64

Evasion	Frizz Resistance *	Sizz Resistance *	Fire Breath Resistance *
0%	0%	0%	0%
Bang Resistance *	Crack Resistance *	Ice Breath Resistance *	Woosh Resistance *
0%	0%	0%	0%
Strike/Rock Resistance *	Zap Resistance *	Drain Magic Resistance *	Whack Resistance *
0%	0%	100%	100%
Poof Resistance *	Poison Resistance *	Burning Breath Resistance	Fuddle Resistance *
80%	0%	80%	15%
Snooze Resistance *	Dazzle Resistance *	Fizzle Resistance	Ban Dance Resistance
15%	15%	100%	100%
Stun Resistance *	Sap Resistance *	Army Resistance *
0%	0%	0%

Remakes (DS, Mobile)

Sprites	Notable Changes
	None

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

Skullrider (スカルライダー Sukaruraidā)

Original (PS2)

Sprite	HP	MP	Attack
	109	0	110
Defense	Agility	Experience	Gold
101	77	97	32

Bestiary no.	#117
Family	Demon
In-game description	Ninja-like monsters that execute rapid turns and rush their opponents' legs in an attempt to trip them up.
Spell(s)	None
Skill(s)	Flame Slash Leg Sweep
Location(s)	West Argonia (day only) Unnamed Isle west of Pickham
Item(s) dropped	Medicinal herb1⁄16 Bandana1⁄32

Evasion	Attack Resistance	Frizz Resistance *	Sizz Resistance *
1⁄64	0%	25%	25%
Fire Breath Resistance *	Bang Resistance *	Woosh Resistance *	Crack Resistance *
25%	0%	25%	50%
Ice breath Resistance *	Strike/Rock Resistance *	Zap Resistance *	Drain Magic Resistance
50%	0%	0%	100%
Whack Resistance *	Poison Resistance *	Paralysis Resistance *	Fuddle Resistance *
50%	15%	50%	50%
Snooze resistance *	Dazzle Resistance	Fizzle Resistance	Ban Dance Resistance
50%	50%	100%	100%
Stun Resistance *	Sap Resistance *	Army Resistance *
50%	15%	25%

Remake (3DS, Mobile)

Notable Changes

None

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Skullrider (スカルライダー Sukaruraidā)

Sprite	HP	MP	Attack
	48	14	40
Defense	Agility	Experience	Gold
45	31	44	24

Bestiary no.	#047
Family	Undead
In-game description	They may ride the skeletons of departed demons into battle, but that doesn't mean that they're any good at it. In fact, they often take spectacular spills, sending the bones of their steeds flying far and wide.
Spell(s)	None
Skill(s)	Flame Slash Fire Breath Leg Sweep
Location(s)	The Cryptic Crypt (first and second acts) Gallopolis Region (first act, 3D versions only)
Item(s) dropped	Beast bone1⁄16 Soldier's sword1⁄64

Evasion	Fire Resistance *	Ice Resistance *	Wind Resistance *
N/a	25%	25%	-110%
Rock Resistance *	Light Resistance *	Dark Resistance *	Zap Resistance *
-110%	-110%	0%	25%
Drain Magic Resistance	Whack Resistance *	Poof Resistance	Poison Resistance *
0%	100%	0%	0%
Paralysis Resistance *	Fuddle Resistance *	Snooze Resistance *	Dazzle Resistance *
0%	0%	0%	0%
Sap Resistance *	Blunt Resistance	Deceleratle Resistance	Spooky Aura Anathematise Resistance
0%	0%	0%	0%
Fizzle Resistance *	Stun Resistance *	Stumble Resistance *	Charm Resistance *
100%	25%	0%	0%
Beguile Resistance *	Double Down Resistance *	Elemental Resistance *
0%	0%	0%

If a skullrider is sparkling, its mount can be ridden after defeating it in battle. The skullrider's mount can gallop to move faster and can climb vertically up walls that are marked with monster footprints.

Malicious skullrider (スカルライダー・邪 Sukaruraidā・ja)

Sprite	HP	MP	Attack
	451	28	283
Defense	Agility	Experience	Gold
296	142	1,259	282

Bestiary no.	#472
Family	Undead
In-game description	Skullriders who have morphed into a truly malevolent form under the malign influence of infinite evil.
Spell(s)	None
Skill(s)	Performs a combination attack (attacks twice) Inferno Leg Sweep
Location(s)	The Cryptic Crypt (third act) Gallopolis Region (third act) Dundrasil Region (third act) The Other Side (third act)
Item(s) dropped	Beast bone1⁄16 Soldier's sword1⁄64

Evasion	Fire Resistance *	Ice Resistance *	Wind Resistance *
N/a	25%	25%	-110%
Rock Resistance *	Light Resistance *	Dark Resistance *	Zap Resistance *
-110%	-110%	0%	25%
Drain Magic Resistance	Whack Resistance *	Poof Resistance	Poison Resistance *
0%	100%	75%	0%
Paralysis Resistance *	Fuddle Resistance *	Snooze Resistance *	Dazzle Resistance *
25%	25%	25%	25%
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%	25%
Beguile Resistance *	Double Down Resistance *	Elemental Resistance *
25%	0%	0%

Dragon Quest Monsters

SkulRider (スカルライダー Sukaruraidā)

Sprite	Level cap *	HP growth	MP growth
	45	3/5	3/5
Strength growth	Resilience growth	Wisdom growth	Agility growth
3/5	2/5	5/5	4/5

Family	Devil
In-game description	Revives dead beasts to use as slaves
Abilities	LegSweep, FireSlash, RainSlash
Habitat	Gate of Strength, Gate of Extinction
Breeding chart	Devil family x Zombie family

Frizz Resistance *	Sizz Resistance *	Fire Breath Resistance *	Bang Resistance *
Strong	Strong	None	Strong
Crack Resistance *	Ice Breath Resistance *	Woosh Resistance *	Rock/Army Resistance *
Strong	None	Weak	None
Zap Resistance *	Gigaslash Resistance	Magic Burst Resistance	Drain Magic Resistance *
Weak	None	None	None
Whack Resistance *	Kamikazee Resistance *	Poison Resistance *	Paralysis Resistance *
Immune	Immune	Strong	Strong
Fuddle Resistance *	Snooze Resistance *	Dazzle Resistance *	Fizzle Resistance
Weak	Weak	Weak	None
Ban Dance Resistance	Gobstopper Resistance	Stun Resistance *	Sap Resistance *
None	None	None	None
Decelerate Resistance *		Curse Resistance
None		Weak

Dragon Quest Monsters 2

SkulRider (スカルライダー Sukaruraidā)

Sprite	Level cap *	HP growth	MP growth
	45	6/10	6/10
Strength growth	Resilience growth	Wisdom growth	Agility growth
6/10	4/10	7/10	5/10

Family	Devil
In-game description
Abilities	LegSweep, FireSlash, RainSlash
Habitat
Breeding chart	Devil family x Zombie family

Frizz Resistance *	Sizz Resistance *	Fire Breath Resistance *	Bang Resistance *
Strong	Strong	None	Strong
Crack Resistance *	Ice Breath Resistance *	Woosh Resistance *	Rock/Army Resistance *
Strong	None	Weak	None
Water Resistance *	Zap Resistance *	Gigaslash Resistance	Magic Burst Resistance
None	Weak	None	None
Drain Magic Resistance *	Whack Resistance *	Kamikazee Resistance *	Poison Resistance *
None	Immune	Immune	Strong
Paralysis Resistance *	Fuddle Resistance *	Snooze Resistance *	Dazzle Resistance *
Strong	Weak	Weak	Weak
Fizzle Resistance	Ban Dance Resistance	Gobstopper Resistance	Stun Resistance *
None	None	None	None
Sap Resistance *	Decelerate Resistance *	Curse Resistance
None	None	Weak

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince

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Related enemies

• Demonrider
• Hellrider

Gallery

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  Super Famicom art

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  XI polygon model

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  A malicious skullrider

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  The Luminary scaling a wall on the back of a skullrider's mount.

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  Battle Road Victory cut-in

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  Rivals card

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  Dragon Quest: Monster Battle card.