Monster Master
The Monster Master (魔物使い Mamono Tsukai) is a recurring vocation first introduced in Dragon Quest VI. The vocation allows players to walk on the wild side with the finer details varying between titles, but it has also consistently focused on taming and making allies of monsters defeated in battle.
Localization history[edit]
The profession is notable for frequently having its name changed even in the Japanese originals: it was changed to 魔物マスター (Mamono Masutā) in the Nintendo DS remake and it's subsequent ports, became 魔物ハンター (Mamono Hantā) in the seventh game, まもの使い (Mamono Tsukai) in the tenth game, まものマスター (Mamono Masutā) in both Stars and Walk. In all Monsters titles the vocation is called the モンスターマスター (Monsutā Masutā). Not counting the alternate kanji and katakana spellings, this leaves the vocation with three distinct Japanese names.
In English the name was changed to Monster Masher for the seventh game to match the alteration in the original script but has since returned to being referred to as the Monster Master in peripheral media and spinoff titles, with two exceptions in Dragon Quest Tact. In the Terry's Wonderland event in Tact young Terry introduces himself as being a Monster Scout and the Hero of the fifth game has the title of Legendary Monster Wrangler in Tact.
The term Monster Wrangler has seemingly replaced this vocation in the current localization standard, being first used in the aformentioned Tact event before being given much wider exposure in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince in 2023 and Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake in 2024.
Appearances[edit]
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride[edit]
While the Hero of Dragon Quest V has attributes and spells more akin to a physically stronger Priest, he is referred to in peripheral media as the legendary monster tamer and is the first protagonist in the series' history to be able to recruit monsters.
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation[edit]
The M.M. suffers considerable reductions to their strength, resilience, HP, and MP in all versions of VI, befitting a starting vocation characters are not meant to spend too much time in. Various breath skills are learned through the profession, in addition to the Puff! spell upon mastery.
In the original version of VI, having a master in the party activates the chance that a monster will join you upon its defeat, however this function was dropped in the Nintendo DS remake in lieu of Slime Buddies. Monster Master is one of the prerequisites for the Ranger vocation (along with Merchant and Thief).
Stat Changes[edit]
| Statistics | Change |
| Battles to Master | 165 |
| Strength | -15% |
| Agility | Null |
| Resilience | -20% |
| Wisdom | Null |
| Style | Null |
| Max HP | -20% |
| Max MP | -30% |
| Trait | Low chance for a randomly selected enemy to be asleep during the first round |
Abilities[edit]
| Level | Title | Learns | Battles Needed | Target | Info | MP |
| 1 | Slime Master | N/A | 1 | - | ||
| 2 | Beast Master | Sweet Breath | 18 | Enemy group | A fragrant sigh that lulls a group of enemies to sleep. | 0 |
| 3 | Zombie Master | Poison Breath | 33 | One group | Poisons a group of enemies. | 0 |
| 4 | Nature Master | Tongue Bashing | 58 | One enemy | A punishing lick to reduce the enemy's defence. | 0 |
| 5 | Demon Master | Cool Breath | 77 | All enemies | A chilly breath attack. | 0 |
| 6 | Troll Master | Flame Breath | 93 | All enemies | A fiercely fiery breath attack. | 0 |
| 7 | Material Master | Burning Breath | 125 | One group | Paralyses the enemy with a torrid sigh. | 0 |
| 8 | Dragon Master | Puff! | 165 | Self | Transform into a fire-breathing dragon. | 18 |
Monster Recruitment[edit]
| Rank | Recruitable Monsters |
|---|---|
| 1 | Slime (1/2), Feralball (1/8), Lips (1/64) |
| 2 | Mud Mannequin (1/64), Walking Corpse (1/32), Healslime (1/16), Slimeknight (1/4) |
| 3 | Lesser demon (1/4), Sluggernaut(1/4), Gustbluster (1/64) |
| 4 | Rockbomb (1/32), Dreamaera (1/32), Battering ram (1/16) |
| 5 | King slime (1/64), Boss troll (1/16) |
| 6 | Liquid metal slime (1/256) |
| 7 | Overkilling machine (1/64) |
| 8 | High djinks (1/256) |
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies[edit]
The monster master was originally planned to be a playable vocation in IX, but this was scrapped at some point in development. The conceptual art depicts a boy wearing an outfit consisting entirely of animal hides and holding a gnarled staff.
Monsters series[edit]
Generally speaking the protagonist of every game in the Monsters sub series was referred to as a Monster Master until the younger Terry made an appearance in Dragon Quest Tact, where he dubbed himself as a Monster Scout. With the release of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, the term has been retired in the spinoff series for Monster Wrangler. Certain titles will place more emphasis on this profession than others, such as treating it as a societal class in it's own right.
Dragon Quest of the Stars[edit]
The Monster Master utilizes breath attacks and enjoys excellent HP growth, but has mediocre growth in all other stats.
Dragon Quest Walk[edit]
Monster Masters were added in a March 2022 update as part of the game's 2.5 year anniversary. Unlike the other advanced vocations, a character is able to become a Monster Master after befriending more than 35 types of monsters. Their weapons of choice are Wands, Spears, Claws, and Whips.
Dragon Quest Monsters+[edit]
The basis of the manga is the exploration of what it really means to be a master of monsters, focusing on the bonds a tamer makes with their companions and how this strengthens the beasts will to fight. The vocation is treated as a proper societal class with its own distinct role and expectations within a community.
See also[edit]
Gallery[edit]
Milly detailing the capabilities of the vocation in the official guidebook for VI
Milly taming a metal slime in the V-Jump guide for VI, an impossibility in every version of the game
Concept art of the M.M. for IX. The vocation was scrapped in development and repurposed for X
Terry referring to himself as a scout in Tact
