Dragon Quest IX guide / Bestiary

With their dazzling defensive dexterity, these selfless souls often step in to protect their pals. Wallop 'em one by one.

Controversy rages in the world of zoology as to whether they're giant masks or winged mammals with widespread arms.

They paralyse enemies, then poke them with Pressure Pointer. Ice doesn't irk them much, but fire will fry them good.

Especially stagnant soldiers selected from the rank ranks of the lesionnaires to lead them to gory glory.

They can conduct lightning to engulf all enemies, and sometimes summon healslimes to lend a helping hand.

The souls of soldiers who died awful deaths, and were brought back in suits of armor forged in the fires of hell.

These enormous enemies' attacks are enough to level mountains. Beware of the bothersome Bagsy Last.

They've been licking their clubs like loonies ever since some sorcerer said a drop of dribble might improve their accuracy.

They go around in gangs trying to turn the world to ice by stealing MP with Drain Magic and using it to cast Crackle.

Ice crystal critters with an insatiable lust for life, they try to live fast before they die young in the spring thaw.

Ultimate assassins of the wolf family, their claws are razor-sharp and lightning-fast, and they love to Feel the Burn.

Often unable to find food due to severe snow blindless, they're always famished, and short of fuse as a result.

Nippy knights on a quest to rid the world of evil with Chilly Breath and Kacrackle Slash.

They say that the first frost is the worst frost, but the best frost is the one the brrearthenwarrior brings.

Blighted birds that live on poisonous plants. They frighten foes with War Cry, and vex them with venomous attacks.

Profuse, protected plumage keeps out even the most crippling cold. Originally from the legendary Peckerel Mountains.

Thick fur means the cold doesn't concern them, and great might makes them formidable when they muster their strength.

Brigadiers of the brrearthenwarrior's battalions, they patrol icy parts, checking that they're chilly enough.

Monstrous masters of ice who are super-skilled with their icicle-like spears, and also adept at using Thin Air.

Ex-tigers who attain eternal life by pledging themselves to the brrearthenwarriors, they sow snowstorms wherever they step.

Healslimes who've mastered the mighty Moreheal. So selfless that they often offload MP onto allies.

They're so sick of people saying their name is stale that they're considering 'sublime slime' as a slick new substitute.

Impervious to ice attacks, these long-nailed nightmares cast Moreheal and Bounce to keep things on an even keel.

Their claws of cold are built by brrearthenwarriors, who hone them to the heights of hardness by tearing down frozen trees.

Real nuisances who cover companions who are under attack, and even explode when the going gets tough.

Sir Sternivus bought back some of these as souvenirs from a scholarly excursion. They set him back six gold coins apiece.

Scary scythe swingers who like to aim for the vitals, and are sometimes so drunk on the darkness that they go haywire.

Some have no sympathy for the seamstresses who stitch them together only to get scythed. After all, you reap what you sew!

Always take these maleficient ministers out first, as they can raise their dead with Zing, and send foes back with Thwack.

Their robes may look manky, but they've been deliberately aged to give them the lived-in look that's so huge this season.

Snowy statues that can disconcert with Dazzleflash and cast the catastrophic Crackle to encase the very soul in ice.

Built when billions of bits of blizzard blow together and bond over their ambition to bash traveller's brains in.

Deft defenders and cool critical critters, these colossal crabs are the scourge of the seas. Flash-fry them with a little fire.

Every full moon, they assemble under the ocean and quiety clack their claws to mark the start of their monthly meeting.

Spiteful serpents that love to paralyze people with Burning Breath and vex them with venomous attacks.

Chose 'sail serpent' because they thought it was cool, but now they worry that it makes a mockery of their massive ears.

Hellish, ice-breathing gnomes that wield a mean shield, and supplement their defence with Defending Champion.

They come from families of long standing in the world of shield collecting, and have stacks of spares.

They can turn up the tension with a bit of Egg On, and do their best to dance up a defensive storm for their allies.

They do their apprenticeships in the dances of the world by donning wigs and joining the Mirage Mahal's dancing troupe.

They stoically soak up damage while stacking up strength with Double Up. Deck them with darkness before they strike.

The standard splatterhorn greeting is to smash one's horn straight into one's counterpart's countenance.

Wild women of the weather world who work wonders with wind spells, and push Swoosh from beneath their squalling skirts.

Experts believe that the reddish colour of the cyclones that surround them is caused by the colour of their skin.

Grown-up gruffons who are beyond the boulder-throwing badness of their boyhoods, and now know Zammle as well.

They bought books to learn about Zammle, but were so busy slacking off that it took them a century to study it.

Bony bruisers who give of their best whoever they're battling. They serve up sleep attacks and mend themselves with Midheal.

Proud in the extreme, they follow the chivalric path even in death, and will smite all who stand against their liege lord.

Freaky beasts who drain adventurers of their blood and MP, and sometimes flip them out with Fuddle Dance.

When a pink sanguini goes to bed with a belly fully of lovely blood, this is the fab form it will have taken when it wakes.

Set these blood-stained mummies on fire before they trash team members' tension with their spite-filled strikes.

They're so completely concentrated on coping with their crippling contempt that it impairs their ability to act.

Suits of armour animated by evil forces. Not just masters of Multithrust, but deft users of Double Up as well.

Upset with the stone guardians for saying that if you speak to them from the left-hand side, they'll reply in a girlie voice.

Reptilian reverends who can cast Swoosh, and make use of Multiheal when their mates are in trouble.

They have no bodies as such, and all that lurks beneath their red robes is a seething sea of snakes.

Monumental monsters who bolster their unbreakable bodies with Buff, and chuck out Chilly Breath like there's no tomorrow.

They stand stock-still like statues by shrines and suchlike, then pounce on anyone uncautious enough to approach.

They pump their massive bodies full of power, then pound the ground. Cure quickly if flattened by their frightening feet.

They heard on the breeze that there's a sanctuary for statues atop the Heights of Lonlieness, and are keen to check it out.