Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake: How the Monster Arena works
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake has fundamentally changed the Monster Arena, and it’s certainly for the better. Instead of betting on groups of NPCs you have zero control over, in hopes of making some money, the system has been vastly improved. While it’s still a system to make a bit of extra coins, now you, as the player, have more control, since you have to find the monsters that are going to take part in combat!
As I alluded to in my preview, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake has Hidden/Secret Spots that can feature friendly monsters - these are how you get through the Monster Arena. Here’s what you need to know about this fun, updated feature.
What is the Monster Arena in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake?
Early in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, you’ll be introduced to the concept of the Monster Arena - that is if you explore. On the way to Romaria, you’ll be introduced to an old man named Monty, after you come upon a friendly slime named Splatrick. He’ll encourage you to visit him in Romaria, at the Monster Arena.
Here’s how it works — there are several Monster Arenas scattered throughout the world: Romaria, Ibis, Manoza, and Cantlin. There’s also a secret, final Monster Arena for Ranks 10 and 11 in Jipang, if you successfully wish for it in the post-game, from the eternal dragon Xenlong. Each arena has a few ranked challenges for you to complete, with specific enemy groups.
Each rank has a baseline fee you have to pay to enter. Then, you pick a team and will go through a series of automated battles. Each one gets a little more challenging, but with the right teams, they can be incredibly easy.
The first time you complete these, you’ll gain valuable rewards, alongside some gold. For example, Rank 1 gives you 3x Strong Medicine, 3x Magic Water, a Bronze Shield, and 800 Gold. The Rank 11 first-time reward grants you the Hunter’s Moon weapon, Yggdrasil Dress Coat, the War Drum item, and 395,000 gold.
In the Monster Arena of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, you put together a group of up to three monsters, regardless of type or size, and pit them in these battles. You cannot control them, but you can give them the same tactics you’d give your regular party members. It’s up to them to win, but the AI is pretty smart. The tricky part is finding monsters.
What are Friendly Monsters in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D?
There are about 120 friendly monsters scattered across Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. At the time of writing, we haven’t found them all but are very close to the end of the journey. What makes it challenging is partially their locations, but there are other requirements to keep in mind.
Some Friendly Monsters are in disguise in towns/Secret Spots (requires Ra’s Mirror key item), but most are in these hidden areas, showing up at various times of the day. It can be very frustrating to find all of them, but one thing will make it easier — a Monster Wrangler. While not every monster will require this, many will.
At first, I used a Level 1 Monster Wrangler when necessary, but when I had access to Alltrades Abbey, I changed my Warrior into a Monster Wrangler and never looked back. They have a very useful ability, in addition to simply being a requirement: Animal Instinct. Monster Wranglers learn it early, and it costs 0 MP.
When you’re in an area — be it a dungeon, town, or secret spot — you can use this to see if there’s a Friendly Monster nearby. If they’re ready to be recruited it will tell you this, as well as if it’s not quite the right time of day. It’s very handy to have in your party.
While not a comprehensive list, below is a list of some of the easy-to-find, early-game monsters to get you started:
- Trixie (Prestidigitator): Secret Spot West of Khoryvv, Dusk
- Bub (Bubble Slime): Skyfell Tower, second floor corner
- Harry (Spiked Hare): Secret Spot East of Norvik, Daytime
- Arthur (Armored Knight): South of Ashram, Secret Spot at Penninsula, Night
- Healie (Healsime): Secret Spot Northwest of Ibis, Afternoon
- Mumsy (Mummy): Ibis, Nighttime - requires Monster Wrangler
- Hoodini (Prestidigitator): Secret Spot north of Portoga, Dusk/Night - requires Monster Wrangler
Monsters don’t level up normally in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake for the Monster Arena, though. When you find friendly monsters of the same specific typing, they’ll level up, learn new abilities, and gain more stats. This is key to success in the later ranks, but won’t affect you much at the start.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is now available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S. You can learn more about it in our in-depth review.