Dragon Quest 8 Tips

Weapon Switching

• Each character gets five skills that can be improved over the course of the game. Four of those skills are tied to a specific weapon or being unarmed, in the case of fisticuffs. Only staff spells and the fisticuffs ability Padfoot for Yangus can be used without using the weapon related to the skill. Different weapons are more appropriate for different situations. For example, the Hero's sword abilities are better against a single strong foe, while the Hero's boomerang abilities are better against large groups of weak enemies. Weapons can be equipped and unequipped freely during combat through the menu. Keep weapons for each weapon skill so you can use all of the abilities for each character. Relying solely on one weapon skill set for each character will greatly limit your options in combat.

Controlling Random Encounters

• The random encounter rate in "Dragon Quest VIII" is higher than average for a console role-playing game. There are abilities that can help you control this rate. Yangus should raise the humanity skill to 4 when leveling up for Whistle. This allows you to start a random encounter by using this ability from the menu. This ablility is good for leveling up, because you can stand right on the edge of a high-level zone and repeatedly use it without wandering around the area. The Hero should raise the courage skill to 28 for Holy Protection. This prevents enemies that are a lower level than you from starting a random encounter. This usually drops the encounter rate to virtually nothing while Holy Protection is in effect. Yangus has a weaker version of Holy Protection called Padfoot. This takes longer to get and requires leveling fisticuffs.

Seeds of Skill

• Characters only receive 350 skill points by the time they reach level 99. It would take 500 skill points for each character to raise all five skills to the maximum value. Seeds of Skill grant five skill points to the character they are used on. It is possible, but tedious, to get the 120 Seeds of Skill needed to raise each character's skill points to the maximum amount. The most efficient way to acquire them is to make sure Yangus has scythe leveled to at least 70 to give him the Stainless Steal Scythe ability, which is twice as likely to steal an item as the Steal Scythe ability. During the Dragovian Trials, have Yangus repeatedly steal from the enemies. These enemies have a much higher chance of letting Yangus steal a Seed of Skill in comparison to other enemies in the game.