Dragon Quest Swords Tempering Guide by Duuude007 Version 1.0, Last Updated 04MAR08 Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and The Tower of Mirrors Weapon Tempering FAQ Version 1.00 ---=====Contents=====--- *About *Updates *Upgrade Tree *Mini-Medals *Tempering Ingredients *Weapon Upgrades *Non-Upgrades *Notes *Copyright =====About===== This FAQ will list the weapons of Dragon Quest Swords, which apply in any way to upgrades. I will list in detail the expenses, ways to get uncommon parts, and paths that you can take to achieve the most powerful weapons in the game. I will also include the Master strokes and elemental or special properties any of the weapons have. Lastly, I will include all ingredients needed, and the easiest, fastest places to collect them. =====Updates===== 04MAR08 - First post, listing all weapons and upgrades. =====Upgrade Tree===== This lists the logical paths for upgrading all weapons in Dragon Quest Swords. The column to the right are upgreadeable weapons, but they fall outside of the normal elemental tree. Quick abbreviation key: D: Default (you begin the game with this weapon) 0: Source upgrade, necessary to branch out to elemental weapons F: Fire-Elemental weapons. Higher number = higher tier I: Ice-Elemental weapons. Higher number = higher tier T: Thunder-Elemental weapons. Higher number = higher tier S: Shadow-Elemental weapons. Upgrade Tree in ASCII: Tier1.....[D]............ ...........|............. Below: Tiers "Story", "Optional", 7 and 8 ...........|............. Tier2.....[0]............ ........./ | \...........[5]: Story, required for Level 4 upgrades. ......../ .|. \.......... Tier3.[1F][1I][1T]....... .......|...|...|.........[6]: Optional, Allows heavier damage against metal. .......|...|...|......... Tier4.[2F][2I][2T]....... .......|...|...|.........[7T]: Endgame, requires rare "Noble Metal" @Reflectory. .......|...|...|......... Tier5.[3F][3I][3T]....... .......|...|...|.........[8S]: "Payback", Defeat all 9 Mirror bosses to unlock. .......|...|...|......... Tier6.[4F][4I][4T]....... =====Mini-Medals===== Before I go indepth on the ingredients and upgrades, I feel it is important to remind you of the all important item: the Mini-Medal. It is an uncommon item found everywhere in the game, from enemy drops to treasure chests, and can be swapped for important ingredients items, weapons, and armor. Location of Mini-Medal King: The Mini-Medal King is located in the northeast section of town. From the Armor shop, head up the stairs to the bar, pass it and go up the next set of stairs. Keep hugging the right wall across a bridge and down another set of stairs, to enter a cave full of treasure chests and a cat. This is the Mini-Medal King also known as Minimoggie, and will swap your Medals for the many items. Why Do I bring this up first? Easy: There is one item, the boulderdasher, which he will swap for 3 Mini-Medals. This one-time only purchase enhances all of your weapons for the rest of the game, to let you break through "unbreakable" rock barriers, gaining access to even more treasure and ingredients. Worth doing as early as possible. Also take note of the other things he sells, as they come in handy later in the game. =====Tempering Ingredients===== Now that you have a basic idea of what is in store for you, lets go over the primary requirement for upgrades: The ingredients. COMMON~~ These items are found throughout the game in surplus amounts, and can be collected with relative ease: Monster Bone 1. Drops from any monster, even those without skeletons. Don't ask me. 2. Guaranteed drop from Stage 1 Boss (Duke Worthington @ Caliburn Cavern) 3. Additionally a guaranteed reward from stage 1 for Rank B or higher. 4. Also an included reward in most stage ranks. Trust me, these are easy to get. Iron Ore 1. Drops from any monster. About half as common to drop as Monster Bones. 2. Guaranteed drop from Stage 2 Boss (Golem @ Galantyne Glades) 3. Additionally a guaranteed reward from Stage 2 for Rank B or higher. 4. Also an included reward in most early stage ranks. UNCOMMON~~ These items are found throughout the game, but require some effort or hunting to find significant amounts, except in the endgame. Lava Lump 1. Drops from any Fire-Aligned monster. About half as common as Iron Ore. 2. 2x guaranteed from Clank'n'Knalc mirror boss (After Stage 8),Rank B or higher 3. Guaranteed drop from Stage 5 Boss (Gro�messer @ The Tower of Mirrors) 4. Guaranteed drop from Stage 8 MiniBoss (Cyclops @ Deathbringer's Citadel) 5. Guaranteed reward from Stage 2 for Rank A or higher. 6. Also an included reward in many mid stage ranks A or higher. Ice Crystal 1. Drops from any Ice-Aligned monster. About half as common as Iron Ore. 2. 2x guaranteed from Nomeg/Gomen mirror boss (After Stage 8), Rank B or higher 3. Guaranteed drop from Stage 4 Boss (A "Fishy" Monster/Aruval @ Secace Seacove) 4. May drop from Stage 6 Boss (Draug @ The Mirror World) Else Lucky Bag 5. Guaranteed reward from Stage 5 for Rank B or higher. 6. Guaranteed reward from Stage 2 & 4 for Rank S or higher. 7. Also an included reward in many mid stage ranks A or higher. Thunderball 1. Drops from any Thunder-Aligned monster. About half as common as Iron Ore. 2. 2x guaranteed from Salta/Atlas mirror boss (After Stage 8), Rank B or higher 3. Guaranteed drop from Stage 3 Boss (Envoy of Xiphos @ Arondight Heights) 4. Guaranteed drop from Stage 7 Boss (Golok @ The Red Sea) 5. Also an included reward in many mid stage ranks A or higher. RARE~~ There are 3 items in DQ: Swords which are considered rare, as ingredients for tempering. These are often exclusive to certain areas, with a few exceptions: Gold Bar: 1. Treasure Chest 75% through Stage 7 (One Time Only) 2. Rank S or better in Stage 7 2. Rank A or better in Stage 8 3. Rank A or higher in any Reflectory battle will net you at least 1 4. 30 Mini-Medal swap Orichalcum: 1. Kill Xiphos (First time only) 2. Rank S or better in Stage 8 3. Rank S or higher in any Reflectory battle will net you at least 1 Noble Metal: 1. Rank S or higher against Neo Gomen or Big Red will net you at least 1. 2. Rank A or Higher against Golden Valgirt or Xiphos' Shade for at least 1. =====Weapon Upgrades===== This list is complete, including every upgrade that exists in the game. Note The letter F, I, T, or S, when referring to its connected upgrade for Fire, Ice, Thunder and Shadow, respectively. TIER I Copper Sword (Temper: Upgrade 0) Shop cost: 100 Gold Attack Power: 15, Non-Elemental Master Stroke: None (Mighty Strike is game default, but is not linked to sword) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER II Upgrade 0: 2 Monster Bone +1 Iron Ore +500 Gold Steel Broadsword (Temper: Upgrade 1F, 1I, or 1T) Shop Cost: 750 Gold (must first own any elemental weapon to unlock at shop) Attack power: 25, Non-Elemental Master Stroke: Multistrike ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER III Upgrade 1F: 4 Monster Bone +3 Iron Ore +1 Lava Lump +1200 Gold Fire Blade (Temper: Upgrade 2F) Shop Cost: 1800 Gold (must first own a Wrath of Helios to unlock at shop) Attack Power: 40, Fire-Elemental Master Stroke: Searing Slash Upgrade 1I: 6 Monster Bone +2 Iron Ore +1 Ice Crystal +1350 Gold Frost Blade (Temper: Upgrade 2I) Shop Cost: 2025 Gold (must first own a Wrath of Boreas to unlock at shop) Attack Power: 42, Ice-Elemental Master Stroke: Cold Fission Upgrade 1T: 3 Monster Bone +2 Iron Ore +1 Thunderball +1280 Gold Lightning Blade (Temper: Upgrade 2T) Shop Cost: 1920 Gold (must first own a Wrath of Zeus to unlock at shop) Attack Power: 40, Thunder-Elemental Master Stroke: Lightning Strike ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER IV Upgrade 2F: 8 Monster Bone +5 Iron Ore +3 Lava Lump +2980 Gold Blazing Blade (Temper: Upgrade 3F) Attack Power: 60, Fire-Elemental Master Stroke: Blazing Thrust Upgrade 2I: 8 Monster Bone +3 Iron Ore +3 Ice Crystal +2850 Gold Blizzard Blade (Temper: Upgrade 3I) Attack Power: 58, Ice-Elemental Master Stroke: Tundra Sunderer Upgrade 2T: 5 Monster Bone +4 Iron Ore +2 Thunderball +3200 Gold Thunderbolt Blade (Temper: Upgrade 3T) Attack Power: 65, Thunder-Elemental Master Stroke: Thunder Thrust ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER V Upgrade 3F: 9 Monster Bone +6 Iron Ore +5 Lava Lump +1 Gold Bar +6800 Gold Wrath of Helios (Temper: Upgrade 4F via Aurora Blade) Attack Power: 80, Fire-Elemental Master Stroke: Solar Flare Upgrade 3I: 12 Monster Bone +5 Iron Ore +5 Ice Crystal +1 Gold Bar +8500 Gold Wrath of Boreas (Temper: Upgrade 4I via Aurora Blade) Attack Power: 85, Ice-Elemental Master Stroke: Ice Age Upgrade 3T: 7 Monster Bone +5 Iron Ore +5 Thunderball +1 Gold Bar +7550 Gold Wrath of Zeus (Temper: Upgrade 4T via Aurora Blade) Attack Power: 82, Thunder-Elemental Master Stroke: Lightning Storm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER VI Upgrade 4F: Aurora Blade +2 Gold Bar +1 Orichalcum +19800 Gold (Temper the Aurora Blade with Wrath of Helios in inventory) Dragovian King Sword (Temper: None) Attack Power: 110, Fire-Elemental Master Stroke: Dragon Soul Upgrade 4I: Aurora Blade +2 Gold Bar +1 Orichalcum +25000 Gold (Temper the Aurora Blade with Wrath of Boreas in inventory) Zenithian Sword (Temper: None) Attack Power: 118, Ice-Elemental Master Stroke: Absolute Zero Upgrade 4T: Aurora Blade +2 Gold Bar +1 Orichalcum +15000 Gold (Temper the Aurora Blade with Wrath of Zeus in inventory) Sword of Kings (Temper: None) Attack Power: 105, Thunder-Elemental Master Stroke: Gigaslash ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ STORY TIER Rednusadner (Temper: Upgrade 5) Attained: Boss of Stage 6 (Draug @ Mirror World). (Repeatable, but max of 1 Rednusadner allowed at any time. Either dispose or upgrade to get more.) Attack Power: 45, Non-Elemental Master Stroke: Figure of Fate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Upgrade 5: 3 Lava Lump +3 Ice Crystal +3 Thunderball +1 Gold Bar +4200 Gold Aurora Blade (Temper: Upgrade 4F, 4I, or 4T) Attack Power: 70, Non-Elemental Master Stroke: Light Fantastic ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OPTIONAL TIER Rusty Old Sword (Temper: Upgrade 6) Attained: Mirror Boss (Clank'n'Knalc @ Reflectory) Attack Power: 15, Non-Elemental Master Stroke: None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Upgrade 6: 5 Gold Bar +4 Noble Metal +38000 Gold Metal King Sword (Temper: None) Attack Power: 125, Non-Elemental Special: Enhanced damage on metal monsters Master Stroke: None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER VII Orichalcum Stick (Temper: Upgrade 7) Attained: Mirror Boss (Valgirt @ Reflectory) Attack Power: 20, Non-Elemental Master Stroke: None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Upgrade 7: 10 Gold Bar +5 Orichalcum +2 Noble Metal +50000 Gold Dragon Warrior's Sword (Temper: None) Attack Power: 136, Thunder-Elemental Master Stroke: Dragonlord's Doom ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER VIII Deathbringer (Temper: Upgrade 8S) Attained: Payback Mode, default weapon (Vanquish all 5 regular and 4 enhanced Mirror Bosses to unlock Payback Mode) Attack Power: 200, Shadow-Elemental Special: Enhanced slash speed Special: Enhanced attack distance Master Stroke: None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Upgrade 8S: 10 Gold Bar +8 Orichalcum +5 Noble Metal +70000 Gold Deathbringer's Shade (Temper: None) Attack Power: 400, Shadow-Elemental Special: Enhanced slash speed Special: Enhanced attack distance Master Stroke: Figure of Hate ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- =====Non-Upgrades===== There are 4 weapons in the game that do not involve upgrades. For completeness, I will also include them in this guide. Kitten Claw Cost: 15 Mini-Medal Swap Attack Power: 32, Non-Elemental Special: 500 renown bonus when combined with Purr Coat and Kitty Shield. Special: Wider blade for improved accuracy Special: Meows when you attack. Master Stroke: None Puppy Paw Cost: 1980 Gold, Traveling Merchant Attack Power: 30, Non-Elemental Special: 500 renown bonus when combined with Dog's Body Armour and Doggy Shield Special: Wider blade for improved accuracy Special: Barks when you attack. Master Stroke: None Astraea's Abacus Cost: 10 Mini-Medal Swap Attack Power: 20, Non-Elemental Special: Gain additional gold with every strike of your weapon. Master Stroke: None Poison Needle Cost: 20 Mini-Medal Swap Attack Power: 1, Non-Elemental Special: Often able to kill non-boss units with a well-aimed thrust. Master Stroke: None =====Notes===== Well Thats my Weapon guide, that should cover every weapon in the game, as well as the best and easiest ways to gain them. How am I FAQing? duuude007 [@] msn [.] com Copyright 2008 Matthew Currier Baker. This guide may be freely copied, redistributed, posted, and used in any manner. I merely request that I am contacted and credited when it is shared out. All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders. Dragon Quest Swords Tempering Guide by Duuude007 Version 1.0, Last Updated 04MAR08