One of the reasons the Dragon Quest series has endured for so long is the inventive ways it uses its classes to inform both its gameplay and its storytelling. Sometimes referred to as “vocations,” the classes in Dragon Quest not only give you control over a diverse range of fantastical abilities in battle, but just like Square Enix’s other flagship JRPG series, they often influence the personalities and narratives of the characters they are attached to.
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This list will only look at the core classes in the Dragon Quest series, as these are the ones found across almost every mainline game. From sword-wielding Warriors to spell-flinging Mages, the Dragon Quest series just wouldn’t be the same without these classes bringing everything they do to the table.
The Class/Vocation system was first introduced in Dragon Quest 3. It featured every class listed here except for the Dancer, which didn’t appear until Dragon Quest 4.
8 Gadabout
A Punchline We Can All Laugh At
Gadabouts are a joke, quite literally. This class isn’t meant to be taken seriously, although they can cause serious headaches in the heat of battle whenever they refuse to follow a command. Their stats are weak, their costumes ridiculous, and ultimately, they don’t offer much to your party other than taking up space that more qualified classes could occupy.
And yet, there’s still something strangely endearing about this silly little class. Maybe it’s their chaotic energy? Maybe it’s the fact that one of the series’ most memorable villains, Dhoulmagus, has a design and attributes that align with Gadabouts? Or, maybe, sometimes it’s just fun to laugh at a joke?
7 Thief
Masters Of Speed, Stealth, And A Bit Of Stealing
Fact one: Thieves are cool. Fact two: Dragon Quest is fun. Fact three: Playing the Thieves class in Dragon Quest games is cool, fun, and has heaps of awesome benefits. High speed, the ability to equip chains and whips that deal damage to multiple enemies at once, and, of course, the chance to steal an item at the end of battle.
Even if your Thief character can’t take too many hits, it’s still worth having them in your party for everything else they offer. Factor in that some great characters throughout the series are Thieves, such as Erik from Dragon Quest XI and Red from Dragon Quest VIII, and you have a class that easily steals your heart.
6 Dancer
Dance The Fight Away
Sometimes, you’ve got to let the groove take over. The Dancer class doesn’t pack much of a punch with its physical or magic attacks, but they more than make up for it with its style points and an array of flashy dance moves.
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Some dances confuse enemies, some dances give your party strength, and some dances are so jaw-dropping that they cause monsters to drop dead instantly. Maya from Dragon Quest IV is an iconic Dancer from the series, and while the loveable Sylvando from Dragon Quest XI doesn’t technically fit into this class, he certainly has the abilities (and the theatrics) to be considered adjacent to it.
5 Merchant
Winning The Battle One Sale At A Time
Merchants use capitalism to benefit your party in Dragon Quest, helping you acquire some extra gold after battles and allowing you to appraise items completely for free. As fighters, they offer decent attack and defense without being extraordinarily powerful.
But let’s be honest: the main reason Merchants are so beloved by Dragon Quest fans is because of a certain Torneko Taloon. This delightful family man wants nothing more than to climb the retail ladder and have the best weapons shop in all the lands. And who, amongst us, hasn’t had that dream?
4 Martial Artist
The Bare-Knuckle Battlers Who Pack A Real Punch
Martial Artists don’t need pesky swords or axes to land a blow. They just need their fists (and sometimes claws) to bring the pain to monsters, and boy, is it effective. It also helps that Martial Artists have some of the highest speed and agility stats out of any Dragon Quest class, helping them deal large amounts of damage before the enemy knows what hit them.
There is no shortage of memorable Martial Artists throughout Dragon Quest history. Alena, the rebellious princess from Dragon Quest IV, is a standout, as is Jade from Dragon Quest XI—even if she breaks a fundamental rule of the class by having the ability to equip spears.
3 Warrior
Always Looks Good With A Sword
When you think of the main protagonists of JRPGs or fantasy stories, chances are you’re picturing a stoic Warrior clad in dashing armor and wielding a mighty sword. The Warrior class in Dragon Quest certainly leans into these tropes, letting you slice up enemies and face down challenging boss fights thanks to its powerful attack and defense stats.
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Each Hero in the mainline Dragon Quest games takes a lot of their attributes from the Warrior Class, but this class extends to popular side characters as well. Ragnar from Dragon Quest IV and Hendrik from Dragon Quest XI represent this class in its noblest form. The same can’t really be said for everyone’s favorite Cockney sidekick, Yangus, who is a composite of many different classes but whose devastating attacks give him a strong leaning towards Warrior.
2 Priest
You Can’t Get Anything Done Without One
Priests won’t deliver many finishing blows in boss fights, nor will they decimate a group of monsters with powerful attack spells. But your Dragon Quest party would likely fall apart if you didn’t have one, as their healing and buff spells are simply too precious to ignore.
The Priest is the glue that holds the whole party together, and this steadfastness is often reflected in the characters themselves. Serena from Dragon Quest XI and Kiryl from Dragon Quest IV are both level-headed characters who bring a lot of stability to your party, both through their personalities and their invaluable support abilities.
1 Mage
They’ll Cast A Spell On You
In any fantasy game worth its salt, you want to be able to conjure up jaw-dropping spells that cause your foes to quiver in their boots. The Mage class from Dragon Quest lets you cast fire, ice, wind, and a whole range of other spells on monsters that can have a significant impact on the outcome of battles.
Take your pick of memorable Mage characters throughout the Dragon Quest series. From the endearing Jessica to the sassy Veronica, these characters buzz with their powers and always leave behind a lasting impression. No Dragon Quest party is well-rounded without a Mage, and no Dragon Quest story is complete without their enchanting presence.
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