Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake: Best Early Game Weapons

Key Takeaways

• Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake offers 8 Vocations for party creation, enticing replay value.
• The weapon system in the game lacks upgrade options but offers good variety and strategic options.
• Unique weapons like Poison Needle, Holy Lance, and Wizard’s Staff have secondary effects enhancing gameplay.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake gives players many options to create their party at the start. With eight Vocations, they can mix and match these classes to create the ultimate party and it’s a good reason to replay the game multiple times too. Any good party in an RPG needs a valuable weapon system though.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake doesn’t have the most robust weapon system with upgradable parts but players can still find a good variety. Some can be used universally while others are restricted to specific Vocations. For those just trying to ease into finding the right weapons early on, here are some tips.

8 Poison Needle

Attack 10

• Bonus Effect: Chance For Instant Kill
• Location: Pyramid

The Poison Needle is not that strong technically as the attack power will not thrill anyone. However, it’s one of those risk-reward weapons that will pay out if players are lucky. It has a chance to instantly kill a foe in one hit but players definitely need a high Luck stat for this to work. Enemies will drop it around the desert area on the second continent or players can find it in that area’s dungeon, the Pyramid. Either way, players can pretend they have a party of assassins equipped with this weapon.

7 Steel Broadsword

Attack 32

• Location: Underground Lake

The Steel Broadsword is nothing as special as the Poison Needle. It has a high Attack stat for an early sword but it has no bonus effects. It will pop up in shops but players can find a free one in the Underground Lake. This dungeon is tied to a side quest wherein players will have to recover a Dreamstone for the Faeries. Besides the Steel Broadsword, players can find a lot of good loot in this dungeon from other gear to Seeds that will increase stats in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake.

6 Holy Lance

Attack 34

The Holy Lance can be found in the Pyramid like the Poison Needle. Players need the Magic Key to unlock the blue door within the dungeon though and then they will have to go through a series of challenging fights. Every time players open a chest, a monster will pop out and the Holy Lance chest is located on the bottom row.

The in-game text claims that this weapon is imbued with holy magic but it doesn’t seem to boost any sort of damage in the game. That said, it’s a strong early weapon to get and one fit for Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake’s nameless hero.

5 Knuckledusters

Attack 43

The Knuckledusters are a weapon meant for the Martial Artist Vocation in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. It too can be found in the Pyramid but it’s not locked in that blue door room. This weapon may not be relevant to players depending on their starting party which should at least include a Mage and Priest. That last slot is a tossup and the Martial Artist would be a good fit along with the Thief. If players start with a Martial Artist though then they will be happy with this intense weapon.

4 Thorn Whip

Attack 19

• Location: Aliahan (2 Medals)

The Thorn Whip is an incredible weapon and players can get it fast if they know where to look in Aliahan. There is a big side quest in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake involving the collecting of Mini Medals. There’s a shop below Aliahan that will exchange these Mini Medals for prizes and all players need to get the Thorn Whip are two Mini Medals. Besides the Thorn Whip having a high attack power, it can strike all enemies in a single row of the same type. For example, a row of Slimes will be slain with the crack of this whip. Later, players can save up for the stronger Chain Whip weapon on Khoryv.

3 Edged Boomerang

Attack 24

• Location: Aliahan (8 Medals)

The Boomerang is like the Thorn Whip as it can attack a group of enemies. The big difference is that it can hit all enemies, regardless of monster groupings. The exchange is that it isn’t as strong but it can be found early within the Dreamer’s Tower.

Diligent Mini Medal collectors can get a better version of the Boomerang called the Edged Boomerang not long after. For 8 Mini Medals, this destructive weapon can make any turn-based battle go by quicker.

2 Wizard’s Staff

Attack 21

• Bonus Effect: Casts A Fireball If Used As An Item
• Location: Norvik

The Wizard’s Staff can be found in a cabinet in Norvik which is also tied to the Underground Lake side quest. For weapons like these, attack doesn’t really matter in the traditional sense. Wisdom is how spells get boosted in battle like in most magic-based systems in RPGs. Either way, the Wizard’s Staff is still pretty great to have around. It’s one of the few early weapons that has a secondary nature as players can use the weapon as an item to cast a free-fire spell. The damage won’t be high but it will strike harder than a simple melee attack.

1 Snooze Stick

Attack 29

• Bonus Effect: Puts Enemies To Sleep If Used As An Item
• Location: Underground Lake

The Snooze Stick is slightly stronger than the Wizard’s Staff. It can be found in the Underground Lake, close to the Steel Broadsword’s location and it also has a second nature. Players can mute enemies and prevent them from casting spells back. For Magic-heavy enemies, this can be a huge blessing, especially with some of the later boss encounters. It’s always bad when the opposite happens in battle when your party gets muted but status ailments in games like Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake are always a bother.