BATTLE MENU

Learn how to Attack, cast Spells, use Items, and Flee in Dragon Quest II's battle menu. Get tips for managing your party and surviving tough encounters.

Alright, let's break down the battle menu in Dragon Quest II. It's pretty straightforward once you know what each option does, but there are a few nuances that can really help you out.

Battle Menu Options:

• Attack: This is your basic physical attack using your character's equipped weapon. Simple, but effective against most foes.
• Spells: Here's where you'll find all the magic your party members have learned. Spells can heal, buff your party, or damage enemies, often being more powerful or versatile than basic attacks.
• Items: This lets you use any item from your inventory. This could be healing items like Herbs, status-curing items like Antidotal Herbs, or even offensive items. You can also use this menu to Equip or change your character's weapon and armor outside of town.
• Flee: This is your escape route! Trying to run from a battle. Be warned, though – it won't always work, especially against tougher monsters or certain types of enemies.

Important Battle Notes:

• Fleeing Success: If all monsters in the battle are asleep, fleeing is guaranteed to work. Also, if you get a message at the start of battle saying the monsters didn't notice you, you get a free turn and fleeing is guaranteed to succeed then, too.
• Monster Turns: Sometimes, weaker monsters might use their turn to flee from battle, which is guaranteed to succeed. On the flip side, if the monsters suddenly attack at the start of battle, they get a free turn to hit you or flee.
• Dodging and Defending: Some monsters can dodge your physical attacks, meaning you'll deal no damage. Others might defend, cutting your damage in half for that turn. Keep an eye on the Bestiary to see which monsters tend to do this.
• Damage Range: Remember that damage isn't fixed! Both you and the monsters deal a range of damage, and monsters can have varying HP even of the same type. Critical hits are your friend here, as they bypass monster resilience.
• Poison: Dragon Quest II introduced poison! If a character is poisoned, they'll take 1 damage every 4 steps outside of town. Use an Antidotal Herb, the Squelch spell, or visit a House of Worship to cure it.