On the Tenshin System and Hearts

Learn how to use the Tenshin system in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince to change monster classes, breed new monsters, and acquire powerful abilities using hearts.

The Tenshin system (転身) in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince replaces traditional monster breeding. To use it, you need a monster (level 10 or higher) and two hearts (心). Monsters have maximum levels dictated by their plus level and species, indicating it's time for a change.

To perform a Tenshin, visit Fozu and select "てんしんする". Choose the monster and two hearts. The resulting monster's name, rarity, and wagon weight change will be displayed. A list of skills obtainable from the selected heart will also appear. Confirm your choices to obtain the new monster.

Your new monster will start at level 1 but retain its previous abilities. It can learn skills native to its current species and those from the hearts used. Its strength will be approximately 80% of its pre-Tenshin state, but levels are gained quickly. There appears to be a starting stat cap around 500.

Tenshin success depends on several factors:

• Family of the base monster and the two hearts.
• Species of the base monster and the two hearts.
• Rank of the base monster and the two hearts.
• Plus level of the base monster.

Rank works as follows: using hearts of the same or lower rank keeps the rank the same. Using a higher-ranked heart promotes the resulting monster to the next rank. This applies to family breeding; specific combinations can allow greater rank jumps.

Family breeding involves considering the base monster's species and the resulting rank from the hearts. For example, a Rank D Slime with a Rank A DarkHorn heart and a Rank B GateGuard heart will result in a Rank C monster. Consulting the Slime family breeding table for the Beast + Devil column at Rank C yields a PutrePup.

Species-based breeding requires specific heart combinations for particular monsters. For instance, a Phoenix with a Phoenix heart and a Blizzardy heart creates a RainHawk, differing from family breeding outcomes. Some Tenshin require a specific plus level, especially when upgrading a monster to its enhanced version (e.g., Mommonja to BigMommanja).

Using two of the same heart type typically results in that monster's species, unless a special combination occurs. For example, a Golem with two Snaily hearts will likely become a Snaily, a simple way to lower a monster's rank.

Using human hearts may lower a monster's rank, but the specifics are still being researched.

Heart items are obtained after Chapter 2. An old man provides the Heart-Getter device. After battles, you may receive a message indicating you've obtained a monster's heart ("<monster name>の心をキーファに手にはいた").

In Chapter 3, Fozu of Dharma Temple integrates her job change training with the old man's research, enabling monster class changes.