Monster Scouting & Recruitment

Recruiting new monsters is the cornerstone of building a powerful team in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. There are two primary methods: Scouting during battle and Post-Battle Recruitment. Understanding both, and how to optimize your chances, is crucial for any aspiring Monster Master.

Scouting in Battle

Scouting allows you to attempt to recruit a monster mid-combat. Success rates can vary wildly, from a seemingly impossible 1% to a much more favorable 50% or higher. Here's how to maximize your chances:

Preparation is Key

Monster Levels: Generally, higher-level monsters in your party will increase your scouting success rate against lower-level wild monsters. Focus on leveling up your main team.
Monster Stats: Certain stats, particularly Attack, can influence scouting success. Monsters with high attack power may contribute to a better scouting percentage.
"Scout" Skill: Some monsters possess the "Scout" skill, which directly boosts your chances of recruiting. Consider having a monster with this skill in your active party when targeting a specific recruit.
Temperament: A monster's temperament (e.g., "Happy," "Angry") can subtly affect scouting. While not a primary factor, a monster in a positive mood might be slightly more receptive.

During Battle Scouting Strategy

Target Selection: Focus your attacks on the monster you wish to scout. Reducing its HP significantly (but not defeating it!) will increase your scouting percentage.
Use "Scout" Command: Select the "Scout" command from your monster's action menu. The game will display a percentage chance of success.
Attack Synergy: After initiating a scout, your other monsters can continue to attack the target. These additional attacks, especially critical hits, can further boost the scouting percentage for that turn. However, be careful not to accidentally defeat the monster!
Meat Items: This is your most powerful tool for increasing scouting odds.
- Slab of Beef: A basic meat item that provides a moderate boost to scouting chances. Easily purchased from most general stores, such as the one in Rosehill.
- Sirloin: A more potent meat item, offering a significant increase in scouting percentage. Often found in treasure chests in later areas or as rare drops from stronger monsters.
- Monster Munchies: The most effective meat item, providing the largest boost. Typically reserved for high-value targets or monsters with exceptionally low base scouting rates. Can be found in hidden areas or as rewards for specific quests.
You can use multiple meat items in a single scouting attempt, though diminishing returns may apply. Experiment to find the optimal amount for your target.
Repeat Attempts: If a scout fails, you can try again on subsequent turns. The scouting percentage will reset, but you can re-apply the same strategies (attacking, using meat) to raise it again.

Dealing with Difficult Scouts

Some monsters, particularly powerful field bosses like the Gigantes found in Terrestria, have extremely low base scouting rates (e.g., 1-2%). For these, a combination of factors is essential:

Over-leveling: Bring a party significantly higher in level than the target.
High Attack Stats: Ensure your attacking monsters have maximized Attack.
Multiple Sirloins/Monster Munchies: Be prepared to expend several high-tier meat items.
Persistence: It may take many attempts, even with optimized strategies, to successfully scout these rare monsters. Don't get discouraged!

Post-Battle Recruitment

Occasionally, after defeating a wild monster, it may offer to join your party. This is a less reliable method than active scouting but can be a pleasant surprise. Here's what we know:

Random Chance: Post-battle recruitment appears to be a random chance upon defeating a monster. There's no direct action you can take during battle to increase this specific outcome.
Field Bosses: While it's possible for field bosses to join after defeat, as observed with monsters like the Cyclops, the chances are often exceedingly low. Many players report defeating such monsters dozens of times without a recruitment offer. In these cases, active scouting with meat items is generally a more efficient use of your time and resources.
No Item Influence: Unlike scouting, using meat items or specific skills during battle does not seem to influence post-battle recruitment rates.

General Tips for Monster Acquisition

Check Monsterpedia: The Monsterpedia often provides hints about a monster's habitat and sometimes its preferred items, which can indirectly help with scouting.
Save Before Scouting: For particularly rare or difficult monsters, consider saving your game before initiating a scouting attempt. If you fail and run out of resources, you can reload and try again.
Breeding as an Alternative: If a monster proves exceptionally difficult to scout or recruit, remember that many can be acquired through the synthesis (breeding) system. This often provides a more consistent path to obtaining specific monster types, especially for higher-rank monsters.