A Master Stroke (必殺剣 Deadly sword) is a special technique in Dragon Quest Swords. Though limited in frequency, these techniques are very powerful and their usage often proves pivotal in the outcome of a battle.
Usage[]
Master Stroke usage is limited by a gauge in the lower-left corner of the HUD that begins at 0% and does not allow a Master Stroke until it rises to 100%. As the player progresses through a level, the gauge fills slightly every time the player successfully attacks with their sword or blocks an enemy attack with their shield.
Once the gauge has filled, the player may initiate a Master Stroke at any time during a battle by pressing the 2 button on the Wii remote. They can then select a technique from the list of those they've has so far acquired by obtaining different swords, at which point they must manipulate the Wii remote in accordance with on-screen prompts, then strike anywhere to unleash the attack.
Enemy usage[]
The final storymode boss, Xiphos the Deathbringer, and the final mirror boss, Edahs 'Sophix are both able to use the Figure of Hate Master Stroke. For both, it is used within the normal attack pattern of their second phase. In this case, the player must follow the on-screen prompts in order to limit the damage done rather than enhancing it. This is done by repeated slashing over and over.
List of Master Strokes[]
| Name | Element | Power level | Learn requirement | Attack motion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Strike | None | 1 | Default Master Stroke | Hold sword up - Slash |
| Multistrike | None | 2 | Possess Steel broadsword | Hold sword up for several seconds - Slash 3 times |
| Figure of Fate | None | 3 | Possess Rednusadner | Draw figure 8 repeatedly - Slash |
| Light Fantastic | None | 4 | Possess Aurora blade | Draw figure 8 repeatedly - Slash 3 times |
| Dragonlord's Doom | None | 5 | Possess Dragon Warrior's Sword | Rotate sword upwards repeatedly - Hold sword up - Shake sword repeatedly - Slash |
| Tundra Sunderer | Ice | 2 | Possess Blizzard blade | Thrust sword down - Slash |
| Cold Fission | Ice | 1 | Possess Frost blade | Rotate sword in forward circles repeatedly - Slash |
| Ice Age | Ice | 3 | Possess Wrath of Boreas | Rotate sword in forward circles repeatedly - Slash |
| Absolute Zero | Ice | 4 | Possess Zenithian sword | Rotate sword in forward circles repeatedly - Thrust |
| Searing Slash | Fire | 1 | Possess Fire blade | Shake sword - Slash |
| Blazing Thurst | Fire | 2 | Possess Blazing blade | Thrust sword down - Forward thrust |
| Solar Flare | Fire | 3 | Possess Wrath of Helios | Shake sword - Slash |
| Dragon Soul | Fire | 4 | Possess Dragovian King Sword | Draw figure 8 repeatedly - Slash |
| Lightning Thrust | Lightning | 2 | Possess Thunderbolt blade | Rotate sword upwards - hold sword up - Thrust |
| Lightning Strike | Lightning | 2 | Possess Lightning blade | Rotate sword upwards - Slash |
| Lightning Storm | Lightning | 3 | Possess Wrath of Zeus | Rotate sword upwards - hold sword up |
| Gigaslash | Lightning | 4 | Possess Sword of kings | Draw figure 8 - hold sword up - Slash |
| Elemental Extremes | Fire and Ice | ? | Combo with level 33 Prince Anlace (24 MP) |
Draw figure 8 - Thrust |
| Moulin Rage | None | ? | Combo with level 30 Fleurette (21 MP) | Rotate sword in forward circles repeatedly - Thrust |
| Gigagash | Lightning | ? | Combo with level 32 Claymore (28 MP) | Hold sword up - Slash |
| Figure of Hate | Darkness | ? | Possess Deathbringer's Shade (payback mode only) | Rotate sword upwards - Slash |
Trivia[]
- Several of the Master Strokes share motions that the player uses to execute the move: Lightning Strike and Figure of Hate both require you to rotate your sword upwards then slash. Solar Flare and Searing Slash require you to shake the sword before slashing. Dragon Soul and Figure of Fate require you to draw a figure 8 repeatedly before slashing. Light Fantastic has the same condition except you slash 3 times instead of one. Cold Fission and Ice Age both require you to rotate the sword in a circular motion repeatedly before slashing. Absolute Zero and Moulin Rage require you to rotate the sword in a circular motion repeatedly before thrusting.
- Absolute Zero is the coldest temperature possible. That is why it is the final Master Stroke with the element of ice. It also deals more damage to Xiphos and his mirror counterpart than Figure of Hate does.
- Dragonlord's Doom is the only Master Stroke that can be lost forever if you sell the Orichalcum Stick (and Valgirt has a low chance of dropping it in a Lucky Bag).
- Figure of Hate is the only Master Stroke that cannot be obtained on a first playthrough, being only unlocked once you start Payback Mode.
Other languages[]
| Other languages | |
| French | |
| German | Meisterstreich |
| Spanish | |
| Italian | |
| Dutch | Unknown |
| Norwegian | Unknown |
| Greek | Unknown |
| Portuguese | Unknown |
| Russian | Unknown |
| Chinese | |
| Korean | |
See Also[]
| v · e · dDragon Quest Swords | |
| Chapters |
Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 • Chapter 5 • Chapter 6 • Chapter 7 • Chapter 8 |
| Characters | |
| Story Bosses |
Briquet • Draug • Emissary of Xiphos • Fishy Monster • Golok the Gatekeeper • Großmesser • Sir Dirk Worthington • Xiphos the Deathbringer |
| Mirror Bosses |
Clank 'n' Knalc • Der Gib • Edahs 'Sohpix • King Latem • Nomeg • Nomegoen • Salta • Valgirt • Valgirt Nedlog |
| Locations |
Avalonia • Arondight Heights • Caliburn Cave • Castle Avalonia • Deathbringer's Citadel • Galantyne Glades • Mirror World • Northern Plains • Olde Reflectory • Red Sea • Secace Seacove • Tower of Mirrors |
| Key Terms |
Lucky Bag • Level Scoring • Master Stroke • Mini Medal • Payback Mode • Rorrim Mask • Rednusadner • Sword Tempering • Tombola |
| Lists |
Accessories • Armor • Bosses • Monsters • Enemy Encounters • Helmets • Items • Level Bonuses • Locations • Characters • Mirror Bosses • Shields • Tempering Materials • Weapons |