Dragon Quest 2: Luminaries of the Legendary Line is still one of the better NES RPGs out there, but it is admittedly dated by today’s standards. Thankfully, RPG and Dragon Quest fans alike can enjoy it via Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake, which sports some nice quality-of-life upgrades beyond stunning visuals.
How Long to Beat All Missions in Dragon Quest 1 & 2 Remake
A complete list of all missions in both Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D remakes, and how long it will take to beat them both individually.
In Dragon Quest 2 Remake, players will find a party as they journey along, and each character can equip a plethora of weapons. While increasing stats via weapons found in shops is a solid plan, there are better weapons out there in the early game. Here are the best ones to get as soon as possible. All of these weapons can be found within the first several hours and should not be missed.
Divine Dagger
- Location: Secret Spot (Near Midenhall)
The Divine Dagger is one of the earliest special weapons that players can find in the game. After players leave Midenhall, they will learn about Secret Spots. There’s an option in the menu to turn on the vague location on the world map, which will make these areas look like ripples.
For those who want to have a more pure experience, they can leave these signals turned off, but either way, the Secret Spot in question is located north of Midenhall. The Divine Dagger isn’t that powerful, but it will do extra damage against undead enemies, which are a staple in RPGs like Dragon Quest 2 Remake, from various ghosts to zombies.
Wizard's Staff
- Location: Wellspring of the Hero
The Wizard's Staff is technically not located in the Wellspring of the Hero in the traditional RPG sense, like within a chest. Instead, players have a chance to get one from an enemy called a Magus. Dragon Quest is one of the rare RPGs that lets players use weapons as items in battle, and with the Wizard's Staff, players can cast a fireball.
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This is great for the Hero character of Dragon Quest 2 Remake, who doesn’t start with magical skills. Also, the Wizard's Staff can sell for 250 Gold, so it may be worth grinding in this area with Matilda, a temporary party member, for a while.
Boomerang
- Location: Cave of the Lake
It should come as no surprise to Dragon Quest fans that it is one of the toughest RPG franchises out there that requires a lot of grinding. That’s where key weapons like the Boomerang come in handy, as they can speed up the monotony of battle. Players can find the Boomerang in the Cave of the Lake dungeon, which can target all enemies in battle.
The overall damage will be less concentrated, but in the hands of Caradoc, a permanent party member, it should work well for a while. There are several more Boomerang-type weapons in Dragon Quest 2 Remake to look for, like the Edged Boomerang. To get that one, players will have to win a lottery system in Moonahan called a Tombola Draw, which is easy if players use a save scum strategy.
Thorn Whip
- Location: Item Cache (Near Cave of the Lake)
Like Secret Spots, there are blue sparkling areas on the world map that players will come across frequently and don’t require any extra options to find them. There is one located to the East of the Cave of the Lake dungeon, and it’s how players can get their first Whip-type weapon. Using a whip in a Dragon Quest game is as satisfying as in more whip-focused games, including Castlevania.
The Thorn Whip doesn’t have any special effects, but it can attack a group of enemies in battle like the classic Slimes. It is similar in design to the Boomerang, except it has a more limited range, with the benefit of being stronger in exchange. There are tons of other Whip-type weapons in the game, like the Chain Whip, which can be found in the Deserted Village early on in Dragon Quest 2 Remake.
Holy Lance
- Location: Moonbrooke Castle
The Holy Lance can be found within a cabinet in the ruins of Moonbrooke Castle. Like the Divine Dagger, this weapon is strong against the armies of the undead. It is also a much stronger version, which should be useful against some upcoming bosses.
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It’s never a bad idea to keep weaker weapons around to take advantage of enemy or boss weaknesses later, which is as true for Dragon Quest 2 Remake as it is for RPGs as a whole. It should also be noted that in the cabinet next to the Holy Lance’s, players can find a baller piece of armor called the Scholar's Cap, which can increase Wisdom.
Snooze Stick
- Location: Moonbrooke Castle (B1)
The Snooze Stick can also be found in Moonbrooke Castle, but it’s located in the basement level. Also, to open the red chest, players require the Thief’s Key, which can be unlocked by progressing through the story shortly after this area. Hopefully, players made notes on where these red chests and doors were located on the way here, because there are some more great finds players can get early in Dragon Quest 2 Remake after getting the Thief’s Key.
Tips aside, the Snooze Stick itself is not that strong, nor will it boost the magical capabilities of the magic users of the party. Like the Wizard's Staff, it can be used as an item, though, and it can lull enemies to sleep. While enemies are sleeping, players could take advantage of this opportunity and start to heal the party, so the Snooze Stick does have its uses.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- October 30, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Artdink
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
