With Dragon Quest HD-2D Remake having finally arrived, players old and new are diving into the game. One new thing that players can do as they progress and explore is rescue and recruit friendly monsters, and there are a lot of them.
Friendly monsters are the same monsters that you fight regularly while exploring the overworld and dungeons of Dragon Quest 3, but they harbor no ill-will or murderous intent towards you. Instead, you can approach them and send them off to Monty at the Monster Arena in Romaria.
Some overall tips for finding friendly monsters in Dragon Quest 3
While making your way along the Path of Promise, you’ll encounter Monty for the first time after a friendly Slime crosses your path. Monty will tell you all about friendly monsters before retiring to the Monster Arena in Romaria. The slime, named Splatrick, will be your first friendly monster and automatically be added to your list.
After that point, it’s entirely up to you. You’ll now be able to discover friendly monsters in secret areas, towns, and dungeons, but they’re not always obvious. To make this easier on yourself, here are a few basic tips to follow.
Recruit a Monster Wrangler to your party
They may not be the strongest of classes, but having a Monster Wrangler with you will significantly increase your chances of finding all of DQ3’s friendly monsters. Monster Wranglers have an ability called Animal Instinct, which can be used to see if there are any friendly monsters nearby, wherever you happen to be at the time.
If there is a monster within the same screen as you, you’ll be notified that a monster is “ready to be wrangled nearby.” If a monster is on the next screen slightly further afield, you’ll be told that a monster is “not too far away.” You’ll also be told if a monster can be found in your current location at a different time of day.
If you don’t have a Monster Wrangler in your party, it’s not the end of the world, but it will make things slightly more difficult. You can use abilities such as Padfoot, spells such as Fade, or items like Musk to approach and rescue skittish monsters.
Locate or purchase the things you’ll need
While off on a friendly monster hunt, there are a few items you will need to rescue certain, more skittish monsters. The most commonly required items are Ra’s Mirror and Everbird, but you’ll also need to gain the Ultimate Key and a Boat through progressing with the main story.
Talk to the locals
As you venture through various towns and other locations, remember to talk to the NPCs there. Sometimes, they’ll give handy hints about monsters that have been showing up nearby, and they’ll even tell you when you can find them if they have time restraints.
How to battle with friendly monsters in Dragon Quest 3
Friendly monsters can be used in any Monster Arena to take part in friendly battles. You don’t get to control their actions, but you can manage tactics, just as you do in any battle with your party.
You can select three monsters that you’ve rescued to make up your party and then enter the battle against an NPC with their own team of monsters. Each rank has three matches to complete, and winning those three matches will allow you to enter into battle at a higher rank.
There is an entry fee for the monster arena, with rank 1 costing 100 Gold, rank 2 costing 200 Gold, and so forth. However, you do win monetary rewards, so you’re not losing out on any money in the long run as long as you win.
All friendly monsters in Dragon Quest 3
There are a total of 121 named friendly monsters to rescue in DQ3, split across 57 different species of monster. Some species have multiple different friendly monsters, and each of them has a specific name.
Rather than splitting the friendly monsters into their respective discovery locations, I’ll take you through the list alphabetically by species. If you want to know which friendly monsters you’ve already found and which are still out there waiting to be rescued, you can visit Monty at any of the Monster Arenas in DQ3 to double-check your own list and compare it to the one below.
I’ll also note any particular items that are required and any time restraints that must be heeded to catch individual friendly monsters. If a friendly monster can only be caught at a certain time of day, head to the nearest inn and choose “Rest Awhile,” then select the time of day when the friendly monster is going to appear.
Antgobbler
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Gobblebert: Secret spot in the canyon north of Romaria Antony: Underground Lake B2, eastern side |
Armful
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Armstrong: Baramos’ Lair, northeast dead end Armadeus: Craggy Caves B2, northwest room |
Bag O’ Laughs
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Smiley: Asham, to the northwest behind a cart during the day Sir Laugh-a-Lot: Theddon Inn during the day Chortley: Reeve town center during the night using Ra’s Mirror |
Baramonster
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Barry Moss: Temple of Trials, in the northwest warp portal dungeon |
Boreal Serpent
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Boris: In the secret spot northeast of Khoryv, requires Everbird |
Bubble Slime
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Bub: Skyfell Tower Anjellica: To the western side of Ibis Castle 2F during the night |
Cannibox
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Lecter: Kidnapper’s Cove, straight from the entrance, in the third room Yum-Yum: Fifer’s Spire, toward the end of the dungeon |
Catula
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Alutac: Tower of Transcendence 2F, near the western staircase Luna: Northeast side of Jipdang at dusk |
Chimaera
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Polly: Secret spot in the desert northwest of Damdara Buddy: Northwest corner of Rimuldar Slinky: Rubiss Tower 4F, center room on the upper path |
Crone Ranger
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Hagatha: Close to the Inn in Dreamer’s Tower, requires Ra’s Mirror Sabrina: Quagmire Cove, on the eastern side |
Cumaulus
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Cloud: Secret spot on the snowy coastline northeast of Khoryu during the night Rainy: East side of Edina rooftop during the day Fluffy: Secret sport southwest of Olivia’s Promontory |
Cureslime
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Curie: East of the shrine in Lanson at dusk Meddie: West of the Castle of the Dragon Queen at dusk Mendy: Cloudsgate Citadel near the southeast fountain |
Elysium Bird
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Beaker: Secret spot on the west side of Aliahan Island, requires Everbird Cronus: Small island in between the northeast and southeast continents in Alefgard |
Firn Fiend
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Frosty: Secret spot iceberg to the southwest of an ice island in the ocean, only at dusk |
Franticore
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Frantico: Cloudgate Tower 4F |
Gold Golem
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Goldirox: Secret spot in the southern plains of the eastern continent in Alefgard |
Goodybag
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Jules: When Merchantburg is fully built, talk to the man north of the fountain at night, requires Ra’s Mirror Pearl: Northeast corner of Talontear Tunnel |
Great Keeper
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Goldie: Temple of Trials, in the northwest corner of the northeast trial |
Green Dragon
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Green Giant: Secret spot on the peninsula southeast of Craggy Cave Scales: Heaven’s Post 3F, north center room |
Handsome Crab
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Snapper: Secret spot at an iceberg in the ocean near the mountains of the northwest continent Pinchy: Eastern island in Lozamii at dusk |
Healslime
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Healie: Near the Inn in Khoryv at dusk Fixer: Secret spot in the southwest desert Healiza: Secret spot at the rocks southeast of Australia in the ocean at dusk |
Heedoo Voodoo
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Whodoo: Across the river in the secret spot west of Theddon at night Youdoo: Secret spot northwest of Wayfarer’s Chapel |
Hocus-Poker
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Mike: Talk to the woman in the southwest corner of Damdara |
Hoodlum
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Hoodwink: Secret spot oasis near the lake on the northwest side of the northeast continent Hoodunnit: Northern secret spot on the forest continent, requires Ra’s Mirror |
Imp
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Forker: Northeast room in Edina at night Prongley: Northwest room of Pirate’s Den during the day Shellvey: Talk to the girl in the northwest of Pyramid 3F, requires Ra’s Mirror Damon: Secret spot in the northeast of the northeast continent, requires Ra’s Mirror |
Infernal Serpent
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Soaron: Secret spot close to Zoma’s Citadel |
Liquid Metal Slime
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Quicksilver: Zoma’s Citadel B3, in the pit room |
Lump Shaman
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Manny: Slightly south of the land bridge connecting the eastern continents Genghis: Talk to the man in the north room of Pirate’s Den at night, requires Ra’s Mirror |
Magmalice
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Alice: Orochi’s Lair, in the southern dead end Bernie: Top of Mt. Necrogond after defeating Garboyle |
Man O’ War
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Jellie: Secret spot on the beach west of Asham, requires a boat Sting: Secret spot on the rocks in the ocean north of Reeve at dusk |
Mermaniac
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Mercurio: Secret spot on the rocks north of the peninsula on the northeast continent at night Merida: Talk to the woman in the secret spot on the island west of Romaria, requires Ra’s Mirror Triton: Talk to the person through the southwest locked door in Rubiss Tower |
Metal Slime
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Steelie: Romaria Outpost, requires the Ultimate Key Alloy: Secret spot in the post-game mini world map (Heavens) |
Mimic
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Death: Maw of the Necrogond L3, southern dead end Famine: Secret spot east of Ibis, requires Everbird |
Minidemon
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Lucy: On the rooftop of Manoza Castle Balam: In Persistence at night, requires Ra’s Mirror Lilith: Hiding behind a sign south of the western building in Cantlin |
Mummy
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Mumsy: Near the church in Ibis at night Imhopep: Speak to the man in the graveyard in Manoza at night, requires Ra’s Mirror |
Mushroom Mage
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Mush: Secret spot northwest of Kidnapper’s Cove at night Schroominger: Secret spot southwest of the Portoga Lighthouse |
Overtoad
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Ribbert: Near the southwest exit of Baharata Amphoebe: Southeast rice field in Jipgang at night Croaker: Secret spot west of Gaia’s Navel during the solo dungeon trial |
Prestidigitator
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Trixie: Secret spot west of Khoryv at dusk Hoodini: Secret spot north of Portoga Maggie: Talk to the man near the pits on the Path of Promise, requires Ra’s Mirror Spellie: East side of the Castle of the Dragon Queen during the day |
Rampage
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Baatholemewe: Secret spot north of Pirate’s Den during the day Ramsdale: At the northwest side of Grimland |
Raven Lunatic
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Edgar: In the southwest corner of Faerie Village at night Allan: Secret spot southeast of Baharata |
Restless Armour
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Arthur: Secret spot south of Asham at night Percival: Secret spot southeast of Alltrades Abbey at night Bedivere: Gaia’s Navel B1 on a side path, use Musk Galahad: Secret spot north of Persistence, requires Everbird |
Rockbomb
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Rocky: Manoza Cave B2 Blasty: Speak to the man west of the Inn in Norvik, requires Ra’s Mirror |
Seaslime
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Marin: On the eastern pier in Portoga at night Schwimmer: Secret spot northwest of Edina in the ocean Shelley: Secret spot in water on the west side of the southwest continent in Alefgard |
Shell Slime
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Shella: Northeast pier in Mur Oozey: On the northeast side of Necrogond Shrine at night Spiner: Lawn to the west of Galen’s House |
She-Slime
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Shiela: Behind the castle in Tantegal Gardens Abigoo: Northwest in the Sanctum Oozebeth: In the jail section of the post-game dungeon |
Silhouette
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Silly: Talk to the priest at the Teleportal Shrine, requires Ra’s Mirror Casper: In the well in Kol |
Slime
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Splatrick: Automatically given when meeting Monty for the first time Slimon: Northeast side of Alltrades Abbey at night Torijammer: Aliahan Prison, requires the Ultimate Key Gootrude: Secret spot northeast of Tantegal Goobert: Southern side of the Temple of Trials |
Soaring Scourger
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Sky: Southwestern dead end on Zoma’s Citadel B3 |
Spiked Hare
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Harry: Northeast of the fountain in Romaria at night Hornbert: Secret spot between Norvik and Faerie Village during the day |
Squidzilla
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Tenda: North end of the Ghost Ship Inky: Secret spot in the water southeast of the inner ocean of Alefgard |
Troll
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Trevor: Maw of the Necrogond L2, eastern room |
Ursa Major
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Bobo: Western side of the Castle of the Dragon Queen at night |
Walking Corpse
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Hel: Secret spot near the poison swamp on the northeast continent at night Hades: Basement of the northeast building in Theddon Grim: Ghost Ship B1, northeast side |
Whackanape
| Appearance | How to find |
 | King Strong: Secret spot northwest of Mur at night Joe: Secret spot north of Wayfarer’s Shrine, requires a boat |
Wyrtle
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Zippy: Secret spot in the eastern ocean between two continents Turgon: Northwest island in Lozamii at night |
Wyrtoise
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Torgon: Secret spot on small northwestern island in Alefgard |
Xenlon
| Appearance | How to find |
 | Xenwrong: On the final path of the Temple of Trials |
