Skills (Dragon Quest IX)
Skills in Dragon Quest IX are awarded using a points-based system that is tied to character level. As a character gains levels, they are awarded points that they may apply toward class-specific skills. For each character class, a total of 200 skill points can be earned by growing from level 1 to 99. These points are distributed in a normal distribution over the span of levels.
For full lists of each different skill type, see Lists of abilities in Dragon Quest IX.
Skill point distribution
| Vocation level |
Skill points gained |
Cumulative skill points |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 3 |
| 6 | 3 | 6 |
| 8 | 3 | 9 |
| 9 | 3 | 12 |
| 11 | 3 | 15 |
| 12 | 3 | 18 |
| 14 | 4 | 22 |
| 15 | 4 | 26 |
| 17 | 4 | 30 |
| 18 | 4 | 34 |
| 20 | 4 | 38 |
| 21 | 4 | 42 |
| 23 | 5 | 47 |
| 24 | 5 | 52 |
| 26 | 5 | 57 |
| 27 | 5 | 62 |
| 29 | 5 | 67 |
| 30 | 5 | 72 |
| 32 | 6 | 78 |
| 33 | 6 | 84 |
| 35 | 6 | 90 |
| Vocation level |
Skill points gained |
Cumulative skill points |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 6 | 96 |
| 38 | 6 | 102 |
| 39 | 6 | 108 |
| 41 | 5 | 113 |
| 42 | 5 | 118 |
| 44 | 4 | 122 |
| 45 | 4 | 126 |
| 47 | 3 | 129 |
| 48 | 3 | 132 |
| 50 | 2 | 134 |
| 51 | 2 | 136 |
| 53 | 2 | 138 |
| 54 | 2 | 140 |
| 56 | 2 | 142 |
| 57 | 2 | 144 |
| 59 | 2 | 146 |
| 60 | 2 | 148 |
| 62 | 2 | 150 |
| 63 | 2 | 152 |
| 65 | 2 | 154 |
| 66 | 2 | 156 |
| Vocation level |
Skill points gained |
Cumulative skill points |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | 2 | 158 |
| 69 | 2 | 160 |
| 71 | 2 | 162 |
| 72 | 2 | 164 |
| 74 | 2 | 166 |
| 75 | 2 | 168 |
| 77 | 2 | 170 |
| 78 | 2 | 172 |
| 80 | 2 | 174 |
| 81 | 2 | 176 |
| 83 | 2 | 178 |
| 84 | 2 | 180 |
| 86 | 2 | 182 |
| 87 | 2 | 184 |
| 89 | 2 | 186 |
| 90 | 2 | 188 |
| 92 | 2 | 190 |
| 93 | 2 | 192 |
| 95 | 2 | 196 |
| 96 | 2 | 198 |
| 99 | 2 | 200 |
Applying skill points
For each class, only a subset of skills are increased using skill points. This means that strategy must be applied in order to maximize the capabilities of a character as they gain levels and change classes.
Class/Skill matrix
This table does not include skills which are available to only a single class or the Hero skills.
| Class | Sword
|
Spear
|
Staff
|
Knife
|
Shield
|
Claw
|
Whip
|
Fan
|
Axe
|
Hammer
|
Fisticuffs
|
Wand
|
Bow
|
Boomerang
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minstrel | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||||||
| Warrior | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||||||
| Martial Artist | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||||||
| Priest | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||||||
| Mage | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||||||
| Thief | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||||||
| Gladiator | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||||||
| Armamentalist | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||||||
| Paladin | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||||||
| Ranger | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||||||
| Sage | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||||||||||
| Luminary | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Maximizing Character Skills
There are 12 class-specific skill types and 14 multi-class skills types. Since each vocation receives a maximum 200 skill points, it is impossible to fully maximize a single character's skills without using Seeds of skill or revocating. No matter what strategy is applied in distributing skill points, a character will be 200 points short of the required amount of skill points. However, after revocating, a character can easily achieve the final 200 points needed.