Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake Guide | How to do Critical Hits

Here's a guide on how to do Critical Hits in Dragon Quest I.

Game Guide by Ragib Rawnak on Nov 09, 2025

Critical hits are special attacks in Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake that deal increased damage compared to regular attacks. They are an important part of battle strategy, especially against certain enemies that are otherwise difficult to defeat.

This guide explains how critical hits work, how to increase your chances of landing them, and which equipment or items can affect your critical rate.

Understanding Critical Hits

A critical hit occurs when your attack deals extra damage and completely ignores the target’s Defence stat. This effect applies only to physical attacks, as magical spells cannot land critical hits.

Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake, Guide, How to do Critical Hits

Critical hits are particularly effective against enemies with high defence and low HP, such as Metal Slimes, since they are guaranteed to defeat them in a single strike if the hit connects in Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake.

How Critical Hits Work

Critical hits, in most cases, are based on probability. There are no consistent ways to ensure a critical hit, as they rely on chance.

However, certain factors influence how often you will land one. The Luck stat directly affects the likelihood of scoring a critical hit. While a high Luck stat will not guarantee a critical hit, it will gradually improve your chances over time.

Increasing Luck

Eating Seeds of Luck, which can be found all over Alefgard, is the fastest way to raise your Luck number. Each seed you eat makes you a little luckier.

In addition, your Luck stat automatically goes up every time you level up, which makes your critical rate steadily better as you play in Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake.

Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake, Guide, How to do Critical Hits

Equipment and Critical Chance

Some equipment pieces also enhance your Luck stat, indirectly improving your critical rate. Wearing these items not only increases your chance of landing critical hits but can also provide other beneficial effects tied to Luck.

In addition to these, a few weapons possess an inherently higher critical rate. Using these weapons increases the essential frequency of hits, although they may come with certain trade-offs.

Weapons with Higher Critical Rates

One of these weapons is the Sword of Ruin, which has a high critical rate. That being said, it is a cursed gear, so while your weapons will have a better chance of hitting essential targets, enemies will also have a better chance of hitting you with them. It is best not to wear the Sword of Ruin at all because of this.

Another weapon with a high critical rate is the Headsman’s Axe, which is located behind a locked door inside Tantegel Castle. To access it, you must possess the Ultimate Key.

Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake, Guide, How to do Critical Hits

However, if you are pursuing the True Ending and wish to keep the Princess from returning to the castle, you will be unable to obtain the Headsman’s Axe or any other treasure behind that door.

Using the Sun Sigil

In this version of the game, the Sun Sigil has an added battle effect. When used, it temporarily boosts your chance to land critical hits and even allows abilities to deliver them.

This feature provides a reliable method to increase your critical rate during significant encounters or challenging fights in Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake.

Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake, Guide, How to do Critical Hits

Critical Hits Against Metal Slimes

One of the key benefits of landing a critical hit is its effectiveness against Metal Slimes. These enemies have extremely high defence and very low HP, making them resistant to normal attacks.

However, since critical hits bypass defence, a single critical hit will always defeat them if it connects, making essential hits one of the most efficient ways to eliminate them in Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake.

Also, check our Dragon Quest I & II: HD-2D Remake Review and other guides below: