Monster Size: Differences and Benefits of Monster Sizes

This is a guide to monster sizes in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince (DQM3). Know the differences between L-size and S-sized monsters and how they affect overall monster party formation and performance in battle.

Attention!	This article is translated from the Japanese Game8 site, so some names and terms might not be the correct ones in the English version. If you found any terms that need to be corrected, make sure to let us know in the comments!

Monster Size Differences and Benefits

★ Summary of Size Differences and Benefits
L Size has excellent additional traits in exchange for occupying 2 party slots.
Increased maximum stats.
Status resistance increased by 50 points.
Stats are changed depending on size (maximum ±50).

Size Differences and Benefits Chart

	S Size	L Size
Party Slot	1 Slot	2 Slots
Stats	Standard	Boosted
Skills	3	3
Traits	3	6
Resistances	Standard	Boosted

Everything Changed Except Skills

Everything except the number of skills differs between S size and L size monsters. Having large monsters present a great advantage since it improves nearly all stats, number of talents, and resistance values.

The only trade off is that it takes up 2 slots in your monster formation, which reduces the number of your monsters in the field, so keep that in mind.

L-Size Sacrifices Slots for Better Stats

While L size monsters take up 2 slots in your formation, they add an additional 3 traits. Most traits monsters possess in the L size category are excellent, especially those that increase the number of actions that they take in a turn.

This benefit makes up for the disadvantage present when a slot is taken up for a small monster in the team.

Best Monsters Tier List

Increased Maximum Stats

HP	MP	Attack	Defense	Agility	Wisdom
1.5x		1.1x
Note: The above multipliers apply, but as the monster's levels increase, the stat multipliers will begin diminishing from 0.9x to 0.7x. Stats other than HP and MP will hardly increase in most cases at that point.

For L size monsters, HP and MP stats increase by 1.5x, while other stats increase by 1.1x. Having more HP objectively increases the monster's durability, while MP gives it more opportunities for casting special skills in battle.

Increased Resistance by 50

Affected Resistances	Unaffected Resistances
Stun Sleep Paralysis Poison Instant Death Confusion	Attribute Resistances Debilitation Bedazzlement Antimagic MP Absorption

Compared to S size monsters, L size monsters have a flat 50 point increase to resistance from status abnormalities like Sleep, Poison, etc.

Another advantage is that you do not have to worry about two monsters being incapacitated, only having that one large monster to manage taking up those slots.

Attribute resistances that affects the damage received will be the same as taken by an S class.

Stat Changes Depending on Body Size

S Size Minimum	▶︎	S Size Normal	▶︎	S Size Maximum
Defense (-50) Agility (+50)		Defense (-50) Agility (+50)		Values (±0) No change.
L Size Minimum	▶︎	L Size Normal	▶︎	L Size Maximum
Defense (+1) Agility (-1)		Defense (↑↑) Agility (↓↓)		Defense (+50) Agility (-50)

The monster's body size (separate from the monster's size class) will affect some stats, particularly Defense and Agility by ±50 points, so keep an eye out when you are synthesizing monsters.

How to Identify the Monster's Size

Check Upper-Left of Monster Icon

One way to immediately tell monster size is by checking the letter displayed at the upper lleft corner of the monster iocon. L size monsters are marked with an L so it should be easy to tell them apart from S size monsters.

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Check L Size in Overworld

L size monsters seen on the field are distinctively huge, and will be obvious when you see it from afar, or see it alongside a small monster in the field.

If you are looking to scout such monster in that size class, make sure to bump into the monster and enter battle and double check it stats for the size.

Best Scouting Monsters

Checking Body Size via Appearance in Battle

If the body sizes of the similar-sized monsters on the field cannot be confirmed from the monster's status and icon in battle view, the only way a monster's size can be judged is by looking at the monster's visual screen (usually stats), which is viewable by checking the Monster Info through the X button outside of battle.

How to Change Sizes and Get an L Size

Inherits Monster Parents' Sizes

If both parent monsters are of the same size, the child born will always inherit their parents' size. Therefore, synthesizing two L size monsters together will always bear an L size child monster.

If you want to be sure that the child is a guaranteed L size, then make sure that both parents are also L size monsters.

Can Get an L Size Even with S Size Monsters

Parent L Size	Parent S Size	Child
Large	Large	Large
Large	Small	Small
Small	Large	Small
Small	Small	Small

It is still possible for an L size child monster to be a result of a synthesis between L size and S size monsters.

Still, having both parents of the same size synthesized will guarantee the child inheriting their exact size category.

Synthesis Process for L Size Monsters

1. Prepare any desired monster for L Size
2. Scout an L Size monster (Drakularge and Stone Golem in Circle of Caprice Middle Echelon are recommended)
3. Synthesize the scouted monster and the prepared monster.
4. Repeat steps 2-3 until the prepared monster in 1 becomes an L size.

How to Synthesize Large Monsters

① Prepare a Monster for L Size

First, prepare any monster you wish to turn into an L Size. If you choose a monster with large body size within the S size class, it will be easier to synthesize later on. Therefore, choose the one with largest body size whenever possible.

Differences in body sizes within a size class can be difficult pinpoint, but they can be observed through stats via the Monster Info screen.

② Scout an L Size Monster

Next is to scout an actual L size monsters. A recommended locatioan for finding L size monsters are in the Circle of Caprice Middle Echelon. The large Stone Golem in particular can be found in front of the House of Shifting Sands.

This monster can appear reappaer at the location regardless of season, so it should be easy to find.

③ Synthesized Prepared and Scouted Monster

Conclude when Result is L Size

Once you have obtained an L size monster, synthesize it with any monster prepared in step 1. At this point, if a monster of any body size is larger than an S size class, you can immediately tchange it to L size.

Consider the process successful when the result is a true L size monster!

If not L Size, Repeat Steps

An L size monster result may not be guaranteed if the desired monster is small or any other prepared monsters are S size. In this case, you can repeat steps 2 to 3 until the desired monster becomes in L size.

Monster sizes can gradually increase in synthesis, so you may be able to finally create an L size monster in the end.

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