View source for Meta:Monster Mechanics in Mystery Dungeon

'''Monster Mechanics in Mystery Dungeon''' are often re-used by other games or series in the franchise. This page aims to illustrate as many of these similarities as possible.

==Monsters==
{{Anchor|Monsters attack from a distance}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Chainheads can attack from a distance using their heads.
** Shiren can obtain some items which allow him to attack from a distance.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': In PMD, there are moves that hit targets from 2 tiles away like Quick Attack and Fake Out.

{{Anchor|Attack from across the entire floor}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': {{Shiren|Dragon Family}} at later levels.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Dragon Rage in Super MD.

{{Anchor|Monsters move through walls}}
* '''{{DragonQuest|Dragon Quest Mystery Dungeon|Dragon Quest}}''': Spirit can move through walls.
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Pacorepkin Family can move through walls.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Certain Ghost-types in PMD can move through walls. Non-Ghost-types can equip a Mobile Scarf for the same effect.

{{Anchor|Monsters cause the player to be unable to heal}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Fog Hermit Family fire spells from their magic staves that prevent the player from healing.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': This effect first appeared in Explorers TD in the form of Heal Block.

{{Anchor|Monsters place traps}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Mecharoid Family monsters place traps as their special ability.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': In PMD, moves such as Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock do this.

{{Anchor|Monsters leave a trap when they die}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Trap Nin{{UT}} family leave a trap when they die.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': While not exactly like Shiren, the PMD ability Aftermath is similar, causing the enemy to explode when they faint.

{{Anchor|Enemies cause explosions}}
* '''{{DragonQuest|Dragon Quest Mystery Dungeon|Dragon Quest}}''': Briny Mine enemies work similarly to Spike Bombs.
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Spike Bombs explode when they're at low health and are attacked but not killed.
* '''{{Meta|Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon|Final Fantasy}}''': In Chocobo's Dungeon 2, Bomb Species monsters will begin to charge up an explosion attack after they take damage. If the bombs are not defeated before the charge meter fills up, they will explode and destroy the 8 adjacent tiles.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Pokémon such as Electrode can learn explosion moves. Stunky/Skuntank and Drifloon/Drifblim have the ability Aftermath, which has a closer effect to the Spike Bomb family.
** In Super MD, Explosion and Self-Destruct were changed to self-destruct as a counter to damage.

{{Anchor|Higher chance of critical hits}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Minotaur's Axe's have a high chance to land a critical hit.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': In PMD, everything has a higher chance to land a critical hit.

{{Anchor|Monsters toss stones in an arc}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Piggy Family toss stones in an arc.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Geo Pebbles, Gravelerocks, and other thrown rocks all fly in an arc.

{{Anchor|Knock the player's items and armor off}}
* '''{{DragonQuest|Dragon Quest Mystery Dungeon|Dragon Quest}}''': Merderer knocks Torneko's and Paolo's items off. Items will be sent flying across the room until they land in water, on the ground, or into an enemy (item is destroyed).
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Cell Armor Family knocks Shiren's items off. Items will be sent flying across the room until they land in water, on the ground, or into an enemy (item is destroyed).
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': The move Knock Off in PMD has a similar effect. But items won't directly be lost if they hit another target.

{{Anchor|Monsters attack 2 times or more in one turn or move at increased speed}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Various monsters have double speed and can move twice in one turn, or move once and attack once in one turn.
** Knifegator Family are able to attack 2 or more times a turn.
** Certain Monsters such as Gitan Mamels and Level 2 - 4 Death Reaper Family can move or attack twice in one turn, or move once and attack once (double movement + attack speed)
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': This is similar to the abilities Speed Boost, Unburden, Chlorophyll, and Swift Swim; and the moves Rock Polish, Agility, Tailwind, and Shell Smash.
** The Moves Double Hit, Twineedle, and Double Kick, hit twice in one turn, and the moves Triple Hit and Triple Kick hit thrice in one turn.
* '''{{Meta|Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon|Final Fantasy}}''': In Chocobo's Dungeon 2, the Field Rat Species can increase their movement speed from single speed to double speed

{{Anchor|Monsters that cause the player status conditions}}
* '''{{DragonQuest|Dragon Quest Mystery Dungeon|Dragon Quest}}''': Many monsters such as Man'o War can cast an attack which would cause various status conditions.
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Ghost Radish Family tosses herbs at players that cause various status conditions. Other enemies such as the Gaze Family and the Naptapir Family can also inflict status effects.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': This is similar to the various moves Pokémon might inflict on the player.

{{Anchor|Monsters disguise themselves as others. (Decoy)}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Baby Tengu Family disguises themselves as other monsters. Various other decoys exist. See {{Shiren|Decoy Mechanics}}.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Ditto does this in Rescue Team, Explorers, {{Research}}. In Gates and Super MD, this is relegated to the Zorua family.


{{Anchor|Enemies disguise themselves as items}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Too many to list. See Shiren:Decoy Mechanics.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Ditto in Super MD acts as a traditional decoy now. It can't be picked up like in some Shiren titles.

{{Anchor|Transform into monsters}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Shiren is able to eat meat to transform into monsters.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': In Super MD, Transform works by allowing the player to transform into the enemy and copy their moves, similarly to meat.

{{Anchor|Various monsters destroy, damage, or replace inventory items}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Too many to list.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Starting in Explorers TD, moves such as Bug Bite, Pluck, and Incinerate can destroy food items in the player's inventory.
** Switcheroo exchanges the player's held item with the item carried by the enemy.

{{Anchor|Monsters summon other monsters}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Schubell Family rings a bell and summon other monsters.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': The move Beat Up summons a Pokémon's allies to them. In Explorers T/D, Sky <!-- also in AS I assume --> and Gates to Infinity, the ability {{Pkmn|Illuminate}} summons an enemy to the floor whenever the Pokémon that has it takes damage.
* '''{{Meta|Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon|Final Fantasy}}''': In Chocobo 2, the Puppteer Species can summon other monsters.

{{Anchor|Picking up and throwing the player}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Tiger Uho Family picks Shiren up and throws him across the room or floor. Throw Beetle{{UT}} do the same thing.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Rescue Team: Vital Throw as a counterattack. Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky: Fling serves this purpose. Super MD and Rescue Team DX: Seismic Toss.

{{Anchor|Fixed damage}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Firepuff Family.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Dragon Rage.

{{Anchor|Monsters knock players back}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Dremlas Family knocks Shiren back.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Roar / Whirlwind in PMD.

{{Anchor|Shopkeepers in Mystery Dungeon have extremely high stats}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Shopkeepers train specifically for the job.
* '''{{Meta|Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon|Final Fantasy}}''': In Chocobo's Dungeon 2, Doom takes the role of shopkeeper, and will attack the player if they steal or spend too much time on a floor. In Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon 3, Dungeon Hero X acts as the shopkeeper and will attack if you try to steal the bag from his shop.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Kecleon takes the role of shopkeeper.
** Starting from {{GatesToInfinityTitle}}, the shop takes up the entire room.

{{Anchor|Items or attacks pierce targets}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Mini Tank shoots silver arrows that pierce the target.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Hydro Pump, Hydro Cannon, and Bonemerang pierce targets in Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon.
** Rescue Team DX has Silver Spikes that function similarly to silver arrows.

{{Anchor|Enemies swarm}}
* '''{{DragonQuest|Dragon Quest Mystery Dungeon|Dragon Quest}}''': Yetis sleep in a swarm of 4.
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Floaty Family sleeps in a swarm of 3.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Ledyba sleep in a swarm of 4 in Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon and Rescue Team DX.

{{Anchor|Enemies flee, drop items when defeated}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Egg Thing Family.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Abra in Super MD.

{{Anchor|Enemies level up when they defeat the player or another monster}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Standard Shiren mechanic.
* '''{{Meta|Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon|Final Fantasy}}''': Standard mechanic in Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon 1 and 2.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': First introduced in the Adventure Squad titles.

{{Anchor|Enemies respawn after death, level up other monsters}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': When you kill an Evil Soldier, several turns later, a member of the Dead Soldier Family will spawn.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': This role is filled by Shedinja. It spawns when Nincada is defeated. Other monsters will attempt to defeat it to level up.
** Monsters attempting to defeat it to level up is similar to the Chow Family in Shiren.

{{Anchor|Enemies go around the player and appear on the other side}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Floor Dragon Family.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''':  Splash.

{{Anchor|Monsters that act as healers}}
* '''{{DragonQuest|Dragon Quest Mystery Dungeon|Dragon Quest}}''': Healslime.
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Fluffy Bunny family, Flamebird Family.
* '''{{Meta|Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon|Final Fantasy}}''': The Magic Pot Family in Chocobo 2 heals other enemies.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Delibird in Super MD and Rescue Team DX.

{{Anchor|Enemies hypnotize the plyer}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Gaze family.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': The same hypnotized effect occurs when an enemy uses hypnosis on the player while they're asleep in Super MD.

{{Anchor|Enemies degrade equipment}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Green Slime Family
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Gastro Acid destroys the emeras on your looplets.

{{Anchor|Fire-based enemies incinerate items when thrown}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Inferno family.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Flame Body ability.

{{Anchor|Explosions that cause splash damage}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Popster Tank Family shoots explosive rounds that cause splash damage.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Hyper Beam in Pokémon: Super MD now causes splash damage. The cooldown is reminiscent of the movement of the Shiren tank family.

{{Anchor|Enemies hold you in place}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Parthenos Family holds Shiren in place.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': In Rescue Team and Explorers, Pokémon with Arena Trap and Shadow Tag sometimes hold a Pokémon in place after being hit with a move that makes contact. In Super MD, these abilities prevent the foe from fleeing.

{{Anchor|Enemies decrease fullness points}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Polygon Spin Family sap Shiren of his fullness. As does the Blue Lanternfish{{UT}} monster family.
* '''{{Meta|Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon|Final Fantasy}}''': The Mummy Species in Chocobo's Dungeon 2 can decrease Chocobo's Energy by 10.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Sweet Scent in Super MD may occasionally decrease fullness.

{{Anchor|Enemies fire random spells at the player}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Skull Mage Family fires random magical attacks at the player. (From a select pool of staff abilities.)
* '''{{Meta|Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon|Final Fantasy}}''': In Chocobo's Dungeon 2, the Black Mage Species casts random spells at the player when its {{Chocobo2|ATB Meter}} fills up fully.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Braixen and Delphox in Super MD now have this ability.

{{Anchor|Enemies dig through dungeon walls}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Soldier Ant Family digs through walls in Shiren.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': In PMD, players could tunnel through walls with a high enough IQ in Rescue Team, with a high enough IQ in the right IQ group (Explorers) or via the TM Rock Smash. In Super MD, Sawks can smash through walls, as well as other Pokémon that knows Rock Smash.

{{Anchor|Enemies steal items and warp away}}
* '''{{DragonQuest|Dragon Quest Mystery Dungeon|Dragon Quest}}''': Bag o' laughs steals currency and warp away.
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Pickpocket Family steals currency and warp away. Thiefwalrus Family steals items and warp away. The Crow Minion Family steals items, warps away, and leaves them under a pile of feathers that require a staff bolt to uncover.
* '''{{Meta|Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon|Final Fantasy}}''': The Thief Species in Chocobo's Dungeon 2 can steal Chocobo's items and warp away.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Thief / Covet allow a foe to warp away after a successful theft in Super MD.

{{Anchor|Enemies can gunk up (curse) items}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Curse Girl Family.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': Super MD has the sticky web move which slows down the target and can make items sticky.

{{Anchor|Remove enemies from the dungeon}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Shiren has a scroll that will remove monsters from the rest of the dungeon.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': The Ban Seed in Super Pokémon Mystery Dungeon removes a move from the rest of the adventure.

==Other==
{{Anchor|Pass Off Attacks}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Shiren 1 DS introduced the {{Shiren|Kigny Shield}}, which occasionally passes off attacks onto monsters.
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': The Pass Scarf may have been the inspiration for the Kigny Shield, as it functions nearly identically.

{{Anchor|Power up the player}}
* '''{{Shiren|Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (series)|Shiren}}''': Shiren's super abilities. (Shiren 5)
* '''{{Pkmn|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon}}''': The {{Pkmn|Awakened}} status condition.

==See Also==
{{Cross Series Mechanics in Mystery Dungeon}}

==References==
* <ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/MysteryDungeon/comments/3vpkbf/enemy_roles_from_shiren_to_pmd_and_psmd/</ref> Enemy Roles from Shiren to PMD and PSMD. (December 6, 2015)
* Thanks to user /user/Aw_ on Reddit for the post idea and initial batch of research.
* <ref>https://www.reddit.com/user/Amphouse/</ref> Thanks to user /user/Amphouse for the additional notes in the comments of the original post
** The original post used our original Wiki as a source. See: {{Meta|Wetpaint Shiren the Wanderer Wiki}}. though the links on Reddit are dead.
* <ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/MysteryDungeon/comments/3wagau/shiren_references_within_psmd/</ref> Shiren references within PSMD. (December 10, 2015)
* <ref>https://www.reddit.com/user/Theguesst/</ref> Thanks for a similar posy by the /user/Theguesst on Reddit.
<references />

[[Category:Research]]


[[Category:Dragon Quest Mystery Dungeon (series) Gameplay Elements]]
[[Category:Shiren the Wanderer (series) Gameplay Elements]]
[[Category:Shiren the Wanderer (series) Meat]]
[[Category:Final Fantasy Mystery Dungeon (series) Gameplay Elements]]
[[Category:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (series) Gameplay Elements]]
[[Category:Etrian Odyssey Mystery Dungeon (series) Gameplay Elements]]