Dragon Quest IX: VUST - Gladiator's Guts

VUST stands for Vocation Unique Skill Tree, and is a series of Dragon Quest IX articles I will be creating as time passes for each of the vocations. This is the third article of the series, and will detail the Gladiator's skill tree, which is Guts.

This skill tree is made for brute force. With boosts to your Strength and HP, as well as skills that maximize physical damage at the cost of HP or defense, you will be a force to be reckoned with. Gladiators have one of the highest, if not highest, Attack parameters in the game. Read on and see how this tree helps Gladiators pound their opposition into the ground.

I am going to list the perks you get for leveling up this skill tree. The format will be:

Skill points required. Skill name here MP Cost (if applicable)

Description/Thoughts

Press on, Gladiators! :)

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4. Natural Maximum HP +10

Guts starts out with a stat boost. Stat boosts are always a good thing, especially when they go towards keeping you alive, as this one does. At 4 points, I recommend getting this even if you're not planning on having any Gladiators in your final party setup.

10. Claptrap 1 MP

This skill smacks the monster of your choice clear across the face, doing damage. If anyone figures out any other effects for this attack, let me know, as I have used it about a dozen times and all it does is damage. (I would've thought a slap like that would enrage its recipient, but apparently it doesn't. :/ ).

16. Natural Strength +10

Another stat boost. Keeping in theme, this boost improves on the Gladiator's main attribute, which is high strength. The more strength you have, the more attack you get, and thus the more damage you do. I shouldn't have to tell you that this is a good thing. :P

22. Double Up 0 MP

This is a stance that gives the Gladiator a major attack boost, at the cost of some defense. One of my favorite strategies is to use Double Up and then have another party member use Kabuff. The defense loss of Double Up is negated by the boost given by Kabuff. The fact that it costs no MP is just icing on the cake. ;)

32. Natural Maximum HP +20

Not more than 30 skill points ago, you got a boost half as strong as this one. Double the power, double the fun. More HP keeps you alive to bash skulls.

42. Double-Edged Slash 0 MP

If there's something that Guts has, it is the fact that it is so thematically solid. This ability doesn't break the theme at all. You deal roughly double damage on your target, but lose HP equal to one-quarter of your total damage as well. So, if you connect for 100 damage, you lose 25 HP. I guess that's why we've been getting those HP boosters. ;P

55. Natural Strength +30

BRUTE FORCE! I don't really have much else to add, except the fact that your Gladiator is looking pretty buff right now. :D

68. Blind Man's Biff 4 MP

This ability allows the Gladiator to swing wildly with a haymaker, connecting on a random enemy and doing roughly double normal damage. This is pretty cool against bosses, since the random factor is irrelevant (if there's only one enemy, you're going to hit that enemy.), but not so much against regular foes.

82. Natural Maximum HP +30

Yet another HP boost to keep your Gladiator alive as he/she throws his defense into the pits and raises his/her attack into the stratosphere. I think your Gladiator just looked at me funny...I'll go hide. :o

100. Feel the Burn 6 MP

The ultimate perk of the Guts skill tree is another stance, but this one makes Double Up look weak. You might have seen the werewolf monsters (such as Scarewolves and Bewarewolves, for example.) and how they use this stance. In case you haven't, what this stance does is increase your tension by one level each time you're attacked (not a 100% chance mind you; I find it's roughly 50/50). It lasts for about 6-8 turns or so, and is just brutal if you use it on your main damage dealer. Definitely a nice perk to close out the skill tree with. :)

That wraps up my third VUST article. Now, you are equipped to go out into the world, Gladiator! Bash some skulls for me, will you? ;)

Feel free to comment on the Gladiator vocation in the comments section. I'm not much of a fan of brute force myself, but it does get the job done.

Until the next time, take care and have fun! ;)

-Winterfate

P.S: Woot to myself for having published my 50th hub!! :D