Dragon Blazers 1 Detailed Guide

WARNING: Contains spoilers!

Introduction

10 years ago, the Inexorable Dragon awoke. Invulnerable to all damage, and with an all consuming hunger, it began to eat away at the fabric of reality itself. But, there was a prophecy, those who carried the blood of dragons, the Brandt Family, would rise as heroes of the world. But... the Brandt family was slain down to the last, and everyone now persists in a facisimile of normal life, watching the slow consumption of their reality.

Released in 199X for the MES, Dragon Blazers is a cult classic known for its surprisingly deep story and lore. And surprisingly annoying gameplay and unclear progression. It's successor Dragon Blazers 2 is better regarded BUT THIS GAME IS WELL WORTH PLAYING DONT SKIP IT

Go to the "Walkthrough" section if you're stuck at a particular area.

Characters

Merice/The Protagonist
Technically has whatever name you choose, but most people call them Merice since that’s what the screenshots on the box use. There really isn’t much to this character - a real blank slate. It’s implied they speak on occasion but we get no dialogue. We start the game outside a house in Humlet, presumably their house, but the door is locked and we never get in. I guess they were a regular person that just decided to save the world. Their house isn’t present in DB2.

Gameplay-wise, you begin the game with them and they’re always in your party, which is a good thing because they’re really strong. They have above-average stats in everything, they can use every type of weapon and armor, and can cast both types of spells too. Their only downside is they aren’t the best in any stat, and can’t use the highest level spells.

Dorminius (AKA “Dormy”)
The daughter of Humlet’s priest. She can be briefly seen in DB2 as an NPC. Acts brash, sarcastic, and rude, but always does the right thing in the end. Does most of the talking on Merice’s behalf and has the most dialogue in the game. Bit of a divisive character - half of people think she’s funny and the other half think she’s annoying. This isn’t helped by her stats… but I still love her.

Kind of sucks for most of the game, and you’re also stuck with her for most of the game, she joins you right as you leave Humlet to look for her father and never leaves. Can only use robes and staves. She can use Light Magic, but so can Merice and Merice has better stats in every category except LCK which is near useless for a mage. At least at the end of the game you can cast the max level Light spells, which almost makes up for it.

Garrius
A brawny tough fighter… at least for the first 5 seconds before he reveals himself as a coward and bursts into tears. He’s actually extremely kind and thoughtful and carries most of the emotional scenes. Slowly learns to be “actually” brave throughout the story. A fan favorite character.

Obtained right as you enter the Twisted Woods, leaves the party at the end of the Time Well. Make sure to unequip all the good gear before entering the final room - unlike in DB2 you don’t get the stuff back from lost party members. Has the highest END and STR. Can use all types of weapons and armors, but can’t use any magic. He’s pretty useful, though just mashing the attack button is a bit boring.

Inplone
A smug and pretentious apprentice mage. He’s suspicious right off the bat since he seems pretty unbothered by the fact Draconis Academy exploded… and this turns out to be correct as he betrays the party to try and take control of the Inexorable Dragon. It is kind of funny to watch him annoy Dormy up with his superior attitude.

Obtained at the start of the Ruined Academy, lost at the beginning of Flame Whirl Caverns. Can only use robes and staves. Has the highest INT stat among all party members, and can use Dark Magic. Really strong while you can use him.

Gladius/Princess Glitterhair
The shifty rogue. “Secretly” the princess of Somnia in disguise. Acts serious and bored most of the game, but really feels insecure next to the rest of the party. She grew up in privilege, and was least affected by the Inexorable Dragon’s appearance, and she feels like she is wasting her advantage, wishing someone like Dormy was royalty instead.

Obtained when you enter City Somnia and never leaves. Can use light armor and swords. Highest DEX, SPD, and pretty good LCK. Pretty much just another Garrius, just with high dodge and crit chance instead of high health and damage. Necessary to get through the Ice Palace Maze - DON’T SKIP CITY SOMNIUM YOU WILL SOFTLOCK IF YOU ENTER THE ICE PALACE WITHOUT GLADIUS.

Dorgun
An elder mage well past his prime. Kind of has an interesting backstory as Inplone’s teacher, but he never really says anything for the most part and comes right near the end of the game. He just kind of states obvious facts and tells the party not to do reckless things. A lot of people wish they could use Inplone instead.

Obtained at the end of the Well of Time and never leaves. Like Inpone, can only use robes and staves, and can cast Dark Magic. Has terrible stats for everything except INT (which is just a bit below Inplone). A bit of a disappointment at first but pretty soon you get to use max level Dark Magic which is completely broken.

Walkthrough

Bosses

(some ppl argue only the drakes/dragons count as bosses but THE OFFICIAL GUIDE lists bogre and mimic flower as bosses and they are unique enemies at the end of the area THEY ARE LITERALLY BOSSES THEY JUST CAN’T USE DRAKES THAT EARLY IN THE GAME FOR LORE REASONS)

Inexorable Dragon (Fake)

Bubble Drake

Inexorable Dragon (Real)

Community Secrets/Glitches/Theories!

Send submissions to viviangameblog@gmail.com and I’ll add it to the wall! Note I do not necessarily stand by anything that ends up here.

Debug Mode

The most powerful secret in the game, and unlocks a lot of the other stuff! On the title screen, hold L + R, and while holding them, tap X, Y, B, X, B. If you did it right, you’ll hear a noise and debug mode will be enable until you turn off the game. Hold L to phase through walls, select+start at the same time to open the debug menu. Most of the options are obvious but because this wasn’t meant for the public it’s kind of confusingly laid out. The most important option is probably the “DOOR” menu which sets which doors are locked/unlocked.

- Vivian

Door in Ice Palace Maze?

CRAZY SECRET! in the maze ther is another way i cant rememebr how rlly im pretty sre its different every tme but you dont need princess glitterhair you just go around and then up and there this door it scaried me SO MUCH first time i saw it it looks so weird please find it and tell me how 2 opn it

{Vivian: i wasn’t going to include this, especially because I couldn’t verify it but the picture seems pretty convincing. im a little dubious but if you can verify it let me know ^_^ }.

- hollidaygirl1225

Bogre and Mimic Flower ARE Bosses

I have a “theory” (more like fact, but whatever, I will use whatever nomenclature is required for amiable communication) for all you ingrates online. I have been vehemently arguing for internet-years as to the non-status of “Bogre” and “Mimic Flower” as “Bosses,” but I have finally seen the light. I have been such a fool for so long (no thanks to your POOR arguments!), but NOW, I know!

Bogre and Mimic Flower are bosses, meaning they are Drakes! Think about it, a bunch of drakes lack wings, like Bubble Drake and Green Drake from DB2. Some of them lack scales, like the Inexorable Dragon itself. If you look closely at the Arcane Drake you can see it is holding a STAFF and its claws look more like HANDS. It’s literally the lore that the Drakes mutate based on the environment. Is it not impossible a drake might mutate to be bipedal and wield a club? Or mutate to mimic flowers and spread itself throughout a forest?

“WAAH WAAH”, I hear you wail. “But they don’t have ‘Drake’ in the name!!” OKAY, you FOOL. Why would it be called a “Drake” when the characters are clearly too STUPID to realize they are facing a Drake?! I personally would’ve preferred if they called them drakes to make things more ordered but clearly the foolish developers disagreed and decided they should be named based on what the characters call them. FINE. It’s still the case that Bogre and Mimic Flower are Drakes! Infact, I propose we undo the mistake the developers made and call them by their REAL names: Ogre Drake and Flower Drake!

- AnnoyedGameEnthuastist

Response

Many of you are shouting, shouting, at me, “AnnoyedGameEnthuastist, you forgot one thing!” (imagine that being said in the most high-pitched, whiny voice imaginable to recreate 1/100th of the hate I feel for you at this moment) “You literally only get the power to slay drakes in the Ruined Academy, these obviously aren’t drakes.”

YOU FOOLS HAVE FALLEN FOR THE DEVELOPERS TRAP! You do not need a Draconic Amulet to slay Drakes!! If you use debug mode to skip Twisted Woods, you can slay EVERY DRAKE without an amulet! The developers easily could’ve implemented a check for if you actually have the amu

{Vivian: this goes on for so… so much longer… i thought it was kind of funny but i dont want the bossdrake debate to take over this wall -_-}

Open the Door in Humlet

If you read the description of debug mode, and you’re a nerd like me you probably immediately thought bbaeendcmcacma oNWEF EWF fene[fn[oienf qnfwfiwfn w[[E F