DQ3 HD-2D Helping Hand Any% Latest

DQ3 HD-2D Helping Hand Any% v0.3 (latest)
Notes by sneakypeek
https://linktr.ee/sneaky314k

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 Changelog
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- 14/11/2025: v0.1: first route
https://pastebin.com/TvMC7FF0
- 16/11/2025: v0.2: changed Alefgard's routing, skipped Thief Key, Helper is Martial Artist for better crit rate
https://pastebin.com/6uDa6ZLX
- 19/11/2025: v0.3: changed Helper's gear, new game save, slightly changed Alefgard routing, personality test.

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 About
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These are speedrun notes for "Helping Hand" Any% in Dragon Quest (Normal) difficulty.
Goal is to reach the game ending using a character's assistance from another save. It could be considered as a "NG+".
Pace is around 1h20.

Main highlights include:
- lvl 99 Helper with 999 stats
- absolutely no encounters except from scripted fights
- 0 sparkle checked, 0 secret spot used, 0 chest opened (except for main quest items)
- 3 shops (for Holy waters & Oomph Powders)
- using Click to skip Thief Key (Magic Key & Ultimate Key are necessary triggers for the story to continue so I couldn't skip them unfortunately)

Further improvements:
- some fight scripts (such as Soul of Baramos)
- should we get more characters in the party for a faster setup?

Demo run in 1:22:17:
https://youtu.be/hEPgd-E0Pbk

Splits: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IAMKa1g2K-pfmx9oJzK8UrgrrAYdu3JH/view?usp=sharing
Game save: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mDsy4YwgXZLvcDqMAMnW6DRpcbxyDW5S/view?usp=sharing
Load the save, Talk to Patty in Aliahan: Helping Hands > Aid an Adventurer > "♪" > Confirm.

Save contains two characters: "♥" and "♪", both are Martial Artists and have lvl 99 & 999 stats.
♥ has all spells & abilities unlocked from all classes.
♪ has only the skills & abilities used in this route:
- Martial Artist, all skills & abilities.
- Warrior, all skills & abilities.
- Mage until lvl 33 (Zoom, Tick-Tock, Fade, Click)
- Priest lvl 39 (Kazing)
- Merchant lvl 20 (for Muster Strength)
- Monster Wrangler 121 Monsters Rescued (Wild Side)

♪'s Gear:
- Class: Martial Artist (for higher crit rate)
- Gear:
-- Beast Claws (higher damage on beasts)
-- Tempest Shield (protects against explosive spells)
-- Phantom Mask (allows you to avoid more attacks than usual)
-- Exotoga (protects against poison, paralysis, sleep)
-- Hen's Tooth (Lucky Devil personality)
-- Banishing Bell (protects against various status effects)

Used Spells & Abilities as for this route:
- Healing Spells (Fullheal/Kazing/status effect removers)
- Zoom
- Click (opens locked doors without keys)
- Tick-Tock (day/night switching in overworld)
- Fade (makes invisible)
- Multislice
- Cutting Edge
- Multifists
- Whipping Boy
- Muster Strength
- Wild Side

Note on Personality Test:
- Any personality is ok since we don't use Hero's abilities.
- I tend to go with the Jump Scenario (Fast-Forward Dialogue & Jump from the edge)
-- Adventuring a Hardship: YYNYYNYYY (9) -> The Jump
-- Sun King of Nature: YNYYNYYY (8) -> The Jump
-- Life dull/boring: YNYYNYYY (8) -> The Jump
-- Victory field battle: YYYNYYY (7) -> The Jump
-- Strong equipment: NYNYYY (6) -> The Jump

Otherwise you can spam YES and go with the Demon Script: Take the ladder to exit the well, Fast-forward dialogue, burn the NPC, head south to the exit.

Personality Flowcharts:
- https://game8.co/games/Dragon-Quest-3/archives/464271
- https://dragon-quest.org/wiki/List_of_personality_types_in_Dragon_Quest_III_HD-2D_Remake

Other Useful Links:
- Any% Persecutter Notes https://docs.google.com/document/d/126iZecj5YzPRrcTIDvnoRQSrLwDrQzlfWXH3DQ-ZVkU

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 Boat (1/5)
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Timing starts when you confirm the settings.

After the introduction:
MENU: Settings:
- Battle Speed - Ultra Fast
- Text/Running Settings
-- Running: Toggle
-- Text Display Speed: Ultra-Fast

After castle, head to Patty's.
At Patty's, Hire Helper (♪), go upstairs, create Merchant, add it to your team.
Zoom outside Reeve.

Enter Reeve from north west.
SHOP: Sell Hero's & Equipment gear. Buy Max Holy water (12).
MENU: Lineup: Swap Helper & Hero. Shortcuts: Holy water.
Get Wrecking Ball in north-east house.
Zoom outside Reeve.

Starting from now, take Holy waters in overworld and dungeons. 12 Holy waters should be enough with optimal-ish movement until Baharata.
Head to the Path of Promise.
After the cutscene with the Monster Guy, head to Romarian Road.
Flag Romarian Outpost and head to Skyfell Tower.

BOSS Robbin' 'Ood (510HP, minions 106 HP): Keep defending until your teammates are dead. Multislice, Attack if necessary.

Zoom Romarian Road. Flag Asham. Head to Pyramid.
In Boss Room of Pyramid: push rightest then leftest buttons.

BOSS Ripper of the Rift (880HP, Kyllas 514HP): Multislice, Attack.

Zoom Romarian Outpost. Head to Portoga. Talk to the King.
Zoom outside Asham, head to Nordy's Grotto, Flag Baharata (skip cutscene) then go to Kidnapper's Cave.
Note: It must be daytime when you enter the cave. If not, use Tick-Tock.

FIGHT Soldiers: Multislice.
BOSS Robbin' 'Ood 2 (1120HP, minions 256HP): Multislice, Cutting Edge.

Zoom Baharata (should be daytime).
SHOP: Buy Max Holy water (99).

Go to south west house. After cutscene, Zoom outside Kidnapper's Cave.
Head to Alltrade's Abbey.
Note: It must be daytime when you enter Alltrade's Abbey. If not, use Tick-Tock.

Get Pepper.
Zoom outside Portoga, use Tick-Tock to switch to day if necessary, enter from south east, talk to the king, get the ship.

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 Ramia (2/5)
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Sail north-west to Merchant Town. Enter from south. Deposit Merchant.
Zoom outside Skyfell Tower, take the boat and go Edina (merchant notification 1), use Fade, complete the puzzle and get the Bottomless Pot.
Zoom inside Merchant Town. (Stage 1/4)
Exit Merchant Town and head to Teleportal Shrine. Take middle Teleportal to Flag Olivia's Promontory.
Zoom outside Teleportal Shrine and head to Shallow Shrine. Get the Ultimate Key.
Zoom outside Alltrade's Abbey. Go Orochi's Lair. Defeat Orochi twice.

BOSS Orochi 1 (2300HP): Cutting Edge x2
BOSS Orochi 2 (3300HP): Cutting Edge x2 (+ Attack if no crit)

Zoom outside Aliahan (merchant notification 2), head West (& slightly north) to Lanson, defeat Chiromancer.

BOSS Chiromancer (940HP, Madvlad 176HP): Multifists.

Zoom Merchant Town. (Stage 2/4)
Zoom Teleportal Shrine, take the right Teleporter to Wayfarer's Chapel.
Exit Wayfarer's Chapel. Flag Manoza. Head Manoza's Cave & get Ra's Mirror.
Note: It must be night time when you enter Manoza's Cave. If not, use Tick-Tock.
Zoom outside Manoza, enter from East (skips 1 cutscene) & defeat Boss Troll.

BOSS Boss Troll (5500HP): Wild Side, Muster Strength, Cutting Edge.

Zoom outside Merchant Town (merchant notification 3). Enter from the South.
SHOP: Max Oomph in Hero's inventory.
Exit shop. Trigger revolution cutscene down south-west house. (Stage 3/4)

Zoom outside Teleportal Shrine. Head to Grimland. Enter from the East and get Boatman's Bone.
Zoom outside Shrine of Promise, head to Ghost's Ship, get Lovers' Locket.
Zoom outside Olivia Promontory. Take the ship and open the way to Shrine of Shackles. Get the Mountaincleaver.
Zoom outside Path of Promise and head east to Pirate's Den. Interact with the statue to reveal a hidden well. Get the orb inside.
Zoom outside Pirate's Den and head East to Theddon. Enter from North at night time.

BOSS Dying Fire (559HP, Phantasm 340HP): Muster Strength, Multislice.

Zoom outside Asham. Head to the top of Mt. Necrogond. Attempt to throw Mountaincleaver in the vulcano.

BOSS Gargoyle (5200HP): Wild Side, Muster Strength, Cutting Edge.

Don't forget to throw Mountaincleaver in the vulcano again after Gargoyle.
Zoom outside Mt. Necrogond, head to Necrogond Shrine through Maw of the Necrogond and get the silver orb.
Zoom outside Merchant Town (Stage 4/4), enter from south, talk to Merchant in Jail and get the yellow orb behind their throne.
Zoom outside Edina. Head north east to Shrine of the Everbird. Put the orbs and get Ramia.

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 Baramos (3/5)
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Land immediately. Zoom outside Necromond Shrine. Ramia to Baramos' Lair.
MENU before Baramos: Revive Hero (Handy Heal all), add Orochi's Sword to Hero's inventory

BOSS Baramos (5400HP, needs Hero): Whipping Boy, Oomph / Muster Strength, Orochi's / Cutting Edge

After cutscenes and once in overworld:
Zoom outside Olivia's Promontory. Ramia to Castle of Dragon Queen. Talk to the Dragon Queen.
Zoom outside Baramos' Lair. Bird to Pit of Giaga. Jump into Alefgard.

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 Alefgard (4/5)
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Boat to east land. Walk to Tantegel. Head to the castle. Get the sunstone.

Zoom West Tantegel Harbor.
Flag Rubiss Tower.
Land on the continent just east of Rubiss Tower. Walk to Kol.
Get Faerie Flute.

Zoom to Rubiss Tower.

BOSS Soul of Baramos (4300HP, minions 1010HP):
- Cutting Edge Right Minion, Oomph
- Hero succeeds the Oomph: Cutting Edge Left Minion, Cutting Edge Soul of Baramos x2.
- Hero dies before the Oomph: Wild Side, Cutting Edge Left Minion, Cutting Edge Soul of Baramos x2.

Zoom outside Rubiss Tower.
Flag Quagmire Cave.
Sail to Shrine of the Spirit. Get Staff of Rain.
Sail to Sanctum. Get Rainbow Drop.
Zoom Quagmire Cave. Head to Zoma's Citadel.

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 Zoma (5/5)
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FIGHT Statues: Wild Side, Multslice x3.
FIGHT Demons: Multislice x2.
BOSS King Hydra (5800HP, needs Hero): Whipping Boy, Oomph / Muster Strength, Orochi's / Cutting Edge
BOSS Soul of Baramos (6100HP, needs Hero): Whipping Boy, Oomph / Muster Strength, Orochi's / Cutting Edge
BOSS Bones of Baramos (2960HP): Cutting Edge x2

MENU before Zoma: Sphere of Light in Leader's inventory, Revive Hero (Handy Heal All) if necessary.

BOSS Zoma (8300HP, needs Hero): Sphere of Light / Whipping Boy, Oomph / Muster Strength, Orochi's / Cutting Edge, Cutting Edge.

If you get Ripple of Disruption before attacking, Whipping Boy again, heal if necessary and re-setup.

Run ends on “Zoma is defeated” textbox.

GGs.