Sharp-eyed fans of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake quickly spotted the first bit of intrigue in the promotional material for Dragon Quest II itself: a four-person party. The original game allowed only three members, raising an immediate question: Who is that mysterious fourth recruit?
The answer is Matilda, Princess of Cannock, who may sound familiar from the first game, but this time she plays a bigger role. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to add her permanently right away. This guide explains how to recruit Matilda and unlock your complete four-member party in Dragon Quest II HD-2D Remake.
Unlocking the Fourth Party Member
Before Matilda officially joins you, you’ll need to finish your first significant story milestone: acquiring a ship.
At this stage, you should already have the core trio:
- Caradoc, Prince of Cannock
- Peronel, the Princess of Moonbrooke
- Your main protagonist, the Hero
After assembling your crew, your next quest will take you to Rippleport, where you can obtain your ship. This is a pivotal point in Dragon Quest II — it’s where the world really opens up, affording you the ability to travel to new lands and, eventually, find your final party member.
Where to Find Matilda – Destination: Beran
With your ship, you’ll notice a few more places on your map now, including Tantegel, Beran, Burrowell, and Zahan.
The place you are looking for is called Beran, where Princess Matilda of Cannock may be recruited. While you technically can visit any of these locations in whatever order you wish, Beran is a more challenging area compared to the earlier ones.
If you’re playing on either Dragon or Draconian difficulty, grind up to levels 15–20 before going in. Alternatively, you could go to Tantegel or Zahan first and stock up on stuff and experience points there.
How to Recruit Matilda in Dragon Quest II HD-2D Remake
Upon arriving in Beran, your party members will decide to split up and explore the city on their own. Say yes to this prompt, which will advance the story.
Now head to the southern docks, where you’ll find Caradoc. Talking to him initiates a boss fight against the Brute Bat in front of the church. Defeating it will poison Caradoc.
He’ll be taken to the Beran Inn, where a local priest will try to help. Unfortunately, his condition worsens, and you’ll be directed to Cannock Castle to speak with his parents. They won’t have any cure for the poison, so you will return to Beran once more.
Back in Beran, you’ll meet Princess Matilda, who’s desperately searching for a way to save Caradoc. After speaking with her and the priest, you’ll learn of a place called Yggdrasil’s Arbour, home to a legendary leaf that can cure any illness.
The priest will reward you with an item named Forest’s Favor, which lifts the fog in Yggdrasil’s Arbour maze-like forest, where travelers can easily get confused.
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Retrieving Yggdrasil’s Leaf
Head to Yggdrasil’s Arbour. Matilda will rejoin your party for the time being, but you won’t have direct control over her just yet. This isn’t a particularly challenging section, so just head through the forest until you reach the great tree, Yggdrasil, and pick up Yggdrasil’s Leaf.
Head back to Beran and give the leaf to the priest. After a brief cinematic, Caradoc will regain his health, and he, along with Matilda, will officially join your party.
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Why You Should Hire Matilda
Matilda fills a much-needed niche in the team. She is the most Thief-like character in the whole Dragon Quest II Remake, with very high Luck, strong critical hit potential, and a mix of both physical and magical skills.
Her versatility in both early and late-game battles is what makes her so invaluable. She noticeably improves the efficiency of any lineup in combat, especially when up against tougher enemies and bosses. Recruiting Matilda as soon as possible is well worth it if one is looking for a smooth mid-game experience.
