The penultimate dungeon in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is the Maw of the Necrogond, an expansive cave system teeming with various items and secrets. This dungeon comprises eight distinct layers, presenting quite a challenge to navigate. However, if you know where to search, you can efficiently traverse the levels and conquer the obstacles your team encounters.
As you approach the Maw of the Necrogond in the late game, your party is likely composed of high-level characters developed through earlier quests. While no specific character class is essential to conquer this dungeon, some classes have advantages. For instance, the Sage class in DQ3 Remake is particularly formidable in the late game and proves effective against the foes within the Maw of the Necrogond.
Location and Access to the Maw of the Necrogond Dungeon
The Maw of the Necrogond is situated southwest of Mt. Necrogond, the towering volcano prominently featured on your map. This volcano is the battleground for the challenging boss fight with The Garboyle, who employs multiple attacks each turn to test your party. With the powerful spell Inferno, The Garboyle poses a significant threat, even to seasoned players familiar with the original Dragon Quest 3.
After defeating The Garboyle, you can drop the Mountaincleaver weapon into the volcano to activate a unique cutscene. The eruption of Mt. Necrogond unleashes molten lava, evaporating the water bodies situated to the south. This event unlocks new pathways, including the entrance to the Maw of the Necrogond dungeon.
At this stage, it’s wise to save your progress and reassess your party’s composition in DQ3 Remake to ensure you have your strongest characters ready before delving into the Maw of the Necrogond.
From Mt. Necrogond, take the black ash trail heading south until you encounter a new path leading to the southwest. This trail will guide you to the Maw of the Necrogond, which should be marked on your map as a crucial point in the main storyline.
Navigating to the Necrogond Shrine
The Necrogond Shrine is found at the end of the Maw of the Necrogond dungeon, which features an impressive total of eight floors for your party to traverse. The difficulty of the Maw of the Necrogond arises from the abundance of high-level enemies that tend to attack in large groups. Without adequate healing spells or items, your team may be quickly overwhelmed.
While the Maw of the Necrogond lacks bosses, there are numerous traps to watch out for. A misstep may send your party tumbling back to a previous floor, increasing the number of encounters you’ll face. Though some potent spells in DQ3 Remake grant temporary invisibility against enemies, this effect does not last long.
Here are the various floors in the Maw of the Necrogond and strategies for quick navigation:
| Floor | Fastest Path To Clear | Map Image |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | Cross the bridge near the large statues and ascend the stairs at the end. | |
| L1 | Turn left at the entrance, head south, and follow the left path until you reach the second southbound route to exit. |  |
| L2 (1) | Ignore the earlier eastern exit; go south to a larger room, then head east and north to exit this section. |  |
| L2 (2) | Travel east until you reach the end of the linear path. |  |
| L2 (3) | In the spacious area, take the northern ladder instead of the southern one to reach floor L3. |  |
| L3 | From L2 (1), drop off the edge to L2 (3). Then, climb up into the northeast corner and proceed east past the shrine. |  |
| L4 | Starting from the southwestern edge, proceed north across the second bridge, and follow the paths as described to reach the exit. | |
| L5 | Walk north across the bridge flanked by statues to exit the dungeon, similar to the B1 pathway. |  |
Completing every floor of the Maw of the Necrogond will lead your party out to the overworld where you can spot the final boss Baramos’s castle on an island ahead. Travel east to reach the Necrogond Shrine, where your party can heal and collect the Silver Orb, the last relic needed for an extensive quest involving orb collection across the world.
Item Locations in the Maw of the Necrogond Dungeon
To uncover treasures, carefully search the optional areas of the dungeon. Once you locate the Necrogond Shrine, returning to the Maw becomes effortless, allowing you to explore for any treasures you may have missed earlier. Though there are no key items to find, the dungeon is filled with valuable equipment in DQ3 Remake that can bolster your party as they prepare to face Baramos. Additionally, this dungeon offers one of the best locations to farm Metal Slimes, making it ideal for leveling up your strongest characters.
Below are the special items you can acquire in the Maw of the Necrogond, along with their locations:
| Item | Floor Location | How to Find |
|---|---|---|
| Sage’s Elixir | L1 | From the entrance, head north, then take the first path west until you reach the item. |
| Thunderbolt Blade | L1 | Found in a small northern section above a body of water in the southwestern part of the floor. |
| Full Moon Ring | L1 | Located in the upper northeast corner, in the second alcove north of the entrance area. |
| Spiked Armor | L1 | Found to the west of the southern path leading out of L1. |
| Angel’s Bell | L2 (1) | In the room with multiple holes leading back to L1. |
| Mimic (Monster) | L2 (2) | Disguised as a chest in the northeast, visible upon entering this area. |
| Troll (Friendly Monster) | L2 (2) | On the path to L3; use an item or spell to prevent it from fleeing. |
| Mythril Helm | L3 | Climb the southern ladder from L2 (3) to a secluded spot with this item. |
| 3,024 Coins | L3 | Head north when entering to find the treasure chest. |
| Death (Friendly Monster) | L3 | Located south when entering, this monster can be recruited. |
| Magical Robes | L4 | Found across the first bridge heading north at the east of this floor. |
| Magic Shield | L4 | At the northwestern corner, on a path north of both bridges. |
| Magic Water | L4 | On the southern path leading to the lower bridge in the center of this level. |
| Mimic (Monster) | L4 | In an alcove on the way across the upper bridge after crossing it. |
| Yggdrasil Leaf | L4 | The first path east along the central upper bridge, inside a narrow tunnel leading to this item. |
| Thinking Cap | L4 | Follow the eastern path from the Yggdrasil Leaf until you can go south; the item is in a smaller alcove by the end of the bridge. |
The Maw of the Necrogond is fraught with peril, so exercise caution even with the Necrogond Shrine to retreat to while exploring. Those who make the effort to discover all the items and secrets within Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake‘s Maw will be rewarded with exceptional items to assist them in concluding the gripping story.
