Tips and Tricks for Beginners to Dragon Quest Builders 2
If there was ever a game where tips and tricks for beginners was almost a necessity, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is it.
A hybrid of JRPG norms and Minecraft’s iconic crafting and building gameplay, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is almost literally overflowing with content.
There are enemies to battle, structures to build for NPCs and secrets to uncover at the farthest corners of the map.
And that’s only covering what’s offered by the core game. Past the main story, there’s still the prospect of creating and crafting whatever you want to make, from towering monuments to quaint and cozy cottages.
It’s a lot to take in, and if you don’t know where to start, it can be incredibly overwhelming. That’s why we’ve laid out a few key points to keep in mind when you get started to make sure your experience is the best it can be.
Progress Through the Main Story as Soon as Possible
While it may be tempting to strike out into the world and build your next masterpiece as soon as possible, you’ll likely find yourself coming up against materials you can’t break, areas you can’t access or enemies you can’t match up against.
This is because Dragon Quest Builders 2 is designed with a far larger emphasis on story than Minecraft or other games like it.
Sure, it wants you to build big and outlandish creations to your heart’s content, but only after you’ve embarked on the usual JRPG adventure of saving the world from evil and restoring peace and balance to all of existence.
To that end, several key items and recipes are blocked off until you complete the main story, including the ability to store items, break harder objects like rock or metal, and traversal items that make exploration much more tolerable.
As such, you’ll want to finish up the main story first and foremost, and as quickly as possible. This will ensure you aren’t wasting time trying to break something down or access an area that would otherwise be unlocked by the main story.
Break Down and Harvest Whatever You Can
Of course, that isn’t to say you shouldn’t try to break down and harvest whatever you come across while you explore each new portion of Dragon Quest Builders 2’s world.
From metals and minerals to fantastical food stuffs, almost everything in the game can be broken down and added to your inventory, and used at a later time on its own or in tandem with something else.
To that end, you’ll want to collect everything you come across, at least after you’ve gained access to the Bag equipment item and can store items and materials freely.
This includes blocks of earth, cotton plants, demonic statues and everything else that’ll buckle after a few blows from your builder’s mallet.
Doing so will reduce the chances that you’ll encounter a recipe or item you can’t complete because you’re missing the necessary materials.
Likewise, it’ll help encourage you to craft and mold the world to your liking.
Sure, it’s beautifully designed and captures the look and feel of a Dragon Quest game to a tee, but making the world more accessible and easy to navigate, all while you amass a stockpile of supplies, will make the game that much more enjoyable overall.
Look After Your Villagers and NPCs
One of the biggest differences between the Dragon Quest Builders series and Minecraft is the importance of villagers, and the role they play in the gameplay overall.
Where as Minecraft treats villagers as decorations and a way to make the world feel slightly more alive, Dragon Quest Builders 2 makes villagers an integral part of the gameplay.
They offer you quests to complete, require housing to stay safe and happy, and even help you learn new recipes and room blueprints through the Gratitude points they produce from living happily and comfortably.
It’s for this reason you’ll want to make taking care of your villagers and NPCs a top priority. Doing so will allow you to craft bigger and better structures, as well as accrue more than enough Gratitude points to expand your villages into thriving towns.
Play With Friends and Other Players Online
Given that it’s an offshoot of the single player JRPG series Dragon Quest, you wouldn’t be blamed for assuming Dragon Quest Builders 2’s multiplayer mode isn’t integral to enjoying the game as much as possible.
As it turns out, this couldn’t be farther from the truth.
From the game’s main story easier to its free play, open world elements, multiplayer is a godsend that you should take advantage of as soon as humanly possible.
Most every building element is enhanced or made easier, and tackling more complex room designs goes from being a headache to becoming an enjoyable day spent playing with friends.
That’s to say nothing of the game’s combat. While some enemies can be a pain to deal with when it’s just you and your NPC companion Malroth, nothing can stand in your way when you’ve got a party of players to take on all comers.
It runs like a dream too, with little to no lag issues and a smooth frame rate even while the maximum of four players are playing at once.
Play How You Want to Play
Of course, these are all just points to keep in mind while you play Dragon Quest Builders 2, and none of them are as important as playing the game the way you want to play it.
If you want to play the game purely for the story, you can do so; or, if you want to grab the bare minimum amount of tools and materials you’ll need to get building, you can do that too.
And if you want to do absolutely everything, from saving the world to expanding and building upon every village across every hub island, you’re more than free to pursue that line of play for as long as you like.
It’s all up to you, and thanks to the open nature of Dragon Quest Builders 2’s design, you’ll be able to find some fun and enjoyment no matter what you choose.
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