Metal slimes are a regular feature of the Dragon Quest series. They can be tough to kill, but a single critical hit can take one out and give the party enough experience points to level up multiple times after a single battle.
However, the first step is to figure out where they're hiding, and the in-game monster index is no help. Not only does it only list previously defeated monsters, it only mentions up to two locations where players can find them. That's why this guide will do what the in-game guide won't and explain exactly where to find the XP-awarding metal slimes in Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age.
Battle Basics
Dragon Quest 11 uses a random encounter system that lets the player see enemies in the field and choose to avoid them or attack them. However, metal slimes are never visible in the field. Instead, they're always one of the extra enemies that join the visible enemy when combat begins.
Fortunately, enemy formations aren't completely random. Each time the player attacks a specific monster in the field, the game has to pick from a short list of formations that include the monster. So if a metal slime appears after attacking a certain monster, then attacking the same monster again has a good chance of making another metal slime appear.
Insula Orientalis
Before getting into the list itself, Insula Orientalis is worth a mention. This island is on the east side of the Dragon Quest 11 map next to the Zwaardsrust region, and the fastest way to get there is to travel north from Lonalulu. Insula Orientalis is notable because the only monsters on it are slimes, including metal slimes. At certain points in the game, this island can be the best place to farm experience.
Part 1
During the first part of Dragon Quest 11, players can find only a couple metal slime variants. However, there are plenty of regions to find them in.
Metal Slime Type | Experience Reward | Locations Found |
|---|---|---|
Metal Slime | 2010 | Gallopolis Region, Dundrasil Region, Ruins of Dundrasil, Caverns under Octagonia, Insula Orientalis |
Liquid Metal Slime | 10050 | The Other Side, Insula Orientalis, The Snaerfelt (Definitive Edition only), The Royal Library, The First Forest |
Part 2
In part two, the enemies become much more dangerous, and "vicious" variants of part-one monsters start showing up. Metal slimes are no different, but this is also the first time the Metal King Slime shows up.
Metal Slime Type | Experience Reward | Locations Found |
|---|---|---|
Hardy Hand | 34400 | Laguna di Gondolia, Mount Huji, The Manglegrove - Whale Way Station |
Vicious Metal Slime | 60160 | Heliodor Region, Heliodoran Foothills, The Emerald Coast, Heliodor Sewers, The Kingsbarrow, Insula Orientalis |
Vicious Liquid Metal Slime | 80640 | Dundrasil Region, Ruins of Dundrasil, Caverns under Octagonia, The Battleground, Insula Orientalis |
Metal King Slime | 70070 | Fortress of Fear |
Hardy Hands are technically undead rather than slimes, but they otherwise behave like metal slimes and provide the same massive experience boost.
Part 3
Part three shakes things up again, this time adding "malicious" variants of vicious monsters along with vicious variants of the new monsters from part two. While there are no malicious metal slimes, the two new metal slimes get upgrades and all the old metal slimes show up just in case players missed them the first time around.
Metal Slime Type | Experience Reward | Locations Found |
|---|---|---|
Metal Slime | 2010 | Insula Orientalis, The Champs Sauvage (North) |
Liquid Metal Slime | 10050 | Insula Orientalis, The Champs Sauvage (North) |
Hardy Hand | 34400 | Mount Huji, The Champs Sauvage (North), The Manglegrove - Whale Way Station |
Vicious Metal Slime | 60160 | Drustan's Labyrinth - Path to Trial Isle |
Vicious Liquid Metal Slime | 80640 | The Disciple's Trial - The Cruel Crypt |
Metal King Slime | 70070 | The Battleground |
Vicious Hardy Hand | 91020 | The Sage's Trial - The Fierce Forest |
Vicious Metal King Slime | 161610 | The Luminary's Trial - Citadel of Spite |
Tickington
The Definitive Edition of Dragon Quest 11 adds a few new features and areas, including a new 2D-only region called Tickington that acts as a tribute to the previous ten games. This area never changes regardless of which part the main game is on, and it includes several dungeons that have 2D metal slimes hiding inside.
Metal Slime Type | Experience Reward | Locations Found |
|---|---|---|
Metal Slime | 2010 | Rainbow Mines |
Liquid Metal Slime | 10050 | Baramos's Castle |
Metal King Slime | 70070 | Trodain Castle, Ruby Path of Doom |
King of Metal King Slimes | 30010 | Ruby Path of Doom (boss) |
Electro Light
If farming for metal slimes sounds time-consuming, there is an alternative. When the hero, Jade, and Sylvando are all pepped up, they gain a special Pep Power called Electro Light. This power replaces the current enemies with metal slimes of a similar level, making them much easier to farm. However, sometimes this power goes wrong and summons strong robot enemies instead, so be careful when using it.
There are other metal slimes in Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age aside from the ones listed here, but none of the rest have the same high defense and massive experience payout. As such, any player looking to farm experience should look no further than the monsters in these lists.
Dragon Quest 11 is available now for the 3DS, PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.