Dragon Quest IV PS1 Walkthrough: All 23 Dungeon Maps and Every Character’s Spell List (Chapters of the Chosen)

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Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen. Released on the Famicom in 1990, it was the first game in the series to use an “omnibus” structure, following the stories of its five protagonists one at a time, and that structure got everyone talking. The PlayStation remake arrived in 2001 as a full ground-up rebuild in 3D polygons, and it added a “Chapter 6” that the Famicom original never had. The PlayStation version is also the odd one out in the series: you cannot use “Follow Orders,” so the party is locked into AI combat.

The heart of this game comes down to two things: controlling your AI through “Tactics,” and understanding how the party changes from chapter to chapter. In Chapters 1 through 4 your companions are fixed, so your only real choices are leveling up and optimizing gear. The game truly begins in Chapter 5, when everyone joins forces, and the difficulty swings wildly depending on who you leave in the wagon and who you put on the front line.

This guide follows the PlayStation version. It lays out overview maps for all 23 dungeons and 123 floors as HTML tables, and includes a complete list of every spell and ability each character learns. I have also broken down how it differs from the Famicom and DS versions, so this should help if you are still deciding which version to play.

I’ll be honest: the first time I played the PlayStation version, my party wiped in the Con Cave early in Chapter 5 because Kiryl’s AI kept spamming Thwack until he ran dry on MP. That was the moment I truly understood the terror of having no “Follow Orders” command. …Then again, I’m twice divorced, so most of my life has been a story of leaving things on AI and watching it fall apart.

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What kind of game is Dragon Quest IV on PlayStation? The definitive version of an omnibus RPG

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen on PlayStation is a top-to-bottom 3D polygon remake of the Famicom original that launched on February 11, 1990. Heartbeat handled development, Enix published, and it hit shelves on November 22, 2001 for 6,800 yen before tax (about US$44, converted at roughly 153 yen to the dollar). It shipped on two CD-ROMs, and an Ultimate Hits reissue (2,500 yen before tax, about US$16) followed on July 20, 2006.

The biggest differences from the Famicom original are the complete 3D polygon overhaul of the overworld, dungeons, and battles, and the addition of Chapter 6, which fills in Psaro the Manslayer’s past. In Chapter 6, Psaro joins your party and you take on the true mastermind, Aamon. You could call it the closing chapter of the “Chapters of the Chosen” story, one the Famicom original never told.

On the other hand, the PlayStation version’s defining trait, and the one that stirred up the most argument, is the absence of the “Follow Orders” command. Just like on Famicom, everyone except the Hero has their actions chosen by the AI. Given that “Follow Orders” was added in the DS version (2007), the PlayStation release is arguably the most demanding version of the game, one that requires you to plan around AI combat.

Famicom, DS, or mobile: which version should you play? Where the PlayStation version fits in

DQ4 exists in several versions, and each one works a little differently. This guide follows the PlayStation version (2001). Here are the main differences between them.

There are three reasons to pick the PlayStation version. First, the atmosphere of its towns and dungeons rendered in 3D polygons feels fresher than the DS version’s return to 2D. Second, the restriction of AI-only combat actually creates real tension. Third, this is the version that introduced Chapter 6, so only here do you get to experience it for the first time the way it was first told.

Conversely, if comfort is your top priority, go with the DS or mobile version. Simply having “Follow Orders” available makes boss fights vastly more consistent. Getting the bag from Chapter 1 is a quietly significant upgrade too. The PlayStation version is strictly for players who want to enjoy AI combat, or who want to play it in 3D.

For the record, as of September 2026 there has been no announcement of an HD-2D remake. Given that the HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest III shipped in 2024, hopes are high for an HD-2D DQ4 as well, but no official announcement has arrived yet.

Which systems are the core of playing DQ4 on PlayStation? A complete guide to AI combat and Tactics

The single most important thing in the PlayStation version of DQ4 is controlling your AI through “Tactics.” You input commands directly for the Hero alone; the other three members (a party of up to four) act on their own based on the Tactics you set. You simply cannot survive boss fights without understanding Tactics.

One problem specific to the PlayStation version is Kiryl’s almost bug-like habit of spamming “Whack” and “Thwack” during boss fights. Instant-death spells don’t work on bosses, and yet the AI keeps casting them anyway. The fix is to set him to “Focus On Healing.” That tactic puts healing above everything else, which cuts the wasted Whack-family casts down dramatically.

The other system that matters here is the wagon. From Chapter 5 on you can travel with up to eight party members, but only four of them can take part in a battle. The rest wait in the wagon. You can swap people in mid-battle with “Switch,” but some dungeons won’t let the wagon inside at all. In those wagon-free dungeons, picking the right four-person lineup is the key to getting through.

Spells, Abilities and How to Use All Eight Characters | A DQ4 PlayStation Party-Building Guide

DQ4 gives you eight party members, and each one learns a different set of spells and abilities. Because the PlayStation version doesn’t offer “Follow Orders,” understanding how each character behaves on its own is especially important when you build a party. Here’s a rundown of every character’s spells and abilities, along with tips on how to use them.

The Hero (Chapter 5 protagonist)

The only character whose commands you enter directly. A true all-rounder who handles attacking, healing and support in equal measure, with Kazap as the ace in the hole for hitting everything at once. Fullheal covers self-healing too, which makes the Hero the party’s lifeline.

Ragnar (Chapter 1 protagonist)

A soldier of the royal palace of Burland. He never learns a single spell, making him a pure physical attacker. His HP and attack power are high and he can wear the heaviest gear. Left to the AI he does nothing but attack, which makes him the most dependable character in the game. In Chapter 5 he’s the front-line anchor who delivers real damage from the very start.

Spells and abilities learned: None (Physical attacks only.) You raise his damage through equipment instead. The Dragonsbane and the liquid metal sword are the endgame candidates.

Alena (Chapter 2 protagonist)

The princess of Zamoksva, a martial-artist-type physical attacker. She learns no spells, but she’s the only character whose critical hit rate climbs as she gains levels. Her agility is the highest in the entire cast, so she wipes out random encounters before they get a turn. In boss fights, that critical-hit-driven damage output is spectacular.

Spells and abilities learned: None (Physical attacks only.) Two attacks per turn from the falcon knife earrings, multiplied by her critical rate, is downright vicious.

Kiryl (Chapter 2)

Zamoksva’s priest. A specialist in healing and support spells, and his party-wide healing with Multiheal is a genuine lifeline. As noted above, though, the PlayStation version gives him an AI habit of spamming Whack-family spells in boss fights. Setting him to “Focus On Healing” is mandatory.

Borya (Chapter 2)

Zamoksva’s elderly mage. An expert in attack spells whose main damage comes from the ice line, Crackle into Kacrackle. His MP pool is deep and his spells hit hard, but his HP and defense are dismally low. Deciding whether to field him in dungeons the wagon can’t enter is a real headache. He’s the textbook glass cannon.

Torneko (Chapter 3 protagonist)

The weapon merchant from Lakanaba. In battle he’s a trickster who takes random actions: he trips over, he stumbles into a critical hit, or he simply does nothing at all. He learns no spells whatsoever, so it’s regular attacks and his oddball special actions only. He’s unreliable as raw firepower, but there are moments when he steps in to take a hit for an ally. He can also appraise items.

Spells and abilities learned: None (Random battle actions only.) His merchant’s eye lets him appraise items out in the field.

Maya (one of the Chapter 4 protagonists)

A dancer from Laissez Fayre and a dedicated attack-spell user. She learns a broad spread of offensive magic across the Frizz, Sizz and Bang lines, and Kaboom is her biggest all-enemy nuke. What sets her apart from Borya is that Bang-line area damage. Her MP is high as well, so she can serve as a primary attacker through the back half of Chapter 5.

Meena (one of the Chapter 4 protagonists)

A fortune teller from Laissez Fayre who handles healing and support spells. Her role overlaps with Kiryl’s, but Meena is different in that she learns Insulatle (which cuts breath attack damage) and Kerplunk. In the PlayStation version, where Kiryl burns MP on instant-death spells, slotting Meena in as a secondary healer is a reliable way to keep things stable.

PlayStation exclusive: Psaro (joins in Chapter 6)

Psaro joins your party over the course of Chapter 6, the extra chapter added in the PlayStation version. His attack power, HP, and MP are all top-tier, and he pairs devastating offensive spells like Kasizzle and Kaboom with Multiheal, making him an all-purpose powerhouse. He is exclusive to Chapter 6, so you only get to use him for a short stretch, but his stats are in another league. He even learns Kazing, which makes the final dungeon dramatically less nerve-wracking.

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Walkthrough Chart: Dungeon Highlights and Boss Strategies by Chapter

Here is a dungeon-by-dungeon rundown of what matters in each chapter. Detailed maps for every dungeon are in the “Map Walkthrough” section further down.

Chapter 1: Ragnar McRyan and the Case of the Missing Children

Chapter 1 is a short prologue you tackle with Ragnar alone, plus Healie as an NPC. Your goals are rescuing the missing children in Strathbaile Burrow and beating Psaro’s pawn at the bottom of the Auld Well. Ragnar has nothing but his fists and his sword, so stock up on medicinal herbs before you head out.

Chapter 2: Alena and the Journey to the Tourney

A three-person party of Alena, Kiryl, and Borya. With Kiryl’s healing and Borya’s attack spells, your firepower is far more stable here. The Abominable showman at the top of Birdsong Tower leans on physical attacks, so shore up your defense with Kabuff and wait for Alena to land a critical hit. In the Tournament of Endor, Alena fights five straight matches solo. Around Level 14 is enough to see you through comfortably.

Chapter 3: Torneko and the Extravagant Excavation

A merchant chapter you play entirely as Torneko. Making money matters more than fighting here. In the Cave of Safekeeping, you hunt down the item needed to open the tunnel. The ultimate goal is earning 35,000 gold and opening your own shop, but the dungeon crawling itself is brief.

Chapter 4: Meena and Maya and the Mahabala Mystery

Alongside sisters Maya and Meena, Oojam joins you temporarily partway through. You face Marquis de Léon in The Cistern Chapel, but that first encounter is a scripted fight you cannot win (losing still advances the story). Balzack in Mamon Mine is the real final boss of Chapter 4, and Maya’s Bang plus Meena’s Kabuff are the keys to taking him down.

Chapter 5: The Chosen

The main story, where everyone finally comes together. Early on you rematch Balzack in Con Cave, at the midpoint you take on Estark, and in the endgame you face Psaro the Manslayer. Several dungeons won’t let the wagon inside, so how you build your party really matters.

The fight with Psaro the Manslayer runs through seven transformations, and his attack patterns shift with every stage, so it’s a long war of attrition. Omniheal and Insulatle are your keys to a clean win. Keep your tactic on “Focus On Healing” as the default, and only flip to “Show No Mercy” in the later forms when you genuinely need the damage. The Hero’s Kazap and Maya’s Kaboom are your main sources of damage.

Five Things That Trip Players Up in the PlayStation Version of DQ4

① Kiryl’s Whack-spam problem

As mentioned earlier, Kiryl’s AI insists on throwing Whack and Thwack at bosses. The only real fix is “Focus On Healing.” Even then he’ll occasionally slip one in, so bringing Meena along as insurance for when Kiryl runs dry on MP will let you breathe easier.

② Dungeons the wagon can’t enter

The Colossus, the Stairway to Zenithia, the Doorway to Nadiria — the important dungeons in the back half of Chapter 5 all lock the wagon out. You’re stuck with a fixed four-person party for a long stretch, so either bring two healers or lean on the Hero’s Fullheal and haul in a mountain of medicinal herbs.

③ Running short on muscle early in Chapter 5

Right when Chapter 5 begins you’re on your own as the Hero, and you have to travel the world collecting your companions. Everyone rejoins at the level they finished their own chapter on, which is low, so you’ll want to grind the whole roster up to around Level 20 before tackling Con Cave.

④ The turn limit in the Estark fight

In the PlayStation version too, beating Estark within a set number of turns nets you bonus experience. That said, forcing a rush job puts you at real risk of a wipe. If you want the safe route, settle in with “Focus On Healing” and write off the turn bonus.

⑤ How to unlock Chapter 6

In the PlayStation version, Chapter 6 kicks off automatically as soon as you load a save file from after you’ve cleared Chapter 5. There are no special conditions attached, but be careful not to overwrite that Chapter 5 clear data. Chapter 6 does present you with the choice of handing the Zenithian equipment over to Psaro, though you can finish the game without giving it up.

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Maps | HTML maps for all 23 dungeons and 123 floors

From here on you’ll find schematic maps for all 23 dungeons and 123 floors. Each map is an HTML grid table auto-converted from a schematic of the PlayStation version: beige marks passages and rooms, white marks walls, blue marks water and springs, and red marks treasure chests and boss positions. Everything is collapsed by chapter, so open up whichever dungeon you need and take a look.