The Thief Key is one of the most essential items you will need early in Dragon Quest 3 Remake that unlocks red-barred doors.
The main story in the northern town of Reeve requires this key to progress. This article walks you through obtaining the Thief Key.
How to Get The Thief Key
Stop by Aliahan Castle to gather information before you begin your adventure.
click to enlargeYou can reach the castle's cellar from the southeastern side of the ground floor after passing the garden and eastern room.
Two jail cells are located in the cellar. One holds a masked man who simply asks for help opening his door.
The second cell contains Kirk Buzzer, who once possessed the Thief Key but lost it in Dreamer’s Tower.
Make sure to fully prepare before heading to Dreamer’s Tower.
The dungeon contains several floors filled with tough enemies, so you must ensure your party is well-equipped and stocked with resources.
Chimera Wings are a must-have item. They allow you to fast-travel back to safety if the situation becomes too dire.
Give your party multi-hit weapons for dealing with enemy groups, and keep a good supply of healing items for long fights.
If you feel under-leveled, take some time to grind in the areas near Aliahan to strengthen your party.
To reach Dreamer’s Tower, head southwest from the town of Reeve, which is located north of Aliahan.
From there, travel southwest and look for the Shrine of the Plains, a small square structure visible on the overworld map.
While the shrine is locked, Dreamer’s Tower’s entrance is nearby.
Head west of the shrine to discover a hidden passage built into the hillside. After locating the entrance, you can start exploring the dungeon.
Basement (B1)
The first area introduces random encounters with enemies like Bunicorns, Toadies, and Slimes.
Though these enemies are fairly weak, they often come in groups, making multi-target attacks necessary for quickly eliminating them.
Use Frizz (Fire) against Antnibblers and Crack (Ice) or Zap (Lightning) for Toadies.
You can also equip characters with weapons like boomerangs or spells that hit multiple foes simultaneously.
Keep an eye on your health; prolonged encounters can still wear your party down.
As you explore, you’ll come across several treasure chests. Some of them require the Thief Key to unlock, so you’ll need to return later to collect them.
The goal is to locate the staircase leading up to the first floor (1F).
First Floor (1F)
This floor introduces tougher enemies, including Batterflies, which are weak to Woosh (Wind) and Bang (Explosive) spells.
These enemies combine physical attacks with high agility, making it tricky for them to land consistent hits.
Use accurate single-target abilities to eliminate them efficiently and avoid spreading your damage across multiple enemies.
This floor also has an inn on the west side where you can heal and rest your party.
This is especially useful if your party is weak after the basement battles.
Look around the floor for treasures like Chimera Wings and Antidotal Herbs. When ready, make your way to the staircase to the second floor (2F).
Second Floor (2F)
The difficulty ramps up on this floor, introducing new enemies like the Prestidigitator.
This enemy casts magic attacks that trigger the Frizz spell.
These enemies can cause heavy damage to your group, especially if they target weaker members.
Target Prestidigitators first with strong physical attacks or spells like Crack (Ice), which they are vulnerable to.
Protect vulnerable characters by keeping your healer ready to restore health between attacks.
You must search every corner for treasures like Mini-Medals before going to the third floor (3F).
Third Floor (3F)
Take note of the dungeon’s layout here, especially since the third floor has branching paths.
One route leads to more treasures, while the other takes you to the fourth and final floor (4F).
Watch out for Waspions, as they can call for backup. Waspions can deal considerable damage and summon reinforcements, prolonging battles unnecessarily.
Take them out as quickly as possible with high-damage attacks or spells. Prioritize them over other enemies in the fight.
If they summon reinforcements, focus on eliminating the Waspion first to stop the cycle. Next, focus on locating the right staircase to keep moving up.
Fourth Floor (4F)
Reaching the fourth floor (4F), you’ll encounter mixed versions of previous enemies.
Focus on enemies like Prestidigitators and Waspions by exploiting their weaknesses.
Regularly heal your party and use status-boosting items or spells to maintain the upper hand.
If your resources are low, consider retreating to the inn on the first floor before taking on the final stretch.
The final area is also split into two sections: the main chamber and an outer one.
Head to the third floor and use the central staircase to reach the main chamber.
You'll meet an old man inside who hands you the Thief Key after you speak with him.
Behind the old man, there’s a treasure chest. A bookshelf nearby also holds a rare book that alters a character’s personality and boosts their stats.
Thanks to the Thief Key, you can now unlock red doors across the game world.
What was your experience in Dreamer’s Tower? Comment down below!
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D page.