DQM2: Maruta's Mysterious Key GB guide | Ruka and Iru's early journey

Versions covered: Japanese Game Boy releases Ruka's Departure and Iru's Adventure.

Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Maruta's Mysterious Key is a monster-training RPG in which keys open the way to other worlds. On GB, Ruka's Departure was released on March 9, 2001, and Iru's Adventure on April 12 of the same year.

Ruka is the protagonist of Ruka's Departure, and Iru is the protagonist of Iru's Adventure. They share the main story, but differ in the monsters that appear in other worlds and the arena, as well as some keys obtained after clearing the game. Do not assume a recruitment location or party example for one version works under the same conditions in the other.

The early guide on this page focuses on event progression shared by both versions. It does not prescribe a single wild monster species or include stats that have not been confirmed as common to both versions.

In the first world, the Desert World, assemble your companions, enter Assia, and investigate the cause of the water shortage. After that, Yobimizu, obtained in the dungeon, provides the clue for progressing at the Phantom Lake.

Breeding is not available yet. In the GB versions, it unlocks after clearing the Water World, so prioritize training your existing companions and securing healing options in the desert.

“How to progress through the Desert World” sets out the steps from preparations after Slash joins, through investigating the water shortage, to obtaining and using Yobimizu. If an event will not advance, check whom you need to speak to immediately beforehand.

The 2014 3DS remake has a different title, Iru and Ruka's Mysterious Mysterious Key. The smartphone SP version and Monsters 1 & 2 on PlayStation are also outside this hub's scope. Including “Maruta no Fushigi na Kagi GB Ruka” or “GB Iru” in searches helps distinguish the versions.