History VideoGame / DragonQuestMonstersJoker2

* DropTheHammer: The Hammerhoods and the Brownies once again.

* TheArtifact: Solitaire, TheRival from ''Joker'', appears in the game and her presence makes just about as much sense as keeping the title, in part because she carries over the ThemeNaming (almost all the major characters in ''Joker'' derived their names from a PlayingCardMotifs). Also, her status as reigning champion raises interesting questions about what happened between the events of ''Joker'' and ''Joker 2'', given that she appears to have been demoted. [[spoiler:No mention is made of the fact that she became commissioner of the tournament in the first game]].

* OriginalGeneration: Just like in ''Joker 1'', several original monsters, most notably the final boss and the BonusBoss, were created by Creator/AkiraToriyama exclusively for this game. Unlike in ''Joker 1'', only one monster would get a main series appearance, and that is the Maniacal Mole, appearing in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestX'' as a rarefied monster. And with a new design, no less.

''Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2'' is the fifth installment of the ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' spinoff of the ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' series and a direct sequel to ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonstersJoker'', released on the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS.

* FireIceLightning: Wind takes up the traditional position in the elemental trio, with Lightning being typically associated with heroes in ''VideoGame/DragonQuest.''

* GuideDangIt: Breeding any monster above a rank A. Most are references to ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' mythos (breeding 2 [[TheDragon "Dragons"]] to make a BigBad is common) but others are from left field.

* MythologyGag: Lots, to previous ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' games.

** Dragonlord, the last boss of the original ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI,'' has the same breeding combination he had in ''Dragon Quest Monsters'' -- Great Dragon + Demon-At-Arms.

* PaletteSwap: A few examples, mostly from ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' history (Green Dragon -> Red/Dread Dragon, Slime -> She-Slime, etc). Playing it more straight is the Stronger / Strongest system, which doesn't even bother with the swapping -- although this is arguably the point, so one could go through the game with one's favorite nostalgic {{Mons}}.

* InfinityPlusOneSword: Any of the S+ rank monsters. ''Especially'' the SS or X rank monsters. These are all {{Big Bad}}s and [[TheDragon "Dragons"]] of previous games, and require an extreme amount of postgame work to aquire. Arguably, the Strongest versions of the Minus Ones could count as well.

* MetalSlime: An entire sub-family of them, starting with the humble Metal Slime and going all the way up to ''Metal Kaizer,'' a metal slime berserker with a face right out of ''Franchise/DragonBall'', or Gold Slime / Gem Slime, which is more or less a ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ Super Saiyan]] Slime.''

** [[spoiler:Solitaire makes a return from ''Joker 1'', and her team maps almost perfectly from the first game; unfortunately, new size rules mean she had to drop the Metal Kaiser Slime, but she still has Atlas and Jabber-Wockee]].

* OldSaveBonus: Tagging with ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'' and ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'' DS unlocks special monsters from those games. These monsters are still available in the standard game, but much easier to get in the tag mode battles. In addition, tagging can unlock special events where Robbin 'Ood invades your game.

* PaletteSwap: A few examples, mostly from ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' history (Dragon -> Red Dragon, Slime -> She Slime, etc). Playing it more straight is the Stronger / Strongest system, which doesn't even bother with the swapping -- although this is arguably the point, so one could go through the game with one's favorite nostalgic {{Mons}}.

[[HeroicMime The hero]] decides to stow away on a zeppelin heading towards the world monster tournament, observing as the [[AlphaBitch reigning champion]][[note]]Solitaire from the original ''Joker''[[/note]] declares the ship unfit for someone of her caliber and storms off to find more appropriate accommodations. This turns out to be prescient, the ship is brought down shortly after takeoff, right after the Hero is caught as a stowaway and forced to work as a deck hand for the crew.

Received an UpdatedRerelease, ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters: Joker 2 Professional'', which added 110 new monsters, completely re-balanced the multiplayer, and roughly doubled the single player campaign. Unfortunately, due to some poor timing in both release date and localization, [[NoExportForYou this version was not the one localized]].

* BattleAura: "Psyching up" makes a return appearance from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'', ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'', and ''Joker''. As before, it drastically increases the numbers you put out, be it damage, healing, or ''scouting.''

* ComMons: Each family has a mascot mook, from the humble blue slime to the humble green dragon from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI''. Each one has an "X" and "XY" version that allows you to continue using them throughout the game.

* DropTheHammer: The Hammerman monster and its variants.
* EscortMission: In Iceolation, Lily Gilder refuses to go back to the ship, instead she keeps running off unescorted by even a single monster, only to be cornered by various '''hellhounds''', requiring you rescue her. This happens multiple times, and she remains ungrateful until the very end [[spoiler: when you beat back a 3 story tall minotaur... thing to save her again.]]

* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: While Leonyx is mentioned a few times in the game, the TrueFinalBoss in ''Joker 2'' is not once mentioned by any character before his reveal just a few moments before your tasked with taking him down. And even in the context of the series, his design is pretty gross and out there.

* HotSkittyOnWailordAction: Want to synthesize that Slime (roughly the size of your fist) with that Ruins (a 5 story ''castle complex'')? Go ahead!

** Similar to Joker 1's "King Slime" breeding combination (breed 4 Rank F Slimes to make a Rank C King Slime), a player can breed 4 Rank F Great Sabercat Cubs to make a Rank C Great Sabercat or 4 Rank F Drackys to make a Rank C Great Dracky. The original King Slime combination was removed, and these new Rank C monsters are given negative traits to compensate for how easy they are to get.

** Conklave easily turns into an InfinityPlusOneSword post-game. Multihitting, able to psych up and attack multiple times (turning it into what is undeniably ''the best'' scouting monster in the entire game), great attack... oh, and it gets Uber Dark Dynamiter, giving it some of the strongest spells in the game.

* LeakedExperience: Monsters in your back row will gain experience, meaning it makes sense to bring them along. Monsters back in the Monster Pens will also gain experience, but at a ''vastly'' slower rate.
* LethalJokeCharacter: Wildcard. Its HP is pitiful (especially compared to its predecessor, Wulfspade Ace), but it's immune to almost everything, and has a permanent counter effect, so anything that ''does'' hit it is just as likely to hit the enemy as well. It also has this one skill, [[CrossCounter Counterstriker]]. What's so bad about it is that it nullifies any physical attacks and attacks back for free. This wouldn't be a problem, but [[UselessUsefulSpell magic in the game is useless]] compared to physical attacks, as MetalSlime are immune to it, and they have a cap, unlike physical attacks.

** Breeding 4 Great Sabercat Cubs makes a Great Sabercat -- a reference to the Sabercat from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'', which grew up between the two generations of that game.

** Dracolord, the last boss of the original ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI,'' has the same breeding combination he had in ''Dragon Quest Monsters'' -- Great Dragon + Demon-At-Arms.

* OriginalGeneration: Several original monsters, most notably the final boss and the BonusBoss, were created by Creator/AkiraToriyama exclusively for this game.

* SoulBrotha: The funky Don Mole and his cohort of moles return from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII''.
* SpoiledByTheCastList: If you're paying attention during the ending credits, you'll notice it lists the various monsters in ''Joker 2'' via what series they debuted in. [[spoiler: Including ''VideoGame/DragonQuestHeroesRocketSlime''.]]

''Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2'' is the fifth installment of the ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' spinoff of the ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' series, released on the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS.

* FakeBalance: There is a significant problem with Giant monsters in ''Joker 2'' released outside Japan: hardly any of them are actually worth using. There are a couple of issues.
** First, some clarification: the damage cap for normal attacks is 2000. Every Size G monster has a trait called Grand Slammer, which makes their normal attack and physical skills hit all enemies, as well as boosts all damage they inflict significantly. There are also three traits that grant multiple actions per round: Tactical Trooper (act 1-2 times, based on RNG), Double Trouble (twice), and Tactical Genius (1-3 times, based on RNG). For a Size G monster to be competitive, it MUST be able to act more than once per turn regularly, be able to heal itself, have a sizeable amount of HP, and in the absence of guaranteed multi-actions, must either have great stats/traits/resistances to make up for it. There are 18 Size G monsters available.
** Of the 18 Size G monsters, three have Tactical Trooper,[[note]]Empyrea, Rhapthorne 2, Leonyx[[/note]] seven have Double Trouble,[[note]]Schleiman Tank, Stormsgate Citadel, Canzar, Ruin, Sagittar, Aquarion, Great Godbird[[/note]] and four have Tactical Genius.[[note]]Orochi, Estark, Zenith Dragon, Rigor Mortex[[/note]] The other four[[note]]Wormonger, Missing Lynx, Bjorn, and Khalimari[[/note]] will only ever act once per round. Of the 18 Size G monsters, eight[[note]]Wormonger, Missing Lynx, Bjorn, Stormsgate Citadel, Empyrea, Sagittar, Rhapthorne 2, Great Godbird[[/note]] have less than 2000 max HP. Should the enemy team have a Night Clubber,[[note]]a monster with 999/999/999 max HP/Attack/Defence, and the aforementioned Giant Killer trait[[/note]] only TWO of these Size G monsters [[note]]Sagittar, Great Godbird[[/note]] stand a chance of coming out alive. In all, only a third of the 18 Size G monsters are worth using,[[note]]Canzar, Ruin, Sagittar, Aquarion, Great Godbird, Rigor Mortex[[/note]] owing to giants in general having bad traits and painfully low max stats. Oh, and Night Clubber? Turns out it's great at killing everything else, too, especially if an Attack StatusBuff is cast on it.

[[HeroicMime The hero]] decides to stow away on a zeppelin heading towards the world monster tournament, observing as the [[AlphaBitch reigning champion]][[note]]Solitaire from the original Joker[[/note]] declares the ship unfit for someone of her caliber and storms off to find more appropriate accommodations. This turns out to be prescient, the ship is brought down shortly after takeoff, right after the Hero is caught as a stowaway and forced to work as a deck hand for the crew.

Received an UpdatedRerelease, ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters Joker 2 Professional'', which added 110 new monsters, completely re-balanced the multiplayer, and roughly doubled the single player campaign. Unfortunately, due to some poor timing in both release date and localization, [[NoExportForYou this version was not the one localized]].

!!''Joker 2'' contains examples of:

** FakeBalance: HOWEVER, there is a significant problem with Giant monsters in Joker 2 released outside Japan: hardly any of them are actually worth using. There are a couple of issues. First, some clarification: the damage cap for normal attacks is 2000. Every Size G monster has a trait called Grand Slammer, which makes their normal attack and physical skills hit all enemies, as well as boosts all damage they inflict significantly. There are also three traits that grant multiple actions per round: Tactical Trooper (act 1-2 times, based on RNG), Double Trouble (twice), and Tactical Genius (1-3 times, based on RNG). For a Size G monster to be competitive, it MUST be able to act more than once per turn regularly, be able to heal itself, have a sizeable amount of HP, and in the absence of guaranteed multi-actions, must either have great stats/traits/resistances to make up for it. There are 18 Size G monsters available.
*** Of the 18 Size G monsters, three have Tactical Trooper,[[note]]Empyrea, Rhapthorne 2, Leonyx[[/note]] seven have Double Trouble,[[note]]Schleiman Tank, Stormsgate Citadel, Canzar, Ruin, Sagittar, Aquarion, Great Godbird[[/note]] and four have Tactical Genius.[[note]]Orochi, Estark, Zenith Dragon, Rigor Mortex[[/note]] The other four[[note]]Wormonger, Missing Lynx, Bjorn, and Khalimari[[/note]] will only ever act once per round. Of the 18 Size G monsters, eight[[note]]Wormonger, Missing Lynx, Bjorn, Stormsgate Citadel, Empyrea, Sagittar, Rhapthorne 2, Great Godbird[[/note]] have less than 2000 max HP. Should the enemy team have a Night Clubber,[[note]]a monster with 999/999/999 max HP/Attack/Defence, and the aforementioned Giant Killer trait[[/note]] only TWO of these Size G monsters [[note]]Sagittar, Great Godbird[[/note]] stand a chance of coming out alive. In all, only a third of the 18 Size G monsters are worth using,[[note]]Canzar, Ruin, Sagittar, Aquarion, Great Godbird, Rigor Mortex[[/note]] owing to giants in general having bad traits and painfully low max stats. Oh, and Night Clubber? Turns out it's great at killing everything else, too, especially if an Attack StatusBuff is cast on it.
* AlphaBitch: The reigning champion, who refuses to even get on the ship, and Lily Gilder, a TooDumbToLive RichBitch who torments you throughout the game.
** [[spoiler: Though her attitude towards you does get a little better as the story progresses.]]

* ArtificialStupidity: Left to their own devices, your monsters that know [[KillItWithFire Sizz,]] [[KillItWithIce Crack,]] [[StuffBlowingUp Bang,]] or [[BlowYouAway Woosh]] spells will insistently use them in the presence of [[MetalSlime Metal Slimes]] mixed with other monsters, despite their being immune to any spell. They are likely use these spells when there are multiple monsters, but even in cases where the spells would only hurt one monster, none of them at all , or even accidentally [[FeedItWithFire heal the enemy.]] Note that this can easily be [[AvertedTrope averted]] by giving your monsters commands yourself.
** For the most part averted the rest of the time. The AI isn't outstanding, but apart from the cases above it isn't stupid.
** Luckily, the wild mosnters can be just as foolish.
%%* TheAssimilator: [[spoiler:Rigor Mortex's]] mondus operandi.

* BeyondTheImpossible: Synthesizing ''Joker 2's'' TrueFinalBoss, whose main ingredients each require Captain Crow. Captain Crow can only be obtained once per game -- [[SocializationBonus you need a friend]].

* {{Cap}}: All monsters have their own stat caps, level cap is based on how many "pluses" a monster has. (0-4, level 50; 5-9, level 75; 10+, level 100) Stat cap can be increased by getting stat bonus "skills", and there are even specific stat bonus skill trees you can take.
* CanisMajor: [[spoiler: The Incarnus makes a return in the postgame, and has an even bigger appearance in the UpdatedRerelease.]]

* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: More like "Credits Always Spoil", but similar principle. If you're paying attention during the ending credits, you'll notice it lists the various monsters in Joker 2 via what series they debuted in. [[spoiler: Including ''VideoGame/DragonQuestHeroesRocketSlime''.]]

* DiscOneNuke: The King Slime combination that was so heavily abused in ''Joker'' still exists here -- albeit it is a bit more complicated to make this time around and can't be done until you reach Cragavation, just a bit after gaining the ability to synthesize. Instead of fusing four Slimes, you instead need to first fuse a Mecha-Mynah with a low rank Slime to get a "Behemoth Slime". Getting two these Behemoth Slimes then fusing them together will result in the King Slime in all its earlygame-breaking glory. There are other combos for the Behemoth Slime such as Angel Slime+Swarmtroop and Wild Slime+Angel Slime, but the aforementioned is the easiest because both mons are obtainable right away.
** This is arguably better than ''Joker 1's'' "formula" because having different monsters mixed in means the resulting King Slime has a greater variety of skills to inherit in ''Joker 2'' compared to the first game. The King Slime is still hilariously easy to synthesize for how strong it is, and it can be easily made as soon as you gain access to Cragavation. You can actually get it as soon as you gain access to monster synthesis, but you'll need to level grind and chain fuse for the mons you normally get from Cragavation.
** Additionally, a ''pair'' of combines similar to ''Joker 1's'' version of the King Slime was added in ''Joker 2'' -- Great Sabercat (breed 4 Great Sabercat Cubs) and Great Dracky (4 Drackys), both monsters found in the first area. These two monsters have downsides (negative traits that keep them from being as broken as the King Slime) but both of these C-Rank monsters can simply be fused into other C-Rank monsters that are equally powerful, yet lack the negative traits. Either way, obtaining these monsters early on still allows you to skip all the F-Rank, E-Rank, and D-Rank monsters that you'll normally use until the later areas of the game.

* {{Expy}}: [[spoiler:[[BigBad Rigor Mortex]] is arguably one of [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Mewtwo]]. Both were artificially created as a super powered clone of one of the most powerful monsters in their respective world, both ultimately rebelled and slaughtered their creators, and both plot to destroy humanity. Although while Mewtwo had an (arguably) [[WellIntentionedExtremist altruistic]] reason for his evil, Rigor Mortex is simply a [[CardCarryingVillain card carrying]] OmnicidalManiac.]]

* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: While Leonyx is mentioned a few times in the game the TrueFinalBoss in Joker 2 is not once mentioned by any character before his reveal just a few moments before your tasked with taking him down. And even in the context of the series his design is pretty gross and out there.
* GuideDangIt: Breeding any monster above a rank A. Most are references to ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' mythos (breeding 2 dragons to make a BigBad is common) but others are from left field.

* InfinityPlusOneSword: Any of the S+ rank monsters. ''Especially'' the SS or X rank monsters. These are all BigBad and [[TheDragon "Dragons"]] of previous games, and require an extreme amount of postgame work to aquire. Arguably, the Strongest versions of the Minus Ones could count as well.

* MagikarpPower: The X and XY (Stronger and Strongest) system. Through patience, hard work, patience, careful breeding, and ''still more patience'', you can turn any of the Mascot Mooks into endgame monsters. These come with updated traits (such as moving twice per turn) and each gain an "ultimate" ability, translated as Uber in the original Joker -- Uber Healing, Uber Breath, etc etc. This system was expanded in the UpdatedRerelease -- you could use any monster in the game until the endgame, provided you continued working on empowering it to the X and XY forms.

* OldSaveBonus: Tagging with ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'' and ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'' DS unlocks special monsters from those games. These monsters are still available in the standard game, but much easier to get in the tag mode battles. In addition, tagging can unlock special events where Kandar from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'' invades your game.

* RankInflation: Monsters go from F (ComMons) to A (usually something from the TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon), to S ([[TheDragon Dragons]]), and finally XX / S (BigBad and beyond).

* SchizoTech: The setting is medieval. but it features airships.
* ShoutOut: Lots, to previous ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' games.
** The default names for your starting monsters are references to the Eidos translation of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' 1. For example, the Ghost is named Spooky.
** Breeding 4 Great Sabercat Cubs makes a Great Sabercat -- a reference to the sidekick from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'', which grew up between the two generations of that game.
** Mostly particularly iconic characters -- BigBad and [[TheDragon Dragons]], mostly -- have their own skill unique sets, which give them their iconic abilities and strategies. These can (and should!) be inherited if and when these monsters are bred away.
** The Cleric (a mistranslation of "Hero") skill tree (most easily gotten from a King Slime) is the same lineup of spells the ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'' hero uses -- thunder magic, the ultimate physical attack, the ultimate healing magic, the ultimate resurrection magic, and Kaclang (which makes you completely invincible for several turns). Muspell is a similar batch of dark and instant kill spells, which is typically associated with various villains -- including [[VideoGame/DragonQuestIV Psaro]].
** [[spoiler: Solitaire makes a return, and her team maps almost perfectly from the first game; unfortunately, new size rules mean she had to drop the Metal Kaiser Slime, but she still has Atlas and Jabber-Wockee]].
** Dracolord, the last boss of the original ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI,'' has the same breeding combination he had in ''Dragon Warrior Monsters'' -- Great Dragon + Demon-At-Arms.
** Kandar, a reoccurring boss character in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'', now named "Prince of Thieves," can attack you while doing Tag Mode. This replaces the standard tag mode battle with a battle against him. There are several special breeds that require Kandar, including a Conklave cosplaying as Kandar's gang from 3.
** Many of the {{Big Bad}}s require their [[TheDragon Dragons]] at some point in their synth chain.
* SilentProtagonist: Lampshaded.

* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard:
** Solitare's final team is quite blatantly impossible for her without some serious cheating going on. Her first is Dr. Snapped; ignoring the fact he takes weeks of continuous grinding and synthesis to make, one material is Captin Crow; a character who she does not have any access to as he wonders the land, then eventually joins the player. Similarly the Ace Of Spades she owns requires the Incarnus; which she clearly has no access to. To put this in perspective imagine if Gary Oak in ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' suddenly had a shiny Mew and MISSINGNO in his party with no explanation whatsoever. It really is that level of stupid.
** But wait, it gets even better. Her Dr Snapped has the trait double trouble; which while it did have in Joker 1, it had taken away in this game. There's no way whatsoever to change a monster's traits so it is really a hacked monster. That Mew that was joked about a second ago? Imagine it has Wonder Guard too. The developers didn't even try to hide her blatant cheating; which considering her character, could very well be intentional.
** Speaking of traits the TrueFinalBoss has an ability to have a permanent magic reflect. There's no trait that grants this and it cant be removed with skills like a normal version. Even if you synthesize one yourself, it, of course, doesn't have this trait.

* DiscOneNuke: The King Slime combination that was so heavily abused in ''Joker'' still exists here -- albeit it is a tiny bit more complicated to make this time around. Instead of fusing four Slimes, you instead need to first fuse a F-Rank slime family monster with any other F-Rank monster to get a "Behemoth Slime". Getting two these Behemoth Slimes then fusing them together will result in the King Slime in all its earlygame-breaking glory.
** This is arguably better than ''Joker 1's'' "formula" because having different monsters mixed in means the resulting King Slime can have other skills to inherit in ''Joker 2''. The King Slime is still hilariously easy to synthesize for how strong it is, and like in ''Joker 1'', it can be made as soon as you gain access to Monster Synthesis -- which is only an hour or two into the game proper.

* DiscOneNuke: The King Slime combination that was so heavily abused in ''Joker'' was removed; instead Drackys and Great Sabercat Cubs take its place. These two have negative traits that decrease their usefulness, but this is easily fixed by breeding them away to equally powerful Rank C monsters without the negative trait.

* WesternZodiac: ''Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2'' and ''Joker 2 Professional'' introduced a cohort of monsters based on the Zodiac, with each member of the set attached to each family, like the slime-family [[GiantEnemyCrab Canzar]].

* SoulBrotha: The moles.

* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: more like "Credits Always Spoil", but similar principle. If you're paying attention during the ending credits, you'll notice it lists the various monsters in Joker 2 via what series they debuted in. [[spoiler: Including ''VideoGame/DragonQuestHeroesRocketSlime''.]]

* DiscOneNuke: The King Slime combination that was so heavily abused in ''Joker'' was removed; instead Drackys and Great Sabercat Cubs take it's place. These two have negative traits that decrease their usefulness, but this is easily fixed by breeding them away to equally powerful Rank C monsters without the negative trait.
* DropTheHammer: The Hammerman monster and it's variants.

* RandomlyGeneratedLevels: An unfortunate exception, although there is a semi-{{Roguelike}} like bonus dungeon that doesn't randomize it's layout, but does randomize each room's monster family and layout.

* SlouchOfVillainy: The [[http://www.woodus.com/den/resources/monster_wiki_result.php?jname=%E9%82%AA%E7%8D%A3%E3%83%92%E3%83%92%E3%83%A5%E3%83%AB%E3%83%87 Baboon Beast]] from ''Professional'' has this. No seriously, his throne is a part of his graphic.

* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: Solitare's final team is quite blatantly impossible for her without some serious cheating going on. Her first is Dr. Snapped; ignoring the fact he takes weeks of continuous grinding and synthesis to make, one material is Captin Crow; a character who she does not have any access to as he wonders the land, then eventually joins the player. Similarly the Ace Of Spades she owns requires the Incarnus; which she clearly has no access to. To put this in perspective imagine if Gary Oak in PokemonRedAndBlue suddenly had a shiny Mew and MISSINGNO in his party with no explanation whatsoever. It really is that level of stupid.

* LethalJokeCharacter: Wildcard. Its HP is pitiful (especially compared to its predecessor, Wulfspade Ace), but it's immune to almost everything, and has a permanent counter affect, so anything that ''does'' hit it is just as likely to hit the enemy as well.
** It's even worse than it sounds. Wildcard isn't immune to much, but he has this one skill that everyone hates, [[CrossCounter Counterstriker]]. What's so bad about it is that it nullifies any physical attacks and attacks back for free. This wouldn't be a problem, but [[UselessUsefulSpell magic in the game is useless]] compared to physical attacks, as {{MetalSlime}} are immune to it, and they have a cap, unlike physical attacks. It's so bad, that every non-healer has to waste a skillset for elemental slashes, otherwise you have a great chance at being walled by Wildcard.
*** Actually, not even elemental slashes work. At least, the AI of the game won't use them against Wildcard, and more often then not, the only times you're fighting a Wildcard are when you can't directly control your monsters. Meaning if you don't have any offensive spellcasting at all, which is likely the case, your mons will just sit there and do nothing. Which means your only option is to forfeit. Lethal Joke Character, or something much, much worse?
* LevelGrinding: It's a {{Mons}} game, 'nuff said.

** The default names for your starting monsters are references to the Edios translation of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' 1. For example, the Ghost is named Spooky.

* MetalSlime: An entire sub-family of them, starting with the humble Metal Slime and going all the way up to ''Metal Kaizer,'' a metal slime berserker with a face right out of ''DragonBall'', or Gold Slime / Gem Slime, which is more or less a ''[[DragonBall Super Saiyan]] Slime.''

''Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2'' is the fifth installment of the ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' spinoff of the ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' series, released on the NintendoDS.

* OriginalGeneration: Several original monsters, most notably the final boss and the BonusBoss, were created by AkiraToriyama exclusively for this game.

*** Of the 18 Size G monsters, three have Tactical Trooper,[[note]]Empyrea, Rhapthorne 2, Leonyx[[/note]] seven have Double Trouble,[[note]]Schleiman Tank, Stormsgate Citadel, Canzar, Ruin, Sagittar, Aquarion, Great Godbird]] and four have Tactical Genius.[[note]]Orochi, Estark, Zenith Dragon, Rigor Mortex[[/note]] The other four[[note]]Wormonger, Missing Lynx, Bjorn, and Khalimari[[/note]] will only ever act once per round. Of the 18 Size G monsters, eight[[note]]Wormonger, Missing Lynx, Bjorn, Stormsgate Citadel, Empyrea, Sagittar, Rhapthorne 2, Great Godbird[[/note]] have less than 2000 max HP. Should the enemy team have a Night Clubber,[[note]]a monster with 999/999/999 max HP/Attack/Defence, and the aforementioned Giant Killer trait[[/note]] only TWO of these Size G monsters [[note]]Sagittar, Great Godbird[[/note]] stand a chance of coming out alive. In all, only a third of the 18 Size G monsters are worth using,[[note]]Canzar, Ruin, Sagittar, Aquarion, Great Godbird, Rigor Mortex[[/note]] owing to giants in general having bad traits and painfully low max stats. Oh, and Night Clubber? Turns out it's great at killing everything else, too, especially if an Attack StatusBuff is cast on it.

* NoExportForYou: Unfortunately, the UpdatedRerelease was not localized. With Nintendo moving on from the DS to the 3DS and ''DQ Monsters'' moving on to the ''Terry's Wonderland 3D'' remake (announced on the same day as the US ''Joker 2'' release, even), it didn't make much sense to invest time and money in the same game again. (And to rub salt in the wound, ''Terry's Wonderland 3D'' was never localized either.)
** This hurt the Japanese too, as they were promised international tournaments, and they got them, but for the version that most people had already stopped playing.
** This is more an example of bad timing than anything else. ''Professional'' was announced literally ''just'' as the localization of the original version was finished. Square Enix and Nintendo had to choose between releasing the localized normal version, or spend another several months localizing ''Professional''. For obvious reasons, they chose the former. The fact that many of the new monsters are from DQ games that never got released overseas (Magarugi,[[note]]The fake antagonist of Dragon Quest Monsters Caravan Heart[[/note]] pretty much every Rocket Slime character aside from the Hero Slime and Slival's tanks, Ghadis,[[note]]The final boss of "Monster Battle Road Victory"[[/note]] the monkey demon with the throne, etc) probably didn't help matters.

Received an UpdatedRerelease, ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters Joker 2 Professional'', which added 500 new monsters, completely re-balanced the multiplayer, and roughly doubled the single player campaign. Unfortunately, due to some poor timing in both release date and localization, [[NoExportForYou this version was not the one localized]].