Cursed Ring

Lore & Background

The Cursed Ring is a dark accessory often found in treasure chests or dropped by monsters in the Dragon Quest series. Unlike the benevolent rings that boost stats, this ring is known to drain strength, agility, or other attributes from the wearer. In some games, it can be used to trick enemies or to break a curse on another item, but equipping it without preparation is a common rookie mistake. Its origins are tied to ancient curses placed by defeated dark lords, and it serves as a reminder that not all treasure is worth claiming.

In Their Own Story

After forging the ring, Sauron waged war on the Elves. He destroyed Eregion and killed Celebrimbor, the maker of the three Elf-rings. King Tar-Minastir of Númenor sent a great fleet to Middle-earth, and with this aid Gil-galad destroyed Sauron's army and forced Sauron to return to Mordor. Later, Ar-Pharazôn, the last king of Númenor, landed at Umbar with an immense army, forcing Sauron's armies to flee. Sauron was taken to Númenor as a prisoner. Tolkien wrote in a 1958 letter that the surrender was both 'voluntary and cunning' so he could gain access to Númenor. Sauron used the Númenóreans' fear of death to turn them against the Valar, and manipulate and deceive them into worshipping his former master, Morgoth, with human sacrifice. Sauron's body was destroyed in the Fall of Númenor, but his spirit travelled back to Middle-earth and wielded the One Ring in renewed war against the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Gil-galad and Elendil destroyed Sauron's physical form at the end of the Last Alliance, at the cost of their own lives. Elendil's son, Isildur, cut the Ring from Sauron's hand on the slopes of Mount Doom. Though counselled to destroy the Ring, he was swayed by its power and kept it 'as weregild for my father, and my brother'. Since the Ring had not been destroyed, Sauron's spirit remained alive, but he could not take physical form for the next 1000 years. A few years later, Isildur was ambushed by Orcs by the River Anduin near the Gladden Fields; he put on the Ring to escape, but it betrayed him by slipping from his finger as he swam, and, suddenly visible, he was killed by the Orcs. The Ring remained hidden on the river bed for almost two and a half millennia, until it was discovered on a fishing trip by a Stoor hobbit named Déagol. His friend and relative Sméagol, who had gone fishing with him, was immediately ensnared by the Ring's power and demanded that Déagol give it to him as a 'birthday present'; when Déagol refused, Sméagol strangled him and took the Ring. It corrupted his body and mind, turning him into the monstrous Gollum. The Ring manipulated Gollum into hiding in a cave under the Misty Mountains near Mirkwood, where Sauron was beginning to resurface. There Gollum remained for nearly 500 years, using the Ring to hunt Orcs. The Ring eventually abandoned Gollum, knowing it would never leave the cave whilst he bore it. Bilbo Baggins found the ring while on his journey to the Lonely Mountain, and escaped from Gollum with it. Gollum eventually left the Misty Mountains to track down the Ring. He was drawn to Mordor, where he was captured. Sauron tortured and interrogated him, learning that the Ring had been found and was held by one 'Baggins' in the land of 'Shire'. The Ring began to strain Bilbo, leaving him feeling 'stretched-out and thin', so he decided to leave the Shire, intending to pass the Ring to his adopted heir Frodo Baggins. He briefly gave in to the Ring's power, even calling it 'my precious'; alarmed, Gandalf spoke harshly to his old friend to persuade him to give it up, which Bilbo did, becoming the first Ring-bearer to surrender it willingly. By this time Sauron had regained much of his power, and the Dark Tower in Mordor had been rebuilt. Gollum, released from Mordor, was captured by Aragorn. Gandalf learned from Gollum that Sauron now knew where to find the Ring. To prevent Sauron from reclaiming his Ring, Frodo and eight companions set out from Rivendell for Mordor to destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. During the quest, Frodo gradually fell under the Ring's power. When he and his faithful servant Sam Gamgee discovered Gollum on their trail and 'tamed' him into guiding them to Mordor, Frodo began to feel a bond with the wretched, treacherous creature, while Gollum warmed to Frodo's kindness and made an effort to keep his promise. Gollum however gave in to the Ring's temptation, and betrayed Frodo to the spider Shelob. Believing Frodo to be dead, Sam bore the Ring himself for a short time and experienced the temptation it induced. Sam rescued Frodo from Orcs at the Tower of Cirith Ungol. The hobbits, followed by Gollum, reached Mount Doom, where Frodo was overcome by the Ring's power and claimed it for himself. At that moment, Gollum bit off his finger, taking back the Ring, but, gloating and dancing incautiously over the edge of the precipice, he and the Ring fell into the fires of Mount Doom. The Ring and Sauron's power were destroyed, causing Sauron to be reduced to a permanent shadow who could never gain power or have influence in Middle-earth again.

Reader's Guide

The Ring's primary power was control of the other Rings of Power and domination of the wills of their users. The Ring also conferred power to dominate the wills of other beings whether they were wearing Rings or not—but only in proportion to the user's native capacity. In the same way, it amplified any inherent power its owner possessed. A mortal wearing the Ring became effectively invisible except to those able to perceive the non-physical world, with only a thin, shaky shadow discernible in the brightest sunlight. All the same, when Sam wore the ring on the edge of Mordor, 'he did not feel invisible at all, but horribly and uniquely visible; and he knew that somewhere an Eye was searching for him'. Sam was able to understand the Black Speech of Orcs in Mordor during his brief possession of the One Ring. The Ring extended the life of a mortal possessor indefinitely, preventing natural aging. Gandalf explained that it did not grant new life, but that the possessor merely continued until life became unbearably wearisome. The Ring did not protect its bearer from destruction; Gollum perished in the Crack of Doom, and Sauron's 'fair' body was destroyed in the downfall of Númenor. He may not have worn it at the time, but he 'took [it] up again' when his spirit returned to Mordor. Like the Nine Rings, the One Ring physically corrupted mortals who wore it, eventually transforming them into wraiths. Hobbits were more resistant to this than Men: Gollum, who possessed the ring for 500 years, did not become wraith-like because he rarely wore the Ring. Except for Tom Bombadil, nobody seemed to be immune.

Did You Know?

• The Cursed Ring first appeared in Dragon Quest II, not Dragon Quest III.
• In some games, the Cursed Ring can be offered to a certain NPC to receive a blessing or a different item.
• Equipping the Cursed Ring may prevent the wearer from being affected by certain other status ailments.
• The ring is often sold for a low price at shops, but some players keep it for its unique properties in specific quests.
• Unlike Tolkien's One Ring, the Cursed Ring does not grant invisibility or control over other rings—it simply brings misfortune.