Erdrick’s Helmet and Armor can be found in the Sanctum and the Cave of Rendarak, respectively. They are the best equipment the Hero can equip and are nearly mandatory to beating the game.

Some Quick Tips for those looking to get these items:

• Zooming: Getting both of these items will require traveling between Zahan, Midenhall, Tantegel, and the Cave to Rendarak.
• Quick Save Often: The Cave to Rendarak is full of pitfalls, dead-ends and other tricky to navigate areas.
• Beware The Upper Floors: You’re likely to encounter Green Dragons and other powerful foes on your way to the Armor.

Proof of Erdrick’s Legacy

Erdrick’s Helm can be found in the Sanctum, which is southeast of Tantegel in this game. Just like the previous game, however, the priest guarding the Sanctum’s treasure will not part with it unless he is shown the Mark of Erdrick.

The first step to doing so is to get the Gold Key. If you have been there previously, Zoom or use a Chimaera Wing to get to the village of Zahan, on the far southern portion of the map.

If you have not been to Zahan before, you’ll need to get there by boat. First, head to Dirkandor.

Start by sailing out into the ocean from the river due south of the castle. Once you’re out of the river, sail directly south.

Eventually, you should hit the Fire Shrine, located on this small island with another island that’s just trees to the west. Keep going south and west, circling around this slightly larger island where the Yggdrasil Leaf can be acquired.

Stop and pick up a Yggdrasil Leaf (revives a fallen party member) if you don’t have one already as you cannot hold more than one at any given time. Otherwise, sail south from this island until it’s just barely in view to the north. 

Now, sail directly east.

Congratulations, you’ve found Zahan!

In Zahan, walk north along the path. You should find a dog east of the entrance to the building with all the damaging tiles. Talk to it, and the dog will reveal a sparkling treasure point.

Now that you have the Gold Key, Zoom all the way back to Midenhall, the very first area of Dragon Quest II. 

You may or may not remember passing by this tantalizing treasure room early in your adventures a few times. With the Gold Key, you can finally access this area.

The other chests are quite nice, holding handsome sums of gold and Seeds of Magic and Strength, but for this quest, what you’re mainly looking for is the Mark of Erdrick, the proof of your inheritance. 

Headed to the Helm

That’s all for Midenhall. Zoom to Tantegel for another round of sailing.

From Tantegel, sail south past the Dragonlord’s Castle, following the water south and east.

Eventually, you’ll come upon the Sanctum, surrounded by hills and mountains. Dock your ship and enter through the one unblocked southern square.

Talk to the priest while holding the Mark of Erdrick, and you’ll be granted permission to take it. Congratulations! Have the Hero equip it, as this is his best helmet and an item exclusive to him.

Path to the Armor

Like many powerful late game items, Erdrick’s Armor can be found in the Cave to Rendarak. To get into the Cave for the first time, make sure you have these two items in your inventory:

• False Idol: Found in the bottom floor of the Sea Cave.
• Eye of Rubiss: Given to you at the Shrine of Rubiss after collecting the five Sigils hidden throughout the game.

Note: This sequence has multiple instances of damaging tiles, namely poison squares and these squiggly squares you’ll see in Beran’s Jail and the Shrine near the Cave. Whenever you see one of these squares, make sure you have the Prince cast Safe Passage to avoid damage from these tiles.

From the town of Beran, head north from the inn and into the building with three doors. Unlock the north corridor with the Jailor’s Key, and make your way through the Teleportal.

Once on the other side, head directly south. Note you’re surrounded by more squiggly damaging tiles.

Go west from this poison-filled shrine. In the overworld, talk to the flame blocking your path. It will recognize the Eye of Rubiss and allow you to pass through to the westward poison swamp.

Standing up against the northern mountain range, use the False Idol to open the otherwise obscured passage into the Cave to Rendarak.

Warning: Since the Cave to Rendarak has many confusing areas and pitfalls that will drop you to a lower level, be sure to Quick Save often in this area. 

On the first floor, head east and around the cross-shaped wall and towards these stairs placed against the eastern wall. 

There are several pits around the cross areas. Simply climb the stairs up and continue eastward on the first floor (there is a chest containing a Seed of Strength in the basement, which may be enticing enough to warrant a trip there on its own.)

On the second floor, continue to head east. You will find yourself in a hallway of identical intersections. Pass by the first two paths, then take the third path north to find the stairs leading up to the third floor.

From the third floor, head southeast, ignoring the room to the west. 

Ascend these stairs to the fourth floor.

Here, on the fourth floor, take the time to Quick Save and heal up to full. Though Erdrick’s Armor is just in the next room, the upper floors of the Cave to Rendarak is rife with some of Dragon Quest II’s most dangerous enemies. Below is a table of foes you might encounter on the fifth floor. 

Name	HP	MP	Skills
Green Dragon	70	None	Torrent of Flames, Fire Breath
Berserker	62	None	None
Killing Machine	55	None	Attacks Twice
Tyrannodactyl	95	30	Snooze, Kasap, Fire Breath
Silvapithecus	80	30	Sizzle, Sickly-Sweet Breath

Continue onto the fifth floor.  

Open the chest, and there it is! Equip the Armor to the Hero and make for the next leg of your journey, back to the third floor where the dungeon continues.

Boons of the Helm and Armor

Some notes on why these items are quite good to have on your journey, especially in the endgame:

• Erdrick’s Helm: Gives a massive +20 boost to defense. The next best equipment headwear for the hero is the Iron Helmet, which only gives +6 to defense and costs a hefty 3150 gold (or occasionally dropped by a Gargoyle or Metal Slime). There is also the Mad Cap, which grants +8, but because of its unique ability to reduce the MP cost of Spells by 25%, there is no reason to give it to Hero when he, unlike the Prince and Princess, cannot cast any magic whatsoever.
  
  Since Erdrick’s Helm can be acquired not especially late into the game and the Hero already has very high defense, forgo buying an Iron Helmet and wait until you get the Helm to save gold for a purchase that will have more utility. 

• Erdrick’s Armor: Like the Flowing Dress and Magic Armor, Erdrick’s Armor reduces the damage that spells and breath attacks do (25% for both Armors, 50% for the Flowing Dress). Whereas the Magic Armor and Flowing Dress grant +42 and +65 to defense respectively, however, Erdrick’s Armor grants +75 to defense.

With both of these items equipped, your Hero will become extremely difficult to kill, gaining massive bonuses to resist both physical and magical attacks.