Hammers are a recurring weapon type in the Dragon Quest series. In the early series they tended to function as early and mid-game weapons, bowing out to swords as the player approached the final few areas in the games. However, they still found a place in many a player's inventory thanks to the Hela Hammer, one of the most useful tools for besting Metal Slimes. With the debut of Level-5 as the series developer in Dragon Quest VIII, hammers have taken on a much more substantial role in the series, accumulating a varied and useful collection of unique skills.