Monster Sanctuary is a turn-based RPG, it's a monster-catching game, and it's also a Metroidvania. This means that getting to some sections of the game will require you to unlock and acquire certain abilities, which are attached to monsters.
As you progress through the game, you'll gain new monsters, the majority of which are used to reach new areas and unlock previously-locked paths. It's a surefire method to get new items and equipment.
Explore Abilities Explained
Whether it be lighting up dark areas, permitting you to swim against harsh currents, or by breaking down walls, every monster in the game has a unique ability to interact with the environment.
If you want to explore every area of the game and acquire every item, you will need to acquire at least one monster for every ability type. Some monsters have abilities that can be used to bypass more than one obstacle, such as the Spectral Wolf, who has the ability to break through walls and cut through vines.
The following sections will show you the abilities you have used to solve the environmental puzzles attacked, as well as the abilities of the monsters.
Mounts
These monsters in the game allow you to ride them, and this can be used to solve puzzles. Depending on the monster, they may have additional effects that are required to overcome certain obstacles.
| Monster | Ability | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Aurumtail | Mount | Your movement speed increases, which lets you run over very long, fragile bridges without falling to your doom. |
| Dodo | ||
| Moccus | ||
| Qilin | ||
| Rampede | Charging Mount | Running while mounted on these monsters will let you drive right through breakable walls and diamond blocks. |
| Rathops | ||
| Akhlut | Sonar Mount | Riding this monster lets you see in dark rooms. |
| Tar Blob | Tar Mount | You do not get slowed down in tar riding this monster. |
| Gryphonix | Lofty Mount | This mount has a far higher jump height than usual. |
Flight
Using these monsters will allow you to reach previously unattainable ledges. It's critical to get some of the greatest rewards in the game to combine the double jump with the ability to execute a single jump.
| Monster | Ability | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Draconov | Flying | Lift you up a little. |
| Frosty | ||
| Mad Eye | ||
| Raduga | ||
| Spectral Eagle | ||
| Vaero | ||
| Dragogran | Improved Flying | Lifts you up further than Flying. |
| Draconoir | ||
| Dracozul | ||
| Kongomato | ||
| Ornithopter | ||
| Silvaero | ||
| Krakaturtle | Dual Mobility | Lifts you up further than Flying, and also lets you swim against currents and through tar. |
Swimming
Without a monster that allows you to swim, you'll simply sink to the bottom of a certain body of water in the game. Some areas of the game may require an improved form of swimming that allows you to move against currents. Poor Koi.
| Monster | Ability | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Koi | Swimming | Lets you swim freely in water. |
| Dracomer | Improved Swimming | Lets you swim freely in water, even against rough currents. |
| Elderjel | ||
| Nautilid | ||
| Thornish | ||
| Krakaturtle | Dual Mobility | Lets you swim freely in water, even against rough currents. Also lets you move through tar and when used in the air, boosts you upwards. |
Destructive Attacks
Three types of obstacles in the game must be avoided. Among them are breakable walls, which may or may not be seen in the environment, vines that can be cut, and diamond blocks.
Many of these abilities have additional benefits, making these monsters more effective in terms of overall.
| Monster | Ability | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Molebear | Claws | Destroys breakable walls and vines. |
| Spectral Lion | ||
| Spectral Wolf | ||
| Troll | Corrosive Jabs | Destroys breakable walls and activates water orbs. |
| Asura | Crush | Destroys breakable walls and diamond blocks. |
| Darnation | ||
| Goblin Miner | ||
| Goblin Pilot | ||
| Salahammer | ||
| Goblin Hood | Fiery Shots | Destroys vines and activates fire orbs. |
| Mimic | ||
| Polterofen | ||
| Monk | Heavy Punch | Destroys breakable walls. |
| Imori | Ignite | Destroys vines and activates fire orbs. |
| Lava Blob | ||
| Magmamoth | ||
| Magmapillar | ||
| Plague Egg | ||
| Skorch | ||
| Specter | ||
| Tengu | ||
| Blade Widow | Slash | Destroys breakable walls and vines. |
| Catzerker | ||
| Minitaur | ||
| Ucan | ||
| Brawlish | Tackle | Destroys breakable walls and shoves heavy blocks along. |
| Spectral Toad | ||
| Steam Golem | ||
| Targoat | ||
| Vasuki | ||
| Yowie | ||
| Goblin Brute | Toxic Slam | Destroys breakable walls. |
| Rampede | Charging Mount | When ridden, can drive right through breakable walls and diamond blocks. |
| Rathops |
Elemental Attacks
There are five types of orbs in the game, and you'll encounter them all over the map. You'll need to activate them with elemental attacks to solve puzzles.
| Monster | Ability | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Orbs | ||
| Imori | Ignite | Activates fire orbs and destroys vines. |
| Lava Blob | ||
| Magmamoth | ||
| Magmapillar | ||
| Plague Egg | ||
| Skorch | ||
| Specter | ||
| Tengu | ||
| Goblin Hood | Fiery Shots | Activates fire orbs and destroys vines from a longer distance. |
| Mimic | ||
| Polterofen | ||
| Ice Orbs | ||
| Ice Blob | Freeze | Activates ice orbs. |
| Megataur | ||
| Mogwai | Snowball Toss | Activates ice orbs from a distance. |
| Shockhopper | Shock Freeze | Activates ice orbs and lightning orbs from a distance. |
| Spinner | Toxic Freeze | Activates ice orbs and earth orbs from a distance. |
| Earth Orbs | ||
| Goblin Brute | Toxic Slam | Activates earth orbs. |
| Crystal Snail | Jewel Blast | Activates earth orbs from a distance. |
| Goblin King | ||
| Ninki | Slime Shot | |
| Ninki Nanka | ||
| Toxiquus | ||
| Spinner | Toxic Freeze | Activates earth orbs and ice orbs from a distance. |
| Lightning Orbs | ||
| Beetleoid | Lightning Bolt | Activates lightning orbs. |
| Crackle Knight | ||
| Goblin Warlock | ||
| Sizzle Knight | ||
| Shockhopper | Shock Freeze | Activates lightning orbs and ice orbs from a distance. |
| Water Orbs | ||
| Blob | Bubble Burst | Activates water orbs. |
| Grummy | ||
| G'rulu | ||
| Corrosive Jabs | Corrosive Jabs | Activates water orbs from a distance and also destroys breakable walls. |
Environmental Interactions
Monsters may interact with different objects in their environments, whether it be switches that allow you to open new passages or torches that simply light up the room.
Monsters with the Tackle ability are not listed in the table below, but they are for easier readability. Tackle allows monsters to push large blocks around, and the monsters with this capability are listed above in the Destructive Attacks section.
Additionally, any monsters from the Elemental Attacks section with the abilities of Ignite, Fiery Shots, or Lightning Bolt may be able to ignite torches.
| Monster | Ability | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Druid Oak | Summon Rock | Summons an object that can activate buttons on the ground. |
| Kame | ||
| Rocky | ||
| Fungi | Summon Mushroom | |
| Tanuki | ||
| Brutus | Summon Big Rock | Summons an object that can activate buttons on the ground - works on the larger buttons that require heavier objects. |
| Mega Rock | ||
| Promethean | ||
| Arachlich | Grapple | Allows you to use a grappling hook, which lets you activate switches or pull yourself towards new areas. |
| Argiope | ||
| Oculus | ||
| Worm | ||
| Diavola | Levitate | Allows you to raise up the very large blocks that cannot be moved with Tackle. |
| Terradrile | ||
| Vertraag | ||
| Vodinoy | ||
| Amberlgna | Spore Shroud | Repels purple vines in the Forgotten World. |
| Fumagus | ||
| Bard | Minnesang | Allows you to remove musical barriers. |
Transformation
These abilities will temporarily alter the keeper's form, allowing them to do things they would normally not be able to.
| Monster | Ability | Description |
|---|---|---|
| King Blob | Blob Form | Lets the keeper transform into a Blob, letting them traverse through very narrow gaps. |
| Rainbow Blob | ||
| Changeling | Morph Ball | Lets the keeper transform into an orb, letting them traverse through very narrow gaps. |
| Kanko | Ghost Form | Lets the keeper turn incorporeal, letting them avoid detection from wild monsters. |
| Stolby | ||
| Sycophantom |
Passive Abilities
These monsters have abilities that are always active when they are used as a partner monster.
| Monster | Ability | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Caraglow | Light | Brightens up dark rooms. |
| Glowdra | ||
| Glowfly | ||
| Manticorb | ||
| Nightwing | Sonar | Allows you to see things in dark rooms. |
| Akhlut | Sonar Mount | Allows you to see things in dark rooms and is also a mount with high speed. |
| Aazerach | Secret Vision | Reveals and lets you stand on platforms that usually only have a faint outline. |
| Ascendant | ||
| Mad Lord | ||
| Sutsune | ||
| Thanatos |