The latest in Square Enix's weekly updates on Dragon Quest IX.

For this week's update on Dragon Quest IX, Square Enix offered details on a variety of areas of concern for long-time fans, with a look at a handful of new skill attacks, first details on two new jobs, and a first look at DQIX renditions of classic DQ series monsters. The company also teased at a new way to enjoy the Dragon Quest universe: through your cell phone.

As previously reported, DQIX's skill system has players build up their character by freely allotting skill points to job-specific skill parameters. Eventually, your characters will learn job-specific moves and attacks. Today, Square Enix offered a glimpse at a few of these:

Giga Slash

This special attack can be learned by jobs that use sword weapons and can build up a sword skill parameter. Giga Slash can deal great damage to multiple enemies in one swing.

Kyushozuki

Jobs that use spears and lances as weapons, including soldiers and monks, can build up a spear skill parameter, eventually unlocking this special attack, which aims for a foe's vital areas and can even kill off an enemy in an instant.

Vampire Edge

Characters like soldiers and thieves who equip short swords and daggers can build up a dagger skill, eventually learning this special attack, which absorbs HP from its victims.

Hyouketsu Rangeki

This attack can be learned by Martial Artists, who can use a long bow as their weapon. It does damage to a large number of enemies. Thanks to ice power stored in the weapon's tip, it can be particularly effective against foes in a volcanic environment.

Shibari Uchi

Characters who use whips as a weapon can build up the whip skill parameter and eventually access this attack, whose name can be translated unofficially as Bind Strike. The attack not only damages the enemy, but can also immobilize it.

Hamon Enbu

Translated, unofficially, as Ripple Dance, this attack can be learned by those who can equip fans as a weapon. Ripples caused by the fan in the water cause great damage to enemies who reside by the shore.

Tiger Claw

Thieves and Martial Artist jobs can equip claw weapons and build up the claw skill parameter in order to learn this attack. The attack strikes at foes in a pair of quick consecutive blows.

This is just a sampling of DQIX's special skill attacks. Each job has additional skill attacks that players will be able to unlock as they play.

Giga Slash

Kyushozuki

Vampire Edge

Hyouketsu Rangeki

Shibari Uchi

Hamon Enbu

Joining the new skill attacks, Square Enix provided a glimpse at a couple of new advanced jobs. As previously reported, advanced jobs require that players build up a character in one or more basic jobs, then undergo a job change.

Joining the Paladin and Battle Mage jobs introduced early last month are Battle Master and Ranger. The former uses large weapons that a standard soldier could not equip. The latter makes use of weapons and equipment that fit in with nature. The conditions for becoming these two jobs were not revealed, nor were screenshots.

Square Enix also followed up on last week's update with another look at the game's monsters. Dragon Quest fans should be more familiar with the latest lineup:

Slime Knight

A knight who moves about on grassy fields, protecting the Slime creatures. Players should beware its "Kabutowari" attack, which lowers defensive power.

Meda

A one-eyed creature that lurks deep in ruins. It tickles its foes, causing them to laugh and become immobile.

Black Tanu

An all-black raccoon-like monster skilled in ninjutsu. It can make itself disappear, more easily avoiding attack.

White Lancer

This centaur makes use of the Ice Javelin as a weapon and plots to cover the world in snow.

Totsugeki Horn

A rhinoceros-like monster that roams the grassy fields with energy. An attack from its powerful horn sends foes flying and unable to get up momentarily.

Gamegon

A giant turtle with the powers of a dragon. It spits out fire as an attack, and covers itself in its steel-like shell for protection.

Tiger Claw

Slime Knight

Meda

Black Tanu

White Lancer

Totsugeki Horn

Gamegon

Finally, perhaps as a hint of things to come, Square Enix detailed a new type of wireless connectivity for Dragon Quest IX. Coinciding with the game's launch in July, Square Enix will open an official mobile site called Hoshizora no Nakamatachi ("Friends of the Sky"). Players can connect their DS system to this site via Wi-Fi and send their DQIX save data to a special game server, receiving bonuses on their cell phone as a reward.

Logo for the Hoshizora no Nakamatachi mobile service.