Summary
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance’s compendium is full of compelling demons, some favorites through their visual appearance, others for their combat prowess. The means for player strategy inVengeanceis made even greater than its source material through the use of innate skills, however, a feature that shouldn’t be missed whenfusing or recruiting demons. AsVengeancegives more weight to its party composition through its Periapts and talismans, the same holds true for how innate skills can turn the tides of battle, being especially important for players wishing to tackle the game’s superbosses.
Innate demon skills inShin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeancework as their name suggests, giving demons an inherent ability separate from their malleable skill list. These innate skills can have reverberations in both combat and negotiation; some, like Idun’s Demonic Mediation, allow for an additional pacification skill during negotiation should the Nahobino choose a wrong dialogue or action choice, making it easier to recruit more demons for the compendium. Others can play into support strategies for buffing and debuffing, or even have an effect on the press-turn system, a crucial aspect ofVengeanceand its predecessors' combat.
How Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance’s Innate Demon Skills Can Turn the Tides of Battle
Innate Skills Tying into Negotiation, Demon Lore, and Combat Prowess
In the case ofVengeance’s endgame, innate demon skills can be the difference between victory and defeat, particularly for the game’s superbosses. When the Nahobino gets to the point of fusing the most powerful demons offered in the compendium, from Norse gods to divine angels, there is more to consider than just level, stats, and spells. Often, demons with corresponding lore make for good party composition, like the Hare of Inaba being paired with Kunitsu demons such as Okuninushi to reduce MP cost for healing and support skills. This helps hone in on some ofVengeance’s side questsas well, giving the player better insight into the folklore behind its demons.
Innate Skills Offer Even More Strategy for Party Composition
With the Nahobino’s new essence arsenal, there are even more opportunities for party synergy. Metatron’s innate skill Ceaseless Crucifixion, for example, increases the damage of his Almighty attacks based on how many hits are dealt by allies during the turn, makingthe Nahobino’s Magatsuhi skillOmnipotent Succession, where the same attack is performed four times consecutively, a good pairing. Consider this with an attack like Paraselene Blur, which deals four Strength-based Light attacks, and the player can strike as many as sixteen times during the Nahobino’s one action. Having another demon like Yoshitsune with his eight-attack skill Hassou Tobi can increase the number of hits the party deals drastically, helping to buff Metatron’s Almighty skills in the process.
Some innate skills can allow the player to make defensive plays as well, like the endgame deity Baal with his Hammer of Judgement.Shin Megami Tensei 5’s superboss Shiva makes a return inVengeance, and players will recognize Tandava as being one of his most decimating attacks, dealing severe Almighty damage while lowering defense to the minimum. Because Baal’s Hammer of Judgement addsa press turn iconafter receiving a debuff, he makes an excellent demon to bring into the Shiva fight, giving players up to two additional actions to both heal and wrack up the damage after being struck by the move. This is just one example of innate skills having merit in party formation aside from striking weaknesses, tying into the series' compelling combat.
Innate Skills Show How Strategic Shin Megami Tensei’s Battle System Can Get
ThoughShin Megami Tensei5: Vengeanceoffers a more accessible experiencein terms of its difficulty, the title still has quite the challenges, making innate skills a game-changer for those seeking to complete all of its content. With previousShin Megami Tensei 5DLC like the Demi-Fiend fight being available inVengeance, there’s even more room for careful strategy to overcome the most daunting of adversaries. For players wishing to get the most out of its gameplay, innate demon skills show just how nuanced its battle system can get, helping to cement theShin Megami Tenseiseries' combat as one of the most satisfying to master.
