Having a balanced team in Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance is crucial for progressing through the story without struggling against bosses, who often possess powerful attacks capable of easily decimating any group of demons.

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In the Minato Ward region, the first in the game, selecting demons can be more challenging. As it is the Early Game, it is essential to filter the best options to join the team. There are various useful demons that can fit into Nahobino's team and handle challenges with relative ease during the initial hours of gameplay.

Angel

The First Major Support Of The Team

• Base level: 10

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance features a vast list of good healers throughout the game, and one of the first that players can fuse is Angel. Angel possesses the Humble Blessing ability, capable of healing all party members, and also has access to other spells to keep everyone on their feet.

However, during the first major boss fight against Hydra, Angel may struggle due to its weakness to Dark attacks. Therefore, players who wish to keep Angel alive during this battle should bring some dark dampeners.

Leanan Sidhe

Resists Dark Attacks And Has Media

• Base level: 17

Another support that players may want in their team during the Minato Ward region is Leanan Sidhe. This demon from Irish mythology can be obtained through fusion or by allying with her during the confrontation against Apsaras.

Besides having access to Media, which heals more HP for the party than Angel's Humble Blessing, Leanan Sidhe is immune to Hydra's Dark attacks, making her a difficult target to take down.

Azumi

Ice Spells Aid In The Beginning

• Base level: 11

Hydra's main weakness is ice attacks, so having group members with this skill is important when facing her. Fortunately, not far from the boss battle location, players can recruit Azumi.

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This demon can exploit Hydra's weakness with Bufu+2 and does not have disadvantages against any of Hydra's attacks, making it a robust option throughout the fight.

• Another option: Mermaid, more attack power but weak to fire.

Apsaras

Essential For A Boss In Canon Of Vengeance

• Base level: 16

Naamah is a boss added to the game and one of the first significant changes that players will notice if they follow the Canon of Vengeance in Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance. Due to her skills, the fight can be complicated.

She has charm skills that affect the entire group, making Apsaras, who is immune to this type of magic, a crucial part of the battle. Apsaras also has Patra, which cures ailments like charm, helping allies affected during the fight.

Obariyon

Excellent Buffs And Debuffs

• Base level: 12

Obariyon is a versatile support for teams in Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance. It has various abilities that can increase the team's chances of evading attacks and reduce the accuracy of adversaries. It is immune to Dark attacks, which helps against Hydra and Naamah.

Additionally, Obariyon can aid the team more offensively, having +3 in physical attacks and the skill Bouncing Claw, which hits an enemy 1 to 3 times per round. Against Naamah, who is weak to this type of attack, Obariyon becomes even more powerful.

• Another option: Neko Shogun offers other usefull buffs.

Zhen

Physical Attacker For Combats

• Base level: 14

Unlike Ippon-Datara and Bicorn, Zhen does not deal significant damage in a single attack but has Needle Spray, which causes less damage but hits multiple times. The trick with Zhen is to enter the battle against enemies like Naamah with the Magatsuhi Gauge at maximum and activate Omagatoki: Critical on the first turn.

Thus, Zhen's attacks will exploit the enemy's weakness and be enhanced by the critical hit, making the damage even more devastating.

• Another option: Ippon-Datara and Bicorn.

Shiisaa

Support For The Second Part Of Minato Ward

• Base level: 19

For the second part of Minato Ward, where enemies are tougher, and battles against Eligor and Nuwa occur, players may consider using Shiisaa as a fixed party member. It has access to electric skills and resistance to force attacks, both highly valued characteristics in th game.

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Shiisaa also has Sukunda+2, which reduces the accuracy and evasion of enemies, allowing players to adapt it as a support to reduce enemy power when necessary.

• Another option: Take-Minakata

Jack-o'-Lantern

Fire Attacker Against Nuwa

• Base level: 20

The battle against Nuwa can be complicated without the right pieces, and Jack-o'-Lantern is essential for this fight. With an impressive +5 bonus in fire skills, he also uses Jack Agilao, which not only causes elemental damage but also reduces the opponent's attack.

Jack-o'-Lantern can later be used to fuse Alice during the mid-game. Players who want another fire-damage companion against Nuwa can include Aitvaras in the party, which is also very useful.

• Another option: Aitvaras.

Yoko Hiromine

Guest Character Who Can Use Items

Yoko Hiromine can join the team early on during the main quest "The Lay of the Land." She has many utilities, such as attacks that exploit enemy weaknesses and high attributes. However, as a story character, she joins and leaves as the narrative progresses.

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In Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance, only humans can handle items, so having characters like Yoko Hiromine in the party is crucial for accessing the inventory while Nahobino can be used for other tasks.

Nahobino

Adapt With Essences

As the main character, Nahobino will always occupy one of the four available party slots in Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance. Therefore, players need to use essences to change its affinities or learn new skills to better adapt to the combats in Minato Ward.

For example, against Hydra, it is important to have ice attacks. When facing Naamah, players can use Apsaras's essence to gain immunity to charm skills. For Nuwa, it is advisable to seek Sudama's essence, which is immune to force attacks.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

Platform(s)

PC , PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , Switch

Released

June 14, 2024

Genre(s)

JRPG

Developer(s)

Atlus