Satan

Satan (サタン, Satan) is a recurring important figure revolving the Shin Megami Tensei series. Throughout the series, Satan serves as a servant of YHVH, which he also shares a black and white belief. Satan is commonly associated with temptation of God, and is often portrayed as judgmental. In the Persona franchise, Satan appears as a high-level Persona. Satan, in all series' continuity, is also Lucifer's enemy, and each of them detests the other.

Appearances

 * Megami Tensei II: Maou
 * Shin Megami Tensei II: Shinrei (boss), Daitenshi (ally)
 * Majin Tensei: Maou
 * Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis: Maou Clan (Supporting cast: Law Routes only)
 * Megami Ibunroku Persona: Judgement Arcana
 * Persona 2: Innocent Sin: Judgement Arcana
 * Persona 2: Eternal Punishment: Judgement Arcana
 * Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne: Magatama
 * Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2: Fiend (Ultimate optional boss, Maou race in JP)
 * Persona 3: Judgement Arcana
 * Persona 3: FES: Judgement Arcana
 * Persona 4: Judgement Arcana
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Fallen Race
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Red Book
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Black Book
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children White Book
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Black Book/Red Book (PS)
 * Shin Megami Tensei: DemiKids: Light Version Dredalus
 * Shin Megami Tensei: DemiKids: Dark Version Dredalus
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Fire Book
 * Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Ice Book

History
Satan is a prominent figure in the Abrahamic religions, playing various roles in their literature. It may either be depicted as a rebel to the will of God, or as one who tempts mankind to commit sin to show God that mankind can easily be led astray from Him. In Judaism, Satan is an agent of God, with no will of its own. Satan would appear to those who are sinful, playing into their hearts and towing them into despair. In Christian literature, when God commanded the angels to bow to Adam, a human, Satan (then called Lucifer or Helel) allied other angels against this command with the belief that angels are above all other creations. It and other "fallen angels" fought against the forces of God and was utterly defeated; as a result, Satan was cast down into hell. In Islam, Satan refer to demons, with Iblis as their figurehead who played the role of Satan in Christianity.

Shin Megami Tensei II
Satan, better known as Zain is a member of the Temple Knights alongside Hiroko. He appears as a firm believer of the Center and a commanding officer for Aleph. However, he rebels after witnessing the tragedies that the Center inflicts upon the people of Tokyo Millennium and discovers the true nature of the Thousand Year Kingdom. Learning the flaws and lies of the center, Zain dedicates himself of spreading the truth about the Center's machinations. It is also revealed that he is another of the Center's creations, designated protect Aleph.

It is later revealed that Zain is actually an incarnation of Satan, an instrument of YHVH's will sent to judge all creatures on Earth; both men and demons alike. He fuses with his other half (Set) and transforms into his true form.

Depending upon the player's options, Satan plays either the role of an enemy or an ally. In the Neutral and Chaos alignment paths, he attempts to use the Megiddo Arc (a powerful laser weapon within Eden) to destroy all life on the planet as his judgment. He is killed by Aleph before he can carry out his plans, and his death prompts the appearance of YHVH. In the Law alignment path he joins forces with Aleph and Hiroko to defeat YHVH after it wipes out humanity on Earth. Afterwards, having killed his creator, he crumbles to dust.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
Satan appears a high level Magatama in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. It can be acquired by defeating the optional boss Black Frost in the Kabukicho Prison. It focuses mainly on magic growth.

Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2
Satan makes an appearance as the Ultimate Boss in Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2. He can be fought in the final dungeon, the Sun, where he attempts to deliver his judgment towards the party in the place of God. Unique from other bosses, Satan can only be fought under the Hard mode difficulty, or players transfer the Save Data of Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner onto the sequel and select Hard Mode. His special attack is God's Breath, which can only be avoided if the player's party kept enacting the Charge combo spell. God's Breath can be survived with Close Call, although it's futile trying it.

Interestingly, Satan's attacks and speech during battle reminiscence of his role and story in Shin Megami Tensei II, with him proclaiming God would force judgment upon Seraph and his assertion that a heretic was trying to destroy the balance of the universe. Besides, Schrödinger will state at the end of the battle he was only a memory and that the God he worshipped was different from the God awaiting at the final layer of the Sun.

Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Satan appears as the ultimate persona of the Judgement Arcana in Persona 2: Innocent Sin. He is the highest-leveled Judgement Arcana persona available throughout the game, capable only of being summoned once the player reaches Lv. 91 or above. Satan, along with Lucifer, grants the most powerful Fusion Spell, Armageddon, which instantly destroys all foes regardless of their affinities, including all bosses. Satan's appearance in Innocent Sin resembles his 'true' form in Shin Megami Tensei II, having a dragon-esque head resembling Seth.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
Satan returns as the ultimate Persona of Judgement Arcana and one of the highest leveled personas in Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. His material card can be purchased in the Mu Continent for 50,000 coins after Ellen has left the party. Satan, along with Lucifer, is one of the ultimate personas of the game, only being available for summoning once the player has reached Lv. 91 or above. His unique Fusion Spell with Lucifer, Armageddon, is now ineffective against one Ultimate Boss. Casting this unto him will result in a counterattack, Armageddon R, which immediately wipes out all party members.

Persona 3
Satan appears as a persona of the Judgement arcana. He is available to be summoned if the player has reached LV 78 or above. Satan and Lucifer's Fusion Raid, Armageddon, always deals 9999 almighty damage to all enemies regardless of target's defense, making it the most powerful spell in the game.

Persona 4
Satan appears as a persona of the Judgement Arcana in Persona 4. He is available to be summoned should players have reached Lv. 76 or above. Interestingly, Satan's in-game model's color palette bears a darker hue and a stronger contrast compared to Persona 3. His portrait is more faithful to the original illustration in Shin Megami Tensei II, prominently retains the 6 nipples which were edited out in Persona 3.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

 * " Focuses on learning special magic"

Trivia

 * The skill Black Viper is a reference to the snake that tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.
 * In Persona 3 Black Viper cost 60 MP, it's power is a multiple of 6 (900) and it's learned at level 86, which all contain 6, the number of the beast.
 * Satan's artwork is slightly censored in Persona 3 and 4.
 * It's possible that the Satan in Digital Devil Saga 2 is the solar data of the Satan for Shin Megami Tensei II.
 * Devil Survivor 2 is the first game to have Satan as part of the Fallen clan.