Ahriman

Ahriman's first form as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.

"Amuse me with your strength, evil one, before eternal silence is upon us."

—Ahriman, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

Ahriman (アーリマン, Āriman), also known as Angra Mainyu (アンリ・マンユ, Anri Manyu), is a recurring demon in the series.

History

Ahriman, being the Middle Persian equivalent of Angra Mainyu (meaning "absolute antithesis"), is the chief evil spirit in Zoroastrianism. Comparable to the Christian concept of the Devil, or Satan. He's the antithesis of the god Ahura Mazda, who instead represent the chief deity of the Zoroastrian pantheon. In some novels, he is depicted as an avenger god.

Appearances

• Shin Megami Tensei: if...: Maou Clan
• Shin Megami Tensei: if... Hazama's Chapter: Boss
• Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX Devil's Colosseum: Maou Clan
• Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne: Demonic Sponsor, Tyrant
• Majin Tensei II: Jashin Clan (Final boss of Neutral Route)
• Ronde: Boss
• Persona 2: Eternal Punishment: Tatsuya Scenario Boss (PSP)

Profile

Shin Megami Tensei: if...

Angra Mainyu appears as a mini-boss in the upper floors of the school.

Shin Megami Tensei: if... Hazama's Chapter

Angra Mainyu appears defending the room where the player meets Lucifer.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

Ahriman's second form as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.

Ahriman is the Demonic Sponsor of Hikawa, promoting the Reason of Shijima. He is summoned within the heights of the Diet Building, as a member of the Tyrant Race. If the Demi-Fiend's ideals differ from Shijima, he must fight and kill Ahriman to continue past a certain point in the Tower of Kagutsuchi. If the Demi-Fiend follows Shijima himself, Ahriman lets him pass without conflict, giving him the Netherstone key item as a token of good will. If fought, Ahriman is introduced as a peculiar boss, in that demands to be "amused" before killing the protagonist. He will randomly forbid the use of specific actions, such as physical attacks, items usage, demon summoning, and so on, killing instantly whichever character failed to respect these limitations with his signature move Hell's Call.

However, after a certain amount of damage, he will lose himself to the bloodlust and deploy his full offensive capabilities, releasing his tentacles from their bindings and using them as whips and piercing weapons. During the second phase, he will lose the ability to restrict the enemy's actions, but will instead gain a destructive Almighty-type move, Apocalypse. When Ahriman dies, at the top of its head, Hikawa will acknowledge his defeat and regret his vision of the world of Shijima would not come to pass, passing into the silent realm of the dead.

Majin Tensei II

Angra Mainyu is the final boss of the Neutral route of the game. After clearing both the Amnesia and Paranoia maps, you will be sent back to Megapolis where you will engage a large number of demons and humans under his control. Angra Mainyu himself is extremely weak to Ice, so several Bufu spells or ice element related skills should finish him off rather quickly.

Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers

While not seen directly, Ahriman is referenced through the spell "240,000,000 Evils", which unleashes his power to inflict Almighty damage to all Neutral aligned demons.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

Angra Mainyu resides in the Tower of Ethics that is part of the Kadath Mandala. Angra Mainyu is surprised to see humans in this world and recalls that 25940 days have passed since he last met Randolph Carter. He asks them if there is there such a thing as unwavering goodness? He approves of all their answers and tells them that goodness and wickedness are relative concepts, not limitless. Nevertheless, rivalry is necessary to explain things that are connected. If he, the one who owns the Trapezohedron of Ethics is evil, then they too, the ones who wish for it, are evil. Throughout history the destruction of antagonistic peoples and countries has been encouraged in the name of gods as a good thing. Is this a virtue?

Katsuya answers his question correctly: If there is no good and evil then Angra Mainyu would not exist. Thus without the boundary between the two neither could Ahura Mazda. He then gives them the Trapezohedron of Ethics.

Stats

Shin Megami Tensei: if...

Race Level HP MP CP Alignment Maou 82 999 517 1312 Strength Intelligence Magic Stamina Agility Luck 32 20 17 23 19 10 NOA Attack Hit Defense Avoid MPower MEffect 2～3 228 152 210 149 22 24 List of Skills Skill Cost Effect

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

Level Race HP MP STR MGC VIT AGL LCK   Tyrant Strong Void Drains Repels Weak - - - - - List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Agidyne Convo Heavy fire damage to one foe. Bufudyne Convo Heavy ice damage and 30% freeze to one foe. Zandyne Convo Heavy force damage to one foe. Ziodyne Convo Heavy electric damage and 30% shock to one foe. Maragidyne Convo Heavy fire damage to all foes. Mabufudyne Convo Heavy ice damage and 15% freeze to all foes. Mazandyne Convo Heavy force damage to all foes. Maziodyne Convo Heavy electric damage and 15% shock to all foes. Megidolaon Convo Mega almighty damage to all foes. Dekunda Convo Removes all debuffs from all allies. Dekaja Convo Removes all buffs from all foes. Hell's Call Convo 100% non-elemental instant kill to one foe who has performed action which Ahriman forbids. Tentacle Convo Heavy physical damage to all foes. Apocalypse Convo Mega almighty damage to all foes.

Majin Tensei II

Race Level HP MP Movement Move Type Range Vile 98 500 0 7 Walk 1-3 Strength Wisdom Magic Defense Agility Luck MAG 35 35 35 35 25 5 2780 Attack Phys Defense Magic Attack Magic Defense Hit Avoid Critical List of Skills

Gallery

Angra Mainyu as he appears in Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

Trivia

• Although the actual Angra Mainyu is considered a prototype of God's archenemy and a "god" of chaos, in Majin Tensei II he is a Jashin, a DARK-LAW clan; an odd choice for the being considering this. To add to this irony, in the same game, his arch-enemy, Ahura Mazda, is a Tenma, a LIGHT-CHAOS clan, which is also odd considering he is a prototype of God and a god of order.