"When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not damage the oil and the wine."
—Revelation 6:5-6.
The Black Rider, or Black Horsemen, is the third of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, riding a black horse, is popularly called Famine. The black color of the third horse symbolized death and famine, bearing a scale of famine. The rider rides onward, denying the world life-sustaining food and bringing starvation, but being ordered by divine law to not harm oil or wine. The rider is shown holding a scale, which represents scarcity of food, higher prices and famine, likely as a result of the wars caused by the red horseman. Food will be scarce, but luxuries such as wine and oil will still be readily available.
The "a measure of wheat for a penny" from the King James Version of the Bible might not sound like a famine to modern ears, but in the NIV we read "a quart of wheat for a day's wages," which is a little clearer. While it's never identified as his own, it is implied that the voice John the Apostle hears coming from "the third of the four living creatures" comes from the Black Rider, making it the only horseman that actually vocalizes his intentions, the aforementioned raise in prices.
"One of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. He rides on a black horse and holds a scale in his hands. He causes famine, starving people to death, but leaves the luxuries intact."
—Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne compendium
Black Rider appears as one of the Candelabrum holders sent by Lucifer to test the Demi-fiend, possessing the Candelabrum of Wisdom. He first appears with the other Horsemen of the Apocalypse when the Demi-fiend first ventures into the Third Kalpa. After clearing the Obelisk (but only after defeating White Rider and Red Rider first), Black Rider will appear inside an empty room on the second floor of the Shinjuku Medical Center's Annex Building (Room 204B). Defeating Black Rider in battle will get the Demi-fiend the Candelabrum of Wisdom.
After being defeated and once the Demi-fiend reaches level 61, Black Rider can be fused in the Cathedral of Shadows on the New Kagutsuchi phase if the Demi-fiend possesses a Deathstone, a special item found only in the Labyrinth of Amala. Black Rider can be fused by any combination of demons resulting in a Night race.
Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE[]
Black Rider appears as the summon orb boss of the Suginami Tunnels silver-level instance. He also appears as a boss within the Chain of Curse Deep Docks instance and a boss of the TR-Route of Denshi Kairo, through which the ability to fuse him can be obtained. He is a special triple fusion of Red Rider, Legion and Jikokuten.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey[]
"One of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, he rides a black horse and carries a scale. He has the power to bring famine, and the right to end people's lives through their suffering."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey compendium
Black Rider appears as the resident Fiend of Sector Fornax, once defeated he will be available for fusion. He is also the only demon in the game that drops the Judgment Scale Forma after being defeated.
Shin Megami Tensei IV[]
Black Rider has a 1/256 chance of appearing in the Tennozu Shelter, at the small vent near the center of the shelter. When the fight begins, Black Rider will use Wastrel Beam 5 times, wiping out most of the party's macca. From there, he will mostly use Glacial Blast and Energy Drain, although he will use Megidolaon even if the party does not fully resist Ice, unless his Almighty spam mode is triggered, Black Rider will only use Megidolaon once per turn. The reward for defeating him is 300,000 macca, 3 Gold Death Masks and the ability to create him in special fusion.
Black Rider is fought alongside the other three in the Challenge Quest, Errand for the Apocalypse. Belial has sealed the four in a Domain found in Infernal Tokyo's Ikebukuro. They are far weaker than they are when encountered normally, with Black Rider only having Glacial Blast and Blight. If Flynn makes any attempt to challenge them before accepting the quest, the Fiends will eject him from the domain. Completing the quest grants Flynn the Peacemaker, which is only surpassed by the Plasma Gun in terms of raw power.
Location Screenshot
Location Minimap
Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse[]
Black Rider, along with all the other Fiends, is encountered in Twisted Tokyo. Black Rider is encountered on B20F and drops the Constraint Scale second cycles onwards. He is fought at level 958 on cycle nine.
Shin Megami Tensei V[]
Black Rider, along with the other Fiends that held Menorahs and the Demi-fiend, appear as part of the Return of the True Demon DLC pack. As before, defeating Black Rider unlocks the ability to fuse him. When reaching a certain point in the Chiyoda area (after defeating Surt), he and the other Riders talk to the Nahobino in a cutscene, after which they can defeated one by one, with Black Rider being the third, as in Nocturne.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance[]
Black Rider, along with all of the DLC demons available for the original version of Shin Megami Tensei V, returns for Vengeance, and will come prepackaged into the game. He, appears in the Canon of Vengeance-exclusive Shinjuku (between the Shinjuku 1st Block and 3rd Block leyline founts), as it replaces Chiyoda, after defeating Hell Biker together with the other Rider Fiends in the same cutscene as in the original game.
Persona 5[]
"One of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he rides a black horse and carries scales. He brings famine and has the right to end lives through suffering."
—Persona 5 background
Black Rider is the fifth Persona of the Tower Arcana and can only be obtained through fusion in the Velvet Room. He is one of the three sources of the Flash Bomb skill and the first Persona that the protagonist can use in battle to learn Maeigaon. He is also one of the four Personas to learn the BloodbathPhysical skill, which can be enhanced with his Ambient Aid skill to inflict Fear status. Black Rider can then capitalize on this further when he levels up, as he is one of the three Personas to learn Ghastly Wail. When itemized through Electric Chair execution, Black Rider yields a Bad Beatskill card. Black Rider is required in order to summon Trumpeter through advanced fusion.
Inflicts Ice (Magic) damage with 160 power on a Single Enemy
Innate
Famine
Auto
At start of enemy turn: Inflicts 15% fractional damage (300 max) on all enemies based on their max HP and reduces their MP by 2. Fractional damage will not be affected by stat/damage increase or reduction effects.
Innate
Soul Divide
Auto
When an enemy demon restores HP using a skill: Inflicts 50% fractional damage (2,000 max) on all enemies based on their current HP. Fractional damage will not be affected by stat/damage increase or reduction effects.
Innate
Glacial Blast
5 MP
Inflicts Ice (Magic) damage 2 to 4 times with 55 power on Random Enemies.
Aragami (Awaken)
Ice Amp
Auto
+25% to Ice damage
Aragami (Gacha)
Mind Blast
7 MP
Inflicts Almighty (Magic) damage on a single enemy with 100 power and reduces MP by 4.
Protector (Awaken)
Epitome of Fortitude
Auto
+20% to max HP, -50% to Critical hit rate of damage received.
Protector (Gacha)
Auto-Tarunda
Auto
Casts Tarunda at the beginning of the 1st turn
Psychic (Awaken)
Ice Age
7 MP
Inflicts Ice (Magic) damage with 180 power on a Single Enemy.
Psychic (Gacha)
Null Fire
Auto
Adds Fire Null.
Elementalist (Awaken)
Enduring Soul
Auto
Heals 200 HP upon receiving the first killing blow.
Elementalist (Gacha)
Gallery[]
Black Rider as he appears in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
Black Rider as he appears in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE
Black Rider in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Black Rider`s portrait in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Black Rider as he appears in Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
Black Rider in Persona 5 Royal
Black Rider in Persona O.A.
Black Rider casting Soul Divide in Shin Megami Tensei V