Cathedral of Shadows

The Cathedral of Shadows, as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE

The Cathedral of Shadows, also known as the Jakyou Manor or Heretic Mansion (邪教の館, Jakyō no Yakata)^? in most translations, is the location (or in some cases, computer application) where fusion of demons takes place in the core Shin Megami Tensei games.

The Cathedral usually contains several kinds of odd devices that are supervised by Mido, a head priest in blue. He offers services of fusing the comrade demons of a Devil Buster with no charge (except in IMAGINE). Several factors can affect the outcome of fusion, such the phases of the moon (or Kagutsuchi), the status of the Devil Buster, as well as the demons currently under his control.

The demons fused in the Cathedral of Shadows are bound by an unwritten law of subjugation, where the newly formed demon will only serve under a master of equal or greater strength. It's for this reason that the head priest will decline fusing demons if the result is beyond the current capabilities of the Devil Buster. This limitation is often removed during New Game Plus.

Appearances

• Megami Tensei
• Megami Tensei II
• Shin Megami Tensei
• Shin Megami Tensei II
• Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
• Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE
• Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
• Shin Megami Tensei IV
• Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse
• Majin Tensei
• Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis: As REMIX Station
• Devil Survivor / Overclocked

Profile

Megami Tensei

Unlike later games, the Cathedral is headed by a green, humanoid demon with a snake wrapped around him. He is replaced with the traditional minister in Kyuyaku Megami Tensei.

Shin Megami Tensei

The subjugation law is given an exception when the protagonist fuses his dog with another demon to create Cerberus, a demon whose level is well beyond the protagonist's own. This is because Pascal would retain his memories from the fusion and would still be loyal to his master.

Later on, the Chaos Hero will use the facility to fuse himself with one of the protagonist's demons to become a pseudo-fiend and increase his power tenfold. His purpose for doing this irreversible act is to merely exact revenge on Ozawa.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

The Cathedral of Shadows can first be accessed in the Vortex World upon reaching Shibuya. Spirits there mention a cathedral with odd ceremonies being held every so often. The minister offers his services to the Demi-fiend, well aware of the incredible destiny the latter is meant for. The aforementioned services range from normally fusing demons to performing sacrificial fusion rituals at Full Kagutsuchi, demon enhancement by using Elementals and Mitama, as well as the Demonic Compendium where recorded demons can be re-summoned for a fee proportionate to how much it has been trained and strengthened by experience in battle.

The minister offers a special reward to the Demi-Fiend if he manages to collect all of the 24 Magatama - the Lord's Sword, Taira no Masakado's very own blade, capable of opening the way to the Bandou Shrine and to the ultimate Magatama, Masakados. He will also grant a 50% summoning discount if the Demonic Compendium is completely filled with the record of every obtainable demon in existence.

Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE

The Master of the Cathedral in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE

The fusion mechanics in IMAGINE are basically the same as their core series counterparts, with the exception of the compendium, and triple fusion.

Triple fusions in IMAGINE require the participation of three different players, each of which must offer a different demon. Only the player starting the triple fusion will receive the resulting demon. When demons are at friendships of Open Hearts or Linked, it's possible for participants in the triple fusion to receive their crystal during the process.

There is no compendium for summoning departed demons in IMAGINE, only one for keeping records of their information. Acquiring the records of many demons grants various bonuses such as the ability to fuse certain unique demons and for every demon summoned to gain stat bonuses. Demons can be stored at terminals in most cities, but once they are used in fusion, they can not be regained unless they are refused or recruited again.

Additionally, the success rate of a fusion depends on the relationship level the player has with their demons. The higher the relationship, the more likely a fusion is to succeed. Should a fusion fail, the demons will be returned, but the player will still be charged the fee for the failed attempt.

Ikebukuro's Cathedral of Shadows Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE

The Ikebukuro cathedral also introduces new fusion mechanics, such as the ability to achieve 100% success in double-fusion and the ability to perform triple-fusion solo. These require payment in the Ikebukuro currency Kreuz and much higher demon friendship requirements than normal.

Shin Megami Tensei IV

The Cathedral of Shadows is added to a Samurai's Gauntlet once they have spent the APP Points necessary for it. It is run by Mido. The App is stored on a server which the gauntlets access to use the app. Fusing demons now rewards experience to the summoner and their demon when it is used and comes with a detailed search function that looks for demon fusion formulas. The Cathedral can now summon demons directly from the compendium for fusion if the summoner has the macca for it.

Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse

The Cathedral of Shadows applet comes pre-installed on Nanashi's smartphone once Dagda repairs it. It retains the same functionality and interface as in IV.

Devil Survivor

The fusion system in Devil Survivor is a program in a summoner's COMP. In the fusing program, called "cath.exe", there are two modes, Fusion and Search. In Fusion, the player can fuse two demons they own together to make a whole new demon, on the condition that the resulting demon's level mustn't be higher than the protagonist's. In Search, they can search for demon combinations they can perform, and research categories such as race, existence (Confirmed or Unconfirmed) and previously owned by the player's party.

Trivia

• In Nocturne, the player can listen to the classic Jakyou Manor BGMs from prior Shin Megami Tensei games by having a Cerberus or an Orthrus demon in the party when entering the Cathedral Of Shadows during a New Kagutsuchi phase.
• This is also the music played in IMAGINE's Cathedral.

See Also

• Gouma-Den
• Velvet Room

Mechanics
Franchise-wide
Demon - Magic (Fusion Spell) - Battle Stats - Damage - Accuracy - Experience - Level - Element - Extra Skills - Critical - Status effects - Macca - Yen - Magnetite - Incense - Alignment - Moon Phase System - Demon Summoning Program (COMP) - Cathedral of Shadows (Fusion - Skill Inheritance - Accidents / Special / Three-demon / Sacrificial / Sword) - Demonic Compendium - Evolution - Special conversation - Rag's Jewelry - Code Breaker - Turn Press - New Game Plus - Ultimate Boss - Streetpass - Password - Difficulty - Skill Mutation
Shin Megami Tensei series
Terminal - Guardian (if...) - RTS (NINE) - Magatama (3) - Reason (3) - EX Missions (SJ) - Challenge Quest (4) - Whisper event (4) - Smirk (4) - Barrier (4) - Partners (4A)
Devil Summoner series
Loyalty - Personality - Mystic Change - Nemechi (SH) - Case Files (RKKA)
Majin Tensei series
Rank - Affinity (2) - Arcana (Ronde)
Persona series
Shadows / Personas (Initial / Prime / Ultimate / Ancestor / Reverse / Sub) - Skill Card - Totem (1) - Type/Subtype (1+2) - Affinity (1+2) - Rank (1+2) - Mystic Change (1+2+5) - One More (3-5) - Growth Rate (1+2) - Unknown Power (1+EP) - Personality (1+2, 5) - Material Card (2) - Mutation (2) - All-Out Attack (Cut-in) - Heart Item (3) - Shuffle Time (3+4) - Daily Life (3-5) - Calendar (3-5) - Social Stats (3-5) - Social Link (3+4) - Tactics (3-5) - Requests (3-5;Q+Q2) - Arcana Chance (4) - Forecasts (Fusion / Weather) (4+5) - Guard (3P+4+5) - Boost (Q+Q2) - Power Spot (Q+Q2) - F.O.E (Q+Q2) - Confidant (5) - Technical (5) Treasure Demon (5) - Party Switch (5) - Disaster Shadow (5R) - Fusion alarm (5R) - Persona Traits (5R) - Third Eye (5)
Devil Children series
Trainer - Bank - BattleNet - Relic Fusion - Power Fusion - Powers
Digital Devil Saga series
Berserk Mode (2)
Devil Survivor series
Devil Auction - Extra Turn Battle - Skill Crack - Titles (DSO / DS2 / RB) - Fate System (2) - Add-On (2)
Other
Equip Type (GMT:TM) - Class Change (TMS♯FE) - Topic System (TMS♯FE) - Side Quests (TMS♯FE) - Ad-lib Performance (TMS♯FE) - Session (TMS♯FE) - Dual Arts (TMS♯FE)

Shin Megami Tensei
Playable Characters	Protagonist - Heroine - Law Hero - Chaos Hero - Pascal
Non-Playable Characters	Stephen - Ozawa - Yuriko - Old Man - Gotou - Ambassador Thorman - En no Ozuno - Louis Cyphre
Locations	Tokyo - Kichijoji - Shinjuku - Ichigaya - Diamond Realm - Shibuya - Roppongi - Ginza Underpass - Ginza - Tokyo Tower - Shinagawa - Ikebukuro - Ueno - Tokyo Destinyland - Basilica - River Styx
Terminology	Terminal - Alignment - Ring of Gaea - Order of Messiah - Great Cataclysm - Sword fusion - Four Heavenly Kings
Soundtracks	Shin Megami Tensei Sound Collection
Archives	Demons - Bosses - Skills - Items