Cerberus, in Greek myth, is a monster that guards the gates of the underworld, the realm of Hades and the dead. It is generally depicted as a vicious, gargantuan dog with three heads, although accounts may vary.
Cerberus is in fact the Latin transliteration of the Greek name Kerberos. The dominance of Latin throughout the modern Western world was for many centuries precipitated by functionaries of the Roman Catholic Church. However within contemporary non-denominational academic discourse, the use of Latin for non-Roman words is in sharp decline.
Cerberus is encountered like any other demon near the end of the Tower of Daedalus within a corridor on the way to Valhalla. He is also featured on the game's startup screen and graphics, and appears in stills from the Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei OVA printed within the game manual.
Megami Tensei (Telenet)
Cerberus is first seen when Nakajima enters Yesod. After being attacked by Loki, Cerberus decides to join Nakajima and can be summoned using the COMP.
Megami Tensei II
Cerberus may be encountered and welcomed into the player's party via an optional side-quest which entails gaining access to the Intelligence Building by which the player's party is able to re-enter the Devil Busters video game.
Shin Megami Tensei
"Origin: Greece. The guard dog of the gates of Tartarus. It has three heads and a snake's tail, and is the son of Echidna and Typhon, god of storms. It viciously attacks both the living who near the gates, and the dead who try to escape."
—Shin Megami Tensei A-Mode DDS Dictionary
After having his mother killed and eaten by a demon, the protagonist can choose to add his dog, Pascal, into his party. In normal circumstances, Pascal serves as a low level ally. However, when fused with a demon in the Cathedral of Shadows, he transforms into the high level demon Cerberus. Because of Pascal's former loyalty towards his master passes on to him through fusion, Cerberus can be used even when his level far surpasses that of the Hero—something that is generally impossible. He aids him in only one boss battle however, disappearing through a terminal after that boss fight.
Much later in the game, Cerberus stands on the bridge that leads to Tokyo Destinyland in a berserk state that can only be reversed if the protagonist possess the valuable "Golden Apple". Because of the power of this item to stabilize violent demons, Cerberus comes back to his senses and recognizes the Hero, thus choosing to share his fate by joining his party.
Shin Megami Tensei II
Cerberus first joins Aleph on the first quest Madam gives him: find and bring back Hanada. After this quest, he leaves the party. Later, when Valhalla is swallowed by Abaddon, he will be found at the former entrance to the city from the underground passageway. He joins Aleph's party shortly after meeting him for the second time.
It is revealed in extra visionary scenes in the GBA and iOS versions that he is the same Cerberus from Shin Megami Tensei, and maintains Pascal's memories and consciousness.
Shin Megami Tensei: if...
After defeating the boss of the World of Gluttony, a sidequest to recruit Cerberus becomes avaiable. If the player returns to Karukozaka High School, a broken CD can be found on the ground. The CD can then be taken to Katsuhiko Sato, the president of the school's computer club who will attempt to fix it, releasing the Cerberus that was stored inside. Katsuhiko then runs away from the demon and asks the protagonist to help. Cerberus, angry at being trapped inside the CD, demands that the protagonist let him pass. If the player refuses, Cerberus will start a fight right there. If the player complies, Cerberus will go but can be found in one of the rooms and challenged anytime. After being defeated, he'll recognize the strength of the protagonist and join the party despite the massive difference of levels.
Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX
Cerberus is an optional boss faced after completing Chernobog's challenge. Madam will call the protagonist and Ain to bring back her pet who has ran away. After being found, Cerberus appears to be brainwashed and attacks the party. Defeating it makes him summonable through fusion.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
"The feared guard dog of hades in Greek mythology. His parents were the giants Typhon and Echidna. He is the brother of Orthrus."
—Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Compendium
Cerberus first appears at the Burial Chamber in the Amala Labyrinth's First Kalpa, where it will challenge you to prove your worth as a demon by quickly vanquishing once more those that you have killed in the Vortex World using the Black Visor. After meeting all the requirements and starting a new cycle, meeting with Cerberus again in the same location will have him take you to his master's resting place instead at the Tomb of Yomi in the hidden 666th floor, where you will receive an extra Press Turn.
Cerberus can also be encountered and recruited inside the Diet Building.
Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE
"The Hound of Hell in Greek mythology. Its name means "Demon of the Pit". It is known as the loyal servant of Hades, the king of the Underworld. Cerberus was born from the union of the half-serpent Echidna and the storm giant Typhon. The two-headed beast Orthrus is his brother. Cerberus appears as a three-headed dog with with snakes all over his body and a dragon's tail. The three heads are said to represent the past, the present and the times yet to come. Cerberus guards the gates of the Underworld, the realm of the dead, welcoming souls of the dead from the outside world, but ferociously attacking all those who attempt to leave. It was traditional in ancient Greece to place a copper coin and a honeycake in coffins. This was so that the departed souls could pay Charon, the boatman of the river Styx, to ferry them across the river, and feed Cerberus, who favored sweets."
—Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE Compendium
Cerberus is among the first demons to contract with the player as an injured demon that requests Snakeman to allow it to assist the player. This Cerberus is the former demon partner of DB Kuroe, the player's mentor from the tutorial and during the story he'll need to be returned to Snakeman. Once reaching level 30, a player regains the Cerberus as a stronger variation. Cerberus can be encountered within the gold level instance of Suginami Tunnels and appears regularly as a boss within the main storyline and as the final boss of the Suginami Tunnels Unknown plate boss rush. In the later acts, Cerberus is an intermediary for the leader of Protopia, Madam Justice, in giving story missions until a player has fully committed to the neutral route of the final acts. Within the neutral route, he is the boss players must defeat to gain access to the Ring of Human Being necessary to access the fight with Seth in Act 20.
Cerberus is the tutorial mountable demon and among the regular mounts within the game. Variations using the three-headed model from Digital Devil Saga can be acquired through events, special fusions, or a plug-in variant acquired through Shinjuku's Gomory called Asura Cerberus that learns the special skills Phlegethon and Pyriphlegethon.
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Cerberus is fought in the Challenge Quest "Banquet of Flames". The quest involves an enraged Cerberus on a rampage around Tokyo, provoking local hunters to set a quest out for his defeat. After multiple encounters, Cerberus eventually calms down and returns to his realm.
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
"The guardian hound of Hades in Greek mythology. It traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. It was born from Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters."
—Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers 3DS Compendium
Cerberus possesses the Loyalty Slash technique, and until the 3DS remake this was his signature move.
In the 3DS remake, a variant Cerberus can be purchased from Nemechi (dango form), and costs 300 D-Souls. His artwork is based on his traditional design from the first Shin Megami Tensei game. This version loses his vulnerability to ice magic and is better suited at casting spells, but does not have Loyalty Slash.
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army
"The guardian hound of Hades in Greek mythology. Traditionally, it has three heads and a snake`s tail. It is the offspring of Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters."
—Devil Summoner Devil Chart
Persona 3
Cerberus appears as Koromaru's initial Persona. It is a fire and darkness elemental Persona and differs from the usual appearance as a black three-headed hound resembling a Doberman. The original Cerberus can also be accessed and used by the Protagonist by using a cheat device.
Persona 3: FES
When fought as an opponent, Cerberus can use several unique skills outside of its normal moveset, which are as follows:
Ragnarok (when fighting ???)
Brave Blade (in Colosseo Purgatorio)
Ghastly Wail (in Colosseo Purgatorio)
Life Drain (in Colosseo Purgatorio)
Megidolaon (in Colosseo Purgatorio)
Devil Children Black/Red Book
Cerberus appears in Devil Children Black Book as Cool, the demon companion to Setsuna Kai. Cool appears when Setsuna uses a Devil Riser to attempt to save his brother from Jack Frost.
DemiKids: Light/Dark Version
"Loyal to its master, this fierce wolf-demon guards the gates of Dem."
Known as Nex, he has the power Odds Breaker, which lets him go for the win when the chips are down. Nex is obtained by beating Setsuna Kai in battlenet.
Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner
Cerberus is the Atma Avatar of Lupa, the leader of the Wolves. He serves as the boss fight in the Samsara Waterways. In this title, Cerberus appears as a three-headed, eyeless beast.
The battle will begin as soon as the party reaches the light at the top of the ramp, across from the Large Karma Terminal that is designated Samsara Tunnels 3. Unlike most bosses so far, Cerberus does not have an actual weakness and resists everything aside from Ice and Physical attacks. Cerberus also has the High Counter and Counterstrike skills, which makes Physical attacks without retaliation difficult.
Cerberus has three heads, each of which fulfill a different role. Cerberus (R) uses buff and debuff spells along with Ice Repel. Cerberus (L) acts as a healer, but will focus on healing the center head. Finally, Cerberus (C) is the main attacking head. Each head grants Cerberus one press turn, so destroying a head will reduce the number of turns Cerberus can take.
Devil Survivor 2
"The guardian hound of Hades in Greek lore. Traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. He was born from Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters. he is also Orthrus' older brother."
—Devil Survivor 2 Compendium
Devil Survivor 2: The Animation
Cerberus serves as Yamato's main demon. Its status serves as a nod to a scene early in the game where Yamato uses it to dispatch some demons before showing the JP's underground trains to the party. He summoned it at the young age of 5, and it has accompanied him ever since. To date, Yamato has used Cerberus in fending off Phecda and Megrez.
Tokyo Revelation
Cerberus is summoned by Gagyson in order to kill Kojiro, who poses a threat to Gagyson's plans. Although he succeeds in killing Kojiro's dog Patra, he is stopped from finishing Kojiro thanks to a monk. The monk then defeats Cerberus and gives him an ultimatum: protect Kojiro or die. Choosing the former, he betrays Gagyson and takes the form of Patra while guarding him. After Ose is summoned he becomes the steed of Kojiro after the human incarnates into his true form, Masakado.
"THOU ART THE ONE WHO CALLED CERBERUS THE BEAST. I SHALL BE THY SWORD AND SHIELD."
"I SEE. I WANTED TO TRAVEL WITH THEE MORE, BUT IF THIS HELPS THEE, I GO AT YOUR LEAVE!"
Devil Survivor 2
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Gallery
Kyūyaku concept art
Cerberus in Shin Megami Tensei
Cerberus as seen in Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers.
Concept artwork of Cerberus in Persona 3
Concept anime sketch of Cerberus in Persona 3 The Movie
Cerberus in Persona 3 The Movie
Cerberus as Koromaru's Persona from Persona 3
Cerberus with Kala-Nemi in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
Artwork from Devil Children Red/Black Book.
Artwork from Digital Devil Saga.
Cerberus as he appears in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.
Cerberus as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE
Three-headed variation of Cerberus as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE
Cerberus in Last Bible III
Cerberus in Majin Tensei
Cerberus in Giten Megami Tensei
Cerberus, Koromaru's Persona, in battle
Cerberus as it appears in Digital Devil Saga
Cerberus in Devil Survivor
Cerberus in Devil Survivor 2
Cerberus as it appears in Card Summoner
Cerberus as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei Gaiten Hato no Senki
Cerberus in Devil Survivor 2 The Animation Manga Adaption
Cerberus as he appears in the Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei OVA
Cerberus as he appears in Tokyo Revelation.
Cerberus as he appears in Devil Survivor 2 The Animation
Trivia
Cerberus is one of the earliest demon allies to appear as part of the Megami Tensei franchise. His roots put him as far back as the very first Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei publications.
Cerberus is one of the most frequently appearing demons in the series besides Jack Frost.
