Halphas, also known as Malthus, Malthas or Malphas (which is also the name of another demon in the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum), is the 38th spirit of the Ars Goetia, ruling 26 legions of spirits. He is a great earl and appears in the form of a stock dove that speaks with a hoarse voice. His office is to build towers and furnish them with weapons and ammunition. He also sends men of war to places appointed.
"One of the 72 demons of the Goetia. He is called the Count of death and destruction, and appears as a jet-black dove with blood-red eyes. He is a craftsman and builds towers full of weapons."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey compendium
Halphas appears in Sector Carina's Sanctums as a recruitable enemy. A lone Halphas can be found in the top floor of Mitra's Tower in Sector Bootes. He issues an EX Mission to be entertained with a hunting expedition. When satisfied, he will hand over the Rare Forma UMA's Ball, an artifact needed to create UMA Race demons.
If Flynn has not yet accepted the Challenge Quest "Rebirth of the Great Overlord" and goes to the Domain in Tokyo Bay, a Halphas can be met there. He says that his master has yet to be resurrected. Once he revives, he says the humans won't survive for long and tells him to go away.
Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse[]
Halphas appears in Shinjuku in the west entrance buildings and the government office building areas. Halphas can teach the Tarukaja, Heat Wave, Rakukaja and Fatal Sword skills. Halphas's skill potentials give it a minor boost to physical skills, but also give it a +5 to support skills, the highest available. Halphas is one of two demons, along with Mayahuel, to have a maximized skill potential without the use of battle plans.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance[]
"One of the 72 demons of the "Ars Goetia." He is called the Count of Death and Destruction, and appears as a jet-black dove with blood-red eyes. He is a craftsman and builds towers full of weapons."
—Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance lore
Halphas is a demon of the Fallen race and can be found in the East Azabu region of Da'at: Minato.
During the "Home Sweet Home" subquest (which can only be done after the subquest "Movin on Up), a family of three Halphas demons of different sizes will ask the Nahobino for help finding a new place to live to escape the heat. The largest one is still named Halphas, the medium sized one is named "Mrs. Halphas," and the smallest one is named "Halphas Jr." The largest one states that they moved to Da'at for business reasons from his master Glasya-Labolas. They need a place that is cool and sturdy, additionally requesting someone to serve as their bodyguard. The Oni nearby (from the subquest "Movin on Up) must be convinced to allow them to live in his cave to complete the subquest. The Nahobino will receive the Unwrit Chaos Periapt as a reward for their assistance.
Soul Hackers 2[]
"One of the 72 demons of the Goetia. He is called the Count of death and destruction, and appears as a jet-black dove with blood-red eyes. He is a craftsman and builds towers full of weapons."
—Soul Hackers 2 demon info
Halphas can be found as a normal enemy in Saizo's Soul Matrix 1F.
Halphas' Devil Summoner design is based on Malphas' illustration in the Dictionnaire Infernal, but also from Caim's illustration due to the latter holding a sword and scabbard, design elements which were not found in Malphas' appearance. The two inspirations are both illustrated to be based on black birds though.
Halphas is normally said to appear as a stock dove while the Dictionnaire Infernal states that he appears as a stork, both design elements not found in his Devil Summoner design.
