Kartikeya

Kartikeya's official art.

"So mother sent you here... I thought she might have. Still, I don't want to go back! Never! Why...? ...Because I'm scared. Yeah, that's right. I'm scared of my mother. Well, Mother's very kind, but... It's just that... She's just way too out there! Like she doesn't belong in this Universe! I used to be six kids! But Mother hugged us all together, and we got merged into one person. Who has that kind of power!? That's just not right! Look... Once, she accidently cut off somebody's head, and then she just replaced it with an elephant's head. My entire family is messed up! "

—Kartikeya, Shin Megami Tensei IV.

Kartikeya (カルティケーヤ^?) is a recurring demon in the series.

History

Kartikeya, the second son of Lord Shiva and Parvati or Shakti, is known by many names. These include Subramaniam, Sanmukha, Shadanana, Skanda and Guha. In the southern states of India, Kartikeya is a popular deity and is better known as Murugan. He is an embodiment of perfection, a brave leader of God's forces, and a war god, who was created to destroy the demons, representing the negative tendencies in human beings. Kartikeya's other name, Shadanana, which means ‘one with six heads’ corresponds to the five senses and the mind. The six heads also stand for his virtues and enables him to see in all the directions - an important attribute that ensures that he counters all kinds of blows that can hit him. The war imagery and the six heads of Kartikeya indicates that if humans wish to lead themselves efficiently through the battle of life, they must always be alert lest they are shown the wrong path by crafty people with the six demonic vices: kaama (sex), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (passion), mada (ego) and matsarya (jealousy). Kartikeya carries in one hand a spear and his other hand is always blessing devotees. His vehicle is a peacock, a pious bird that grips a serpent with its feet, which symbolizes the ego and desires of people. The peacock represents the destroyer of harmful habits and the conqueror of sensual desires. The symbolism of Kartikeya thus points to the ways and means of reaching perfection in life.

Appearances

• Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE: Destroyer Race
• Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey: Fury Race
• Shin Megami Tensei IV: Fury Race
• Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse: Fury Race
• Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Fury Race
• Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers: Fury Race
• Persona 3 FES / Portable: Star Arcana
• Persona 4 / Golden: Star Arcana
• Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth: Star Arcana
• Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth: Chariot Arcana
• Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner: Fury Race
• Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2: Yaksa Class
• Devil Survivor 2: Omega Race

Profile

Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE

Kartikeya acts as one of the two chaos field bosses tied to the Invoke system and will appear in Ueno once every hour during weeks when the Chaos alignment dominates the system. After obtaining the Peacock Feather he drops, he can be fused by a special double-fusion of Parvati and Zouchouten.

Shin Megami Tensei IV

Kartikeya appears in the New Game Plus Challenge Quest, Escape from Philanthropy. He has left Parvati's side and is hanging out at Shinjuku - East Entrance Main Street in the world Infernal Tokyo. He has lost his mind and must be defeated to calm him down. After taking a certain amount of damage he flees to Shinjuku - National Park. He goes back to East Entrance Main Street after fleeing the second time. He is defeated in the third battle and comes to his senses, surprised by how violent Flynn is.

He states he has no intention of going back to his mother Parvati due to her sheer alienness. He also reveals he is scared of her, telling of how he used to be six kids until his mother hugged them all and merged them into one. Kartikeya also mentions a time where she accidentally cut off a man's head and replaced it with an elephant's. He considers his entire family to be messed up and it's for that reason that he got scared and ran from them. He decides to go home one last time to talk to Parvati about everything before officially going off on his own, thanking Flynn before leaving, while also realizing his current form isn't bad since he became able to reach speeds he never could before.

Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse

Kartikeya can teach Nanashi the Heaven's Bow, Debilitate and Charge skills through his Demon Whisper. He benefits from learning Gun skills.

Persona 3 FES

"A Hindu god of war, also known as Skanda and Murugan. He rides upon a peacock called Paravani, with a bow and arrow drawn. He commands the army of the gods, and defeated the forces of Asura."

—Persona 3 Compendium

Kartikeya is an exclusive Persona added in the updated re-release Persona 3 FES. He is available to be summoned once the protagonist completes one of Elizabeth's dating requests and reaches Lv. 70 or above.

Portable

Fusing Kartikeya with a Nihil Weapon will produce Vel Vel Muruga, the ultimate naginata weapon for the female protagonist. It is supposed to represent the spear "Vel of Murugan" that Kartikeya used to defeat the inner Asuras and releases the soul from transmigration. The "Vel vel" is also used as a chant for Kartikeya's devotees, which is believed to bestow strength and grace from him.

Persona 4

Kartikeya returns as the Persona of the Star Arcana in Persona 4. He is available to be summoned once the protagonist reaches Lv.67 or above.

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

A fragment of Kartikeya - Skanda's Wing, obtained by using it as a fusion sacrifice - is one of the materials required to make Yukiko's ultimate weapon.

Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2

Kartikeya appears as a boss in Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2. During the Embryon's search of the Airport, a Karma Soldier officer bars their path. He states that he is impressed that Asura AI were able to break free of Jenna Angel's control and transforms into Kartikeya to engage the party.

The fight with Kartikeya itself isn't that taxing except for one skill, Vivid Gust, which gives Kartikeya a huge boost in evasion. Every miss costs the party two turns and the skill remains active until Kartikeya is hit. The peacock's feathers will be spread as a visual reminder while he is in this state.

The most effective way to counter Vivid Gust is to repel his own attacks which he cannot dodge regardless of his evasion boost. Kartikeya's first action in each turn follows the order of force skill, electric skill, physical skill and Vivid Gust (always immediately followed by Taunt) and repeats. If Vivid Gust is already in effect, the pattern of Vivid Gust simply starts with Taunt. When Kartikeya's HP becomes more critical, he will use his unique attack, Myriad Spears, which deals heavy physical damage to all enemies. When his damage figure appears red and his next pattern is going to begin with physical skill, the player can safely spend an Attack Mirror so he will be killed by his own attack, especially after all player characters' defense are lowered by his Taunt spell.

Devil Survivor 2

"A Hindu god of war, also known as Skanda and Murugan.
He rides upon a peacock called Paravani, with bow and arrow drawn. He commands the army of the gods, and defeated the forces of Asura."

—Devil Survivor 2 compendium

Stats

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

Race Alignment Level HP MP Strength 45 Magic 41 Vitality 41 Agility 55 Luck 43 Fury Light-Chaos 70 580 313 Attack Type Single Foe/1/Physical/None Null - - - - - Null Strong - Poison Paralyze Stone Strain Sleep Charm Mute Fear Bomb Rage - - - - - - - - - - Natural Skills Luster Candy Charge Heaven's Bow D-Source Skills Luster Candy Charge Gun Amp Password HjD-#hrs2yUvitYK qzFJQTFCqzNJRzCC

Shin Megami Tensei IV

Race Level HP MP Strength 86 Dexterity 78 Magic 78 Agility 103 Luck 86 Fury 80 630 283 Phys Gun Fire Ice Elec Force Light Dark - Null - - - - Null Resist Ailment Resistance - Normal Attack Phys x1 hit, 1 enemy Required quest Escape from Philanthropy (NG+) List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Heaven's Bow 26 MP Heavy gun damage to all foes. Innate Luster Candy 50 MP Buffs party's attack, defense and agility by 1 level. Innate Repel Gun Auto Reflects gun damage. 81 Haste Lesson Auto Boosts agility stat by 20 points. 82

Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse

• Summonable Ally
• Demon Market

Race Level HP MP Strength 66 Dexterity 81 Magic 54 Agility 109 Luck 97 Fury 78 629 325 Phys Gun Fire Ice Elec Force Light Dark - Null - - - - Resist Resist Ailment Resistance Null:Panic Normal Attack Phys x1, 1 enemy Skill Affinities Gun +4 · Physical -2 · Healing -3 List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Heaven's Bow 33 MP Heavy gun damage to all foes. Innate Debilitate 100 MP Debuffs all foes' attack, defense and agility by 1 level. Innate Charge 9 MP Multiplies user's next physical or gun damage by 2.5. 79 High Gun Pleroma Auto Boosts gun attack by 50%. 81

Race Level HP MP Strength 69 Dexterity 89 Magic 56 Agility 113 Luck 100 Fury 81 650 334 Phys Gun Fire Ice Elec Force Light Dark - Null - - - - Resist Resist Ailment Resistance Null:Panic Normal Attack Phys x1, 1 enemy Required quest A Godslayer Needs Demons DLC (ћ24730) Skill Affinities Gun +4 · Physical -2 · Healing -3 List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Riot Gun 30 MP Severe gun damage to one foe. Smirk +Pierce Gun Innate Heaven's Bow 33 MP Heavy gun damage to all foes. Innate Myriad Arrows 28 MP 2 to 4 hits of medium gun damage to multiple foes. Innate Charge 9 MP Multiplies user's next physical or gun damage by 2.5. Innate Debilitate 100 MP Debuffs all foes' attack, defense and agility by 1 level. Innate Resist Phys Auto Reduces physical damage. Innate Gun Pleroma Auto Boosts gun attack by 25%. Innate High Gun Pleroma Auto Boosts gun attack by 50%. Innate

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner

Race Level HP MP St In Ma Vi Ag Lu Fury 63 580 272 25 11 14 10 28 7 CP NOA Personality P.ATK P.HIT B.DEF AVD M.ATK M.DEF 103 2-4 Wild 176 129 146 125 33 50 List of Skills Blight Mass Genocide Cauterizing Fist

Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers

Race Level HP MP St In Ma En Ag Lu Fury 59 573 214 23 10 14 11 28 7 CP MAG Summon Personality P.ATK P.HIT B.DEF AVD M.ATK M.HIT 12 937 Wild 164 92 156 91 123 34 Reflects Absorbs Void Resists Weak - - Fire, Expel - Ice List of Skills Pyroclastic Tempest Atom Slicer

Persona 3 FES

Arcana Level Strength 52 Magic 44 Endurance 42 Agility 53 Luck 43 Star 70 Inherit Reflects Absorbs Block Resists Weak Pierce - - Electricity Pierce Fire/Dark Skill Card Absorb Elec (LV.77) List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Myriad Arrows 19% HP Deals medium Pierce damage to all foes. (1-3 hits) Innate Masukukaja 12 SP Increases party's Hit/Evasion rate. Innate Maziodyne 32 SP Deals heavy Elec damage / Shocks all foes. (8% chance) 72 High Counter Passive Counter physical attacks (high odds). (50% chance) 73 Absorb Elec Passive Drains damage from Elec attacks. 75 Primal Force 21% HP Deals severe Pierce damage to one foe. 77

Persona 4

Arcana Level Strength 47 Magic 39 Endurance 40 Agility 44 Luck 38 Star 67 Inherit Reflects Absorbs Block Resists Weak Electricity Electricity - - - - List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Maziodyne 22 SP Deals heavy Elec damage to all foes. Innate Auto-Mataru Passive Party begins the battle with Matarukaja. Innate High Counter Passive 20% chance of reflecting Phys attacks. 68 Myriad Arrows 22% HP Deals heavy Phys damage to all foes 1x to 3x. 69 Growth 2 Passive Persona gains 1/2 EXP while inactive. 70 Primal Force 20% HP Deals severe Phys damage to 1 foe. 75

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

Arcana Level HP + SP + Inherit Extract Fragment Star 52 123 31 Ice Bloody Vanguard Skanda's Wing List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Bloody Vanguard Passive When user attacks, allies deal more damage to that enemy that turn. Innate Bolt Link 48 HP A light Cut + Elec attack. (1 Enemy) [Link damage with allies' attacks] Innate Triple Link Passive Raise damage dealt with first hit and number of Links. 53 Forked Spear Passive Medium chance of another attack after regular attack. 54 Golden Link Passive Link damage raises with Link number. [No effect if only 1 Link] 55 Life Aid Passive [Navi] 20% HP restore at the end of battle. (Party) 56 Critical Eye 28 SP Raise critical hit rate for 3 turns. 57

Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth

Arcana Level HP + SP + Type Extract Chariot 52 91 23 Physical Armor Destroyer List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Nucleostrike Link 48 HP Light Nuke attack. Further allied attacks gain link damage. (1 enemy) Innate Armor Destroyer 52 HP Immediate heavy Phys attack, lowers target's defense for 1 turn. (1 enemy) Innate Triple Link Passive Link chains last up to 3 hits. 53 Free Memento 18 SP Remove all Binds at end of each turn for 3 turns. (User's row) 54 Agility Talent Passive Increase Ag by 3. 55

Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2

Race Level HP MP Drops Yaksa 50 3800 - Malachite Reflects Absorbs Void Resists Weak - - Earth, Ailments, Death, Expel - Gun List of Skills Skill Effect Mazanma Medium Force damage on all foes. Mazionga Medium Electric damage and Shock(10%) on all foes. Chi Blast Medium Physical damage on all foes. 25% critical rate. Taunt Reduces Defense and buffs Physical power by 2 levels of all foes. Power Charge Multiplies next Physical attack damage of caster by 2.5. Tempest 3~6 hits of Medium Force damage on random foes. Jupiter's Fury 3~6 hits of Medium Electric damage and Shock(15%) on random foes. Myriad Spears Mega Physical damage on all foes. Tarukaja Buffs Physical power by 1 level of party. Makakaja Buffs Magical power by 1 level of party. Maziodyne Heavy Electric damage and Shock(10%) on all foes. Mazandyne Heavy Force damage on all foes. Vivid Gust Reduces hit-rate of all incoming attacks by 1/5 until user receives damage.

Devil Survivor 2

Race Level HP MP Strength 19 Magic 15 Vitality 12 Agility 26 Omega 56 428 142 Racial / Auto Skill Phys Fire Ice Elec Force Curse Asura Destiny - Null - Repel - Resist Command Skills Multi-Strike Megido * Passive Skills Attack All * I'm the Omega Kartikeya, and I'm a war god so lets get our damn war on! I'll say it one more time: I'm a war god. So don't make me into some weak demon.

Gallery

As it appears in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE

Kartikeya as he appears in Card Summoner

Kartikeya as he appears in Devil Survivor 2