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"Mwahahahaha! Welcome to Mara's den! You may think you can defeat me, but I'm clearly the bigger man. Gwahahahaha! Now, then... Why don't we get this party started, hm? Ahahahahahaha!"
What role does Mara play as a demon in the series?
In the series, Mara is a significant demon, also referred to as 'The Evil One'. She uses deception to make ordinary and negative aspects appear attractive. Mara is a prominent figure in Lucifer's army and is a formidable adversary in the Case File 7th Trumpet, Eternal King. As a member of the Tyrant race, she can be invoked by Ringo via special fusion at the Cirque du Goumaden upon reaching level 64. Additionally, Mara symbolizes the fear of death and is known for sending her daughters to distract Buddha during his meditations.
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How does Mara's representation in the series compare to its origins in Buddhist mythology?
In Buddhist mythology, Mara is a figure with diverse origins, symbolizing unwholesome impulses and spiritual death. She is often portrayed as a multi-armed goddess or a deity on a boar. In the series, Mara is depicted as a demon, reflecting the metaphor of Devaputra-mara, the disillusion of seeing Mara as an objective being. This depiction also plays on the Japanese Buddhist slang 'Mara', meaning 'penis'.
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What is the significance of Mara in the Sixth Heaven of the Desire Realm?
Mara, a figure in the Sixth Heaven of the Desire Realm, symbolizes unwholesome impulses and spiritual death. She traps souls in Samsara with deceptive promises of Desire Realms' happiness. As a goddess, she holds sway over temptation and death. In some contexts, Mara disrupts angelic rituals and serves as a general in Lucifer's army.
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What are some strategies for defeating Mara in SMT V?
In SMT V, Mara is a formidable opponent who uses Hell Thrust as his primary attack and can leverage extra Press Turns for Critical Eye or Charge. If he isn't Smirking, he can shield his weakness with Makarakarn. Against Tetrakarn, Mara prepares for an empowered Hell Thrust or employs Tetrabreak to nullify the move. Ensuring protection against Charm status is recommended. Mara can be confronted anytime, given the player meets the level prerequisite.
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How does Mara's character evolve across different games like Persona 3 and Persona 4?
In the Persona series, Mara is a character from the 'Tower' Arcana. Mara's abilities evolve across games. In Persona 3, Mara's physical skills inflict Piercing damage. In Persona 5, Mara acquires the skills Charge and Firm Stance, and appears as the Shadow Self of Shiro Asakura, a notorious industry head. The evolution of Mara's character is intertwined with the protagonists' personal growth, leading to changes in Mara's abilities.
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History[]
In Buddhist myth, Mara is also known as "The Evil One," a tempter, through the deceit of regarding the mundane and negative as alluring, and personifies unwholesome impulses, unskillfulness and the "death" of the spiritual life. In many religions that incorporate the cosmology of the Hindu originated Trailokya, Mara is said to sit atop the Sixth Heaven of the Desire Realm that includes the mortal world, and is said to be both that which ensnares souls in Samsara by deceiving them with promises of happiness in the Desire Realms, and who is the ultimate obstacle of any who desire to achieve enlightenment into nirvana and sunyata.
Feeling threatened by the enlightenment the Buddha was trying to bestow upon humanity, he attacked Gautama Buddha when he was meditating beneath the bodhi tree. He was defeated when the Buddha simply touched the tips of his fingers to the earth, whereupon all the gods descended in a tremendous roar to pay homage to him. Though Mara was defeated that time, he still lingers in the world, hoping to seize the souls of the dying and unenlightened.
Originated in Sri Lankan Buddhism, a demon who was riding Girimehkala with a penis-headed image tried to stop Siddharta Gautama from reaching enlightenment through meditation. The most common story depicts Mara using his beautiful daughters in an attempt to tempt the Buddha; he later marched his demonic army to scare him, however this ended in failure for Mara.
"Origin: India. The embodiment of evil itself. It is said that he controls people via lust and fear of death and ruins their bodies. He tempts and corrupts the pure, and appeared before Buddha when he was meditating."
—Shin Megami Tensei A-Mode DDS dictionary
Shin Megami Tensei II[]
Mara governs the Tower of Chokmah in the Expanse and acts as a guard to Lucifer's Castle Kether. If Aleph's Alignment is Chaos, he will let Aleph pass either with a minimum of 15 Wisdom stats or by beating him in battle. In the Neutral or Lawful paths, Mara will try to tempt Aleph. First, he offers 999,999 Macca. Next, he offers a 10 level increase. Finally, he offers power that surpasses even Satan and Lucifer. If Aleph accepts any of his offerings, he will fall under Mara's spell and must fight Mara with a handicap.
After getting past or defeating Mara, Aleph will be able to fuse him in the Cathedral of Shadows.
When first encountered and fought as a boss, he appears riding a chariot. This is the first game to depict Mara riding a chariot which will become his standard appearance in almost all of his future appearances. When he appears as an ally, however, he takes his design from the first Shin Megami Tensei game.
Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX[]
Mara appears as the head of the Ring of Gaea. He is mentioned as "His Excellence" by the demons and Gaeans. If the protagonist follows the Neutral or Law alignments during the battles in the Arena, Mara will invite the protagonist to give him the title to rule Valhalla. When met, he'll offer control of Valhalla to the protagonist, if accepted, he'll freeze them. Either way, he will attack. After being defeated, Mara explains that while Lucifer is still alive, the demons will never disappear from the human world.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne[]
"Well! In my rush, I have summoned Mara the Magnificent in an incomplete body of a slime."
—Baphomet
An incomplete, slimy form of Mara appears when Baphomet summons him during a Full Kagutsuchi phase in Shibuya at the request of two impatient Manikins and the ritual fails due to the Manikins rushing Baphomet. Mara, offended by his incomplete form, immediately becomes hostile and attacks the Demi-fiend. The Demi-fiend will be rewarded with the MuspellMagatama upon defeating him. Mara cannot be used as an ally demon in this game.
Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE[]
The slime-form Mara is a plug-in acquired by turning in 800 Essences of Yetzirah to the researcher in Shinjuku Babel's cathedral. He is a triple fusion of Girimehkala, Surt and Hecate. Prior to the August 2014 update, this was the only form of Mara.
In August, an event was implemented carrying on the storyline of characters introduced during the February event. In this event, Incubus and Oni are encouraged by Baphomet to summon Mara in Shibuya in order to create a harem kingdom. In a callback to Nocturne, the summoning fails and the slime-esque Mara is summoned. After defeating this Mara, players could use a seven-colored pillar to be transported to the Tower of Chokmah and face Mara's true form, with a chance to receive the ability to fuse him in a triple fusion of Mara (Amorphous), Moloch and Girimehkala. Mara's true form learns the unique skills Maralagidyne and Cursed Spit. This true form was later added as a boss fight in Abyss Tower.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey[]
"A Hindu demon that represents fear of death. She tempted the Buddha during his meditations. She gave birth to the Mares and Mora, powerful demons of darkness."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey compendium
In this game, Mara is portrayed as a goddess rather than a god, wielding power over temptation and death, despite retaining the same overall shape (though a local Grendel insisted she was once a beautiful goddess). She appears in Sector Grus after reaching a certain part of Sector Horologium. In the Chaos path, she hires the protagonist to assault a gathering of angels and disrupt the ritual they were carrying out. Despite the attack, the angels finish the fusion ritual and combine themselves to form Seraph, forcing the protagonist into a fight. After Seraph's demise, Mara will arrive, regretting she did not participate in the death of the Seraph, and can join the protagonist's party. Fulfilling her request also yields the right to summon her through fusion and the Peacemaker, the most devastating gun in the game.
During the Law route, Mara appears instead as the enemy, as the protagonist is hired instead by the Seraph to destroy Mara. Upon Mara's death, Seraph will join the protagonist instead.
Shin Megami Tensei IV[]
Mara is summoned by the Terminal Guardian to prevent Flynn from accessing the eighth Terminal. The game reuses the compendium entry from Strange Journey.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse[]
Mara appears in a line of Challenge Quests involving an individual named Maruo and the hedonist cult surrounding him. After Maruo has been beaten twice and his beliefs in living as he wishes shaken, Mara appears, revealing himself as the demon behind the events. However, he lacks the strength to take on Nanashi and leaves.
In the final quest in the line, Nanashi receives an SOS from Maruo himself. He arrives at Kiba Storage to find most of the Maruology cult drained of life and battles Mara at his full strength.
Mara focuses on using his one attack, Hell Thrust, and is smart enough to use his extra Press Turns for Critical Eye or Charge. If not Smirking, he can also defend his own weakness with Makarakarn, and against Tetrakarn he will wait it out by setting up for an empowered Hell Thrust or use Tetrabreak to cancel the move altogether. Protection against Charm status may be wise, especially if an affected party member has the Diarahan or Mediarahan skills. Mara will almost immediately counter any debuff spells with Dekunda but cannot remove the party's buffs aside from the Rakunda effect Hell Thrust gains if Mara Smirks. A gun with Ice-elemental rounds can strike his weakness without having to worry about Makarakarn. During the battle, Mara will pose questions to Nanashi, with the answer having different effects on the battle.
"You have no obligation to save my host. Why not just let him go?"
"Don't you want to see new things? Let's go together to an even more arousing land!"
"...I want to see new things!"
Party loses Press Turns
"I'll pass."
Party +Tarukaja/Makakaja
Keep fighting
Party gets 2 additional flashing Press Turns
Despite being the boss of a quest line, Mara is not locked for fusion and can be accessed anytime provided that Nanashi meets the level requirement.
Shin Megami Tensei V[]
"A Buddhist demon that represents the fear of death. Also known as "The Evil One," he sent his daughter to tempt Buddha during his meditations."
—Shin Megami Tensei V lore
Mara is a demon that can only be obtained through Dyad fusion. He benefits learning Physical and Ailment skills the best. Mara has a special conversation with Slime that corresponds to the event in Nocturne where Mara appeared in a slimy body. He also has a special conversation with Girimehkala as well.
Vengeance[]
In the Canon of Vengeance, Mara is a punishing foe in Da'at: Shinjuku and can be fought as part of the subquest "Devotion to Order." If Mara is killed with Tao and Yoko in the party, they will contemplate the merits and dangers of human desire in the cutscene after.
Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis[]
Mara appears as enemy units near the end of the neutral route. Acting as troops for Satan, Beelzebub and Angra Mainyu.
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers[]
Mara is one of the five bosses the protagonist can fight in the Corridor of Time after clearing the game. Defeating him is necessary to obtain the Iron Manji, one of the five items required to unlock New Game Plus.
Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha Vs. King Abaddon[]
"A Hindu demon that represents fear of death. He tempted the Buddha during his meditations. Originally, Mara was a fearsome goddess who drained her victims of their essence during the night."
—Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon compendium
Mara appears at Waden One during a Case File, having fought with Raido Kuzunoha the XIV and dragged him across a dimensional rift, placing him in Raidou's timeline. She has the tendency to spout a multitude of puns, all related to her penis shape, and shares the skill "Cursed Emission" with Mishaguji, another phallus-shaped demon. Mara is portrayed as once being a goddess rather than a god.
In New Game Plus, she must be fought in the Case File 7th Trumpet, Eternal King as one of the generals of Lucifer's army.
Soul Hackers 2[]
"A Buddhist demon that represents the fear of death. Also known as "The Evil One," he sent his daughters to tempt Buddha during his meditations."
—Soul Hackers 2 demon info
Mara is a demon of the Tyrant race added by the DLC Bonus demons pack. Once added, Ringo can summon Mara through special fusion at the Cirque du Goumaden once she reaches level 64 (and can then contract with Ananta). Summoning Mara requires using Ananta, Girimekhala and Mishaguji.
Persona 3 FES[]
"An Eastern demon lord who tempted Buddha during his training. He is a master of fear, and his immense power reaches to every part of the globe. His distant offspring include Mare and Mora."
—Persona 3 compendium
Mara appears as an exclusive Persona added to the Tower Arcana. Mara is summoned by means of a special Pentagon Spread fusion using Incubus, Mot, Pazuzu, Kumbhanda and Attis.
He also holds the distinction of having the only multi-target severe damage Fire elemental spell, "Maralagidyne." Fusing Mara with a Nihil weapon grants the strongest fist-type weapon, Evil Gloves, which is another pun on his design.
Portable[]
Mara will give the protagonist the Maralagidyne Skill Card when this Persona has leveled up to 86, which is the only way this spell can be passed on to other Personas.
Also, if the protagonist enters the Velvet Room with Mara as the equipped Persona, Theodore or Elizabeth will comment on the protagonist's choice of Persona:
If the protagonist is male, Elizabeth comments, "Oh, my... Tee-hee... It's very manly, that much is certain."[1]
If the protagonist is female and has Elizabeth, she comments that it doesn't fit her.
If the protagonist is female and has Theodore, he comments, "Wh-Why do you have that... thing... equipped? It's very... unladylike."
Reload[]
Similar to Portable, if the protagonist talks to Elizabeth outside the Velvet Room with Mara as the equipped Persona, she will comment. "Oh my... Hehe... That is quite impressive."
Persona 4[]
Mara is a Persona of the Tower Arcana. He can be summoned once the protagonist reaches Lv. 62 or above and fuses the appropriate Personas in the Velvet Room. However, Mara no longer learns the skill Maralagidyne.
Persona 5[]
"A Buddhist demon that represents the fear of death. Also known as "The Evil One," he sent his daughters to tempt Buddha during his meditations."
—Persona 5 background
Mara is the sixth Persona of the Tower Arcana and can be found as a Shadow in both his slime form from Nocturne and his normal form. His slime form can be found in Kamoshida's Palace and Mementos, with the title "Torn King of Desire." His normal form can be found in the Depths of Mementos and the Qliphoth World, with the title "Throbbing King of Desire." His slime form cannot be acquired or fused. Mara is one of three Personas to learn the One-shot KillGun skill. He is also one of four Personas to learn Heat Up and one of two to learn Firm Stance. When itemized through Electric Chair execution in the Velvet Room, Mara will produce a Maragidyneskill card.
The slime form will first appear as a boss in Kamoshida's Palace. During the fight, the Torn King of Desire may waste a turn staring at Ann Takamaki.
During the request "The Head Honcho of Showbiz," the Shadow of Shiro Asakura assumes the form of Mara when he is confronted in Mementos. He can be found on the bottom floor of Sheriruth. During the battle, Shadow Asakura will continually use Tarukaja to increase his attack power. Following this, he will use Charge and then Lunge, attacking female party members. Shadow Asakura will only attack once its attack is increased; lowering it or erasing its buff will cause it to repeatedly try to get its attack up again. When defeated, he will drop the Immortal VestArmor that can be worn by the guys, which has 304 DEF, 16 EVA, and gives the wearer +30 HP.
Slime Mara cannot be recruited as a Persona, making them the only Shadows fought in regular battles that cannot be recruited.
Royal[]
The slime Mara in Kamoshida's Palace has been moved to a hidden floor inside the underground dungeon and is defending a Will Seed. Ann will express disgust upon encountering it.
Slime Mara is no longer the only shadow in regular battles that can't be recruited, as the Killer Teddy Bear in Maruki's Palace as well as the powerful variants of weaker enemies found in the Path of Da'at cannot be recruited.
Mara appears as a strong Shadow called the "Throbbing King of Desire" in the request "The Writhing Nightmare Rises." Once the request has been accepted, he will appear in the Cage of Desolation area of the Okinawa Jail. During battle, Mara will use strong Physical, Gun and Fire attacks on the party, including a jumping slam with high tracking, charging dashes across the arena and his signature skill, Mararagidyne. Mararagidyne deals severe Fire damage and appears right at the location of Mara's target, making the skill hard to dodge. His version of One-Shot Kill will also erect a "blind" effect on the screen, with inky dark splotches covering the screen and obscuring the battlefield.
Metaphor: ReFantazio[]
While unused in the final game, Mara exists in a mostly completed state in the game's code, with only its move description, summoning cutscene data and sound effects missing, suggesting Mara was scrapped late into its development given the move's tutorial image is still intact. Mara would have been part of the Royal Summoner Archetype's moveset and would have had Maralagidyne.
Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2[]
"The hard bringer of death. A Hindu demon that dominates spirits and holds the power to instill fear. During his meditations, Buddha almost gave in to his temptation when Mara seduced him under a linden, a hardwood tree. Mara's great power was a sight to behold. His rigid strength spread far and wide, giving birth to many vile creatures."
Mara's design is a pun of sorts, as "Mara" is a slang word used by Japanese Buddhist monks for "penis."
Mara's manifestation in the series is likely a nod to the metaphor of Devaputra-mara, the disillusion of regarding Mara as an objective being.
Mara, like the major Mothers in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, has MA in her name.
When requesting the Seraph's death, Mara wearily moans she would head to Horologium with the protagonist or even kill the Seraph herself, but she wants to stabilize so she won't turn into a Slime again, in reference to the botched ritual in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.
Mara's attributes are usually filled with sexual innuendos.
Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse makes heavy use of innuendo in its script, especially once Mara finally reveals himself.
In Mara's Shin Megami Tensei V Daily Demon video, its level is 69.
In the Persona series, Mara is part of the "Tower" Arcana, and both of the physical skills it learns in Persona 3 deal Piercing damage, while two of its skills in Persona 5 are Charge and Firm Stance.
In Persona 5, the Shadow Self of the Mementos heist target Shiro Asakura manifests as Mara. Shiro Asakura is an entertainment industry head that forces his female employees into sexual relations with him. He can sometimes be encountered in Shibuya during the protagonist's free time.
In the HD Remaster of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, the dialogue during Mara's summoning scene was rewritten to be filled with innuendos similar to Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse.
Shadow Asakura is one of the only two enemies in Persona 5 that are level 99, the other being Caroline & Justine.
In a popularity poll in 2017 in Japan, Mara was voted as the most popular demon in the Megami Tensei series.[2]
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