The Moon Phase System or lunar phase (月齢, getsurei)? is a component of a vast majority of Megami Tensei games. The various phases of the moon often affect battle, negotiation and fusion, and often affect other aspects of the game as well. The moon phase often functions as a counter for item and spell effects, such as a spell lasting until the next new moon. Regardless of what variation the system takes, the cycle of the moon phase is always as follows:
| First quarter | Last quarter | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waxing crescent | Waxing gibbous | Waning gibbous | Waning crescent | ||||||||||||||
↗ ↖ |
0 (New) |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Half) |
5 | 6 | 7 | 8 (Full) |
7 | 6 | 5 | 4 (Half) |
3 | 2 | 1 | ↘ ↙ |
| ← recycle ← | |||||||||||||||||
In most offline installments, the phase changes depending on how many steps the player has moved the character in the dungeon or large map, if movement is not menu-based. Moon phase changes automatically following the in-game clock in Shin Megami Tensei NINE and Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE. In Persona 3, it simply follows the real world calendar and the phase changes day by day.
Appearances[]
- Megami Tensei (Telenet)
- Megami Tensei
- Megami Tensei II
- Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei
- Shin Megami Tensei
- Shin Megami Tensei II
- Shin Megami Tensei: if...
- Shin Megami Tensei NINE
- Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
- Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE
- Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey / Redux
- Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse
- Shin Megami Tensei V / Vengeance
- Last Bible II
- Another Bible
- Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner
- Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
- Soul Hackers 2
- Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku
- Megami Ibunroku Persona
- Persona 3 / FES / Portable / Reload
- Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner
- Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2
- Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2
Role[]
Shin Megami Tensei II[]
Demons will gain or lose power depending on the phase of the moon and their specific moon affinity type, based on the following chart, where "8" is half damage, "16" is normal damage and "32" is double damage:
| Type | New | 1/8 | 2/8 | 3/8 | Half | 5/8 | 6/8 | 7/8 | Full |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 16 | ||||||||
| B | 12 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | ||
| C | 10 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 22 | |
| D | 9 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 24 |
| E | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | ||
| F | 8 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 24 | 28 | 32 |
| G | 26 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 26 |
| H | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | |
| I | 20 | 12 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 12 | 22 |
| J | 26 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 22 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 8 |
| K | 14 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 18 | |||
| L | 24 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 |
The moon phase affects demons' power in Shin Megami Tensei and Shin Megami Tensei: if... as well, however, charts for how moon phases affect each phase affinity type are unavailable at this time.
Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE[]
While moon phases do not have any effect on negotiation or fusion, they do change various elements of the in-game world. Shops will change their merchandise at certain moon phases, offering unique cards, weapons, compendium memories and consumables.
During the New Moon period, Inviolable variations of Divine demons will spawn in Shinagawa. Killing a large number of them will spawn a Dominion field boss. This period also changes two of the Shinagawa-based dungeons to feature a large amount of Haunt demons and a different boss entirely. Hresvelgr is replaced by Nidhoggr. Norn is replaced by Nyx. A field boss variant of Daisoujou can also be spawned by law alignment players in Kuchinawa Caverns.
During the Full Moon period, synthesis success rate and cultivation expertise gain are increased. It is also possible to fight the field boss Nyarlathotep during this period.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey[]
The Schwarzwelt's moon serves as the Moon Phase System. Fusions are more likely to fail in full moons, demons act irrationally and relax their inhibitions allowing for recruitment of demons of the dark alignment if the SubApp Lunatic is installed, and certain attacks work better on certain phases.
- In Horologium, a specific teleportation point will only work properly if the moon is full.
Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse[]
The Moon Phase changes as the story progresses, eventually reaching a Full and Misoka Moon at its climax on the Peace/Anarchy routes. It is merely cosmetic and does not affect game mechanics in any way.
Shin Megami Tensei V[]
The Moon Phase system returns with some major tweaks. Most demons are unruly and unwilling to negotiate both during a Full Moon, and also a New Moon. Conversely most demons are in great spirits during a 1/8 waning Moon, and also a 7/8 waxing Moon, and will join the protagonist much more easily during these periods. During overworld exploration, sound effects will play when a New Moon or a Full Moon happens.
Throughout the duration of Full Moons, the chance to experience a Fusion Accident will increase. It is unknown if a New Moon produces the same effect, if any at all, during fusion. However, Sophia will comment on "the moon being hidden by death's shadow" during those times.
The moon phase advances by one every 48 steps.
Soul Hackers 2[]
After losing to Zenon, Ringo learns from Victor that Zoma are weaker during the New Moon. Needing to kill Zenon to stop him summoning the Great One, she and her friends launch an attack against him during the next New Moon. However, Zenon, due to being able to draw power from the Covenants, no longer held this weakness.
In New Game Plus, Seth can be fought as the game's ultimate boss. During the fight, the Moon phases change each turn. During the New Moon, Seth gets one attack per turn and summons three Pazuzu to fight alongside it. During the Full Moon however, it gets four attacks per turn and summons three Succubi.
Megami Ibunroku Persona[]
Moon phases do not affect demon conversation. When adding an item with a "random" effect to a fusion, the resulting Persona will learn a new skill depending on the current Moon Phase. Specific Moon Phases will result in Personas of different Arcana when a fusion accident occurs. Unknown Powers can only be obtained by fusing Personas under specific moon phases, primarily the New Moon. The Wolvaan status effect will increase or decrease stats based on the current moon phase, and in the PSP version Estoma is in effect until the next New Moon.
The phase of the moon changes every 16 steps.
Persona 3 / FES / Portable / Reload[]
- Main article: Calendar/Persona 3
The moon phases play similar roles as in other Megaten games, except that the moon phase is determined by days of the month as opposed to footsteps. Every time the full moon appears, it signals the appearance of a strong Shadow.
Certain abilities receive a damage boost during certain moon phases, particularly the skills Zan-ei and Getsu-ei. However, such abilities aren't available during The Answer due to lack of moon phase changes.
Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2[]
During New Moon, all experience gained in Aura Gate and Hollow World will be doubled. During Full Moon, all Magnetite gained in Aura Gate and Hollow World will be doubled. Phase changes every 10 minutes.
Variations[]
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne[]
The moon no longer exists. Instead, the phases of Kagutsuchi play almost the same role the moon did before.
Full Kagutsuchi has few unique effects:
- Overrides the demons' behaviors to conversation. (See list of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Skills#Conversation Skills for details.)
- Grants access to Sacrificial fusion in Cathedral of Shadows.
- Exposes Ongyo-Ki from his illusions in his optional boss battle.
- Grants access to fight Mara, an optional boss.
Kagutsuchi phase serves as a modifier over:
- Probability of obtaining item of higher value from any mystic treasure chest. Full phase guarantees rarer item, while new phase does the exact opposite.
- Slight modifier of all damage dealt in battle, the fuller the higher, and vice versa.
- Activator of skills such as Bright Might, Dark Might, and Dark Pledge.
Several puzzles and locations in the game require the use of the Kagutsuchi phase, as well.
Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner[]
The moon phases are replaced with the "Solar Noise," which has the same basic function as the moon phases. If any of the characters have a status ailment such as silence or poison and the solar noise is minimum, those statuses will be healed. Cells will be sold at a maximum price at Maximum Solar Noise and will be sold at their lowest at Minimum Solar Noise, with the single exception of the Jack Cell, which is exactly the opposite.
Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2[]
The team has a chance of entering Berserk Mode during 7/8 or 8/8 phases, although there is a piece of equipment, the Berserk Ring, which allows the team to enter Berserk Mode regardless of solar phase except for compulsory battles.
Plants, the equivalents to data cells in this game, no longer sell at higher prices in shop during max solar phase, however.
Gallery[]
