| This article is about the Arcana. For the Shadow, see Arcana Priestess. |
"Pierce The Veil"
The Priestess Arcana (女教皇, Jokyoukou)?, also known as the High Priestess, is a recurring Arcana in the Persona series.
Quick Answers
What is the symbolic meaning of the Priestess Arcana in tarot readings?
What are the common attributes associated with the Personas of the Priestess Arcana?
How does the Priestess Arcana evolve in the Persona series?
What is the original name of the Priestess Arcana?
Which mythological figures are associated with the Priestess Arcana in the Persona series?
Overview[]
"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed...
The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom."
Originally named the Popess, portrayed as an old woman with an open book, the Priestess Arcana is a symbol of hidden knowledge or other untapped power, wisdom, female mystery and patience when it appears in tarot readings.
Gameplay-wise, the Personas of the Priestess Arcana are commonly associated with healing and support attributes. Mythological figures of the Priestess Arcana are usually crone archetypes, goddesses of wisdom, witches, female mages or priestess figures themselves.
The Priestess, representing divine wisdom, follows characters who cope with trying to listen to their instincts earnestly in a material world that doesn't take them seriously. It is not uncommon for these characters to be plagued by doubt in their daily lives due to said instincts, but at the same time start off as quiet and obedient in contradiction. Though they might become overly rebellious in retaliation, they learn to find a balance between the two ends and believe in themselves on a deeper level.
One example of the template of the Priestess follows Yukiko Amagi: otherwise a caring girl that was destined to take on her family's inn, she took her true feelings of her frustrations towards her responsibilities at face value, causing her to stray towards refusing to inherit the Amagi Inn: but realizes that in spite of how she feels, she doesn't want to discard the family inn outright. Also, Makoto Niijima is an intellectual with poor social skills. A follower of justice, she was at first a sycophant with a temporary violent side that stems from her frustrations of being obedient while used by adults of higher status. During her Confidant story, she was at first reluctant to join the police force as she thought there was hypocrisy in doing so after she became a Phantom Thief, but in the end decides to become a police commissioner.
Individuals associated with the Priestess Arcana are usually quiet, reserved, hardworking and very intelligent. They are often modest and shy, and won't open up to the protagonist until much later in their Social Links as compared with other characters. A recurring theme with Priestess characters is that they have an inferiority complex due to growing under highly exigent family members, as in the cases of Fuuka Yamagishi, Yukiko Amagi and Makoto Niijima.
Appearances[]
- Megami Ibunroku Persona
- Persona 2: Innocent Sin
- Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
- Persona 3 / FES / Portable / Reload
- Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight: Accessory
- Persona 4 / Golden
- Persona 4 Arena / Ultimax
- Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
- Persona 5 / Royal
- Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight: Accessory & Social
- Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
- Persona 5 Strikers
List of Personas[]
In Megami Ibunroku Persona and Persona 2, this Arcanum corresponds to the Megami Race.
Megami Ibunroku Persona[]
The protagonist can guarantee a fusion accident resulting in a Priestess Arcana persona by starting from a "hard reset" (as in, not already mid-game and loading a save or selecting "Return to Title") and performing a White Fusion after taking exactly 847 steps in an area where no enemies will attack, such as the Mikage Sun Mall.
The Priestess Arcana is represented by Maki Sonomura.
| Persona | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| PSP | Revelations | |
| Maso | Maria | 5 (Initial Persona of Maki Sonomura) |
| Ame no Uzume | Virgo | 11 |
| Sati | Crosscut | 18 |
| Hathor | Deva | 29 |
| Urdr * | Wals | 37 |
| Tensen Nyannyan | Vixen | 46 |
| Usas | Chatz | 53 |
| Verdandi * | Valzante | 61 (Ultimate Persona of Maki Sonomura) |
| Lakshmi | Rac Sha | 70 |
| Skuld * | Scrag | 88 |
Persona 2[]
Innocent Sin[]
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Tensen Nyannyan | 27 |
| Sif | 34 |
| Parvati | 43 |
| Izanami * | 51 |
| Hathor | 55 |
| Lakshmi * | 64 |
Eternal Punishment[]
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Tensen Nyan Nyan | 27 |
| Sif | 34 |
| Parvati | 41 |
| Izanami * | 51 |
| Hathor | 55 |
| Scathach | 64 |
| Lakshmi * | 71 |
Persona 3[]
The Priestess Arcana Social Link is represented by Fuuka Yamagishi, a student of Gekkoukan High School and a member of SEES. The protagonist can initiate the Social Link flag after joining one of the Culture Clubs. Furthermore, the protagonist must also max out his Courage characteristics parameter before initiating the Social Link.
The Priestess Arcana Social Link powers up everytime the protagonist interacts with Fuuka, where he helps taste Fuuka's horrible cooking, as well as helping her understand her insecurities of being a burden to others and her confusion about her lack of interest in more "feminine" hobbies. Upon completing the Social Link, Fuuka will give the protagonist her custom-made earphones, bestowing the ultimate form of the Priestess Arcana, Scathach, The Teacher.
The Priestess Arcana is also the Persona Arcana of Fuuka Yamagishi.
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Lucia | Initial Persona of Fuuka Yamagishi |
| Juno | Ultimate Persona of Fuuka Yamagishi |
| Apsaras | 3 |
| Unicorn | 11 |
| Sarasvati | 18 |
| Ganga | 26 |
| Parvati | 35 |
| Kikuri-Hime | 47 |
| Scathach | 60 |
FES / Portable[]
The Priestess Arcana remains relatively the same as Persona 3. However, an exclusive Persona, High Pixie, was added in the Priestess Arcana repertoire.
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Lucia | Initial Persona of Fuuka Yamagishi |
| Juno | Ultimate Persona of Fuuka Yamagishi |
| Apsaras | 3 |
| Unicorn | 11 |
| High Pixie | 21 |
| Sarasvati | 27 |
| Ganga | 35 |
| Parvati | 47 |
| Kikuri-Hime | 53 |
| Scathach | 64 |
Reload[]
The layout is the same as FES/Portable, with the levels slightly adjusted.
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Lucia | Initial Persona of Fuuka Yamagishi |
| Juno | Ultimate Persona of Fuuka Yamagishi |
| Apsaras | 2 |
| Unicorn | 11 |
| High Pixie | 20 |
| Sarasvati | 32 |
| Ganga | 41 |
| Parvati | 48 |
| Kikuri-Hime | 61 |
| Scathach | 75 |
DLC Personas[]
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Johanna | 28 (DLC) |
| Anat | 53 (DLC) |
Persona 4[]
"I want to protect the family inn. After all, it's near to my heart..."
The Priestess Arcana Social Link is represented by Yukiko Amagi, a classmate of the protagonist in Persona 4. The Social Link is automatically created in the storyline when the Investigation Team plans a stake-out on Kanji Tatsumi.
In the events of the Social Link, Yukiko proclaims her desire of leaving Yasoinaba to the protagonist, but to do so, must learn how to live on her own by the time she graduates, which includes finding a career she can pursue and learning how to cook. Unfortunately, she is a terrible cook, and many of the meals she has the protagonist taste-test are practically inedible. Several of the protagonist's responses regarding Yukiko's cooking are also based on the protagonist's Courage status parameter; the higher his Courage'is, the better answers the protagonist can access.
Leveling the Priestess Arcana up to Lv. 3 allows Yukiko to learn her distinct follow-up move, Fan Assault, where Yukiko delivers a powerful assault on an active enemy, with 100% critical rate and Dizzy status. However, the protagonist must first knock down a target.
Later, as the protagonist interacts with Yukiko, Yukiko realizes that she actually cared for her family inn the most, and merely felt chained down by the belief that she had no choice. By the end of the Social Link, Yukiko decides not to leave Yasoinaba, but to inherit the Inn and continue her family's legacy. Having a change in her psyche and finally finding her resolution, Yukiko's Persona, Konohana Sakuya, transfigures into Amaterasu.
Completing the Priestess Arcana Social Link also bestows the protagonist with the ultimate form of the Priestess Arcana, Scathach, Jen Mentor.
In Persona 4 Golden, Yukiko can unlock a third-tier persona: Sumeo-Okami. This is done by initiating Social Link meeting at any point after 1/10 if the Priestess Arcana is at Rank 10.
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Konohana Sakuya | Initial Persona of Yukiko Amagi |
| Amaterasu | Ultimate Persona of Yukiko Amagi |
| Sumeo-Okami★ | Third-tier Persona of Yukiko Amagi |
| Saki Mitama | 11 |
| Sarasvati | 17 |
| High Pixie | 22 |
| Ganga | 29 |
| Parvati | 37 |
| Kikuri-Hime | 48 |
| Hariti | 59 |
| Tzitzimitl | 70 |
| Scathach | 79 |
Persona 4 Arena[]
The Priestess Arcana is represented by Yukiko Amagi and her Persona, Konohana Sakuya, as well as Fuuka Yamagishi, who serves as a possible MC replacement for Rise.
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth[]
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Lucia | Fuuka Yamagishi's initial Persona |
| Juno | Fuuka Yamagishi's ultimate Persona |
| Konohana Sakuya | Yukiko Amagi's initial Persona |
| Amaterasu | Yukiko Amagi's ultimate Persona |
| Ame-no-Uzume | 6 |
| High Pixie | 15 |
| Ganga | 28 |
| Parvati | 37 |
| Hariti | 56 |
| Tzitzimitl | 64 |
| Scathach | 76 |
Persona 5[]
The Priestess Arcana is represented by the Confidant with Makoto Niijima, which ranks up from June 24th onward as the protagonist interacts with her. This Confidant unlocks extra information on analysis and various team member skills for Makoto as it ranks up.
Makoto's Confidant revolves around her trying to connect with and understand the outside world better. She connects with a classmate of hers, Eiko Takao, who only saw her as a proper honor student. Eventually Eiko begins dating a suspicious man, who later turns out to be a criminal trying to extort her and eventually sell her off. With the protagonist's help, Makoto gets Eiko to see the truth, later confessing to the protagonist that she intends to become a police commissioner.
As the Confidant reaches maximum Makoto's Persona, Johanna, will transmogrify into Anat. Completing the Priestess Arcana Confidant will also bestow the ultimate form of the Arcana, Cybele. The great mother
In Persona 5 Royal, if the Priestess Arcana Confidant is maxed out and the protagonist chooses to reject the false reality during the events of the third semester, Makoto Niijima will unlock her third tier Persona: Agnes, by fusing Johanna and Anat.
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Johanna | Initial Persona of Makoto Niijima |
| Anat | Ultimate Persona of Makoto Niijima |
| Silky | 6 |
| Apsaras | 11 |
| Koh-i-Noor♦ | 25 |
| Isis | 26 |
| Kikuri-Hime | 40 |
| Scathach | 45 |
| Sarasvati | 50 |
| Skadi | 55 |
| Cybele | 73* |
Royal[]
In Persona 5 Royal, the Priestess Arcana remains largely the same, though Levels of some Personas have been altered.
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Johanna | Initial Persona of Makoto Niijima |
| Anat | Ultimate Persona of Makoto Niijima |
| Agnes★ | Third-tier Persona of Makoto Niijima |
| Silky | 6 |
| Apsaras | 11 |
| Koh-i-Noor♦ | 25 |
| Isis | 26 |
| Kikuri-Hime | 40 |
| Sarasvati | 50 |
| Skadi | 53 |
| Scathach | 77 |
| Cybele | 83* |
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth[]
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Johanna | Makoto Niijima's initial Persona |
| Konohana Sakuya | Yukiko Amagi's initial Persona |
| Lucia | Fuuka Yamagishi's initial Persona |
| Anat | Makoto Niijima's ultimate Persona |
| Amaterasu | Yukiko Amagi's ultimate Persona |
| Juno | Fuuka Yamagishi's ultimate Persona |
| Sarasvati | 6 |
| Moh Shuvuu | 16 |
| Ganga | 28 |
| Parvati | 36 |
| Dzelarhons ° | 41 |
| Gabriel | 47 |
| Hariti | 54 |
| Tzitzimitl | 62 |
| Scathach | 72 |
| Black Maria | 83 |
Persona 5 Strikers[]
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Johanna | 4 (Persona of Makoto Niijima) |
| Silky | 6 |
| Kikuri-Hime | 40 |
| Sarasvati | 48 |
List of Demons[]
Persona 2[]
Innocent Sin[]
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Izanami | 51 |
Eternal Punishment[]
| Persona | Level |
|---|---|
| Izanami | 51 |
List of Shadows[]
| Shadow | Level |
|---|---|
| Merciless Maya | 3-40 |
| Autonomic Basalt | 16 |
| Rainy Brother 4 | 16 |
| Cloudgirl Pot | 18 |
| Rainy Pot | 37-41 |
| Yearning Pot | 70 |
| Cursed Woman's Pot | 75 |
| Mistress Pot | 78 |
| Spurious Book | 14-39 |
| Maniacal Book | 21-58 |
| Silent Book | 27-72 |
| Wrathful Book | 50-76 |
| Tome of Atrophy | |
| Tome of Persecution | |
| Morbid Book | |
| Mage Soldier | |
| Tranquil Idol | 15-41 |
| Liberating Idol | 31-47 |
| Ruinous Idol | 45-63 |
| Leading Idol | 43 |
| Vehement Idol | 68-89 |
| Primitive Idol | 50-77 |
| Haughty Belle | |
| Bloody Maria | |
| Calm Pesce | 3-6 |
| Pursuing Pesce | 18 |
| Truth Pesce | 53 |
| Revelation Pesce | 63 |
Characters[]
| Character | Game |
|---|---|
| Maki Sonomura | Megami Ibunroku Persona |
| Fuuka Yamagishi | Persona 3 |
| Yukiko Amagi | Persona 4 |
| Makoto Niijima | Persona 5 |
Card Designs[]
Trivia[]
- In the 7th episode of the Persona 4 The Animation English dub, Margaret misnames Yukiko's Arcana, calling her the Empress instead of the Priestess.