Race or clan (種族, Shuzoku) is the categorization to distribute the demons into different classes in the Megami Tensei traditional series (Shin Megami Tensei and Majin Tensei series), Devil Summoner (except for the Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha series which uses another demon categorization system) and Devil Survivor subseries. The race title is usually based on the mythological status often found in various legends or religions. Multiple races are grouped under species (大種族, Dai Shuzoku, lit. "greater race"). Demon race is closely related to the demon fusion in which generally fusing demons of races A and B will result in demon of race C of level slightly higher than the average of the ingredient demons. Although not always, demons of one race tend to share similar attributes or traits in gameplay, such as Kishin being physical powerhouses or Fairies having a collection of elemental and healing spells. Majin Tensei and Devil Survivor series emphasize this by giving demons of each race their unique attributes (such as flying) or racial skill which can never be shared across races.
"Species" received its official English localization only in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE. Because in other localized games of the series, species is a hidden mechanics behind the more complex demon fusion rules (such as three-demon fusion) and only mentioned in the Japanese game manual.
In the Japanese version of Digital Devil Saga duology, the "race" that indicates before the generic enemy demons' name is actually the "species" succeeded from the SMT series. However these titles do not play much important role in the game system and only serve as the tip of the enemy's attributes.
List of species and races
| Species (JP) | IMAGINE localization |
Digital Devil Saga localization |
Races |
|---|---|---|---|
| 神族 | Gods | Deity | Deity (魔神), Megami (女神), Amatsu (天津神), Enigma (秘神), Zealot (狂神)*, Soshin (祖神), Entity (威霊)*, Godly (神霊), Chaos (混沌王) |
| 鬼神族 | Guardians | Evil / Icon | Tenma (天魔), Fury (破壊神), Kishin (鬼神),Lady (地母神), Vile (邪神), Reaper (死神), Wargod (軍神), Kunitsu (国津神), Zealot (狂神)*, Entity (威霊)*, Shinshou (十二神将) |
| 魔族 | Magica | Fiend / Nether | Tyrant (魔王), Genma (幻魔), Night (夜魔), Yoma (妖魔), Fairy (妖精), Fiend (魔人)* |
| 飛天族 | Aerials | Aerial | Herald (大天使), Divine (天使), Fallen (堕天使), Futenshi (不天使) |
| 鳥族 | Birds | - | Avian (霊鳥), Flight (妖鳥), Raptor (凶鳥) |
| 竜族 | Dragons | Dragon | Dragon (竜神), Snake (竜王), Drake (邪竜), Hiryu (飛龍) |
| 鬼族 | Demoniacs | Demon / Brute | Touki (闘鬼), Brute (妖鬼), Femme (鬼女), Jirae (地霊), Jaki (邪鬼), Akuma (悪魔) Shinoma (下魔) |
| 獣族 | Beasts | Beast | Avatar (神獣), Holy (聖獣), Beast (魔獣), Wilder (妖獣), UMA (珍獣), Kaijuu (怪獣) |
| 樹霊 | Vegetation | - | Tree (神樹), Wood (妖樹)*, Jusei (樹精) |
| 精霊 | Elementals | - | Element (精霊), Mitama (御魂), Wood (妖樹)* |
| 邪霊 | Evil Spirits | - | Haunt (幽鬼), Spirit (悪霊), Undead (屍鬼), Rumor (怪異)* |
| 人間 | Humans | - | Human (人間), Gaian, Messian, Kyojin (狂人), Meta (超人), Ranger (戦士), Hero (英雄), General (猛将), Juujin (獣人), Fiend (魔人)* |
| 外道 | Fouls | - | Foul (外道), Vermin (妖虫), Demonoid (デモノイド), Rumor (怪異)*, Karma, Machine (マシン)* |
| マシン | Machines | Device | Machine (マシン)*, Virus (ウィルス), Vaccine (ワクチン) |
| Unclassified | Zoma (造魔), Fake (偽人), Famed (英傑), Suiyou (水妖), Nymph (天女), Food (フード), Ghost (怨霊), Horde (軍勢) | ||
* Race that has been put under different species throughout the series.