"I'm a human... Five years ago, on that day... No... I'm Raphael... My duty is to build the Millennial Kingdom by God's authority! Witness the fury of the heavens!"
—Raphael, Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2
Raphael (ラファエル?), also known as Raphaela (ラファエラ?), is a demon in the series.
Within the hierarchy of angels from Christian mythology, Raphael is one of the four Seraphim, the highest rank. His name means "One that heals." He is said to be the guardian of the Tree of Life, opposite the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. Most of Raphael's exploits take place in the Apocrypha, where he has roles as imprisoner of Azazel (an angel that gets exiled from Heaven for having sex with human females) and guide of Sheol, the Hebrew underworld.
Though he is not depicted as a lover of another being, Raphael is in the Lovers Arcana due to his appearance in the Lovers Tarot Card, and his status of the patron Saint of lovers due to his involvement of uniting Sarah & Tobias in the Book of Tobit.
He is one of the four archangels in the service of YHVH and is usually seen with Gabriel, Uriel and Michael.
Shin Megami Tensei
"Origin: Israel. One of the 4 heralds, the seraph of wind. An angel with a gentle temperament who is said to blend in with humans and speak with them. He guards the tree of life in the Garden of Eden and rules over the cherubs."
—Shin Megami Tensei A-Mode DDS Dictionary
Along with Uriel and Gabriel, Raphael is one of the three major sub-bosses of the last arc of the game—the seraphims, and one of the most powerful angels under God's orders that stands guarding the superior part of the Basilica.
He appears defending the fourth floor, accusing the protagonist of being "covered in the blood of the righteous" before engaging him in battle in case he's not law aligned. This fight, however, is entire optional, as the player can choose to just take the stairs towards the next floor without having to enter Raphael's room.
In Law route, he instead joins the protagonist's party, as he is required in order for a triple fusion with Uriel and Gabriel can be performed, resulting in the creation of the "Angel Ring"—a valuable item needed for the final showdown against Asura to become available.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
"One of the four major archangels. His name means "healer". He explains the history of the fallen angels and the creation of Adam and Eve."
—Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Compendium
Raphael is encountered and fought in Mifunashiro if the Demi-fiend is against the Reason of Yosuga. He is fought along with Gabriel and Uriel. Following his defeat, he can be created by fusing a Dominion with Uriel.
Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE
The ability to fuse Raphael comes from completing the Blessed Light quest, where players with a Uriel summoned are asked by an NPC to defeat the Mad Avatar Raphael that regularly spawns in Shibuya by Celu Tower. He is a special triple fusion of Uriel and two Throne.
Shin Megami Tensei IV
The true identity of one of the masked men at Kagome Tower. He reveals his true form at Shene Duque alongside the other three. He is fought in the DLC Challenge Quest Clipped Wings 2. During the battle, Raphael will ask Flynn if the situation fills him with melancholy. Answering no will cause Raphael to lose a Press Turn. Upon defeat, he will ask why Flynn, one of the chosen, is smiting the Archangels and wonders if he has the same 'unclean blood' as Aquila.
Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis
Raphael is fought in Amnesia's Rakia on the Neutral, Light-Law, and Dark-Chaos routes.
DemiKids Light & Dark
"A king, caring angel who spares no effort towards curing the sick and injured."
Raphael has the special power WindProof, which prevents death by wind attacks. Raphael can do the light based combo War Breath with Uriel, which increases the parties stats for 15 MP. Raphael can perform the combo Soul Eater with Dred Cat.
Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children: Light & Dark
Raphael is a spy sent by Ose to keep track and sabotage the Devil Children's attempts at stopping Empra. He's also an inventor who tends to build machines that go out of control. He has a younger brother and sister named Zadkiel and Tabbris, and after becoming close with the party eventually betrays the Imperium once they threaten his family.
Card Summoner
Raphael is fought as a mini-boss alongside Gabriel and Michael during the second boss battle against Isaac. He constantly uses healing spells and poison Yuuji Kino´s party members.
Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2
Raphael along with the other three archangels are optional bosses to be encountered before the party enters the airport. Much like the other archangels, Raphael is a human turned demon who struggles with recollecting his memory and his hunger, along with suffering from an identity crisis where he believes he is a Millennial Kingdom angel. Raphael resides in the interment factory in the same room where the party picks up the processed can used to weaken the Jailer.
Raphael specializes in using electricity and wind attacks in battle while boasting physical attacks that target the party. He also possesses Debilitate.
2~4 hits of Mega Force damage and debuffs evasion/accuracy on random foes.
Zandyne
Heavy Force damage on one foe.
Mazandyne
Heavy Force damage on all foes.
Debilitate
Reduces Evade/Accuracy/Defense/Physical/Magical power by 1 level of all foes.
Mahamaon
45% chance of reducing reamining HP of all foes by 4/5. Expel-type.
Ziodyne
Heavy Electric damage and Shock(15%) on one foe.
Maziodyne
Heavy Electric damage and Shock(10%) on all foes.
Rakunda
Reduces Defense by 1 level of all foes.
Gallery
Official poster book art by Kazuma Kaneko
Raphael as he appears Shin Megami Tensei
Raphael as he appears in Shin Megami Tensei IV
Raphael as he appears in Persona 3
Artwork from Devil Children Red/Black Book.
Raphael's sprite in Shin Megami Tensei II
Raphael as he appears in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.
Raphael as he appears in Last Bible III
Trivia
Raphael's design in Shin Megami Tensei IV references how Raphael is often portrayed in religious art as carrying a stick or cane and walking, often leading a lost child or traveler back to the right direction, symbolizing Raphael’s role as patron saint of travelers and exemplary guardian angel.