Skadi (Norse: Skaði), alternatively referred to as Öndurguð or Öndurdís (lit: Snowshoe goddess), is a jötunn, a giantess in Norse mythology. Associated with skiing, the hunt and winter, she is the daughter of Thjazi, one-time wife of the god Njörður, and stepmother of Freyr and Freya.
In The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets authored by Barbara G. Walker in 1983, Skadi was said to be a Celtic goddess who carries the meaning of darkness and shadow, and thus an equivalent to the Irish Scathach. Today, many unique interpretations of mythological figures including Skadi and Mem Aleph by Walker are largely dismissed as unreliable, but her influence has already been spread to the modern popular culture including the Megami Tensei series. Not only Skadi's design by Kazuma Kaneko which is completely black from head to toe, in the Japanese version of all games of the series, Skadi's background commentary recycles the same prose which cites Walker's theory without mentioning Skadi's origin as a Norse snowshoe goddess.
Skadi appears one of the guardians guarding the flow of Magatsuhi to the center within the Amala Temple, in which Skadi represents the guardian of the Red Temple. The Demi-fiend is later requested by Isamu Nitta to liberate the three temples, thus allowing the large amount of Magatsuhi flow towards the center and allows Isamu to harvest it to summon his God of Reason.
Inside the Red Temple, the Demi-fiend must then solve the puzzles of locking him between the normal world and the shadow land; in which the latter transforms into a floor-ridden trap that slowly drains the Demi-fiend's HP. Upon reaching Skadi's throne, Skadi informs the Demi-fiend that she is hungry for Magatsuhi, and that his blood will quench her thirst, engaging the Demi-fiend in battle.
After defeating Skadi, the Demi-fiend can recruit Skadi as his minion by evolving Scathach by reaching at least Lv. 74 himself and completely mastering Scathach's skillset. Skadi is also capable of learning her distinct attack, Earthquake, which inflicts mega Physical damage upon all enemies, in addition to having the unique property of not being able to miss nor critical hit under any circumstances.
Skadi can only be acquired through fusion. She acts as a mid-boss in the Shinagawa Ice Caves and appears as an enemy in the Second Home Extra Dungeon instance.
"A giantess called the "snow-shoe goddess," and the embodiment of winter. According to legend, all the gods will return to her at the end of Ragnarok."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey compendium
Skadi will appear in Sector Horologium to confront the protagonist in the neutral route, guarding the wrecked remains of the main elevator shaft which she demolished to prevent anyone from reaching Mem Aleph.
Skadi retains most of her attributes. However, her fusion prerequisite level has been shifted to Lv. 80. In the playable epilogue of FES, titled The Answer, Aigis can also summon Skadi by fusing the appropriate Personas in the Velvet Room.
Skadi appears as a Persona of the Empress Arcana. She is available to be summoned once the protagonist reaches Lv. 52 or above. Similar to its predecessor, Skadi excels in Ice-elemental affinities, but she no longer learns the skill Niflheim; the skill is instead learned by Loki.
"A Norse giantess called the "snow-shoe goddess" and the embodiment of winter. According to legend, all the gods will return to her at the end of Ragnarok."
—Persona 5 background
Skadi is the eighth Persona of the Priestess Arcana and can be found as a Shadow in Niijima's Palace and the Sheriruth area of Mementos, with the title "Quaking Lady of Shadow." She is one of two Personas to learn the Null Despair and Repel Ice skills and one of three to learn Ghastly Wail. When itemized using Electric Chair execution, Skadi yields the Snow Queen's Whip melee weapon for Ann Takamaki, which has 210 ATK, 90 ACC and bestows Ann with Auto-Sukukaja at the start of battle.
Skadi appears as a normal enemy encounter in the final dungeon of the game, the Sun. Skadi also appears in packs without being assisted by other demons.
"A Nordic goddess of winter, and daughter of a giant. According to legend, all the gods will return to her at the end of the Ragnarok for her name contains the meaning "shadow." After her ill-fated marriage to Njord the god of the sea and wealth, she happily remarried Ullr the god of winter."
