Hardest Bosses In Shin Megami Tensei Games

If the Shin Megami Tensei franchise is known for one thing, it's for being incredibly difficult. While the Persona games have always been a little more accessible in terms of difficulty, mainline SMT has developed a reputation for being very volatile, where even normal battles can end in a game over if the player isn't careful.

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By  Christian Buckley

Of course, while normal encounters can be dangerous on their own, the true challenge in Shin Megami Tensei is easily the bosses. Shin Megami Tensei bosses always have a variety of powerful attacks and skills, and if the player's demon roster isn't built up well enough, they might find themselves up against an insurmountable mountain. Here are some of the hardest bosses in mainline Shin Megami Tensei, not including spin-off series like Persona or Devil Survivor.

8 Minotaur

The Stubbornly Loyal Guardian Of Naraku

Minotaur is one of the first really tough boss fights encountered during Shin Megami Tensei 4. A physical powerhouse, Minotaur stands in the way of any Samurai who attempt to leave the kingdom of Mikado.

Minotaur's strengths lie in its powerful physical attacks, many of which can hit multiple targets. In addition, Walter has a chance of joining the battle and hitting Minotaur with Agi, giving it a free smirk to eradicate the player on its next turn. While many bosses are stronger than Minotaur, its early appearance can make it a stumbling block for inexperienced players.

7 Matador

The Stylish Swordfighter From Hell

Matador is one of the most infamous bosses from the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, appearing as one of the many menorah holders in Shin Megami Tensei 3. Despite his early appearance in the game, his boss battle demands strong familiarity with the game's mechanics, making him a nightmare for newcomers.

Matador's signature ability is Red Capote, which buffs Matador's agility to the maximum. This makes him very hard to hit, requiring players to either buff themselves or diligently apply speed debuffs for the battle to stay even. With powerful attacks like Andalucia and the use of Focus to power up physical attacks, Matador is a terrifying opponent to anyone unfamiliar with the franchise.

6 Metatron

The Mighty God's Greatest Angel

Metatron is one of the last bosses fought in the True Demon Path of Shin Megami Tensei 3. An angel known as the Voice of God, Metatron descends while the Demi-fiend is journeying through the Labyrinth of Amala to keep him from meeting up with Lucifer.

Metatron has powerful Expel-type attacks, with Holy Wrath and Mahamaon having powerful effects on demons weak to the element. Fire of Sinai is similarly powerful, dealing large amounts of almighty damage to random targets. While not the most dangerous foe, Metatron is certainly not to be underestimated.

5 Vishnu-Flynn

A Former Hero Possessed By A Spirit

Vishnu-Flynn is a unique boss, as it is the combined form of Krishna and the brainwashed Flynn, the protagonist of the original Shin Megami Tensei 4. Krishna assumes this form while fighting Nanashi out of desperation, and he is truly a terrifying foe.

Vishnu-Flynn has access to several unique skills, including Light Nandaka and Dark Nandaka. Both attacks deal piercing damage and make the target weak to the opposite element. He also has access to the powerful Antichthon, which can debilitate targets when he is smirking.

4 Shekinah

Emergent Avatar Of The Great Will

Shekinah is a unique boss that only appears at the end of the new routes available in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux. The true form of the Three Wise Men, Shekinah appears after obtaining all of the power created by the Divine Fruits of the Womb of Grief and replaces Mem Aleph as the final boss.

Shekinah's main difficulty lies in how she frequently changes affinities, with each one based on the divine fruits found by the protagonist during their journey through the Womb of Grief. With a variety of powerful moves and deadly skills, Shekinah is an incredibly difficult challenge.

3 YHVH

The Manifestation Of Law Itself

YHVH is the God of Law, as well as the True Final Boss of Shin Megami Tensei 4: Apocalypse. The God who currently presides over the human world, YHVH has created a false war between Chaos and Law to ensure his rule is never disrupted.

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YHVH has a large collection of powerful skills, including those that can instakill one target, drain a party of their MP, or even remove Press Turns. YHVH is such a dangerous opponent that the player needs to use two parties to defeat him.

2 Shiva

The Ambivalent God Of Destruction

Shiva is an optional boss that can be fought during the events of Shin Megami Tensei 5. The leader of Bethel India, Shiva bides his time as the other gods battle for the right to create the new world, planning only to destroy it so that it can be recreated.

Shiva is the most powerful boss in the game, and while he does have powerful attacks like Tandava, that is not what makes this boss so difficult. Instead, his difficulty comes from how he summons other Hindu demons to help him in battle, essentially having his own party. Alongside powerful skills like Impaler's Animus that can give his attacks piercing, Shiva is a terror to fight indeed.

1 Lucifer

The Almighty Lord Of Demons

Lucifer is the final boss of Shin Megami Tensei 3's True Demon Path and one of the most difficult bosses in the franchise's history. The great Demon Lord of Hell, Lucifer hoped to raise the Demi-fiend into a demon capable of standing up against God's army.

Lucifer has max stats, already making him quite the deadly challenge. In addition, he has a variety of attacks, with the most dangerous being Root of Evil, which has a variety of random effects ranging from reducing the party's health by a certain percentage or inflicting an ailment. Intense preparation is necessary to defeat this legendary foe.