Demon Symbols

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Demon Symbols, known in Japanese as Symbol Encounters (シンボルエンカウント^*)^? and Enemy Symbols (エネミーシンボル^*)^?, is a term for overworld enemies that trigger a battle upon interacting with them. They are a modern variant of the random encounters.

Appearances[]

• Shin Megami Tensei IV
• Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse
• Shin Megami Tensei V: As Demon Symbols (EN) & Symbol Encounters (JP)
• Soul Hackers 2: As Enemy Symbols (JP)
• Persona 3 / FES / Portable / Reload
• Persona 4 / Golden
• Persona 5 / Royal
• Persona 5 Strikers
• Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE

Profile[]

Shin Megami Tensei V[]

Shin Megami Tensei V is the first game in the Megami Tensei series to have symbol encounters directly represent their in-battle counterpart in appearance. There, they are referred to as "Demon Symbols" within the English version of the game.

Spawning[]

Specific species of demons will always spawn in specific spawn points, and targeting those is likely to grant a specific horde of encounters, which is pre-determined upon the encounter spawning on the map. Depending on the location of the demon symbol, the types of arrangements that can be obtained from colliding with them also vary. These encounters are reset should the demons despawn or if the game is reloaded.

The arrangement depends on the levels of the enemies, only being able to be allied by demons of lower levels than them, and their areas, where two demons of different regions cannot be encountered together. In the case of dungeons, such as Demon King's Castle and Temple of Eternity, they're considered extensions of Chiyoda and Taito respectively.

Mitama demons function differently: although they spawn in specific locations of their own (always distinguished according to their species,) they will always respawn if the protagonist fails to initiate combat with them and they run away. However, in the case that the protagonist has initiated battle with the Mitama, their respawn rate is always very low. It can be increased by purchasing and applying the DLC revolving around each respective Mitama. The ability can always be toggled in the settings.

Saving the game doesn't take note of neither the enemies defeated nor the combat arrangements assigned to each individual encounter, so soft-loading even right after saving will grant a fresh slate on all demon symbols. This rule does not apply to Mitama symbols and it won't get them to respawn.

Behavior[]

Generally, demons in the overworld will target the protagonist upon spotting him, and will attempt to attack him once they're close. However, the behavior can get much more specific than that between certain races of demons. For example, Byakko will be strikingly fast, and will be nearly able to reach the protagonist while he's in a running stance, while other demons may be much slower. It can get even more specific than that, as some demons, such as Daemon, may be found asleep, and running at max speed will wake them up. Some demons may even follow a pre-set path, which they'll only break if they spot the protagonist.

Demons will not react to the environment aside from the protagonist. Their attacks are able to phase through walls, especially if the protagonist and the enemy are separated by a short fence. Flying enemies may still be attacked from below if they're low enough, even if the slash doesn't actually touch the enemy. Demons cannot see through areas that cannot be walked on as if they're invisible walls, such as pits or lakes.

Normally, demons will instead run away from the protagonist if he's 5 levels higher than them, and they'll only attack if they're cornered and have nowhere to run, although some demons are set to guard certain areas and will give chase no matter the level difference. Other demons, such as Mermaid, will always run away and hide, however.

Interacting with Demons[]

Generally, simply touching the symbol encounters is enough to enter battle mode, but the protagonist may slash them from a distance, triggering it as well. If the protagonist escapes battle without the enemy demons not having died and/or left by their own will, the enemy encounter will still be there, but that and all encounters will remain idle for around 3 seconds, and colliding with them will not trigger battle for that time: only slashing will be able to do so. After this period is over, the demons will behave as normal.

Mitama can also be found when initiating battle with normal enemies. The specific arrangements and the Mitama that can be found are likely pre-determined: for example, a Saki Mitama will always spawn with two Hecatoncheires, and a Kusi Mitama with Loup-garous. Mitama can be dealt with properly if they're found as part of regular encounters, as even if the Mitama fail to be killed, if the party runs away from the battle, they can re-enter the same fight with the Mitama still in place and try again.

After battle is over, demons and the protagonist may slightly alter their positions after interacting with each-other, and it is possible for the enemy to fail to reappear should no spot be found for it; however, it is very likely the demons respawns after the protagonist ends a battle with another encounter.

The protagonist may use Estoma or a Dispel Charm to prevent enemy encounters until the next New Moon. Then, enemies will not try to chase him, and will instantly disappear upon colliding with him.

Soul Hackers 2[]

In Soul Hackers 2, if enemy symbols spot Ringo, they'll pursue and upon catching her, combat will commence with the enemy getting priority in attack. The enemies are slightly faster than Ringo in terms of movement.

If Ringo slashes the enemy symbol with her sword, they'll be knocked down and knocked backwards on the map. Ringo can approach them and commence battle with a bonus attack. Ignoring them for long enough will have the enemy despawn. A special BGM will begin playing when Ringo is spotted, and will begin to fade after the enemy symbol is knocked down. This BGM can also serve as a warning other enemy symbols in pursuit off-screen if it doesn't fade when an enemy symbol is knocked down. Once Mimi is introduced, their field icon will also give a visual indicator of an enemy presence.

Enemy symbols might spawn on the spot while exploring, or they might appear by surprise in front of Ringo and immediately spot her. Depending on the circumstances, there's a cooldown period of two seconds where neither colliding nor slashing the enemy will trigger a battle.

All enemy symbols will disappear when interacting with nearly anything in dungeons, such as portals and demons in demon recon, including initiating combat with enemies. Likewise, enemy symbols cannot pursue Ringo up and down stairs, and will disappear upon reaching them.

There are also special encounters called "Risky Enemies," that will spawn powerful enemies in battle that begin to appear in the Soul Matrix and onward. They move slightly slower than Ringo. Slashing them will not immobilize them, but they'll be knocked back and stunned for 2 seconds before continuing their pursuit. They will also not pursue Ringo as far as normal enemies before disappearing. Knocking a Risky Enemy onto nearby stairs can cause them to despawn.

There's also the possibility they might despawn after being slashed.^[1]

Defeating enemies before running from battle will still yield large amounts of EXP and money, even to party members who were downed in combat.

Persona 3 Reload[]

In Reload, slashing an enemy symbol leads the protagonist to being immune from enemy attack. Conversely, if the enemy attacks first, the protagonist can't initiate his slashing animation, leaving them completely vulnerable to ambush.

Interacting with Treasure Chests resets all enemy encounters.

Enemies will run away if the party is significantly more powerful than them. However, on floors where Fuuka announces that powerful enemies are present throughout the floor, powerful enemies that would normally run from the party will still be inclined to attack.

Persona 5 / Royal[]

Enemies primarily guard Palaces. They take a short period of time to react to spotting the protagonist, but once spotted, they'll chase after. Additionally, if they do spot them, the Palace's security level will rise. Not only that, but while the protagonist is being pursued, they will not be able to use their Third Eye.

The protagonist can attack them by striking them or even ambush them by ripping off their mask. If they haven't spotted the protagonist, defeating them in battle will lower the security level.

In Palaces, enemy symbols spawn on specific locations, and their roaming pattern is very specific, generally walking and turning back-and-forth, only leaving their post if they spot the protagonist. Guards cannot react to ambient sounds from the protagonist, such as when he breaks a search object, but will only be able to react if the protagonist dashes. Some enemies might spawn around the protagonist if the security level is high, and sometimes purposefully by surprise depending on the location.

If the Hypno Mist is used, enemies nearby will be stunned and asleep, and approaching them and colliding with them directly will wake them up. Additionally, during pollen warning, there's a chance for enemy symbols in Mementos to be asleep automatically.

Spots that the protagonist can't walk through, such as pits, are considered walls, and enemies cannot see the protagonist through them. One major example includes the Central Tower of Kamoshida's Palace.

Types of Guards[]

Aside from the regular guards, there are additional types of Shadows that will behave differently in the environment. The first instance are the guard dogs in Kaneshiro's Palace, which will not only immediately detect the protagonist, but will be able to outrun the protagonist in pursuit.

Other types of Shadows, when spotting the protagonist, can instead spawn other guards in front of them to chase them down, and will later enter combat as an additional wave due to being close to the combat vicinity. Some instances of these include the orb-shaped guards in Okumura's Palace, and the waitress Shadows in Niijima's Palace.

Trophies & Awards[]

Trophy	Icon	Description	For	Reward
Blade Novice		Knocked down 10 or more enemies on the field.	SH2 trophy
Blade Master		Knocked down 50 or more enemies on the field.

Terminology[]

Although generally not having a proper term in English, enemies in the overworld are commonly called "symbols" in Japanese, most commonly being referred to as "symbol encounters."

• In Shin Megami Tensei V, the term was translated in English to "demon symbols," adopting the use of symbols, but does not refer to them as symbol encounters like with the Japanese version.
• In Soul Hackers 2, the English name is not yet confirmed, but in Japanese they're referred to as "enemy symbols."
• In Persona 5, there's no direct term for enemy symbols, but they're generally referred to as just "guards" or "Shadows."

Gallery[]

Soul Hackers 2[]

Ringo knocking down an enemy symbol and approaching them for a bonus attack.

Ringo unaffected by colliding with an enemy symbol, which lasts 2 seconds since its spawning.

Risky Enemies are unaffected by slashes.

Risky Enemies might despawn after being slashed.^[1]

Persona 3[]

The male protagonist attacking an enemy Shadow.

References[]