Makoto Yuki's initial Persona, Orpheus.
An initial Persona (初期ペルソナ, Shoki Perusona)? is the first Persona summoned by an individual. These Personas represent their summoners' ego, the aspect of the psyche that interacts with the external world. Their abilities tend to be relatively weak, so the mythological, literary and historical figures they take the forms of are often less significant in their corresponding sources. When a Persona-user undergoes a great change or gains a new sense of resolve, their initial Persona gives way to their ultimate Persona.
These Personas can always be summoned by their users, even when they previously returned or transformed them. This has been shown by Yukino Mayuzumi, Kei Nanjo and Eriko Kirishima, who regained their initial Personas in the Persona 2 duology; the Investigation Team, who regained their initial Personas in Persona 4 Arena, and the Phantom Thieves, who regained their initial Personas in Persona 5 Strikers and Persona 5 Tactica.
Quick Answers
What is the significance of an initial Persona in the Persona series?
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What are some examples of initial Personas in the Persona series?
How does the strength of an initial Persona compare to other Personas?
Appearances[]
- Megami Ibunroku Persona
- Persona 2: Innocent Sin
- Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
- Persona 3 / FES / Portable/ Reload
- Persona 4 / Golden
- Persona 4 Arena / Ultimax
- Persona 4: Dancing All Night
- Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
- Persona 5 / Royal
- Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
- Persona 5 Strikers
- Persona 5 Tactica
- Persona 5: The Phantom X
List of initial Personas[]
Megami Ibunroku Persona[]
Persona 2[]
Innocent Sin[]
This is the first game in the series to feature uniform origins for the signature Personas of each playable character, where figures from Greek and Roman mythology are used. Most of them have designs based on high fashion.
| Character | Arcana | Persona |
|---|---|---|
| Tatsuya Suou | Sun | Vulcanus |
| Eikichi Mishina | Death | Rhadamanthus |
| Lisa Silverman | Lovers | Eros |
| Maya Amano | Moon | Maia |
| Yukino Mayuzumi | Empress | Vesta |
| Jun Kurosu | Fortune | Hermes |
Eternal Punishment[]
Tatsuya Suou begins with Apollo in Eternal Punishment, who is actually his ultimate Persona carried over from Innocent Sin.
| Character | Arcana | Persona |
|---|---|---|
| Maya Amano | Moon | Maia |
| Ulala Serizawa | Star | Callisto |
| Katsuya Suou | Justice | Helios |
| Baofu | Hanged Man | Odysseus |
| Kei Nanjo | Hierophant | Aizen Myouou |
| Eriko Kirishima | Judgement | Nike |
Tsumi to Batsu[]
| Character | Arcana | Persona |
|---|---|---|
| Kazumi Kiba | Hierophant | Yama |
| Rihito Shimizu | Judgement | Archangel |
| Keito | Emperor | Indra |
| Narui | Justice | Bishamonten |
| Rinne | Hierophant | Varuna |
Persona 3 / FES / Portable / Reload[]
Nearly all initial Personas are from Greek mythology, with Lucia being the odd one out.
* These characters never have their initial Personas evolve. In spite of this, they have the same level of power as the ultimate Personas do.
Persona -trinity soul-[]
No characters in Persona -trinity soul- have a known Arcana and never have their initial Persona evolved.
| Character | Persona |
|---|---|
| Shin Kanzato | Abel |
| Ryo Kanzato | Cain |
| Jun Kanzato Yuki Kanzato |
Seth |
| Takuro Sakakiba | Spartacus |
| Megumi Kayano | Diana |
| Kanaru Morimoto | Astarte Ashtoreth |
Persona 4 / Golden[]
The initial Personas in this game are from ancient Japanese scriptures and beliefs.
Persona 4 Arena / Ultimax[]
| Character | Arcana | Persona |
|---|---|---|
| Labrys | Fortune | Ariadne |
| Shadow Labrys | Fortune | Asterius |
| Sho Minazuki | Moon | Tsukuyomi |
Persona 5 / Royal / Strikers / Tactica[]
The initial Personas in this game come from modern fiction and historical figures, proven or contested. Persona 5 Strikers features Pithos, an artificial construct that can mimic a Persona in function.
- * Although Goro Akechi's true initial Persona in Persona 5 is heavily implied to be Loki, Robin Hood is the first Persona Akechi summons while operating as a party member, and mechanically functions as Akechi's initial.
- ** While not actually a Persona, Pithos functions identically to one.
- *** Ernesto is the transformed state of Erina, whose existence is the most unique state, as once she awakens, she's simultaneously a cognitive being, a Shadow and a Persona.
Persona 5: The Phantom X[]
The initial Personas of the flesh and blood characters in this game appear to be primarily based on historical figures, proven or contested.
The Personas of cognitive manifestations (the Gacha-limited "Kaidols") that the protagonist is able to recruit, known as Persona IIs (ペルソナⅡ, Perusona Duo)?, however are based on figures from Greek mythology. While they vary between Kaidols, the Persona IIs are largely based on either the Muses, nymphs, children of water gods or otherwise supernatural beings connected to water in some capacity, tying into the water motif of P5X' Velvet Room. Yaoling Li's Persona II is the sole (current) example of a non-Greek Persona, being based on a deity from Chinese mythology.
| Character | Persona |
|---|---|
| Protagonist | Jánošík |
| Ruferu | Rob Roy |
| Motoha Arai | Awilda |
| Shun Kanou | Mandrin |
| Riko Tanemura | Chiyome |
Persona II[]
See also[]