Race or clan (種族, Shuzoku)? is the categorization to distribute the demons into different classes in the Megami Tensei traditional series (Shin Megami Tensei and Majin Tensei series), Devil Summoner (except for the Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha series which uses another demon categorization system) and Devil Survivor subseries. The race title is usually based on the mythological status often found in various legends or religions. Multiple races are grouped under species (大種族, Dai Shuzoku)?. Demon race is closely related to demon fusion in which generally fusing demons of races A and B will result in demon of race C of level slightly higher than the average of the ingredient demons. Although not always, demons of one race tend to share similar attributes or traits in gameplay, such as Kishin being physical powerhouses or Fairies having a collection of elemental and healing spells. Majin Tensei and Devil Survivor series emphasize this by giving demons of each race their unique attributes (such as flying) or racial skill which can never be shared across races.
"Species" initially received its official English localization only in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE. Because in other localized games of the series, species is a hidden mechanic behind the more complex demon fusion rules (such as three-demon fusion) and only mentioned in the Japanese game manual. In the English version of the iOS port of Shin Megami Tensei, the species names can only be learned from the demon dictionary; the names used being mostly different from the IMAGINE versions.
In the Japanese version of the Digital Devil Saga duology, the "race" that indicates before the generic enemy demons' name is actually the "species" succeeded from the SMT series. However, these titles do not play an important role in the game system and only serve as the tip of the enemy's attributes.
List of species and races[]
| Species (JP) | SMT | IMAGINE | DDS:AT | Races |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (神族, Kami Zoku)? | Gods | Deity | Deity (魔神, Majin, Demon God)?, Megami (女神, Megami, Goddess)?, Amatsu (天津神, Amatsukami, Heavenly God)?*, Enigma (秘神, Hishin, Secret God)?, Zealot (狂神, Kyoushin, Mad God)?*, Godly (神霊, Shinrei, Godly Spirit)?, Chaos (混沌王, Konton'Ou, Chaos King)?, Lady (地母神, Jiboshin, Mother Goddess)?*, Nymph (天女, Ten'nyo, Heaven Maid)?, Vile (邪神, Jashin, False God)?*, Reaper (死神, Shinigami, Death God)?*, Entity (威霊, Irei / Iryo, Spiritual Authority)?*, Meta (超人, Choujin, Super Human)?*, Soshin (祖神, Soshin, Ancient God)? | |
| (鬼神族, Kishin zoku)? | Kishin | Guardians | Evil / Icon | Tenma (天魔, Tenma, Heavenly Demon)?, Fury (破壊神, Hakaishin, Destruction God)?, Kishin (鬼神, Kishin, Fierce God)?, Lady (地母神, Jiboshin, Mother Goddess)?*, Femme (鬼女, Kijo, Ogress)?*, Vile (邪神, Jashin, False God)?*, Reaper (死神, Shinigami, Death God)?*, Wargod (軍神, Gunshin, God of War)?, Kunitsu (国津神, Kunitsukami, Nation Ruler)?, Zealot (狂神, Kyoushin, Mad God)?*, Entity (威霊, Iryo, Spiritual Authority)?*, Shinshou (十二神将, Juuni Shinshou, Twelve God Generals)?, Tenjin (天神, Tenjin)?* |
| (魔族, Mazoku)? | Demonic | Magica | Fiend / Nether | Tyrant (魔王, Maou, Demon King)?*, Genma (幻魔, Genma, Illusion Demon)?*, Night (夜魔, Yama, Night Demon)?*, Yoma (妖魔, Youma, Mystic)?*, Fairy (妖精, Yousei, Fairy)?*, Fiend (魔人, Majin, Demon People)?*, Suiyou (水妖, Suiyou, Mystical Water)?, Shinoma (下魔, Shinoma, Lower Demon)?, Shin Akuma (新悪魔, Shin Akuma)? |
| 悪魔族 | - | Demon | - | Tyrant (魔王, Maou, Demon King)?*, Night (夜魔, Yama, Night Demon)?*, Yoma (妖魔, Youma, Mystic)?*, Fairy (妖精, Yousei, Fairy)?* |
| (飛天族, Hiten zoku)? | Flying | Aerials | Aerial | Herald (大天使, Daitenshi, Great Angel)?, Divine (天使, Tenshi, Angel)?, Fallen (堕天使, Datenshi, Fallen Angel)?, Koutenshi (降天使, Koutenshi, Non-Angel)?, Akuma (悪魔, Akuma, Demon)? |
| (鳥族, Tori zoku)? | Avian | Birds | Avian (霊鳥, Reichou, Spiritual Bird)?, Flight (妖鳥, Youchou, Mystic Bird)?, Raptor (凶鳥, Kyouchou, Evil Bird)? | |
| (竜族, Ryū zoku)? | Dragons | Dragon | Dragon (竜神, Ryuujin, Dragon God)?, Snake (竜王, Ryuuou, Dragon King)?, Drake (邪竜, Jaryuu, Evil Dragon)?, Hiryu (飛龍, Hiryu, Flying Dragon)? | |
| (鬼族, Oni zoku)? | Oni | Demoniacs | Demon / Brute | Touki (闘鬼, Touki, Battle Demon)?, Brute (妖鬼, Youki, Mystic Oni)?, Femme (鬼女, Kijo, Ogress)?*, Jirae (地霊, Chirei, Earth Spirit)?*, Jaki (邪鬼, Jaki, Evil Demon)?, Haunt (幽鬼, Yuuki, Ghostly Demon)?*, Henii (変異, Mutant, Variation)? |
| (獣族, Kemono zoku)? | Beasts | Beast | Avatar (神獣, Shinjuu, Godly Beast)?, Holy (聖獣, Seijuu, Holy Beast)?, Beast (魔獣, Majuu, Demon Beast)?, Wilder (妖獣, Youjuu, Mystic Beast)?, UMA (珍獣, Chinjuu, Rare Beast)?, Food (フード, Fuudo, Food)?, Kaijuu (怪獣, Kaijuu, Horror)? | |
| 樹霊族 | - | - | - | Tree (神樹, Shinju, Godly Tree)?, Wood (妖樹, Youju, Mystical Tree)?*, Jusei (樹精, Jusei, Tree Spirit)? |
| (精霊族, Seirei zoku)? | Element | Elementals | - | Element (精霊, Seirei, Spirit)?*, Mitama (御魂, Onmitama, Honorable Soul)?, Wood (妖樹, Youju, Mystical Tree)?* |
| 妖精族 | - | - | - | Fairy (妖精, Yousei, Fairy)?*, Jirae (地霊, Chirei, Earth Spirit)?*, Element (精霊, Seirei, Spirit)?*, Genma (幻魔, Genma, Illusion Demon)?* |
| (邪霊族, Jarei zoku)? | Evil Spirits | - | Haunt / Ghost (幽鬼, Yuuki, Ghostly Demon)?*, Spirit (悪霊, Akuryuou, Evil Spirit)?, Undead (屍鬼, Shiki, Corpse Demon)?*, Rumor (怪異, Kaii, Strangeness)?* | |
| (人/人間, Hito / Ningen)? | Humans | - | Human (人間, Ningen, Human)?, Gaean (ガイアーズ, Gaiazu, Cult of Gaea)?, Messian (メシア教徒, Meshia Kyouto, Order of Messiah)?, Summoner (召喚士, Shoukan shi)?, Meta (超人, Choujin, Super Human)?*, Ranger (戦士, Senshi, Warrior)?, Hero (英雄, Eiyuu, Hero)?, General (猛将, Moushou, Brave General)?, Famed (英傑, Eiketsu)?, Therian (獣人, Juujin, Beast People)?*, Fiend (魔人, Majin, Demon People)?*, Kyojin (狂人, Kyoujin, Mad Men / Psycho)?, Shinja (信者, Shinja)?, | |
| (魔人, Majin)? | - | - | - | Therian (獣人, Juujin, Beast People)?*, Fiend (魔人, Majin, Demon People)?* |
| (外道, Gedou)? | Fouls | - | Foul (外道, Gedou, Heretical)?*, Vermin (妖虫, Youchuu, Mystic Insect)?*, Demonoid (デモノイド, Demonoid)?, Rumor (怪異, Kaii, Strangeness)?*, Karma (業魔, Gouma)?, Machine (マシン, Mashin, Machine)?* | |
| 怨霊族 | - | - | - | Foul (外道, Gedou, Heretical)?*, Undead (屍鬼, Shikabane Oni, Corpse Demon)?* |
| 虫族 | - | - | - | Vermin (妖虫, Youchuu, Mystic Insect)?* |
| (マシン, Mashin)? (無生物, Museibutsu)? |
Machines | Device | Machine (マシン, Mashin, Machine)?*, Virus (ウィル��, Vairusu, Virus)?, Vaccine (ワクチン, Vakushiin, Vaccine)?, Kugutsu (傀儡, Kugutsu)? | |
| Unclassified | Zoma (造魔, Zouma, Artificial Demon)?, Fake (偽人, Nise Hito, Fake People)?, Ghost (怨霊, Onryou, Vengeful Ghost)?, Foreigner (異邦人, Ihoujin)?, Horde (軍勢, Gunzei, Troop)?, Food (フード, Fuudo)?, Qadištu (女魔, Joma, She-Devil)? | |||
* Race that has been put under different species throughout the series.
See also[]