Matador has an notorious fame within the Shin Megami Tensei canon, and Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance isn’t any exception. As the primary boss within the Return of the True Demon sidequest, Matador can and can wipe the ground with you for those who problem him unprepared. Although Matador was a problem within the vanilla model of Shin Megami Tensei V, the Vengeance rerelease provides a brand new gimmick that you just’ll must intentionally mess around. Happily, so long as you carry the suitable abilities and demons, you’ll be able to simply overcome this problem.
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For greatest outcomes, your principal character ought to be at stage 24 earlier than difficult Matador. When you’re underleveled, think about advancing the primary story and returning to this encounter later. That is particularly useful for those who’re enjoying the Vengeance story, because you’ll recruit Visitor characters who can are available clutch for this struggle. Additionally think about stocking up on Elec Shards from Cadaver’s Hole to offer the Nahobino and some other human characters a solution to exploit Matador’s weak point.
With that out of the best way, right here’s all the things you must find out about overcoming Matador.
Matador’s talents and weaknesses
At first look, Matador doesn’t appear too unhealthy. He’s weak to Electrical (Zio) injury, Proof against Pressure (Zan) injury, and resists Hama and Mudo. He additionally resists a variety of standing illnesses, although you’ll be able to nonetheless inflict these circumstances since he’s not full immunities. Whereas Electrical injury is your only option right here, Bodily attackers are completely viable too. That is very true of any Bodily strikes which have the next chance to inflict a vital hit (like Aramasa).
The true problem right here is Matador’s abilities. New to Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the Crippling Blow innate talent, which provides Matador an opportunity to immediately kill anybody when it hits a weak point or scores a vital hit. Sure, only one unfortunate cube roll when Matador strikes the Nahobino can flip an in any other case profitable encounter into an on the spot loss. Matador will solely inflict Bodily and Pressure injury, so keep away from bringing any demons who’re weak to both of these.
You’ll additionally wish to be careful for Crimson Capote, which is able to elevate Matador’s accuracy and evasion by two phases at any time when it’s used. Shin Megami Tensei V actually punishes you for lacking assaults, so that you’ll wish to use Sukunda to counter this buff. Actually, any and all debuffs will serve you effectively right here, since Matador doesn’t have any solution to neutralize these circumstances.
Matador’s battle technique
Earlier than you actually have a probability to assault, Matador will use Crimson Capote. Use Sukunda and different debuff strikes ASAP so that you don’t threat letting Matador dodge your assaults, since it will put you on the backfoot instantly. You should use a Purge Appeal to instantly take away the consequences of Crimson Capote, which helps an awesome deal for those who don’t have a number of demons utilizing Sukunda.
Happily, Matador casts Crimson Capote sometimes past this level. Although it could actually use Marakunda to decrease your social gathering’s protection, you shouldn’t have to fret an excessive amount of for those who hold Matador’s assault debuffed with Tarunda or equal assaults. In any other case, Matador will primarily hit you with Bodily assaults and the occasional Mazan, so make certain to defend accordingly.
As has been the case with different bosses, you’ll finally see the textual content “Matador started gathering close by Magatsuhi!” To counter this, make certain your social gathering makes use of Guard on the finish of their flip. Guarding is the one means you’ll be able to fully negate the possibility of struggling a vital hit, which Matador will inflict after gathering Magatsuhi. This can be a good tip for a lot of boss encounters, however it’s particularly important right here.
That mentioned, based mostly on my testing, Matador appeared to make use of Mazan after gathering Magatsuhi, which he then adopted with Andalucia (which inflicts a number of Bodily hits) on the following flip. Due to this, you might wish to have the Nahobino use Guard for one more flip to keep away from the potential for catching an unfortunate vital hit. This additionally implies that anybody in your social gathering proof against Pressure might be able to endure his Magatsuhi-charged assault with out guarding. Your mileage could range.
Except for this, Matador doesn’t have some other surprises to throw at you. Preserve him comprehensively debuffed, exploit his thunder weak point as a lot as you’ll be able to, and pile on the injury till he goes down. Your techniques past that can rely in your social gathering composition, so let’s offer you some pointers.
Easy methods to construct the Nahobino to struggle Matador
Given Matador’s moveset, you’ll mitigate a ton of injury by imbuing the Nahobino’s Affinities with the Sudama Essence. This can grant your protagonist complete immunity to Pressure injury, defending him from potential vital hits through Mazan and making him minimize Matador’s turns brief (enemies abide by the identical Press Flip system the social gathering does, so hitting an immunity inflicts a flip penalty). Sudama’s weaknesses aren’t related on this encounter, and you should buy the essence from Cadaver’s Hole.
Past that, Nahobino’s moveset will depend upon the way you’ve constructed him and what social gathering members you’ll carry to the struggle. Aramasa stays one among your strongest strikes in a Bodily construct, whereas Zio or Zionga will clearly excel in a magic construct. Bodily Nahobinos should desire to carry Zio for those who don’t wish to financial institution on vital hits for further turns. Past that, debuff strikes are helpful to carry, and Miracle Water will are available clutch for those who don’t have a viable healer. Inflaming Divinity may help for those who’ve progressed far sufficient to entry it, although it will drain your MP very quick. Rooted Soul is all the time viable for the additional HP and MP, so use that you probably have a talent slot to spare.
The perfect demons and social gathering members to counter Matador
You’re pressured to take your protagonist into the encounter, however your different monsters are a unique story. Carry these beasts to cope with Matador.
Shiisaa
Shiisaa feels tailored to counter Matador. It naturally learns Zionga to take advantage of Matador’s weak point, Sukunda, to mitigate the consequences of Crimson Capote, and it resists Pressure injury. It might even counter Matador’s assaults because of its Guardian Beast innate talent.
Since different Zio-focused demons are weak to Pressure, Shiisaa is uniquely among the finest injury sellers you might use on this encounter. You actually don’t must do a lot to construct it, simply stage it up so it learns its full moveset.
Kikuri-Hime
When you want a devoted healer, Kikuri-Hime is one among your greatest choices. Her main boon is her Pressure immunity, fully negating Matador’s Mazan. Moreover, she naturally learns Recarm and Media, which lets you heal and revive social gathering members as wanted. Her innate talent Divine Benevolence may even cut back the MP price of help abilities, which incorporates debuffs.
Kikuri-Hime’s solely draw back is her detrimental electrical proficiency, so she struggles as a injury seller regardless of her nice Magic stat. That mentioned, her help proficiency makes her particularly good at utilizing debuffs like Tarunda, which she will study naturally. Additionally think about giving her the Essence of Obariyon to let her study Sekunda and/or Sekukaja.
Oni
With the specter of Matador’s vital hits hanging over you, a devoted tank like Oni turns into enormously interesting. With good Power, even higher Vitality, and native entry to the Taunt talent, Oni can soak Matador’s Bodily assaults like a champ. What’s extra, his Bodily resistance will dampen Matador’s hits and ease stress in your healer(s). Fang Breaker can also be an awesome help talent, because it offers injury and lowers the enemy’s offenses by one stage.
If you wish to optimize Oni even additional, give him the Counter potential. This can give Oni an opportunity to counter assault any enemy that makes use of a strength-based assault, which is good for a tank. You’ll be able to study this talent from the Nozuchi or Rakshasa Essences.
Ippon-Datara is a serviceable different to Oni, because of its native entry to Taunt and its tank-supporting One-Foot Hop potential. That mentioned, Oni is usually superior, and also you don’t want to make use of each.
Yoko Hiromine
For these enjoying by the Vengeance story path, Yoko Hiromine fares effectively on this struggle. Her most blatant perk is Zio, which upgrades to Zionga after a small quantity of story progress. Due to her excessive Magic stat, she will make good use of those spells. She will be able to heal and debuff Matador’s assault in a pinch too, although you’ll wish to save her MP for these electrical spells.
As a human character, Yoko can use objects as wanted. Given how useful objects are in Shin Megami Tensei V, this alone makes Yoko extra versatile than she has any proper to be. Completely no funding or constructing is required to make use of Yoko, so slot her into your social gathering for those who’re uninterested in devoting assets to this struggle.
Honorable Mentions
Except for the above, any demons that may inflict Electrical injury and aren’t weak to Pressure can work. For instance, Feng-Huang resists Pressure and doesn’t have a detrimental Electrical proficiency, so you’ll be able to train it Zio and use it as effectively.
So long as you play fastidiously, you shouldn’t want many backup demons to get by Matador. Construct your workforce proper, react to Matador’s assaults, and it’s best to get your clear very quickly. As a reward, you’ll unlock a particular fusion for Matador, so you need to use his powers towards all who stand towards you. Good luck in the remainder of your journey by Da’at!
