Joker: Unmasking the Many Faces of Persona’s Wild Card
Why do fans love Joker in the Persona series? We explore the mysterious world of this master of Personas. Joker transcends roles, from a reality-bending villain to a hero. Join us as we delve into the diverse Jokers and their iconic personas.
The OG Joker: Persona 2’s Menace
Before the Phantom Thief, Persona 2: Innocent Sin had its own Joker. This Joker is not friendly. He creates chaos in Sumaru City. High school life is disrupted by rumors that change reality. This is the work of our villainous Joker.
This mischievous presence wields chaos through rumor-mongering. A group of students from Seven Sisters High, led by Tatsuya Suou, fights to stop this mayhem. They yearn to reveal the true Joker. In Persona 2: Innocent Sin, normal people can’t see Personas, complicating their battle.
Persona 5’s Joker: A Symphony of Souls
In Persona 5, the Joker evolves. Known as Ren Amamiya or Akira Kurusu officially, he leads the Phantom Thieves. As a Persona user, he possesses the “Wild Card” ability. This Wild Card allows him to command multiple Personas and fuse them. It makes him a walking Persona encyclopedia.
Arsène: The Gentleman Thief Persona
Joker’s initial Persona is Arsène, a suave, rebellious figure for a leader. Think of Arsène like a powerful starter Pokémon, but with more flair. He excels in Curse and Physical skills, making him effective right away.
However, Arsène has vulnerabilities. He is weak against Ice and Bless attacks. Here’s the twist: he stops learning at level 7. Yes, level 7! After that, he appears to think he knows enough. While you can teach him new tricks using Skill Cards, his early skill cap encourages exploration.
Atlus designs Arsène as a stepping stone. They want players to experiment with the extensive Persona options. Arsène serves well at the start but he eventually opens the door to higher-level Personas waiting in the shadows.
Satanael: The Ultimate Rebellion
Now, onto Satanael, Joker’s ultimate Persona! In Persona 5 Royal, Satanael represents his journey’s peak. Remember the epic battle against Yaldabaoth? At that moment, Arsène reappears, empowered by public cheers. He transforms into Satanael.
Satanael has no weaknesses at all. He laughs at damage types. Instead, he protects against ten types of damage, absorbs Curse, and blocks Bless. This rebellious powerhouse is nearly unbeatable. To fuse him, Joker must reach level 95 and carry out an advanced fusion involving key Personas. It is no simple task.
His special move is Sinful Shell, unique to him alone. Completing Satanael’s entry in the Compendium is vital too. It may unlock an achievement—a delightful reward for summoning this divine rebel.
Interestingly, summoning Satanael requires public support. The people’s belief empowers Joker to unleash Satanael. Unlike dark counterparts like Yaldabaoth, Satanael represents light and defiance, advocating free will.
You may ask, why didn’t Joker use Satanael against Maruki? Because Maruki’s reality-altering abilities counterbalance Satanael’s power. Even ultimate Personas face limits against god-like adversaries.
Raoul: The Enigmatic Third Tier
Enter Raoul, Joker’s third-tier Persona. You’d assume it would overshadow others, right? Not so fast. Raoul may seem stronger but starts at a lower level than Satanael and has his vulnerabilities too. Yes, a third-tier Persona must have weaknesses.
This concept aligns with other party members’ third-tier Personas. Balance is crucial even in ultimate power realms. While Raoul is not invincible like Satanael, he adds unique flair and abilities to Joker’s team, albeit a grounded addition compared to the nuclear option.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin – A Blast from the Past
Let’s revisit Persona 2: Innocent Sin. This game transports players to Sumaru City, Japan, a bustling hub of 1,280,000 residents. Tatsuya Suou is the protagonist, a reserved senior at Seven Sisters High. But isolation fades when the Joker disrupts reality. The game focuses on confronting this chaos-inducing figure and ending the rumors altering reality.
Unlike modern games featuring branching narratives, Persona 2: Innocent Sin—along with Eternal Punishment—sticks to one solid ending. Choices exist but can’t change the overarching outcome. It offers a linear experience; deep characters and a somewhat bizarre plot shine through.
Strength Showdown: Joker vs. the World
Time to rank power levels! Who’s stronger: Joker or Goro Akechi? In Persona 5’s main story, Akechi has the advantage. The Phantom Thieves work together to defeat him. Akechi is cunning and powerful in his prime.
Now for the Personas! Who wins—Raoul or Satanael? It’s no contest; Satanael takes the crown without challenge. Despite Raoul’s hype as a third-tier Persona, Satanael’s lack of weaknesses makes him unrivaled. Some claim Satanael ranks among the strongest in the series.
Persona 101: Need-to-Know Basics
For newcomers to Persona, let’s outline some basics. The Wild Card ability allows Joker to access the Velvet Room and manage multiple Personas. This capacity enables fusion into more powerful entities.
Persona levels max out at 99. But caution: reaching level 99 requires time and effort. The EXP needed skyrockets after initial levels. A pro tip: register your Personas! Doing so saves their levels and skills for future use.
Regarding visibility, in Persona 2: Innocent Sin, regular individuals can’t perceive Personas. This quality adds mystique to mysteries around them. Unseen battles play out like a silent movie within their everyday lives.
Thinking
Want to explore the Persona series but worry about its difficulty? Many fans say Persona 3 FES, especially “The Answer,” or Persona 2: Eternal Punishment are the toughest entries. Expect tough battles, challenging bosses, and resource management needs that test strategy. But challenges add to the fun.
Let’s think about this question: Are Personas really gods? Personas come from human perception and the collective unconscious. They represent gods and mythological beings. They aren’t “real” gods in the classic sense. They are manifestations of our collective psyche, taking shape and gaining power.
Meet the Crew: Key Players
Let’s touch on key characters in the Persona universe. We mentioned Joker, also known as Ren Amamiya or Akira Kurusu. Then we have Goro Akechi, the charming detective who betrays his friends. If you play Persona 4 Golden, you’ll find Tohru Adachi, the hidden killer in Inaba. The Persona series is full of complex, memorable characters. These are just a few names you’ll see.
Satanael: Deeper into the Devil
Now, let’s dive more into Satanael, the ultimate rebellious Persona. Who is Satanael in biblical stories? Texts say Satanael was a fallen angel, a prince of the Grigori cast out from heaven. He is described as an evil spirit, but one who grasps the difference between “good” and “evil.”
Is Satanael strictly evil? In the Persona universe and some mythological views, not really. Unlike Yaldabaoth, who is purely evil, Satanael embodies both light and darkness. Some views show him not as a fallen angel but as God’s Second Son, a rebel challenging God’s intent to control humanity. This act granted us free will. His fall from Heaven was a choice for free will, making him a figure of defiance, not just evil.
Now you have a look into Joker’s world and his Personas. From the villain Joker in Persona 2 to the heroic Joker in Persona 5, along with his great Personas like Arsène, Satanael, and Raoul, the Persona series brings complex characters, rich stories, and epic battles. Go unleash your inner Wild Card!
