Elemental Strengths & Weaknesses

Understanding elemental strengths and weaknesses is paramount to success in Persona 5 Strikers. Exploiting an enemy's weakness not only deals increased damage but also contributes significantly to filling their Dizzy Gauge. Once this gauge is full, the enemy becomes vulnerable to a 1-More attack, allowing for a powerful follow-up or a devastating All-Out Attack if multiple enemies are downed.

Identifying Weaknesses

There are several ways to identify an enemy's elemental weaknesses:

First Encounter: During your initial battle with a new Shadow type, experiment with different elemental attacks. Pay close attention to the visual feedback and damage numbers. A successful weakness hit will display "WEAK" and a larger damage indicator.
Scanning with Oracle (Futaba): Futaba's Persona, Necronomicon, can scan enemies to reveal their affinities. While not always available immediately, this is the most reliable method for precise information. Once an enemy is scanned, their weaknesses and resistances will be permanently displayed when targeting them.
Observation: Some Shadows have visual cues that hint at their elemental alignment. For example, fire-based Shadows might glow red, while ice-based ones might have a frosty aura.

Elemental Types and Their Interactions

The elemental system in Persona 5 Strikers largely mirrors the main Persona series, with a few adjustments for the action-RPG combat. Here's a breakdown of the primary elemental types and their common interactions:

Physical Attacks

These are your standard melee attacks and gun skills. While rarely a weakness, some enemies might be resistant or even nullify physical damage. Always check before committing to a purely physical strategy.

Characters: Joker (various Personas), Ryuji (Zio skills can be infused), Yusuke (Bufu skills can be infused), Haru (Psi skills can be infused).
Strategy: Use physical attacks as a reliable damage source, but prioritize elemental weaknesses when available.

Fire (Agi)

Fire skills are excellent for dealing with ice-aligned enemies and certain demonic Shadows. They often inflict the Burn status ailment, which deals damage over time.

Characters: Ann (Carmen), Joker (various Personas).
Key Skills: Agi, Agilao, Agidyne, Maragion, Maragidyne.
Recommended Personas for Joker: Jack Frost (early game, for fusion), Surt (mid-late game).
Item Support: Fire Bomb (found in chests, dropped by some Shadows, buy from Sophia's Shop), Ignis Stone (crafted or found).

Ice (Bufu)

Ice skills are strong against fire-aligned enemies and some heavenly Shadows. They can inflict the Freeze status, rendering enemies immobile and vulnerable to critical physical hits.

Characters: Yusuke (Goemon), Joker (various Personas).
Key Skills: Bufu, Bufula, Bufudyne, Mabufu, Mabufula.
Recommended Personas for Joker: Jack Frost (early game), King Frost (mid-late game).
Item Support: Ice Bomb (found in chests, dropped by some Shadows, buy from Sophia's Shop), Glacies Stone (crafted or found).

Electric (Zio)

Electric skills are effective against flying enemies and water-aligned Shadows. They can inflict the Shock status, which paralyzes enemies and makes them susceptible to critical physical hits.

Characters: Ryuji (Captain Kidd), Joker (various Personas).
Key Skills: Zio, Zionga, Ziodyne, Mazionga, Maziodyne.
Recommended Personas for Joker: Pixie (early game, for fusion), Thor (mid-late game).
Item Support: Electric Bomb (found in chests, dropped by some Shadows, buy from Sophia's Shop), Fulmen Stone (crafted or found).

Wind (Garu)

Wind skills are strong against lighter, agile enemies and some plant-based Shadows. They can inflict the Shock status, similar to Electric skills, making enemies vulnerable.

Characters: Morgana (Zorro), Joker (various Personas).
Key Skills: Garu, Garula, Garudyne, Magarula, Magarudyne.
Recommended Personas for Joker: High Pixie (early game), Vishnu (late game).
Item Support: Wind Bomb (found in chests, dropped by some Shadows, buy from Sophia's Shop), Aura Stone (crafted or found).

Psy (Psi)

Psy skills are effective against enemies with strong mental defenses or those associated with illusions. They can inflict the Brainwash status, causing enemies to attack their allies.

Characters: Haru (Milady), Joker (various Personas).
Key Skills: Psi, Psio, Psiodyne, Mapsi, Mapsio.
Recommended Personas for Joker: Lamia (early game), Alice (late game).
Item Support: Psy Bomb (found in chests, dropped by some Shadows, buy from Sophia's Shop), Mind Stone (crafted or found).

Nuke (Frei)

Nuke skills are powerful against enemies with high physical resistance or those associated with radiation. They can inflict the Burn status.

Characters: Makoto (Johanna), Joker (various Personas).
Key Skills: Frei, Freila, Freidyne, Mafreila, Mafreidyne.
Recommended Personas for Joker: Seth (mid-game), Satan (late game).
Item Support: Nuke Bomb (found in chests, dropped by some Shadows, buy from Sophia's Shop), Atom Stone (crafted or found).

Bless (Kouha)

Bless skills are effective against dark-aligned enemies and some cursed Shadows. They can inflict the Fear status, causing enemies to flee or become incapacitated.

Characters: Sophia (Pithos), Joker (various Personas).
Key Skills: Kouha, Kouga, Kougaon, Makouga, Makougaon.
Recommended Personas for Joker: Archangel (early game), Metatron (late game).
Item Support: Bless Bomb (found in chests, dropped by some Shadows, buy from Sophia's Shop), Holy Stone (crafted or found).

Curse (Eiga)

Curse skills are strong against light-aligned enemies and sacred Shadows. They can inflict the Despair status, preventing enemies from using skills and draining SP.

Characters: Joker (various Personas).
Key Skills: Eiga, Eigaon, Maeiga, Maeigaon.
Recommended Personas for Joker: Succubus (early game), Beelzebub (late game).
Item Support: Curse Bomb (found in chests, dropped by some Shadows, buy from Sophia's Shop), Dark Stone (crafted or found).

Almighty

Almighty attacks deal direct, non-elemental damage that cannot be resisted or nullified (though some enemies may have general resistance to all damage). They do not exploit weaknesses but are useful against enemies with no exploitable weaknesses or those that resist all other elements.

Characters: Joker (various Personas).
Key Skills: Megido, Megidola, Megidolaon.
Recommended Personas for Joker: Lucifer (late game).

Strategic Tips for Elemental Combat

Party Composition: Always aim for a balanced party that covers a wide range of elemental types. For example, having Ann (Fire), Yusuke (Ice), and Ryuji (Electric) along with Joker provides excellent coverage.
Joker's Versatility: Joker is your most flexible character. Equip him with Personas that fill elemental gaps in your party or provide powerful versions of elements your other party members specialize in. fuse new Personas regularly at the Velvet Room to keep his arsenal updated.
Environmental Hazards: Many Jails feature environmental objects that can be exploited for elemental damage. For instance, shooting a fire barrel with a Fire skill will cause a large explosion, often hitting multiple enemies and potentially triggering a weakness. Look for these opportunities!
Master Arts and Elemental Infusion: As characters level up their Master Arts, they can unlock abilities that infuse their regular attacks with elemental properties. This is incredibly useful for quickly triggering weaknesses without expending SP.
Item Usage: Don't hoard your elemental bombs and stones! These items can be lifesavers, especially during boss fights or when facing a large group of enemies with a shared weakness. You can purchase many of these from Sophia's Shop or craft them using materials found in Jails.
Status Ailments: Remember that elemental attacks often come with a chance to inflict status ailments. Exploiting these can turn the tide of battle, especially Freeze and Shock which set up critical physical attacks.