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After Fuuka joins the SEES team in June, Chairman Ikutsuki provides the party with new uniforms anda special set of cartridges that unlock Theurgy. Theurgy is the “limit break” ofPersona 3 Reload: by powering up a special bar, party members can unleash special, powerful attacks and other abilities that can completely change the flow of combat.
Persona 3 Reloaddemonstrates how Theurgy workswith a special tutorial visit to Tartarus, but the in-game description skims over some of the important mechanics. So if you’re still confused about some of the details, read on to learn everything you need to know.
How to Activate Theurgy
After the game introduces Theurgy, the Theurgy Gauge will appear next to each character’s portrait while in Tartarus. As the gauge fills up, the colors shift from blue to green, yellow, orange, and finally red. Once the gauge is full, it’ll extend past the edge of the screen and the word “MAX” will appear on top. During the character’s turn, you can press the Theurgy button and use their special ability.
You can hold onto the Theurgy ability and use it whenever you want, but you should be careful about keeping it in reserve during tough battles. If a character faints,their Theurgy Gauge will partially empty. In addition, characters who are suffering from a status ailment can’t fill their gauge or use their Theurgy. Finally, the Theurgy Gauge resets each day.
Each party member has their own way of filling their Theurgy Gauge, and you can see what this method is by checking their Theurgy status screen:
Each action fills the gauge by a different amount, based on how common the action is. Yukari and Junpei each get a big boost to their gauge when their condition triggers, but the main character only gets a small piece of the gauge each time he swaps. The bar also fills slowly but surelywhen each character attacks, activates their Persona, or downs an enemy. you’re able to also enhance the Ambush ability to fill the Theurgy gauge each time you successfully Ambush an enemy.
Although she can’t attack, Fuuka’s gauge also fills over time, even if you never use her abilities. To activate her Theurgy ability, press the button indicated in the lower-left corner of the battle screen. Much like her abilities, Fuuka’s Theurgy won’t spend the current character’s turn.
What Theurgy Can Do
Every party member starts with at least one Theurgy ability. Most of them are attack abilities that hit either one foe or every foe, and they each deal a damage type that the party member favors. Yukari deals Wind damage, Junpei deals Slash damage, and so on. Fuuka’s Theurgy is unusual because it applies a semi-random benefit to the party (full HP if HP is low, or all buffs if it isn’t).
A Theurgy attack deals full damage regardless of the target’s normal resistances, so Mitsuru’s Blizzard Edge can hitenemies that usually drain or reflect Ice damage. However, if an enemy is weak to a damage type, that weakness still applies.
The protagonist’s Theurgy works differently because it’s based on which Personas you’ve recorded in the Compendium.If you’ve been fusing everything you can, you should start with two: Cadenza (Orpheus and Apsaras) and Jack Brothers (Jack Frost and Jack-o'-Lantern). Cadenza, at least, is unavoidable since you get Apsaras during the Tartarus tutorial. You can eventually get up to seven Fusion Spells, and unlike in previous games, you don’t need the Personas needed in your stock to use them.
You’re free to choose between any Theurgy ability a character knows when you activate them. And since you get Fusion Spells from registered Personas in the Compendium, you’ll have access to all of the protagonist’s as soon as Theurgy unlocks during a New Game Plus run.
Severe Wind to one foe
Applies Concentrate to all allies
11/5
Severe Slash to one foe
Massive Fire to one foe, restores Junpei’s HP to full
11/28
Heavy Electric to all foes
Severe Electric to one foe, high Shock chance
10/5
Severe Ice to one foe
Massive Almighty to one foe, plus all debuffs
11/18
Full HP or all buffs to all allies
Full HP/SP, all buffs, or Charge/Concentrate combo
10/20
Heavy Pierce to all foes
3 turns of extra power but ignores orders
1 turn skipped due to overheating
Severe Pierce to one foe
12/30
Severe Dark to one foe
Applies Charge to all allies
Severe Light to one foe
Revive, full HP, and attack reflection for all allies
10/6
Severe Strike to one foe
Restores 50% HP and Agility buff for all allies
Medium Almighty to all foes, high Down chance
King and I
Heavy Ice to all foes, medium Freeze chance
Severe Slash to all foes
Charge/Concentrate combo on one ally
Massive Almighty to all foes, high ailment chance
Loki, Susano-o
Armageddon
Ultimate Almighty to all foes, but HP and SP drop to 1
