Can You Inflict Despair on the Reaper in Persona 5 Royal?
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The burning question for many Persona 5 Royal (P5R) players is whether the formidable Reaper can be afflicted with the debilitating Despair status. The answer, in its simplest form, is: yes, but only under very specific circumstances. The Reaper is notoriously resistant to status ailments, and Despair is no exception. However, there is a loophole, a crack in its armor that players can exploit – Flu Season.
During Flu Season in the game, there’s a chance that enemies will begin battles already afflicted with the Despair status. This is the only known method to inflict Despair on the Reaper in Persona 5 Royal. You cannot inflict it through conventional means, such as using skills or items. If the Reaper starts a battle with Despair, it will effectively be defeated within three turns, granting a large experience reward and potentially dropping valuable loot.
This unique mechanic makes the typically dreaded Reaper a potentially lucrative source of experience and rare items, but it’s heavily reliant on luck and timing. Understanding the intricacies of this mechanic is key to leveraging it effectively. This article will delve deeper into the topic and provide all the necessary information on how to take advantage of this rare occurrence.
Understanding the Despair Mechanic
What is Despair?
In Persona 5 Royal, Despair is a powerful status ailment that prevents the afflicted enemy from taking any action for three turns. Over these turns, the afflicted enemy will also lose SP (Skill Points). At the end of the third turn, the afflicted enemy will automatically perish, regardless of their remaining HP. Despair is essentially a three-turn insta-kill mechanic.
How Despair Affects the Reaper
When the Reaper is affected by Despair, it functions exactly as it does with any other enemy. The Reaper loses SP, can’t take any actions, and then automatically dies after three turns. This is a significant advantage for players, as it bypasses the Reaper’s high HP and resistance to other damage types. It also avoids its incredibly powerful attacks.
Flu Season and Despair
The key to inflicting Despair on the Reaper lies in Flu Season. During specific periods in the game’s in-game calendar, there is a chance that enemies will start battles with the Despair status. The only way to force this is to wait for flu season, go to mementos, and continually enter battles, hoping that the Reaper spawns already afflicted with Despair.
Exploiting the Flu Season Glitch
Timing is Everything
Flu Season doesn’t occur constantly. It’s a brief, random event in the game’s calendar. To take advantage of this, it’s important to monitor the in-game weather forecast and take note when Flu Season is reported. Knowing when it’s coming allows you to prepare and make the most of this opportunity.
Where to Find the Reaper
The Reaper spawns in Mementos. It appears when you spend a few moments in an area of a floor. The spawn rate varies and there is a cap on one Reaper spawn per floor, so move to a new floor once you’ve killed or fled from a Reaper. To maximize the opportunity to encounter a Reaper that has Despair at the start of battle, players should strategically position themselves. Many players have found that going to the 2nd floor of the 2nd part of Mementos is a good place to encounter the Reaper relatively frequently.
Utilizing the Chance
Once the Reaper is encountered during Flu Season, there’s a chance it will spawn with Despair. Keep in mind this is not guaranteed; it is possible to encounter the Reaper without Despair, even during Flu Season. If the message stating “The Reaper despairs!” appears at the start of battle, you know you’ve succeeded. Simply survive for the three turns, and you will be rewarded. If it does not start with Despair, then you will need to flee the battle and try again.
Benefits of Defeating Despair Reaper
The rewards for defeating a Despair-afflicted Reaper are substantial. You can gain anywhere from 60,000 to 200,000 experience points, usually around 70,000, and sometimes, more importantly, a Divine Pillar, an accessory that halves all damage taken at the expense of evasion. This can make the difference between life and death in the many tough fights of Persona 5 Royal.
FAQs About the Reaper and Despair
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Reaper and the Despair status in Persona 5 Royal:
1. Is the Reaper Weak to Anything?
No, the Reaper has no elemental weaknesses, resists, nulls, or drains. It also does not take any additional damage from critical hits. This makes it incredibly difficult to defeat through traditional means. The best method of damaging it is through Almighty type skills, which deal reduced damage to it, unlike elemental attacks.
2. Can the Reaper be Instakilled?
The Reaper is immune to instant-kill moves, except for the three-turn death given by Despair. This means moves like Hamaon and Mudo will not work.
3. What Level Should I Fight the Reaper?
The Reaper is always Level 85. While it’s possible to challenge it from around level 60 with proper preparation, it’s generally advisable to be higher level. It is recommend to fight after the sixth palace.
4. Can You Inflict Other Ailments on the Reaper?
No, the Reaper is immune to all other status ailments besides despair via the Flu Season. Attempts to inflict ailments like poison, fear, rage, or shock are futile.
5. How Much HP Does the Reaper Have?
The Reaper has approximately 5000 HP along with a high defense rating, making it a very tough fight.
6. Does the Reaper Heal?
Yes, the Reaper heals by leeching health from damage it inflicts on your party. It heals around 35% of the damage it deals. This means dealing damage to it can effectively heal it.
7. What is the Divine Pillar?
The Divine Pillar is a rare accessory dropped by the Despair-afflicted Reaper. It halves all incoming damage but also prevents the wearer from evading attacks. It is generally considered to be one of the best defensive items in the game.
8. Does the Reaper Respawn?
Yes, the Reaper respawns after being defeated. You’ll need to move to another floor to get it to reappear.
9. Can the Reaper Appear on the First Floor of Mementos?
The Reaper is less likely to appear on the early floors of Mementos. It is advised to go to floors you’ve already cleared.
10. What Should I Do When the Reaper Charges?
When the Reaper starts charging an attack, it’s best to either guard or use defensive buffs. You should aim to conserve resources during this time and attack only when it is not charging.
11. Can you “Ambush” The Reaper?
It is possible for the Reaper to ambush you, giving it a bonus turn. However, you can also allow it to ambush you, which will reduce the number of actions it can take to one per turn. This can be exploited for an easier fight.
12. Is it Better to Fight the Reaper Alone?
Yes, fighting the Reaper without teammates can be beneficial, as the Reaper is very good at exploiting team members’ elemental weaknesses to gain additional turns.
13. How Do I Know if the Reaper has Despair?
When the Reaper begins a battle with Despair, a message will appear in the upper-left of the screen saying “The Reaper despairs!” or something similar.
14. What if I Retreat from the Reaper?
If you are attempting to exploit Flu Season and have to retreat due to the Reaper not having Despair, you need to move away from your current spot on the map before trying again.
15. What do I do if the Reaper isn’t Despairing during Flu Season?
Keep trying! The Reaper isn’t guaranteed to spawn in despair even during flu season. If it spawns without despair, you’ll have to run and try again.
Conclusion
The Reaper is a formidable foe in Persona 5 Royal, but with the right strategy and a little bit of luck during Flu Season, you can exploit the game mechanic and inflict Despair on it. This allows you to defeat the Reaper easily, gain massive experience, and possibly acquire the powerful Divine Pillar. Understanding the nuances of this mechanic, along with the provided tips and answers to frequently asked questions, will help you master this challenging encounter and make the most of your time in Mementos.