Mastering the Reaper: What Level Should You Be in Persona 5 Royal?

The Reaper in Persona 5 Royal is a formidable foe, a true test of your skill and preparedness. While the Reaper is a static level 85, a party around level 60 can successfully defeat it with the right strategy, equipment, and Persona abilities. This means you can realistically challenge the Reaper after completing the sixth Palace, giving you ample time to prepare for this optional but rewarding battle.

Preparing for the Grim Reaper

Successfully taking down the Reaper isn’t just about levels; it’s about comprehensive preparation. A lower-level party (around level 60) requires more strategic planning than a higher-level one. Let’s delve into the crucial elements that will determine your success.

Persona Selection and Skills

Choosing the right Personas is paramount. While the Reaper has no weaknesses or resistances, exploiting specific skills is key.

• Almighty Skills: These attacks deal consistent damage since the Reaper only receives reduced damage from Almighty skills. Personas like Lucifer or Helel (though primarily known for the Armageddon fusion) are good choices.

• Buffs and Debuffs: Buffing your party’s attack, defense, and agility, while debuffing the Reaper’s, can significantly swing the battle in your favor. Skills like Tarukaja, Rakukaja, and Sukukaja (for buffs) and their corresponding “kunda” debuffs are essential. Thermopylae is excellent to boost attack, defense, and agility.

• Healing: A reliable healer is non-negotiable. Personas with access to Mediarahan or similar full-party healing spells are vital for surviving the Reaper’s relentless assault.

Equipment and Items

Equipping your party with the best available armor and weapons is a given, but specific items can also provide a significant advantage.

• Divine Pillar: This accessory halves all incoming damage, which is incredibly useful against the Reaper’s powerful attacks, despite preventing evasion.

• Status Recovery Items: The Reaper can inflict status ailments, so having items to cure them is crucial.

• SP Recovery Items: Sustaining your Persona’s skills requires a steady supply of SP. Stock up on items that replenish SP during battle.

Battle Strategy

The right strategy can turn the tide, even against a seemingly unbeatable foe.

• Ambush Advantage: Letting the Reaper ambush you initially limits it to one action per turn, giving you more breathing room to buff, heal, and attack.

• Team Composition: Avoid bringing teammates with elemental weaknesses that the Reaper can exploit. Focus on party members with strong physical or gun-based attacks and high endurance.

• Guard Strategically: Have party members guard when necessary to mitigate damage from the Reaper’s most powerful attacks.

• Utilize Baton Passes: Chain attacks together with Baton Passes to maximize damage output.

Is It Worth Fighting the Reaper Early?

While challenging the Reaper early (around level 60) is possible, it requires significant preparation and strategic execution. Is it worth the effort?

• Experience: The Reaper provides a substantial amount of experience upon defeat, accelerating your leveling.

• Divine Pillar: Acquiring the Divine Pillar early is a major boost, as it halves incoming damage for the wearer.

• Challenge: The Reaper fight is a rewarding challenge that tests your understanding of the game’s mechanics.

However, fighting the Reaper before you are ready can be frustrating. If you find yourself constantly dying or unable to make progress, consider leveling up further and returning later.

Leveling Up Strategies

If you find yourself struggling to reach the desired level before facing the Reaper, here are some effective leveling strategies:

• Mementos Grinding: Mementos is the ideal place to grind for experience. Focus on floors with beneficial security levels and utilize items that increase experience gain.

• Treasure Demons: Seek out and defeat Treasure Demons, which grant significant experience.

• Hold Ups: Initiate Hold Ups during battles and demand money or items, which you can then sell for cash to purchase better equipment.

The True Test: Skill Over Level

Ultimately, your level is just one factor in determining your success against the Reaper. A well-prepared and strategically adept level 60 party can outperform a poorly equipped and ill-prepared level 70 party. Focus on mastering the game’s mechanics, understanding your Personas’ abilities, and developing a sound battle strategy.

Remember that engaging with the gaming community and resources like the Games Learning Society or GamesLearningSociety.org can provide valuable insights and strategies. These platforms offer opportunities to learn from experienced players and deepen your understanding of the game.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Reaper’s level in Persona 5 Royal?

   The Reaper is always level 85 in Persona 5 Royal, regardless of your party’s level.

2. Does the Reaper have any weaknesses or resistances?

   The Reaper has no elemental weaknesses or resistances.

3. How long do I have to wait in Mementos for the Reaper to appear?

   The Reaper typically appears after you remain on a Mementos floor for approximately 5 minutes.

4. Can I inflict status ailments on the Reaper?

   No, you cannot inflict status ailments on the Reaper through normal means. In the original Persona 5, Flu Season allowed the Reaper to spawn with Despair, but this exploit was removed in Royal.

5. How much HP does the Reaper have?

   The Reaper has approximately 5000 HP.

6. What is the reward for defeating the Reaper?

   You receive a large amount of experience and the chance to obtain the Divine Pillar accessory. You’ll also unlock the “A Unique Rebel” trophy.

7. What are some good Personas to use against the Reaper?

   Personas with access to powerful Almighty skills, buffs, debuffs, and healing spells are ideal. Lucifer and Helel are good choices, though building a Persona specifically for the fight is recommended.

8. How do I easily defeat the Reaper?

   There’s no easy “trick” in Royal, but allowing the Reaper to ambush you limits its actions to one per turn. Utilize buffs, debuffs, and strong Almighty attacks to slowly whittle down its HP.

9. Can I fight the Reaper multiple times in Persona 5 Royal?

   Yes, you can fight the Reaper as many times as you want on the same day by revisiting Mementos floors.

10. Does rain or Flu Season affect the Reaper in Persona 5 Royal?

    No, Flu Season no longer affects the Reaper in Persona 5 Royal. The despair exploit from the original game has been removed.

11. How much XP does the Reaper give?

    The Reaper typically gives around 60,000 to 200,000 XP, depending on various factors.

12. What level should I be to fuse Lucifer or Helel?

    You need to reach specific Confidant ranks to fuse powerful Personas like Lucifer and Helel. Ensure you have high enough levels to fulfill the fusion requirements.

13. Is the Reaper the hardest fight in Persona 5 Royal?

    Many players consider the Reaper to be one of the most challenging optional fights in Persona 5 Royal, due to its high stats and lack of weaknesses.

14. What is the Divine Pillar accessory, and why is it useful?

    The Divine Pillar halves all incoming damage to the wearer but prevents evasion. It’s incredibly useful for mitigating the Reaper’s powerful attacks.

15. Where can I learn more about Persona 5 Royal strategies?

    Engaging with online communities, reading guides, and exploring resources such as the Games Learning Society (https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/) can provide valuable insights and strategies for Persona 5 Royal.