View source for Moloch

{{Infobox Demon
|image=<gallery>
MT2 Moloch Artwork.png|MT2
SMTN Moloch Artwork.png|SMTN
DeSum Chemosh Artwork.png|DeSum <small>Chemosh</small>
P5X Moloch Artwork.png|P5X
</gallery>
|seoimage=SMTN Moloch Artwork.png
|jpname=モロク
|names=Sacrificial Pyrekeeper{{Exp App|p5|p5r}}<br/>Molech{{Exp App|R}}
|origin=Semitic culture<br/>Christianity
|race=[[Tyrant]]{{Exp App|MT2|KMT|SMT2|SMTN|SMTSJ|SMT5|SMT5V|SMTI|Dx2|MJT1|SH1|DeSu2|DeSu2RB}}<br/>[[Vile]]{{Exp App|GMT}}
|alignment=Dark-Chaos{{Exp App|SMT5|SMT5V}}
|arcana=[[Hanged Man (Arcana)|Hanged Man]]{{Exp App|P5|P5R|PQ2}}
|order=
|va=
}}
'''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a [[Demon]] in the [[Megami Tensei (Franchise)|''Megami Tensei'' franchise]].

==Profile==
===Origin===
Molech,{{Note|{{Translit|he|מֹלֶךְ|Mōleḵ}}}} also known as Moloch,{{Note|{{Translit|grc|Μόλοχ|Móloch}}. This exact spelling can be found in the ''Novum Testamentum Graece'' critical edition in the verse Acts 7:42; however, the exact diacritic and diacritical placement in different manuscripts of the Septuagint and the Book of Acts can vary.}} is a term in the Bible that has traditionally been interpreted as a Canaanite god to whom children were sacrificed.<ref name="schmidt">{{Cite Book|book=Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception|volume=19: Midrash and Aggada – Mourning|chapter=Molech, Moloch: I Hebrew Bible/Old Testament|author=Brian B. Schmidt|isbn={{ISBN|978-3-11-031336-9}}|doi=10.1515/ebr.molechmoloch|publisher=De Gruyter|publyear=2021}}</ref> In the Hebrew text of the Bible, the term always has a definite article except for in 1 Kings 11:7.<ref name="schmidt"/>

Following Abraham Geiger (1857), historically the majority of scholars had believed that the instances of מֹלֶךְ ''Mōleḵ'' were originally the word for king, מֶלֶךְ ''meleḵ'', which was a common epithet for deities in West Semitic,<ref name="frendo">{{Cite Journal|article=Burning Issues: ''mlk'' revisited|author=Anthony J. Frendo|journal=Journal of Semitic Studies|volume=61|issue=2|published=August 27, 2016|page=pp. 347-364|doi=10.1093/jss/fgw020}}</ref> and the Masoretic Text's vocalization of ''Mōleḵ'' would be an intentional distortion to resemble the word בֹּשֶׁת ''bōšeṯ'' ("shame").<ref name="frendo"/><ref name="schmidt"/> Tsevat (1975), however, says that this explanation for the vowel pointings cannot be reconciled with the Septuagint's spelling Μόλοχ ''Móloch'', and that there is cuneiform evidence of a word ''muluk'' (also possibly read ''molok'').<ref name="frendo"/><ref>{{Cite Journal|article=Ishbosheth and Congeners: The Names and Their Study|author=Matitiahu Tsevat|journal=Hebrew Union College Annual|volume=46|page=pp. 71-87|published=1975}}</ref> If ''Mōleḵ'' indeed refers to a deity, it is likely [[Baal]], or, in some instances, [[YHWH]].<ref name="frendo"/><ref name="schmidt"/>

In a departure from the consensus at the time, Eissfeldt (1935), proposed that the word ''Mōleḵ'' actually refers to the type of sacrifice rather than to a deity, comparing the term to the Punic word ''molk'',{{Note|''Molk'' is derived from the root ''y-l-k'' ("to go"), with the meaning of the derivative ''molk'' being "something sent (to the gods)".<ref name="frendo"/>}} and many scholars have followed him in this; said sacrifices would be offered specifically to YHWH.<ref name="frendo"/> Schmidt (2021) says that some suggest that the lone instance of ''Mōleḵ'' without the definite article in 1 Kings 11:7 may be referring to the type of sacrifice, but that the instances with the definite article are references to a deity.<ref name="schmidt"/>

===Design===
Moloch's design in {{Link|Game|SMTSJ}} and {{Link|Game|Dx2}} is taken from the design of [[Chemosh]] from {{Link|Game|DeSum}}, which itself is based on certain illustrations of Moloch.

==Gameplay==
==={{Link|Game|SMT5}}===
{{SMT5 Ally Demon Stats
|level=51
|st=42
|vi=36
|ma=42
|ag=28
|lu=25
|race=Tyrant
|hp=297
|mp=212
|fire=nul
|ice=wk
|electric=str
|dark=str
|spphysical=+2
|spfire=+4
|spice=-5
|spdark=+2
|skills={{Skill|SMT5|Crusher Onslaught}}
{{Skill|SMT5|Agidyne}}
{{Skill|SMT5|Masukunda}}
{{Skill|SMT5|Black Dracostrike|52}}
{{Skill|SMT5|Rampage|53}}
{{Skill|SMT5|Maragion|54}}
}}

==={{Link|Game|P5}}===
{{P5 Persona Stats
|level=60
|st=32
|ma=45
|en=42
|ag=31
|lu=37
|arcana=Hanged Man
|inherit=Psy
|item=Nuke Amp
|fire=rpl
|ice=wk
|elec=str
|wind=str
|psy=dr
|curse=nul
|skills={{Skill|P5|Psiodyne}}
{{Skill|P5|Stagnant Air}}
{{Skill|P5|Evil Smile}}
{{Skill|P5|Agidyne|62}}
{{Skill|P5|Ghastly Wail|63}}
{{Skill|P5|Drain Fire|64}}
{{Skill|P5|Nuke Amp|65}}
}}

===={{Link|Game|P5R}}====
{{Research|section=1|reason=Shadow's Battle Stats and Exp/Yen earned}}
When encountered as a [[Disaster Shadow]], [[Negotiation]] cannot occur but the common negotiation items frequently drop after defeat.
<tabber>
Persona=
{{P5R Persona Stats
|level=60
|st=32
|ma=45
|en=42
|ag=31
|lu=37
|arcana=Hanged Man
|inherit=Fire
|item=Inferno Ring
|item2=Spiral Inferno Ring
|trait=Immunity
|fire=dr
|ice=wk
|elec=str
|wind=str
|psy=dr
|curse=nul
|skills={{Skill|P5R|Agidyne}}
{{Skill|P5R|Stagnant Air}}
{{Skill|P5R|Evil Smile}}
{{Skill|P5R|Maragidyne|62}}
{{Skill|P5R|Ghastly Wail|63}}
{{Skill|P5R|Drain Fire|64}}
{{Skill|P5R|Fire Amp|65}}
}}
|-|
Shadow=
{{P5R Shadow Stats
|name=Sacrificial Pyrekeeper
|level=60
|location=[[Path of Iweleth|Mementos Depths]]; [[Path of Da'at]]: 1-4F, 6-8F
|st=?
|ma=?
|en=?
|ag=?
|lu=?
|arcana=Hanged Man
|type=Gloomy
|hp=751
|sp=402
|exp=?
|yen=?
|drop=—
|fire=Dr
|ice=Wk
|elec=Str
|wind=Str
|psy=Dr
|curse=Nul
|common1=Soul Drop
|common2=Blowtorch
|rare1=Balm of Life
|rare2=Psiodyne
|disaster=[[Path of Iweleth|Mementos Depths]]
|disasterdrop=Black Robe
|skills={{Skill|P5|Maragidyne}}
{{Skill|P5|Agidyne}}
{{Skill|P5|Burn Boost}}
{{Skill|P5|Fire Boost}}
{{Skill|P5|Shock Boost}}
}}
</tabber>

==Compendium==
{{Compendium
|smt1=
|smt2=
|smt3=
|smtsj=
|smt4=
|smt4a=
|smt5=A Canaanite god of fire.
 
Tradition states that a bronze statue of a human with the head of a female ox would be placed at the altar as its vessel. It is said that the statue would first be heated with fire, then children would be put inside as a sacrifice. The Bible mentions its name as a cruel pagan god.
|smti=
|dx2=
|sh1=
|dsrk1=
|dsrk2=
|sh2=
|p2is=
|p2ep=
|p5=A Caanite god of fire. A bronze statue of a man with a bull's head stands at his alter. The statue was heated and sacrificial children were thrown inside.
|pq2=
|p5s=
|dcld=
|desu1=
|desu2=
}}

==Game Appearances==
==={{Link|Game|MT2}}===
==={{Link|Game|SMT2}}===
After [[Zayin]] detects a strange signal in [[Holytown]], [[Aleph]] investigates the area and finds the massive tail of a demon sticking out of the ground. Residents of the district also describe being drained of energy and later have had all the power sapped from their bodies. In [[Old Roppongi|Roppongi]], Aleph hears from the [[Mutant Elder]] that this tail most likely belongs to Moloch, who resides in the [[Makai (Shin Megami Tensei II)|Expanse]]. He can be directly found by the Yesod-[[Yetzirah Corridor]], and according to residents of the Expanse, Moloch is absorbing [[Magnetite]] to burn it as fuel. Later, [[Lucifer]] reveals that he had Moloch gather Magnetite on the orders of [[YHVH]], in order to funnel that energy into [[Kuzuryu]].

==={{Link|Game|SMTN}}===
==={{Link|Game|SMTSJ}}===

==={{Link|Game|R}}===
Molech is awakened at the start of the game and is the first boss.

==Trivia==
*Moloch (モーロック) is the name of a band in {{Link|Game|DeSum}} whose concert at the [[Yahigashi Building]] was canceled after the death of the band member [[Mikiya]].

==Nomenclature==
Moloch's name comes from {{translit|grc|Μολόχ|Molóch}}, which is a transliteration of Molech or Molek, from [[wikipedia:Hebrew|Hebrew]] מֹלֶךְ, romanized ''mōleḵ''.
{{Names
|ja=モロク ''Moroku''<br/>モレク{{Exp App|R}} ''Moreku''<br/>モーロック{{Exp App|DCW}} ''Mōrokku''<br/>贄を焼く牛面鬼{{Exp|{{Link|Game|P5R}} <small>(Shadow)</small>}} ''Nie o Yaku Gyūmenki''
|jaM=Moloch<br/>Molech<br/>Moloch<br/>Ox-Faced Demon Who Burns Sacrifices
|zhS= 摩洛 ''Móluò''<br/>焚烧活祭品的牛头鬼{{Exp|{{Link|Game|P5R}} <small>(Shadow)</small>}} ''Fénshāo Huójìpǐn de Niútóuguǐ''
|zhSM=Moloch<br/>Ox-Headed Demon Who Burns Living Sacrifices
|zhT= 摩洛 ''Móluò''<br/>焚燒活祭品的牛頭鬼{{Exp|{{Link|Game|P5R}} <small>(Shadow)</small>}} ''Fénshāo Huójìpǐn de Niútóuguǐ''
|zhTM=Moloch<br/>Ox-Headed Demon Who Burns Living Sacrifices
|fr= Moloch<br/>Gardien du bûcher{{Exp|{{Link|Game|P5R}} <small>(Shadow)</small>}}
|frM=Moloch<br/>Guardian of the Pyre
|de= Moloch<br/>Scheiterhaufenwächter{{Exp|{{Link|Game|P5R}} <small>(Shadow)</small>}}
|deM=Moloch<br/>Pyre Guardian
|it= Moloch<br/>Custode rogo sacrificale{{Exp|{{Link|Game|P5R}} <small>(Shadow)</small>}}
|itM=Moloch<br/>Keeper of the Sacrificial Pyre
|ko= 몰록 ''Mollok''<br/>{{Tt|제물|祭物}}을 태우는 {{Tt|우면귀|牛面鬼}}{{Exp|{{Link|Game|P5R}} <small>(Shadow)</small>}} ''Jemur-eul Tae'uneun Umyeon'gwi''
|koM=Moloch<br/>Ox-Faced Demon Who Burns Sacrifices
|es= Moloch<br/>Guarda del fuego tributo{{Exp|{{Link|Game|P5R}} <small>(Shadow)</small>}}
|esM=Moloch<br/>Guardian of the Tribute Fire
|ru=Молох ''Molokh''
|ruM=Moloch
|tr=Molek
|trM=Moloch
|pl=Moloch
|plM=
|ptB=Moloch
|ptBM=
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
P5 Moloch Render.png|Render for {{link|game|p5}}
MT2 Moloch Sprite.png|Sprite of Moloch from {{Link|Game|MT2}}.
MT2 Moloch Animated Sprite.gif|Animated sprite of Moloch from {{Link|Game|MT2}}.
SMT2 PS Moloch Sprite.png|Sprite of Moloch from {{Link|Game|SMT2}} (Playstation).
MJT1 Moloch Sprite.png|Moloch's sprite in {{link|game|mjt1}}
MJT1 Moloch Portrait Sprite.png|Moloch's dialogue portrait sprite from ''Majin Tensei''.
</gallery>

===Videos===
{{Video
|url=wCUtkqCJxr0
|caption={{PAGENAME}}'s Daily Demon Showcase for {{link|game|smt5}}
|alignment=
}}
{{Clear}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Demons in Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II]]
[[Category:Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Nine]]
[[Category:Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey]]
[[Category:Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux]]
[[Category:Demons in Shin Megami Tensei V]]
[[Category:Demons in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance]]
[[Category:Demons in Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Revelation]]
[[Category:Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine]]
[[Category:Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2]]
[[Category:Demons in Majin Tensei (Game)]]
[[Category:Demons in Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers]]
[[Category:Personas in Persona 5]]
[[Category:Personas in Persona 5 Royal]]
[[Category:Personas in Persona 5: The Phantom X]]
[[Category:Personas in Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth]]
[[Category:Demons in Devil Children White Book]]