Preta

	This demon page is a stub. You can help Megami Tensei Wiki by expanding it.
	No reason provided.

Preta
DeSum
Other Name(s)	Gaki
Race(s)	Haunt SpiritShin Megami Tensei: Nine
Alignment(s)	Dark-Chaos
Order(s)	Frost

Error: {{#seo:}} must contain at least one non-empty attribute.

Preta is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.

Profile

Origin

Preta, also known as "hungry ghost" or "gaki", originate from Buddhism. They are people who have reincarnated into humanoid creatures due to unjust deeds committed in their past lives. They are prone to wandering off into the human realm after being sent to one of the six realms: The Hungry Ghost Realm, a realm where Preta reside.

As punishment for their karma, they are inflicted with the inability to eat. Due to the thin size of their neck; if they succeed, the food will ignite their mouth. They may also be attacked by animals, or driven off by bigger, stronger demons such as Oni. Among the most notorious punishments is being cursed with an insatiable hunger for something inedible such as human waste. Preta aren't invisible to the human eye. However, in a Preta-centric Theravada Buddhist story, The Petavatthu, it is mentioned that people such as monks can communicate with them.

The depictions of Preta vary but in a Japanese scroll called the Gaki-zoshi, they are portrayed as grotesque with thin limbs and a large swollen stomach. They are illustrated slightly taller than humans. The Preta have a variety of skin colors: black, dark blue, yellow, and beige. The scroll also depicts them naked while the others wear fundoshi.

Design

Preta's design varies in each game.

His debut in Shin Megami Tensei has a monstrous appearance; having three fingers with sharp claws, purple skin, and a large swollen stomach.

Last Bible, portrays him as a short ghoulish demon with beige skin and large lips

In Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner, he has purple skin, and a swollen stomach. This design also features an elongated chin, two golden bracelets, red ofuda, and a messy bowl cut.

His design in Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is the same but a color swap with brown skin, gray bracelets, and yellow ofuda. This design is more faithful to the Preta depicted in the Gaki-Zoshi scroll.

Preta typically has visible but censored genitalia. However, for the 3D Shin Megami Tensei appearances it is left uncensored while in other games such as in Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon it has been removed entirely.

Gameplay

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

Name Level Preta 4	Strength 5 Magic 5 Vitality 4 Agility 6 Luck 4
Obtained —
Race Alignment HP MP Haunt Dark 54 24
Resistances Phys Fire Ice Elec Force Almighty — — — — — — ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 Expel Death Curse Nerve Mind Explode — — — — — — ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1
Skill Inheritance Preference MoMouth WiWing EyEye LuLunge BiBite ClClaw WeWeapons GiGirl TaTalk — — — — — — — — — —
Skills Skill Attribute Cost Description Level

Shin Megami Tensei V

	Name Level Preta 3	Strength 8 Vitality 7 Magic 7 Agility 5 Luck 4
Race HP MP C. CostCompendium Summoning Cost Gift Type Haunt 40 54 — —
Resistances — WkWeak — — WkWeak WkWeak StrStrong ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1
Ailment Resistances — — — — — — — — ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1 ×1
Skill Potential +1 — +1 — — -3 +3 — — -1 —
Basic Attack 1 attack with the Phys element to 1 enemy
Skills Skill Cost Description Level
Magatsuhi Skills Skill Description Omagatoki: Critical All attacks, including magical attacks, will become Critical hits for all allies for 1 turn. Twilight WaveRequires Haunt Talisman Heavy Physical attack to all foes. Chance of inflicting Sleep.

Compendium

Compendium Entries
Shin Megami Tensei (A-Mode DDS)	Origin: Japan - The forms of greedy souls. They have large heads and a thin neck, fat bellies, and shriveled limbs. They are plagued with a hunger that can never be satisfied.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne	They are "hungry ghosts," as they are unable to swallow food. This is a punishment in reincarnation. One with too many desires in life is doomed to spend time as a Preta.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey	A ghoulish demon of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the Preta realm of Hell become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.
Shin Megami Tensei IV	Known as gaki in Japanese, they are ghoulish demons of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the preta realm become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse	Known as gaki in Japanese, they are ghoulish demons of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the preta realm become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.
Shin Megami Tensei V	Known as "gaki" in Japanese, they are ghoulish demons of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the preta realm become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.
Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine	The form given to those who are cast down into the Preta Realm, one of the Six Realms of Buddhist scriptures. Those who lived extravagant lives are said to be cast into the Preta Realm after death. Preta are constantly tormented by hunger and thirst, but whenever they put something to their mouths, it bursts into flame, and so they are eternally deprived of food and drink. Their figures are gaunt, except for their bellies, which are strangely swollen.
Liberation Dx2	Known as Gaki in Japanese, they are ghoulish demons of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the Preta realm become these unfortunate creatures. Any food they try to consume burns up in their mouth, fated to be tormented by never ending hunger and thirst.
Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon	A ghoulish demon from Buddhist myth. Greedy humans cast into the Preta realm of hell become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning