Skill Inheritance

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Skill inheritance is a recurring gameplay mechanic in several games in the Megami Tensei franchise that dictates how skills are passed from one Demon or Persona to another during fusion.

Overview

When fusing Demons in places like the Cathedral of Shadows or the Velvet Room, the player will either be able to select which skills that the resulting Demon will inherit from its reagents, or the inherited skills will be selected at random.

Some skills are exclusive to specific Demons, such as Alice's Die For Me! or Yoshitsune's Hassou Tobi, and cannot be inherited during fusion.

Mechanics by Game

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, Persona 3, Persona 4

In these games, inherited skills are chosen at random, but can be rerolled as many times as needed by backing out of the fusion menu and selecting the reagent Demons again.

Shin Megami Tensei IV, Shin Megami Tensei V, Persona 5, Persona 5 Royal

In these games, inherited skills can be manually selected.

Shin Megami Tensei IV

Demons can inherit exclusive skills when performing fusion with the Demon Fusion Lite app.

Persona 5 Royal

Like skills, most Traits can be inherited by Personas, except for the traits of DLC Personas, and Ultimate Vessel, which is exclusive to Treasure Demons.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner

Only magic can be inherited, meaning that extra skills cannot be inherited.

There are 16 inheritance types. If one of the ingredient demons has the same inheritance type as the resulting demon, all magic can be passed down from that demon. Otherwise, it is limited by the following table. Inheritance type names are taken from the official PSP strategy guide, aside from Zoma, which is not mentioned in the guide.

Type	Inheritable Magic
Megido メギド	Mabufula, Mazionga, Mapsio, Hanma, Hamaon, Mudoon, Megido, Megidola, recovery and support magic
Fire 火炎	Agi, Agilao, Maragi, Maragilao, Psio, Mapsio, Mudola, Dormina, Shibaboo, Shuff, Shuffle, Sipani, Makafuji, Rakunda, Traesto, Liftoma, recovery and support magic
Ice 氷結	Bufu, Bufula, Mabufu, Mabufula, Zanma, Hanma, Hamaon, Mudo, Mudoon, Dormina, Marin Karin, Shibaboo, Tarunda, Sukunda, recovery and support magic
Electricity 電撃	Bufu, Zio, Zionga, Mazio, Mazionga, Mazan, Psi, Mapsio, Mudo, Shibaboo, Makafuji, Rakunda, Sukunda, recovery and support magic
Force 衝撃	Agi, Bufu, Zan, Zanma, Mazan, Mazanma, Hama, Marin Karin, Shibaboo, Shuffle, Kyou, Sipani, Makafuji, Rakunda, Sukunda, Dekaja, Estoma, Liftoma, recovery and support magic
Psychokinesis 念動	Agilao, Mabufula, Mazio, Zan, Psi, Psio, Mapsi, Mapsio, Mudo, Dormina, Marin Karin, Shibaboo, Shuffle, Shuffler, Hakyou, Sikyou, Hapirma, Makafuji, Tarunda, Rakunda, Dekaja, Traesto, recovery and support magic
Temperature 温度全般	Agilao, Maragi, Mabufu, Mazio, Zanma, Dormina, Hakyou, recovery and support magic
Expel 破魔	Maragi, Mazio, Hama, Hanma, Hamaon, Estoma, recovery and support magic
Death 呪殺	Maragi, Maragion, Mabufula, Mazanma, Mapsi, Mapsio, Mudo, Mudola, Mudoon, Dormina, Shuffler, Makafuji, Traesto, Liftoma, recovery and support magic
Physical 物理	Maragion, Dormina, Shibaboo, Shuffler, Sikyou, Sipani, Hapirma, Tarunda, Dekaja, Traesto, Estoma, Liftoma, recovery and support magic
Recovery (A) 回復(A)	Maragion, Mabufu, Zan, Mapsi, Marin Karin, Shuff, Kyou, Sikyou, Sipani, Hapirma, Makafuji, Tarunda, Rakunda, recovery and support magic
Recovery (B) 回復(B)	Dormina, Marin Karin, Shibaboo, Shuff, Sipani, Hapirma, Tarunda, Sukunda, Dekaja, Traesto, Liftoma, recovery and support magic
Element 精霊	Recovery and support magic
Mitama 御魂	Recovery and support magic
Hero 英雄	Recovery and support magic
Zoma 造魔	All magic

There is a priority hierarchy of races for inheritance, where the demon with a higher priority race will pass on its magic first:

1. Deity
2. Megami
3. Enigma
4. Fury
5. Lady
6. Kishin
7. Vile
8. Reaper
9. Genma
10. Yoma
11. Fairy
12. Night
13. Tyrant
14. Herald
15. Divine
16. Fallen
17. Dragon
18. Snake
19. Drake
20. Avian
21. Flight
22. Raptor
23. Avatar
24. Holy
25. Beast
26. UMA
27. Wilder
28. Jirae
29. Brute
30. Femme
31. Jaki
32. Element
33. Mitama
34. Haunt
35. Spirit
36. Undead
37. Tree
38. Wood
39. Vermin
40. Foul
41. Hero
42. Zoma

Within the races, demons with the same inheritance type as the result have a higher priority to pass on their magic.

Lastly, there is also a priority list where certain skills have a higher inheritance priority:

1. Megidolaon
2. Megidola
3. Megido
4. Maragion
5. Mabufula
6. Mazionga
7. Mazanma
8. Mapsio
9. Hamaon
10. Mudoon
11. Maragi
12. Mabufu
13. Mazio
14. Mazan
15. Mapsi
16. Hanma
17. Mudola
18. Agilao
19. Bufula
20. Zionga
21. Zanma
22. Psio
23. Hama
24. Mudo
25. Agi
26. Bufu
27. Zio
28. Zan
29. Psi
30. Shuffler
31. Sikyou
32. Shuffle
33. Hakyou
34. Shuff
35. Kyou
36. Dekaja
37. Tarunda
38. Rakunda
39. Sukunda
40. Dormina
41. Marin Karin
42. Shibaboo
43. Sipani
44. Hapirma
45. Makafuji
46. Recarmdra
47. Samarecarm
48. Recarm
49. Mediarahan
50. Diarahan
51. Mediarama
52. Diarama
53. Media
54. Dia
55. Petradi
56. Paraladi
57. Posumudi
58. Me Patra
59. Patra
60. Phasdi
61. Charmdi
62. Closdi
63. Metamodi
64. Tarukaja
65. Rakukaja
66. Sukukaja
67. Makakaja
68. Dekunda
69. Tetraja
70. Tetrakarn
71. Makarakarn
72. Traesto
73. Estoma
74. Sabbath
75. Liftoma
76. Mapper
77. Necroma

Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army

There are 10 inheritance types, determining the priority of skills a demon will inherit based on the skill's property. The names are taken from the English and Japanese versions of the official strategy guide.

Type	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Phys 戦士	Phys	Almighty	Death	Mind	Fire	Ice	Elec	Force	Recovery
Recovery 白魔	Recovery	Mind	Almighty	Fire	Ice	Elec	Force	Phys	Death
Fire 火炎	Fire	Mind	Almighty	Death	Recovery	Elec	Force	Phys	Ice
Ice 氷結	Ice	Mind	Almighty	Death	Recovery	Force	Elec	Phys	Fire
Elec 電撃	Elec	Mind	Almighty	Death	Recovery	Fire	Ice	Phys	Force
Force 衝撃	Force	Mind	Almighty	Death	Recovery	Ice	Fire	Phys	Elec
Death 死者	Death	Phys	Mind	Fire	Ice	Elec	Force	Almighty	Recovery
Mind 魔女	Mind	Death	Almighty	Force	Fire	Ice	Elec	Recovery	Phys
Almighty 1 賢者	Almighty	Recovery	Fire	Ice	Elec	Force	Mind	Death	Phys
Almighty 2 天使	Almighty	Recovery	Phys	Mind	Fire	Ice	Elec	Force	Death

Each demon has slots for 2 Attack skills, 2 Support skills, and 1 Combo skill. Skills within one of these types have a set priority order depending on inherit type, with skills of a lower number being inherited before higher-numbered skills.

Order	Attack Skills
	Phys	Recovery	Fire	Ice	Elec	Force	Death	Mind
1	Mighty Blow	Diarahan	Maragidyne	Mabufudyne	Maziodyne	Mazandyne	Mamudo	Petra
2	Frenzy	Diarama	Hellfire	Cocytus	Bolt Storm	Tempest	Mudo	Dormina
3	Winged Fury	Media	Agidyne	Bufudyne	Ziodyne	Zandyne	—	Marin Karin
4	Berserker	Dia Aura	Blaze	Frostbite	Spark	Flurry	—	Makajam
5	Venomstrike	Tarukaja	Maragi	Mabufu	Mazio	Mazan	—	Pulinpa
6	Combo	Rakukaja	Agi	Bufu	Zio	Zan	—	—
7	—	Makakaja	—	—	—	—	—	—
8	—	War Cry	—	—	—	—	—	—
9	—	Makara Aura	—	—	—	—	—	—
10	—	Tetra Aura	—	—	—	—	—	—
11	—	Dia	—	—	—	—	—	—
12	—	Patra	—	—	—	—	—	—
13	—	Recarm	—	—	—	—	—	—
14	—	Samarecarm	—	—	—	—	—	—

Order	Combo Skills
	Phys	Fire	Ice	Elec	Force	Death	Mind	Almighty
1	Fiery Spiral	Fire Breath	Glacial Blast	Shock Wave	Wind Cutter	Null Death	Null Mind	Astral Burst
2	Frigid Spin	Fire Drain	Ice Drain	Elec Drain	Force Drain	—	—	—
3	Voltaic Ring	Fireball	Frozen Lance	Thunderbolt	Hurricane	—	—	—
4	Gale Slash	Null Fire	Null Ice	Null Elec	Null Force	—	—	—
5	Vile Storm	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
6	Raging Blast	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
7	Cross Slash	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
8	Rush	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
9	Phys Drain	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
10	Null Phys	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
11	Flame Shot	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
12	Freeze Shot	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
13	Shock Shot	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
14	Blast Shot	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
15	Bane Shot	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Order	Support Skills
1	Regenerate
2	First Aid
3	Curse
4	Phys Resist
5	Mana Surge
6	Life Surge
7	Endure
8	Hex
9	Retribution
10	Mana Gain
11	Life Gain
12	Fire Boost
13	Ice Boost
14	Elec Boost
15	Force Boost
16	Devotion
17	Money Find
18	Item Find
19	Quick Study
20	Fire Resist
21	Ice Resist
22	Elec Resist
23	Force Resist
24	Hero's Might
25	Mage's Might
26	Heal Boost
27	Mind Boost
28	Mana Bonus
29	Fast Escape
30	Life Bonus

In addition, the different Moon Phases can have an effect on skill inheritance:
During a New Moon no skills will be inherited, and the fused demon will have its default skills.
During a Waxing or Waning Moon the demon will keep its default skills, but will also inherit the support skill of one of its ingredients (depending on which moon it is) to the empty support skill slot.

Persona 3 Portable

In Portable, Personas have inheritance types, and within each inheritance type are weights that determine how likely a Persona is to inherit a skill of a certain skill type. For example, a Slash inheritance Persona is more likely to inherit Slash skills than Support skills.

Inheritance Types	Slash Skills	Strike Skills	Pierce Skills	Fire Skills	Ice Skills	Elec Skills	Wind Skills	Light Skills	Darkness Skills	Almighty Skills	Recovery Skills	Support Skills	Special Skills	Charm Skills	Distress Skills	Confuse Skills	Fear Skills	Rage Skills	Poison Skills
Slash	119	15	15	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	3	3	15	—	—	—	—	—	—
Strike	15	119	15	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	3	3	15	—	—	—	—	—	—
Pierce	15	15	119	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	3	3	15	—	—	—	—	—	—
Fire	3	3	3	119	—	—	—	15	15	3	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15
Ice	3	3	3	—	119	—	—	15	15	3	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15
Elec	3	3	3	—	—	119	—	15	15	3	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15
Wind	3	3	3	—	—	—	119	15	15	3	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15
Light	—	—	—	3	3	3	3	119	—	3	15	15	15	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dark	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	—	119	3	—	—	3	15	15	15	15	15	15
Light and Dark	—	—	—	3	3	3	3	57	57	3	3	3	15	3	3	3	3	3	3
Recovery	—	—	—	15	15	15	15	3	—	15	119	57	15	3	3	3	3	3	3
Ailment	—	—	—	3	3	3	3	—	15	3	—	15	15	57	57	57	57	57	57
Everything	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15

Persona 4

In Persona 4, inherited skills cannot be selected. The number of skills that the Persona can inherit is based on the total number of different skills between all the Personas being fused.

Fused Personas Skills	# of Inheritable Skills
0-9	2
10-15	3
16-34	4
35+	5

Each Persona has an inheritance type, and within each inheritance type, and each category of skills has a weight. Higher weight means that the Persona is more likely to inherit a skill of that type. For example, a Persona with fire inheritance is far more likely to inherit a fire skill than a recovery skill.

Inheritance Types	Phys Skills	Fire Skills	Ice Skills	Elec Skills	Wind Skills	Almighty Skills	Light Skills	Dark Skills	Ailment Skills	Recovery Skills	Support Skills	Passive Skills
Phys	144	—	—	—	—	8	6	6	—	12	22	6
Fire	10	114	—	6	6	3	15	15	15	6	6	6
Ice	10	—	114	6	6	3	15	15	15	6	6	6
Elec	10	6	6	114	—	3	15	15	15	6	6	6
Wind	10	6	6	—	114	3	15	15	15	6	6	6
Almighty	3	15	15	15	15	119	15	15	8	3	3	6
Light	—	15	15	15	15	12	117	—	—	42	22	6
Darkness	—	15	15	15	15	6	—	117	12	—	6	6
Ailment	—	3	3	3	3	5	—	9	32	—	6	6
Recovery	—	18	18	18	18	12	12	—	3	120	22	6
Support	15	12	12	12	12	6	12	5	5	32	120	6

Persona 4 Golden

In Persona 4 Golden, inherited skills can be manually selected. The number of skills that the player can select is based on the total number of different skills between all the Personas being fused.

Fused Personas Skills	# of Inheritable Skills
0-5	1
6-8	2
9-11	3
12-23	4
24+	5

Which types of skills can be selected are determined based on an inheritance type that each Persona has. Due to the player being allowed to select which skills, the Almighty and Support inheritances from Persona 4 functionally became the same in Golden.

Inheritance Types	Phys Skills	Fire Skills	Ice Skills	Elec Skills	Wind Skills	Almighty Skills	Light Skills	Dark Skills	Ailment Skills	Recovery Skills	Support Skills	Passive Skills
Phys	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔
Fire	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Ice	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Elec	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Wind	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Almighty and Support	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Light	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✘	✔	✔	✔
Dark	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔
Recovery	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	スキル継承	Skill inheritance

References

General

• "Chapter 7: Data", Persona 4 Official Perfect Guide, Famitsu Editorial Staff. Published by Enterbrain (2008). Japanese. p. 291. ISBN-13: 978-4757744561.
• "Chapter 1: System: Velvet Room", Persona 4 The Golden: The Complete Guide, Compiled by the Dengeki Playstation Editorial Department. Published by ASCII Media Works (2012). Japanese. p. 71. ISBN-13: 978-4048866637.