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The '''Mantra Advancement System''' is the system by which a character in {{link|game|ddsat1}} and {{link|game|ddsat2}} learns new skills with items called '''Mantras''', similar to [[Magatama|Magatamas]].
{{Image|reason=Add an image of the DDSAT2 Mantra Grid.}}


==Profile==
The '''Mantra Advancement System''' is a progression system in the {{link|series|DDS-}} by which a character can learn skills.
Each Mantra represents a set of skills that can be learned once it is mastered. Mantras are mastered by gaining enough [[Atma Points]], afterwards, its skills can be assigned to the character with that Mantra, for example, buying the ''Ice Demon'' Mantra and later gaining enough Atma Points to master it will result in the player being able to use the skill Mabufu, which belongs to that Mantra.


Acquirement of Atma Points can be made significantly faster by using [[Hunt]] skills, which deal little damage however when finishing an enemy off with a Hunt skill, the character will receive significantly more Atma Points (though running the risk of getting a 'Stomachache' ailment, which will void any Atma Points gained).
==Overview==
Mantras are a type of equipment. Mantras provide no effects to the character; instead, they contain a set of skills unique to that Mantra. An equipped Mantra gains Atma Points after battle, and once it gains enough points, it is mastered, allowing its user to freely set the Mantra's skills. A Mantra is functionally useless after the character masters it, and they cannot equip a Mantra they have already mastered.


==Gameplay==
Atma Points (AP) are a statistic that behaves similarly to experience, in that enemies give an amount of AP when killed and stronger enemies tend to give more AP. However, if an enemy is devoured by a [[Hunt]] skill, all of its AP, plus an additional amount, goes to the killer. Acquisition of AP is prevented should the character be afflicted with [[Ache]]. An individual Mantra also has a difficulty rating, representing how much AP is required to master it.
Mantras can be bought from Karma Terminals, and mastering a Mantra unlocks a new Mantra that can be bought to then later be mastered by the player to learn new skills. Usually, Mantras follow a pattern of a certain type ''(ie, a Mantra that offers Zio, once mastered, will unlock another Mantra that is focused on Electrical damage)'', some Mantra can only be unlocked after defeating Optional bosses.


Each character starts out with their own Mantras that reflects the element they specialize in ''(ie, Earth-focused Mantras for [[Argilla]])''.
Mantras are purchased and equipped at any [[Terminal]] from the Mantra Grid. Mantras must be purchased and mastered per character; they cannot be shared between characters and most progress through the Mantra Grid is done individually. Additionally, some Mantras are locked by other means, such as mastering a certain number of other Mantra or obtaining a key item from an optional boss.


==Game Appearances==
==Mechanics by Game==
==={{link|game|ddsat1}}===
==={{link|game|ddsat1}}===
The Mantra System first appeared in {{link|game|ddsat1}}, where the System to advance & unlock Mantras was in a tree-like System where each Mantra was in a branch with other Mantra that were focused on the same type of attacks ''(ie, a Physical focused Mantra would be in the same branch as another Physical focused Mantra, with the Mantra in front of it having stronger Physical attacks)''
The Mantra Grid is a tree-like structure, where characters start from the left, progressing towards the right, and Mantras are connected according to the types of skills they give. Outside of key items unlocking Mantras for all characters, there is no connection between characters' Mantra Grids.


In-universe, the Mantra System is a battle program distributed by the [[Karma Temple]]<ref>{{Cite Book|quote=|translquote=|des=|chapter=|book=Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga PS2 English Manual|author=|publisher=|lang=|volume=|edition=|page=p. 14|transl=|isbn=}}</ref>
==={{link|game|ddsat2}}===
The Mantra Grid is a board, with each Mantra being one hexagonal tile in the grid. Characters start near the center of the grid, progressing towards the perimeter, and can equip any Mantra that is adjacent to one they have already mastered. The Mantra Grid is initally mostly hidden and must be revealed by mastering any of the Mantra in its perimeter until it is fully revealed. The Mantra Grid also contains two special types of tiles which must be unlocked by mastering each of the Mantra adjacent to it at least once between all characters: black tiles are Esoteric Mantra, which otherwise behave like normal Mantra, while the green tiles increase one statistic for the whole party.


==={{link|game|ddsat2}}===
When carrying over data from ''Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner'', characters will start with additional stats depending on how many Mantras they had mastered, up to 5 in each stat.
The Mantra System worked similarly in {{link|game|ddsat2}}, with the notable exception of the Mantra System being based on a grid and not tree branches, meaning that unlocking one Mantra now would unlock all others besides it, leading to faster progression of all Mantras
 
==Nomenclature==
{{Names
|ja=マントラ
|jaR=Mantora
|jaM=Mantra
|zhS=
|zhSR=
|zhSM=
|zhT=
|zhTR=
|zhTM=
|fr=
|frM=
|de=
|deM=
|it=
|itM=
|ko=
|koR=
|koM=
|es=
|esM=
}}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==

Revision as of 19:01, 1 November 2024

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Reason: Add an image of the DDSAT2 Mantra Grid.

The Mantra Advancement System is a progression system in the Digital Devil Saga series by which a character can learn skills.

Overview

Mantras are a type of equipment. Mantras provide no effects to the character; instead, they contain a set of skills unique to that Mantra. An equipped Mantra gains Atma Points after battle, and once it gains enough points, it is mastered, allowing its user to freely set the Mantra's skills. A Mantra is functionally useless after the character masters it, and they cannot equip a Mantra they have already mastered.

Atma Points (AP) are a statistic that behaves similarly to experience, in that enemies give an amount of AP when killed and stronger enemies tend to give more AP. However, if an enemy is devoured by a Hunt skill, all of its AP, plus an additional amount, goes to the killer. Acquisition of AP is prevented should the character be afflicted with Ache. An individual Mantra also has a difficulty rating, representing how much AP is required to master it.

Mantras are purchased and equipped at any Terminal from the Mantra Grid. Mantras must be purchased and mastered per character; they cannot be shared between characters and most progress through the Mantra Grid is done individually. Additionally, some Mantras are locked by other means, such as mastering a certain number of other Mantra or obtaining a key item from an optional boss.

Mechanics by Game

Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner

The Mantra Grid is a tree-like structure, where characters start from the left, progressing towards the right, and Mantras are connected according to the types of skills they give. Outside of key items unlocking Mantras for all characters, there is no connection between characters' Mantra Grids.

Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2

The Mantra Grid is a board, with each Mantra being one hexagonal tile in the grid. Characters start near the center of the grid, progressing towards the perimeter, and can equip any Mantra that is adjacent to one they have already mastered. The Mantra Grid is initally mostly hidden and must be revealed by mastering any of the Mantra in its perimeter until it is fully revealed. The Mantra Grid also contains two special types of tiles which must be unlocked by mastering each of the Mantra adjacent to it at least once between all characters: black tiles are Esoteric Mantra, which otherwise behave like normal Mantra, while the green tiles increase one statistic for the whole party.

When carrying over data from Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner, characters will start with additional stats depending on how many Mantras they had mastered, up to 5 in each stat.

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages
Language Name Meaning
Japanese マントラ Mantora Mantra

Gallery

References

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