Alignment (Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance)
This page covers the Alignment mechanics in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.
Overview
In Vengeance, various text answers and choices made during quests will grant the Nahobino points towards "Preservation", "Humanity", or "Reformation". The Nahobino's icon on the map of Tokyo indicates what alignment they currently hold: Preservation is spinning clockwise, humanity is shaking left and right, and reformation is spinning counterclockwise.
Canon of Creation
In the Canon of Creation, the Nahobino has a primary alignment and a secondary alignment. There are 19 alignment events in this Canon, with 4 contributing to the primary, and 15 contributing to the secondary. Choices made during these events are categorized as reformation, preservation, or neither. However, the alignment tracked in-game does not determine the ending.
When calculating primary alignment:
- If the majority of the choices favor reformation, then primary alignment is reformation.
- If the majority of the choices favor preservation, then primary alignment is preservation.
- If the Nahobino is tied for both reformation and preservation, then the primary alignment is humanity.
When calculating secondary alignment:
- If the Nahobino has made 3 or more reformation and / or preservation selections, then the secondary alignment is whichever of the two is higher.
- If the Nahobino has made less than 3 of these selections, or he is tied for both, then the secondary alignment will be humanity.
When calculating final alignment:
- If the primary and secondary alignment are the same, then that is the final alignment. E.g. both reformation means the final alignment is reformation.
- If one of the primary or secondary alignment is humanity, then priority will instead be given to preservation or reformation as final alignment. E.g. humanity primary but reformation secondary also means the final alignment is reformation.
- If the primary and secondary alignment oppose one another, then the final alignment is humanity. E.g. primary reformation but preservation secondary means final alignment is humanity.
Creation Choices
Category | Event or Side Quest | Choice or Action | Alignment |
---|---|---|---|
Secondary | The Spirit of Love or The Water Nymph | Clear The Water Nymph | Reformation |
Clear The Spirit of Love | Preservation | ||
Secondary | Talk to Principality after accepting Those Seeking Sanctuary | Defeat Principality | Reformation |
Talk to him | N/A | ||
Primary | Event: Answering Yakumo | Order is essential for peace | Preservation |
Order gets in the way | Reformation | ||
I don't know | N/A | ||
Secondary | Event: Chasing Lahmu | We have to help her | Preservation |
We have to defeat Lahmu | Reformation | ||
Secondary | A Wish for a Fish | Finish him off and take the fish | Reformation |
Let him go | Preservation | ||
Secondary | Clear Those Seeking Sanctuary or Holding the Line | Clear Those Seeking Sanctuary | Reformation |
Clear Holding the Line | Preservation | ||
Secondary | A Goddess Stolen | Eat the apple | Reformation |
Don't eat it | Preservation | ||
Primary | Event: Decisive battle with Lahmu | We have to take down Lahmu | Reformation |
We prioritize rescuing her | Preservation | ||
Secondary | Clear Black Frost Strikes Back or A Sobering Standoff | Clear Black Frost Strikes Back | Reformation |
Clear A Sobering Standoff | Preservation | ||
Secondary | The Horn of Plenty | Sacrifices are necessary | Preservation |
Sacrifices should be avoided | Reformation | ||
Secondary | Event: Aogami asks about the organization vs the person | We ought to do our part | Preservation |
I didn't get a choice in the matter | N/A | ||
Honestly, I don't want to do it | Reformation | ||
Secondary | Event: Aogami asks if demons are unnecessary | You've been a great help | Preservation |
You've certainly made life complicated | Reformation | ||
Primary | Event: The Demon King's question | God's order will never die | Preservation |
Fine by me | Reformation | ||
Primary | Event: Odin asks what you think of this world | I'm attached to it | Preservation |
It must be rebuilt from scratch | Reformation | ||
Secondary | Clear The Raid on Tokyo or In Defense of Tokyo | Clear The Raid on Tokyo | Reformation |
Clear In Defense of Tokyo | Preservation | ||
Secondary | The Egyptians' Fate | Finish him off | Preservation |
Stow your weapon | N/A | ||
Secondary | The Succession of Ra | Deal the final blow | Reformation |
Stop Khonsu | Preservation | ||
Do nothing | N/A | ||
Secondary | Clear Reclaim the Golden Stool or Liberate the Golden Stool | Clear Reclaim the Golden Stool | Preservation |
Clear Liberate the Golden Stool | Reformation | ||
Secondary | Goddesses of Fate | Something that binds you | Reformation |
Something that guides you | Preservation |
Creation Ending
Which ending the Nahobino gets during Creation is based on a choice made near the end of Creation, regardless of his tracked alignment.
Event | Choice | Route |
---|---|---|
Choice made in Empyrean | I will uphold God's Order | Preservation |
I will recreate the world and save Tokyo | Reformation | |
I will destroy the throne | Humanity | |
Choice made during the Humanity route | I will destroy the throne | Humanity |
Create a world for humanity alone | True Humanity, fight an empowered Lucifer as the final boss |
The "Create a world only for humans" option only appears if the Nahobino has completed Ra, Fionn, and Shiva's sidequests.
If the Nahobino's final alignment does not match the route he picks for the ending, then he will be unable to obtain the alignment exclusive miracle.
Canon of Vengeance
In Vengeance, the game tracks the Nahobino's alignment throughout the game through the various choices he makes in story and quest dialogue. After the throne room, Nahobino gets locked-in to a route based on his alignment and this determines the ending. If he is preservation, he gets the Peaceful Route. If he is reformation, he gets the Apocalypse Route.
The details of how alignment is built is as follows:
- High influence choices grant +3 points
- Low influence choices grant +1 point
- Using Tao Isonokami for 50 battles grants +1 point towards preservation, upto a maximum of +3
- Using Yoko Hiromine for 50 battles grants +1 point towards reformation, upto a maximum of +3
- If the difference between preservation and reformation is 2 or more points, the Nahobino's alignment will be the one with the higher value
- If the difference is within 1 or less point, the Nahobino will be humanity alignment
- As this Canon only has two endings for preservation and reformation, there is only one event/choice that comes up if the Nahobino has humanity alignment
- Regardless of alignment, the Nahobino can face the final boss of True Humanity ending in Creation, the empowered version of Lucifer, in Vengeance by completing Ra, Fionn, and Shiva's sidequests beforehand
Vengeance Choices
Event or Side Quest | Choice or Action | Points |
---|---|---|
Clear The Spirit of Love or The Water Nymph | Clear The Water Nymph | Reformation +1 |
Clear The Spirit of Love | Preservation +1 | |
Event: Chasing Lahmu | We have to help her | Preservation +1 |
We have to defeat Lahmu | Reformation +1 | |
A Wish for a Fish | Finish him off and take the fish | Reformation +1 |
Leave him alone | Preservation +1 | |
Talk to Principality after accepting Those Seeking Sanctuary | Defeat Principality | Reformation +1 |
Talk to him | N/A | |
Clear Those Seeking Sanctuary or Holding the Line | Clear Those Seeking Sanctuary | Reformation +1 |
Clear Holding the Line | Preservation +1 | |
A Goddess Stolen | Eat the apple | Reformation +1 |
Don't eat it | Preservation +1 | |
Heart of Garnet | Finish her off | Preservation +1 |
Let her go | Reformation +1 | |
Event: After fighting Yuzuru | I think it's bright | Preservation +3 |
I can't count on it | Reformation +3 | |
The Horn of Plenty | Sacrifices are necessary | Preservation +1 |
Sacrifices should be avoided | Reformation +1 | |
Event: Yuzuru's reflection | I think I can believe | Preservation +3 |
I can't really believe | Reformation +3 | |
Event: After defeating Mara | I understand | Preservation +1 |
I don't understand | Reformation +1 | |
Clear Reclaim the Golden Stool or Liberate the Golden Stool | Clear Reclaim the Golden Stool | Preservation +1 |
Clear Liberate the Golden Stool | Reformation +1 | |
Clear The Hunter in White or The Vampire in Black | Clear The Hunter in White | Preservation +1 |
Clear The Vampire in Black | Reformation +1 | |
Clear The Raid on Tokyo or In Defense of Tokyo | Clear The Raid on Tokyo | Reformation +1 |
Clear In Defense of Tokyo | Preservation +1 | |
Goddesses of Fate | Something that binds you | Reformation +1 |
Something that guides you | Preservation +1 | |
Event: Beelzebub Key Battle | I want to re-create the world | Preservation +1 |
I want to stop Tiamat | N/A | |
Event: Odin and Zeus Key Battle | Hope for humanity's future | Preservation +3 |
Despair at humanity's past | Reformation +3 | |
In the throne room (Only if Nahobino is human alignment) | I believed it would come | Reformation +3 |
That can't come to pass | Preservation +3 |
Exclusive Demons
Nahobino's alignment determines the availability of side quests which unlock certain demons for fusion.
In Creation, this is determined by the ending selected.
In Vengeance, this is determined by both the route and the alignment choices made.
Side Quest | Fusion Unlock | Creation | Vengeance |
---|---|---|---|
The Seraph's Return | Michael | Select the Preservation Ending Route | Peaceful Route |
The Red Dragon's Invitation | Belial | Select the Reformation Ending Route | Apocalypse Route |
The Compassionate Queen | Maria | Select the Preservation Ending Route | Preservation |
The Wrathful Queen | Inanna | Select the Reformation Ending Route | Reformation |
The Noble Queen | Danu | Select the Humanity or True Humanity Ending Route | Humanity |
Exclusive Miracles
Nahobino's alignment determines which special Miracle he gets. He gains this after the throne room.
In Creation, this is determined by the internal alignment (from choices) and the selected ending matching one another.
In Vengeance, this is determined by the overall number of choices made from the list of quests and events.
Miracle | Creation | Vengeance |
---|---|---|
Rank ViolationRemoves the level restriction when fusing demons | Preservation alignment and ending | Make 12 Preservation aligned selections and be on the Peaceful Route, or make 16+ selections overall and be on either route |
Inheritance ViolationDemon's innate skills can be replaced by inherited skills when fusing | Reformation alignment and ending | Make 12 Reformation aligned selections and be on the Apocalypse Route, or make 16+ selections overall and be on either route |
References
- "Chapter 1: System Guide", Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Official Perfect Guide, Famitsu. Published by Kadokawa. Japanese. p. 16-17. ISBN-13: 978-4047337398.