Arcana
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The Arcana[a] are a recurring element and mechanic in the Persona series. Arcana refers to the different names or classes of Tarot Cards used throughout the series, of which there are two kinds: the Major Arcana (consisting of 22 trump cards) and the Minor Arcana (four suits with 14 cards each). Of these two, the Major Arcana is much more prominent in the series.
The Major Arcana are used to group Demons,
Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
Personas, and Shadows in the series, equivalent to Races in other Megami Tensei games, wherein the entities are grouped into certain Arcana based on their shared characteristics or how they relate to the Arcana itself. Beginning with Persona 3, each Major Arcana also has an associated Social Link (Confidant in Persona 5); a character the protagonist can interact with who often has a story arc representing their Arcana. Completing a Social Link's story arc will give high experience to a newly fused Persona of that Arcana and, in certain games, unlock new abilities to the protagonist or their teammates.
The games' party members and their awakened Personas are also each associated with a particular Arcana. From Persona 3 onwards, the protagonist is associated with the Fool Arcana, the first card in the Major Arcana and often a representation of the beginning of a journey through life.[1]
Mechanics
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Minor Arcana
List of Arcana
Most Persona games have just 22 Arcana, numbered 0 to 21; the same number of cards in a traditional Major Arcana deck. The Arcana in Megami Ibunroku Persona and the Persona 2 duology are based on the Rider–Waite Tarot deck (in which the Strength and Justice cards are numbered VIII and XI, respectively), while the Arcana in Persona 3 and onward are based on the Tarot de Marseilles deck. However, some Persona games add additional Arcana from other Major Arcana decks as extra cards. Some of these cards share the same number as other cards in the same deck while a few are entirely new additions.
| Number | Arcana |
|---|---|
| 0 | |
Jester
Persona 4 Golden; shares number with Fool | |
| I1 | |
Councillor
Persona 5 Royal; shares number with Magician | |
| II2 | |
| III3 | |
| IV4 | |
| V5 | |
| VI6 | |
| VII7 | |
| VIII8 | |
| IX9 | |
| X10 | |
| XI11 | |
Hunger
Persona 4 Golden; shares number with Strength | |
| XII12 | |
| XIII13 | |
| XIV14 | |
| XV15 | |
| XVI16 | |
| XVII17 | |
| XVIII18 | |
| XIX19 | |
| XX20 | |
Aeon
Persona 3 FESPersona 3 Portable Persona 3 Reload Persona 4 Golden Shares number with Judgement | |
| XXI21 | |
Universe
Only mentioned in Persona 3 | |
| Unnumbered | |
| Unnumbered |
Notes
- ↑ Ordinarily, arcanum is the singular form whereas arcana is the plural form. The Persona series uses Arcana as both singular and plural.
References
- ↑ "Mr. Edogawa: Beginning with "The Fool" and ending with "The World"... they tell a story in numerical order that is a metaphor of an individual's journey through life. Each Major Arcana represents a stage on that journey... an experience that the individual must incorporate to realize his oneness. They are all important, so let's take a look at each of the 22 cards, one by one." Persona 3.