Arcana
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, consisting of 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 Demon Races in other Megami Tensei games. 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 and Persona 5 Royal); 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, allow the Fusion of the highest level 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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Lists of Arcana
Major 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 (which reverses the Strength and Justice cards' order).
In re-releases of games with additional content as well as Persona 5 Strikers, new Arcana from other Tarot decks are generally introduced alongside new Social Links, which may also correspond with an already existing Arcana. For example: the Aeon Arcana, which was added with the introduction of Aigis's Social Link,Persona 3 FES
Persona 3 Portable
Persona 3 Reload
is numbered XX, which is also the number of the Judgement Arcana. Other Arcana are entirely new additions and go unnumbered, namely the Faith and Hope Arcana.
| 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 |
Minor Arcana
In the Persona 2 duology, the names of the Minor Arcana suits are used for some Personas that are only obtainable through the Mutation mechanic. In Persona 3 and Persona 4, the Minor Arcana are used only for the Shuffle Time mechanic.
Other Arcana
- Main article: List of Other Arcana
Trivia
- The Magician and Councillor Arcana in Persona 5 Royal share the same card number, one. However, while the Magician's number is written as the Roman numeral "I", the Councillor's number is written as the Arabic numeral "1".
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.