Cerberus

	Cerberus
	ケルベロス
	MT1KMTSMT1 SFCSMT1 PSLB1ABDeSumSH1P5XDCBR Artwork from Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei Artwork from Kyūyaku Megami Tensei SFC artwork from Shin Megami Tensei PS artwork from Shin Megami Tensei Artwork from Last Bible Artwork from Another Bible Artwork from Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Artwork from Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers Artwork from Persona 5: The Phantom X Artwork from Devil Children Black Book and Red Book
Other Name(s)	CerebusRevelations: Persona; ; NexDemiKids Light Version and Dark Version; ; Infernal HoundSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy); ; Guard Dog of HadesPersona 5; Persona 5 Royal; ; Guard Dog of ParadisePersona 5 Royal;
Origin	Greek culture
Race(s)	BeastDigital Devil Story: Megami Tensei; Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II; Kyūyaku Megami Tensei; Shin Megami Tensei; Shin Megami Tensei II; Shin Megami Tensei if...; Shin Megami Tensei: Nine; Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne; Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax; Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey; Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux; Shin Megami Tensei IV; Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse; Shin Megami Tensei V; Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance; Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Revelation; Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine; Shin Megami Tensei: J; Shin Megami Tensei if...: Hazama Hen; Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX; Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX; Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Requiem; Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2; Another Bible; Majin Tensei; Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis; Majin Tensei: Blind Thinker; Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner; Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers; Soul Hackers 2; Shin Megami Tensei Pinball: Judgment; Devil Children Black Book and Red Book; Devil Children White Book; Devil Survivor; Devil Survivor: Overclocked; Devil Survivor 2; Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker; Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner; Kētai Akuma Densho; ; KemonoDevil Children Light Book and Dark Book; Devil Children Fire Book and Ice Book;
Alignment(s)	Neutral-NeutralShin Megami Tensei; Shin Megami Tensei II; Shin Megami Tensei if...; Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey; Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux; Shin Megami Tensei V; Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance; Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX; Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX; Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Requiem; ; NeutralShin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse;
Arcana	ChariotPersona 5; Persona 5 Royal; Persona 5 Strikers; ; FortuneMegami Ibunroku Persona; Persona 2: Innocent Sin; Persona 2: Eternal Punishment; Megami Ibunroku Persona: Ikū no Tō Hen; ; HierophantPersona 4; Persona 4 Golden;
Order(s)	Pyro

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For the Persona, see Cerberus (Persona). For the Atma Avatar, see Cerberus (Atma).

Cerberus is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.

Profile

Origin

In Greek mythology, Cerberus^[a] is the multi-headed dog of Hades who guards the exit of the Underworld, preventing the dead from leaving. The number of heads vary between some accounts, but Cerberus is commonly described and depicted as having three heads, a serpent for a tail, and snakes protruding from his body. He is the offspring of Echidna and Typhon, and brother of the Lernaean Hydra, Orthrus and the Chimera.

Design

Despite being described as multi-headed in folklore, almost every depiction of Cerberus in the Megami Tensei franchise has just one head with a mane, beginning with Akemi Nakajima's Cerberus in Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei. The author of Digital Devil Story, Aya Nishitani, did not want to use the common depiction of Cerberus in his novels,^[1] and gave his reasoning by explaining that multiple heads gives readers the impression of multiple wills and stating that Nakajima's Cerberus has just one will in serving him, thereby having only one head.^[2]

Cerberus's most common design by Kazuma Kaneko, first appearing in Shin Megami Tensei, has only one head due to its link to the protagonist. However, Kaneko has claimed that in "battle mode" it is able to make its other two heads appear^[3] (though this is not depicted in-game).

In its Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers design, Cerberus has three heads.

Gameplay

For complete gameplay information, see Gameplay:Cerberus.

Compendium

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Compendium Entries
Shin Megami Tensei (A-Mode DDS)	Origin: Greece The guard dog of the gates of Tartarus. It has three heads and a snake's tail, and is the son of Echidna and Typhon, god of storms. It viciously attacks both the living who near the gates, and the dead who try to escape.
Shin Megami Tensei II (A-Mode DDS)	出身地：ギリシア三つ頭と蛇の尻尾を持つ冥府タルタロスの門の強力な番犬。エキドナと熱風の神ティホンの子。死者を迎え入れ、逆に冥府から逃げ出そうとする者や、生者を激しく襲い、門を守る。古代ギリシアでは冥府の河の渡し守カロンへの船賃として銅貨一枚と甘党のケルベロスに噛み付かれぬように蜂蜜ケーキを棺に入れたというへラクレス十二の難業の最後に記述がみられ、彼はこの怪物の三つの首と尾を当時に締め付けて気絶させ、生け捕りにした。 Translation:
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne	The feared guard dog of hades in Greek mythology. His parents were the giants Typhon and Echidna. He is the brother of Orthrus.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey	The guardian hound of Hades in Greek mythology. It traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. It was born from Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters.
Shin Megami Tensei IV	The guardian hound of Hades in Greek lore. It traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. It was born from Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse	The guardian hound of Hades in Greek lore. It traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. It was born from Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters.
Shin Megami Tensei V	The guardian hound of Hades in Greek lore. It traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. It was born from Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters. It is also the older brother of Orthrus.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance	The guardian hound of Hades in Greek lore. It traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. It was born from Typhon, the Giant of Wind, and Echidna, the Mother of Monsters. It is also the older brother of Orthrus.
Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine	The Hound of Hell in Greek Mythology. Its name means "demon of the pit." It is known as the loyal servant of Hades, the king of the underworld. Cerberus was born from the union of the half-serpent Echidna and the storm giant Typhon.The two-headed beast Orthros is his brother.Cerberus appears as a three-headed dog with snakes all over his body and a dragon's tail. The three heads are said to represent the past, the present, and times yet to come. Cerberus guards the gates of the underworld, the realm of the dead, welcoming souls of the dead from the outside world, but ferociously attacking all those who attempt to leave. It was traditional in ancient Greece to place a copper coin and a honeycake in coffins. This was so that the departed souls could pay Charon, the boatman of the river Styx,to ferry them across the river, and feed Cerberus, who favored sweets.
Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2	A large three-headed beast from Greek mythology, guard dog of the gateway to the underworld and often depicted with a snake for a tail. Born to the giant of wind Typhon and the snake Echidna, its brother is Orthrus. Dimensional Alt: A large three-headed beast from Greek mythology, guard dog of the gateway to the underworld and often depicted with a snake for a tail. Born to the giant of wind Typhon and the snake Echidna, its brother is Orthrus. A freak accident at the Summoning Portal caused these demons with a different appearence to appear.
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (Akuma Zensho; PSP)	出身地：ギリシアギリシア神話の冥府ハデスの番犬。嵐の巨人テュフォンと半人半蛇の怪物エキドナの子。伝説では、3つの頭と龍の尾を持ち、背中に無数の蛇を生やすとされる。冥府の番犬として入口に立っては、許可なく入ろうとする者や、逃げ出そうとする者を見張っている。恐ろしい地獄の番犬ではあるが、英雄ヘラクレスには倒されたことがある。この時には、鎖に繋がれて地上に連れ出されるという目に遭っている。 Translation: Place of origin: Greece
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (3DS)	The guardian hound of Hades in Greek mythology. It traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. It was born from Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters. Reappearing in Devil Summoner form. The guardian hound of Hades in Greek mythology. It traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. It was born from Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters.
Soul Hackers 2	The guardian hound of Hades in Greek lore. It traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. It was born from Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters, and is also the older brother of Orthrus.
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army	The guardian hound of Hades in Greek mythology. Traditionally, it has three heads and a snake's tail. It is the offspring of Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon	The guardian hound of Hades in Greek mythology. Traditionally, it has three heads and a snake's tail. It is the offspring of Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin	Guard dog of Hades in Greek lore. Has three heads and a snake tail.
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment	Three-headed hell hound with a snake's tail of Greek myth.
Persona 4	The guardian hound of Tartarus in Greek myth. It is the offspring of Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters. Orthrus is its older brother.
Persona 4 Golden
Persona 5	The guardian hound who prevents anyone from entering or exiting the underworld in Greek lore. It was born from Typhon and Echidna, and is the older brother of Orthrus.
Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 Strikers	The guardian hound who prevents anyone from entering or exiting the underworld in Greek lore. It was born from Typhon and Echidna, and is the older brother of Orthrus.
Persona 5 Tactica	The guardian hound who prevents anyone from entering or exiting the underworld in Greek lore. He was born from Typhon and Echidna, and is the older brother of Orthrus.
Persona 5: The Phantom X	The guardian hound who prevents anyone from entering or exiting the underworld in Greek lore. It was born from Typhon and Echidna, and is the older brother of Orthrus.
Devil Children Black Book and Red Book	GBC: マカイのゲートを　まもるもんばんで　むかしからメシア　たちのパートナー　としてもかつやく　してきたデビル PS: 魔界のゲートを　守る門番で　昔からメシア　たちのパートナー　としてもかつやく　してきたデビル Translation: The guardian of the gates of Makai, and a Devil who has played an active role as the Messiah's partner for ages.
Devil Children White Book	マカイのゲートを　まもるもんばんで　むかしからメシア　たちのパートナー　としてもかつやく　してきたデビル Translation: The guardian of the gates of Makai, and a Devil who has played an active role as the Messiah's partner for ages.
Devil Children Light Book and Dark Book	魔界の門を　守る　オオカミのデビル　とても　強くて　キョウボウだけど　主人には　とても　チュウジツである Translation: A wolf Devil who guards the gates of Makai. It is very strong and violent, but very loyal to its master.
DemiKids Light Version and Dark Version	Loyal to its master, this fierce wolf-demon guards the gates of Dem.
Devil Children Fire Book and Ice Book	魔界の門を　守る　オオカミのデビル　とても　強くて　キョウボウだけど　主人には　とても　チュウジツである Translation: A wolf Devil who guards the gates of Makai. It is very strong and violent, but very loyal to its master.
Devil Survivor: Overclocked	The guardian hound of Hades in Greek lore. Traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. He was born from Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters. He is also Orthrus' older brother.
Devil Survivor 2	The guardian hound of Hades in Greek lore. Traditionally has three heads and a snake's tail. He was born from Typhon, the giant of wind, and Echidna, the mother of monsters. He is also Orthrus' older brother.
Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker
Kētai Akuma Densho	冥界の入り口を守護していると言われる恐ろしい魔犬。三つの頭を持つと言われる。出身地：ギリシアギリシア神話に登場する、冥界の王ハデスの住居の門を守護している冥界の番犬。三つの頭を持つ巨大な犬の姿をした魔獣で、生肉を食らい、青銅の声で敵を威嚇したと言われる。嵐の巨人テュフォンと半人半蛇の怪物エキドナの子で、三つの頭のほかにも、全身に無数の蛇と竜の尾が生えていると言われる。三つの頭それぞれが、過去、現在、そしてきたるべき時を示しているのだとも言われる。 Translation:
Kaneko Kazuma Dennō Akuma Zukan	冥府の入り口を見張っている番犬。オルトロスやキマイラと同じく、ティターン族のテュポーンとエキドナの子として知られ、いくつかの姿が伝えられているのだが、3つの頭と蛇の尾をもつ姿で描かれることがもっとも多い。冥府の門を舞台とした話に数多く登場し、小説『ハリー・ポッター』にもその姿を見ることができる。また、神話などから甘い食べ物好きという意外な一面があることがわかる。 Translation: The guard dog who watches over the entrance to the underworld. Like Orthrus and Chimaera, he is known to be a child of the Titans Typhon and Echidna, and although he has reportedly had many forms, he is most often depicted with one that has three heads and the tail of a snake. He appears in many stories set at the gates of the underworld, and he can be seen in the Harry Potter novels.

Game Appearances

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II

Hero can encounter Cerberus in Devil Busters 2 on the upper-right section of floor 1F. Cerberus says he has been waiting for Hero’s arrival for nearly half a century before asking to join the party.

Shin Megami Tensei

Main article: Pascal § Shin Megami Tensei 2

Shin Megami Tensei II

When Hawk recieves an invitation to go meet Madam at her mansion in Valhalla, he is introduced to a Cerberus that serves her. Madam assigns her to assist Hawk in locating Hanada, and after their mission, she mentions that she has grown fond of Hawk and hopes to meet him again.

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

Later, after Valhalla is swallowed by Abaddon, Cerberus appears to Aleph, having just barely escaped the district with her life. She expresses regret that she had been unable to save Madam, as it happened too fast for her to react properly. She then joins Aleph's party, having nowhere else to go.

Visionaries

Cerberus is featured in one Visionary cutscene in the Game Boy Advance and iOS versions of the game.

In "Golden Appleseed", Cerberus is revealed to actually be Pascal, the Hero's pet dog-turned demon from Shin Megami Tensei. She is howling when Madam stumbles upon her, recognizing her as one of the Hero's demons. Cerberus reveals that while she was away from his side, he had died in an accident. Unable to handle the grief, she sits in a spot near where he had passed, waiting for the day he will return, but knowing full well that such a day will never come. Madam is intrigued by the beast, and asks her to be her friend, and a similarly intrigued Cerberus agrees to the proposal, settling on trying to move on with her life. She reintroduces herself, and says that she is at Madam's service.

End of spoilers.

Shin Megami Tensei if...

In Karukozaka High School, the Protagonist can find a broken floppy disk that can be given to Katsuhiko Sato, who tries to fix it. Once the protagonist reaches level 20, they can return to the school to find a panicked Sato running away from an angry Cerberus, who was trapped inside the floppy disk. The Cerberus orders the protagonist to move out of its way, an order they can either refuse or obey. If they refuse, they enter a battle against it. If the protagonist obliges, it instead goes to another room in the school, but will attack the protagonist when they follow it. Once defeated, the Cerberus will submit to them and join their party.

Novel Appearances

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei

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Digital Devil Story 2: Mato no Senshi

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Anime Appearances

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei

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Nomenclature

CerberusEnemy-only

Names in Other Languages
Language	Name	Meaning
English	Cerberus
	CerebusRevelations: Persona
	NexDemiKids Light Version and Dark Version
Japanese	ケルベロス Keruberosu	Kerberos
Simplified Chinese	刻耳柏洛斯 Kè'ěrbóluòsī	Kerberos
Traditional Chinese	克魯貝洛斯 Kèlǔbèiluòsī	Kerberos
French	Cerbère	Cerberus
German	Zerberus	Cerberus
Italian	Cerbero	Cerberus
Korean	케르베로스 Kereuberoseu	Kerberos
Korean	켈베로스Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax Shin Megami Tensei IV Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Persona 4 Persona 4 Golden Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker Kelberoseu	Kerberos
Polish	Cerber	Cerberus
Brazilian Portuguese	Cérbero	Cerberus
Russian	Цербер Tserber	Cerberus
Peninsular Spanish	Cerbero	Cerberus
Turkish	Kerberos

Names in Other Languages
Language	Name	Meaning
English	Infernal HoundSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy)
	Guard Dog of HadesPersona 5 Persona 5 Royal
	Guard Dog of ParadisePersona 5 Royal (Path of Da'at)
Japanese	焼き尽くす者Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Yakitsukusu Mono	The Incinerating One
	冥府の番犬Persona 5 Persona 5 Royal Meifu no Banken	Guard Dog of the Underworld
	楽園を死守する番犬Persona 5 Royal (Path of Da'at) Rakuen o Shishu Suru Banken	Guard Dog Who Defends Paradise to the Death
Simplified Chinese	燃尽一切之物Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Ránjìn Yīqiè zhī Wù	That Which Burns Everything
	冥府的看门狗Persona 5 Royal Míngfǔ de Kānmén Gǒu	Guard Dog of the Underworld
	死守乐园的看门狗Persona 5 Royal (Path of Da'at) Sǐshǒu Lèyuán de Kānmén Gǒu	Guard Dog Who Defends Paradise to the Death
Traditional Chinese	燒盡一切的野獸Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Shāojǐn Yīqiè de Yěshòu	Beast Who Burns Everything
	冥府的看門狗Persona 5 Royal Míngfǔ de Kānmén Gǒu	Guard Dog of the Underworld
	死守樂園的看門狗Persona 5 Royal (Path of Da'at) Sǐshǒu Lèyuán de Kānmén Gǒu	Guard Dog Who Defends Paradise to the Death
French	Meute infernaleSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy)	Infernal Hound
	Cerbère d'HadèsPersona 5 Royal	Guard Dog of Hades
	Chien de garde du paradisPersona 5 Royal (Path of Da'at)	Guard Dog of Paradise
German	HöllenhundSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy)	Hellhound
	Wachhund des HadesPersona 5 Royal	Guard Dog of Hades
	Wachhund des ParadiesesPersona 5 Royal (Path of Da'at)	Guard Dog of Paradise
Italian	Colui che incenerisce tuttoSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy)	He Who Incinerates Everything
	Mastino dell'AdePersona 5 Royal	Hound of Hades
	Mastino del ParadisoPersona 5 Royal (Path of Da'at)	Hound of Paradise
Korean	화멸火滅의 인도자引導者Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Hwamyeor-ui Indoja	Guide of Fiery Destruction
	저승의 파수견把守犬Persona 5 Royal Jeoseung-ui Pasugyeon	Guard Dog of the Netherworld
	낙원樂園을 사수死守하는 파수견把守犬Persona 5 Royal (Path of Da'at) Nagwoneul Sasuhaneun Pasugyeon	Guard Dog Who Defends Paradise to the Death
Peninsular Spanish	Sabueso infernalSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy)	Infernal Hound
	Perro guardián de HadesPersona 5 Royal	Guard Dog of Hades
	Perro guard.guardián del paraísoPersona 5 Royal (Path of Da'at)	Guard Dog of Paradise

Gallery

See Gallery

Notes

↑ Greek: Κέρβερος, romanized Kérberos

References

↑ "When I wrote the original story, I wanted to write a new type stories. So I didn't want to use the stereo type Cerberus. It's the reason I was thinking and making new type Cerberus." @ayanakajima3, Tweet reply by Aya Nishitani. Published Mar 27, 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2025. Twitter.
↑ "As in Greek mythology, having multiple heads gives readers the image of multiple wills. As Nakajima's loyal demon, he has only one will. That is why I set him up as having only one head." @ayanakajima3, Tweet reply by Aya Nishitani. Published October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023. Twitter.
↑ "3本首が基本なんでしょうけど、主人公と絡むので1つ首にしてます。仮に戦闘状態があれば、3つになったりするんだろうな。番犬のわりに抜けてるところがかわいいですよね。" Shin Megami Tensei: Demons Bible (2003). Published by Shinkigensha. Japanese. p. 97. ISBN-13: 978-4-7753-0149-4.

[1] Greek: Κέρβερος, romanized Kérberos

[2] "When I wrote the original story, I wanted to write a new type stories. So I didn't want to use the stereo type Cerberus. It's the reason I was thinking and making new type Cerberus." @ayanakajima3, Tweet reply by Aya Nishitani. Published Mar 27, 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2025. Twitter.

[3] "As in Greek mythology, having multiple heads gives readers the image of multiple wills. As Nakajima's loyal demon, he has only one will. That is why I set him up as having only one head." @ayanakajima3, Tweet reply by Aya Nishitani. Published October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023. Twitter.

[4] "3本首が基本なんでしょうけど、主人公と絡むので1つ首にしてます。仮に戦闘状態があれば、3つになったりするんだろうな。番犬のわりに抜けてるところがかわいいですよね。" Shin Megami Tensei: Demons Bible (2003). Published by Shinkigensha. Japanese. p. 97. ISBN-13: 978-4-7753-0149-4.

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Cerberus

Contents