Shuffle Time

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Shuffle Time is a recurring mechanic in the Persona series.

Overview

Shuffle Time occurs after battles occasionally, and is one of the main ways to obtain Personas, along with fusion. The exact mechanics differ between installments.

Mechanics by Game

Persona 3

Shuffle Time is introduced in Persona 3 and works about the same in the original game, Persona 3 FES, and Persona 3 Portable. The player is shown five cards and then the cards are turned over and moved around on the screen. The cards can be a new Persona, a blank card, or a card representing one of the four Minor Arcana suits (Sword, Wand, Cup, and Coin). Minor Arcana cards have different levels, and the level is higher the further the player is in Tartarus; the higher the level, the more substantial the reward. The Sword gives a weapon, the Wand increases experience, the Cup restores HP, and the Coin gives money.

The cards can move about three different ways:

Two cards swap places.
The cards are moved off screen and come back from left to right in the order they went up.
Three cards are stacked and are unstacked in the order they originally were.

Occasionally, the player has the chance to double up after selecting the card. If the player accepts, then they enter another Shuffle Time, and can get multiple cards in the same battle this way. However, if a blank card is picked, then the player will obtain no cards after that battle. Multiple double ups can occur in a row.

Sometimes, cards can be cursed. This is represented by a skull-and-crossbones overlaid on the card's face. If a cursed card is selected, it will reduce the time for the Reaper to appear.

Persona 3 Portable

Persona 3 Portable introduces a new Shuffle Time variant where the cards are constantly revolving around and the player will select whatever is in the center of the screen at the time the button is pressed.

Persona 3 Reload

Main article: Shuffle Time in Persona 3 Reload

Shuffle Time returns in Reload. The cards are no longer face down or moving. Players can now obtain Major Arcana cards in addition to Minor Arcana and Personas. After obtaining a certain number of Major Arcana, the maximum rank of all Minor Arcana cards increases +1 until you leave Tartarus.

Persona 4

Shuffle time is expanded upon in Persona 4. Unlike in Persona 3, Minor Arcana cards cannot be drawn and only three types of cards exist.

Persona card: The card depicts a certain Persona. When drawn, the player receives the depicted Persona. The Persona is not received if its level is higher than the main protagonist's.
Blank card: This card is marked with a shattered glass effect. When drawn, the player receives nothing other than the experience points and money gained normally.
Penalty card: This card is marked with a white cross pattern with red highlights. When drawn, the player does not receive a Persona, experience points, or money from the battle just won.

There are a number of variants added in Persona 4, such as a Concentration-like matching minigame, and a slot machine-like minigame where the player must stop three rotating columns of cards.

Two additional mechanics can be triggered randomly when drawing a Persona or Blank card. The first, 1 More, allows the player to retry their luck at drawing a different card. The second, known as Arcana Chance transforms the card into a card of the Major Arcana. If the player chooses to proceed with Arcana Chance, they will either receive the Major Arcana card in the upright or reverse position. The associated effects of each are listed below.

Arcana Chance Effects^[1]
Arcana	Upright effect	Reversed effect
Fool	Triggers a random effect of a different Arcana in any position	None
Magician	A single target skill on a random Persona is upgraded to an all-target skill	An all-target skill on a random Persona is downgraded to a single target skill
Priestess	Can view all Analysis information for all enemies for a while	Cannot view any Analysis information for a while
Empress	All party members' HP is restored to maximum	All party members' HP is reduced to 1
Emperor	All battles will begin with a Player Advantage for a while	All battles will begin with an Enemy Advantage for a while
Hierophant	Reversed effects in Arcana Chances will be negated for a while	Arcana Chances will be more likely to produce a reversed result for a while
Lovers	Powerful Shadows will not appear for a while	More Shadows will be Powerful Shadows for a while
Chariot	A random Persona's Agility is increased by 1~3	A random Persona's Agility is reduced by 1~3
Justice	A random Persona's Strength is increased by 1~3	A random Persona's Strength is reduced by 1~3
Hermit	Can view the entire minimap of the floor for a while	The minimap is fully hidden for a while
Fortune	A random Persona's Luck is increased by 1~3	A random Persona's Luck is reduced by 1~3
Strength	A random Persona's Magic is increased by 1~3	A random Persona's Magic is reduced by 1~3
Hanged Man	A random Persona's Endurance is increased by 1~3	A random Persona's Endurance is reduced by 1~3
Death	The entire party is returned to the entrance of the dungeon, with 1 HP but fully regaining SP	The entire party is returned to the entrance of the dungeon, with 1 SP but fully regaining HP
Temperance	Temporarily increases the amount of money obtained after battles	Temporarily decreases the amount of money obtained after battles
Devil	A random Persona changes into a higher-level Persona with only its base skills	A random Persona changes into a lower-level Persona with only its base skills
Tower	Opening chests grants money in addition to an item for a while	Opening chests may cause a Shadow attack for a while
Star	1 More will occur more frequently in Shuffle time for a while	1 More will occur less frequently in Shuffle time for a while
Moon	Temporarily increases the amount of experience gained after battles	Temporarily locks the amount of experience gained after battles to 1
Sun	Temporarily replaces all blank cards in Shuffle time with Persona cards	Temporarily replaces all blank cards in Shuffle time with Penalty cards
Judgement	All party members' SP is restored to maximum	All party members' current SP is halved

Persona 4 Golden

Shuffle Time is simplified in Persona 4 Golden. Rather than a minigame where the player selects a face down card, all cards are shown face up and the player chooses to draw a card freely from those shown. Additionally, both Minor and Major Arcana Cards can be drawn. When entering Shuffle Time, the player is given 1 try to draw a card. Certain cards are denoted as X more, with X being a number in the range of 1-4. When these cards are selected, the player is given that many more tries to draw cards.

When all cards have been drawn, a Sweep Bonus (Japanese: All Get Bonus) is activated. The Sweep Bonus grants a number of benefits:

A Shuffle Time will always occur after winning the next battle.
The next Shuffle Time will start with 3 draws instead of 1.
Persona Cards that the player already possesses and cards with negative effects may be replaced with other, more beneficial cards.

There is a base 30% chance of triggering Shuffle Time after defeating enemies. This increases by 20% if the player got the first strike, and by 10% for each time an enemy weakness was struck. If the battle is won through an All-Out Attack, then this guarantees Shuffle Time. Shuffle Time can never occur after boss fights.

Arcana

Card	Effect
Persona	Obtain the Persona shown on the card.
Fool	Changes all of the dealt cards. Gain another draw.
Magician	Ranks up 1 of the skills on the protagonist's currently equipped Persona.
Priestess	One of the dealt cards turns into an Arcana card. Gain another draw.
Empress	One of the dealt cards disappears. Gain another draw.
Emperor	The protagonist's currently equipped Persona gains 1 level.
Hierophant	1 of the dealt cards changes into a Persona card.
Lovers	Don't receive any items after battle, but you gain 2 draws.
Chariot	The protagonist's currently equipped Persona gains 1 Agility.
Justice	The protagonist's currently equipped Persona gains 1 Strength.
Hermit	Shadows won't notice the protagonist for the rest of the current dungeon floor.
Fortune	The protagonist's currently equipped Persona gains 1 Luck.
Strength	The protagonist's currently equipped Persona gains 1 Magic.
Hanged Man	The protagonist's currently equipped Persona gains 1 Endurance.
Death	Ends Shuffle Time.
Devil	EXP earned is reduced to 1, but you gain 3 draws.
Temperance	Gain a Chest Key.
Tower	Yen earned is reduced to 0, but you gain 3 draws.
Star	Removes 1 of your selected cards, but you gain 1 draw.
Moon	Halves your EXP, but you gain 2 draws.
Sun	Halves your Yen, but you gain 2 draws.
Judgment	No effect.
Aeon	Gain 4 draws.
Sword	Gain 1 skill card.
Coin	Increases Yen.
Wand	Increases EXP.
Cup	Restores HP and SP.

Appearance

Which Arcana appear during Shuffle Time is based on the dungeon.

Dungeon	Personas	Fool	Magician	Priestess	Empress	Emperor	Hierophant	Lovers	Chariot	Justice	Hermit	Fortune	Strength	Hanged Man	Death	Temperance	Devil	Tower	Star	Moon	Sun	Judgement	Aeon	Sword	Coin	Wand	Cup
Yukiko's Castle (1st Visit)	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔	✘	✔	✘	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔
Yukiko's Castle	✔	✘	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔	✘	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔
Steamy Bathhouse	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Marukyu Striptease	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Void Quest	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Secret Laboratory	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Heaven	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Magatsu Inaba	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Hollow Forest	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔
Yomotsu Hirasaka	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

The possible ranks of the minor Arcana are also based on the dungeon.

Dungeon	Sword	Coin	Wand	Cup
Yukiko's Castle (1st Visit)	1	1-2	1-2	1-2
Yukiko's Castle	1-2	1-3	1-3	1-3
Steamy Bathhouse	1-3	1-5	1-4	1-4
Marukyu Striptease	1-4	1-6	1-5	1-5
Void Quest	2-6	1-7	1-7	1-6
Secret Laboratory	3-7	1-8	1-8	1-8
Heaven	4-9	1-9	2-9	1-9
Magatsu Inaba	5-10	1-10	2-10	1-10
Hollow Forest	✘	1-10	2-10	1-10
Yomotsu Hirasaka	5-10	1-10	2-10	1-10

Coin, Wand, and Cup Effects per Rank

Rank	Coin Effect	Wand Effect	Cup Effect
1	Yen +10%	EXP +20%	Restores 10% max HP, 6% max SP
2	Yen +20%	EXP +25%	Restores 20% max HP, 8% max SP
3	Yen +30%	EXP +30%	Restores 30% max HP, 10% max SP
4	Yen +40%	EXP +35%	Restores 40% max HP, 12% max SP
5	Yen +50%	EXP +40%	Restores 50% max HP, 14% max SP
6	Yen +60%	EXP +45%	Restores 60% max HP, 16% max SP
7	Yen +70%	EXP +50%	Restores 70% max HP, 18% max SP
8	Yen +80%	EXP +55%	Restores 80% max HP, 20% max SP
9	Yen +90%	EXP +60%	Restores 90% max HP, 22% max SP
10	Yen +100%	EXP +70%	Restores 100% max HP, 25% max SP

Sword Effects per Rank

Rank	Possible Skill Cards
1	Agi, Bufu, Zio, Garu, Dia, Patra, Mutudi, Tarunda, Sukunda, Rakunda, Tarukaja, Sukukaja, Rakukaja, Sharp Student
2	Sonic Punch, Single Shot, Double Fangs, Poison Skewer, Hysterical Slap, Skull Cracker, Muzzle Shot, Arm Chopper, Maragi, Mabufu, Mazio, Magaru, Hama, Mudo, Foul Breath, Re Patra, Posumudi, Nervundi, Rebellion, Traesto, Alertness
3	Assault Dive, Kill Rush, Twin Shot, Gale Slash, Rampage, Swift Strike, Cell Breaker, Brain Shake, Agilao, Bufula, Zionga, Garula, Mahama, Mamudo, Poison Mist, Tentarafoo, Valiant Dance, Foolish Whisper, Evil Smile, Old One, Anima Freeze, Media, Me Patra, Recarm, Fire Break, Ice Break, Wind Break, Elec Break, Dodge Physical, Dodge Fire, Dodge Ice, Dodge Wind, Dodge Elec, Fire Boost, Ice Boost, Elec Boost, Wind Boost, Counter, Regenerate 1, Invigorate 1, Growth 1, Apt Pupil
4	Power Slash, Cruel Attack, Crazy Chain, Mind Slice, Seal Bomb, Megido, Life Drain, Spirit Drain, Stagnant Air, Diarama, Matarunda, Masukunda, Marakunda, Dekunda, Matarukaja, Masukukaja, Marakukaja, Dekaja, Revolution, Red Wall, White Wall, Blue Wall, Green Wall, Trafuri, Null Poison, Null Dizzy, Fast Heal
5	Fatal End, Black Spot, Mighty Swing, Herculean Strike, Heat Wave, Atom Smasher, Maragion, Mabufula, Mazionga, Magarula, Amrita, Resist Fire, Resist Ice, Resist Elec, Resist Wind, Survive Light, Survive Dark, Evade Physical, Evade Fire, Evade Ice, Evade Wind, Evade Elec, Counterstrike, Growth 2
6	Torrent Shot, Vicious Strike, Blade of Fury, Aeon Rain, Poison Arrow, Mustard Bomb, Navas Nebula, Agidyne, Bufudyne, Ziodyne, Garudyne, Hamaon, Mudoon, Diarahan, Mediarama, Energy Shower, Samarecarm, Resist Physical, Endure Light, Endure Dark, Hama Boost, Mudo Boost, High Counter, Regenerate 2, Invigorate 2, Divine Grace, Cool Breeze
7	Gigantic Fist, Tempest Slash, Deathbound, Arrow Rain, Virus Wave, Maragidyne, Mabufudyne, Maziodyne, Magarudyne, Mahamaon, Mamudoon, Ghastly Wail, Tetraja, Endure, Fire Amp, Ice Amp, Elec Amp, Wind Amp, Ailment Boost, Auto-Tarukaja, Auto-Rakukaja, Auto-Sukukaja, Firm Stance
8	Rainy Death, Brave Blade, Myriad Arrows, Vile Assault, Blight, Megidola, Power Charge, Mind Charge, Tetra Break, Makara Break, Repel Light, Repel Dark, Enduring Soul, Angelic Grace, Regenerate 3, Invigorate 3, Growth 3
9	Agneyastra, Akasha Arts, Mediarahan, Tetrakarn, Makarakarn, Auto-Mataru, Auto-Maraku, Auto-Masuku, Spell Master, Arms Master
10	God's Hand, Primal Force, Vorpal Blade, Megidolaon, Salvation, Absorb Physical, Absorb Fire, Absorb Ice, Absorb Elec, Absorb Wind

Magician Card Upgrades

Main article: Skill Change

By selecting a Magician Arcana, one of the protagonist's currently equipped Persona's skills will be randomly selected to upgrade. Which skills can upgrade and what they change into is all predetermined. If the equipped Persona does not have one of the skills that can be upgraded, then there will be no changes.

Before	After
Poison Skewer	Poison Arrow
Poison Arrow	Virus Wave
Virus Wave	Blight
Skull Cracker	Mind Slice
Hysterical Slap	Crazy Chain
Muzzle Shot	Seal Bomb
Arm Chopper	Atom Smasher
Cell Breaker	Mustard Bomb
Cruel Attack	Vile Assault
Bash	Sonic Punch
Cleave	Single Shot
Skewer	Single Shot
Sonic Punch	Assault Dive
Single Shot	Power Slash
Assault Dive	Fatal End
Power Slash	Mighty Swing
Fatal End	Mighty Swing
Mighty Swing	Gigantic Fist
Gigantic Fist	Brave Blade
Brave Blade	God's Hand
Double Fangs	Twin Shot
Twin Shot	Torrent Shot
Kill Rush	Torrent Shot
Torrent Shot	Tempest Slash
Swift Strike	Blade of Fury
Blade of Fury	Arrow Rain
Arrow Rain	Akasha Arts
Akasha Arts	Myriad Arrows
Myriad Arrows	Gale Slash
Gale Slash	Heat Wave
Herculean Strike	Vicious Strike
Vicious Strike	Vorpal Blade
Deathbound	Vorpal Blade
Rampage	Aeon Rain
Aeon Rain	Agneyastra

Before	After
Agi	Maragi
Agilao	Maragion
Agidyne	Maragidyne
Garu	Magaru
Garula	Magarula
Garudyne	Magarudyne
Bufu	Mabufu
Bufula	Mabufula
Bufudyne	Mabufudyne
Zio	Mazio
Zionga	Mazionga
Ziodyne	Maziodyne
Megido	Megidola
Megidola	Megidolaon
Hama	Mahama
Hamaon	Mahamaon
Mudo	Mamudo
Mudoon	Mamudoon
Pulinpa	Tentarafoo
Evil Touch	Evil Smile
Balzac	Valiant Dance
Poisma	Poison Mist
Soul Break	Anima Freeze
Enervation	Old One
Makajam	Foolish Whisper
Dia	Media
Diarama	Mediarama
Diarahan	Mediarahan
Patra	Me Patra
Recarm	Samarecarm
Nervundi	Energy Shower
Tarunda	Matarunda
Sukunda	Masukunda
Rakunda	Marakunda
Tarukaja	Matarukaja
Sukukaja	Masukukaja
Rakukaja	Marakukaja

Before	After
Resist Physical	Null Physical
Resist Fire	Null Fire
Resist Ice	Null Ice
Resist Elec	Null Elec
Resist Wind	Null Wind
Resist Light	Null Light
Resist Dark	Null Dark
Dodge Physical	Evade Physical
Dodge Fire	Evade Fire
Dodge Ice	Evade Ice
Dodge Elec	Evade Elec
Dodge Wind	Evade Wind
Fire Boost	Fire Amp
Ice Boost	Ice Amp
Elec Boost	Elec Amp
Wind Boost	Wind Amp
Counter	Counterstrike
Counterstrike	High Counter
Regenerate 1	Regenerate 2
Regenerate 2	Regenerate 3
Invigorate 1	Invigorate 2
Invigorate 2	Invigorate 3
Growth 1	Growth 2
Growth 2	Growth 3
Endure	Enduring Soul
Survive Light	Endure Light
Survive Dark	Endure Dark
Resist Poison	Null Poison
Resist Panic	Null Panic
Resist Fear	Null Fear
Resist Exhaust	Null Exhaust
Resist Enervate	Null Enervate
Resist Rage	Null Rage
Resist Dizzy	Null Dizzy
Resist Mute	Null Mute

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages
Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	シャッフルタイム Shaffurutaimu	Shuffle Time
French	Tirage de carte	Card Draw
German	Karten Mischen	Shuffle Cards
Italian	Mano arcana	Arcane Hand
Spanish	A barajar	Let's Shuffle

Gallery

Shuffle Time in Persona 4 Golden.
Shuffle Time in Persona 3 Reload.

Notes

References

↑ Persona 4: The Official Strategy Guide, DoubleJump. Published by DoubleJump Publishing, Inc. 2008. English. 64-65. ISBN-13: 978-0979884863

[1] Persona 4: The Official Strategy Guide, DoubleJump. Published by DoubleJump Publishing, Inc. 2008. English. 64-65. ISBN-13: 978-0979884863

[1]