Skill Change

Skill Change is a recurring mechanic in the Megami Tensei franchise.

Overview

When fusing, or leveling up, there is a chance that one or more of a Demon or Persona's skills will change into other skills. The player will be shown which skills will change and has the option to allow the change to occur or deny it.

Mechanics by Game

Persona series

Persona 4

Main article: Fusion Forecast § Calendar

Skill changes can occur when fusing. Each skill has an internal numerical group, 1 through 8, that it is assigned to. These groups are listed on the list of skills in Persona 4. When a skill change occurs, the skill can transform to another skill in the same group even if the Persona cannot normally learn the skill due to their Inheritance. For example, Tetraja is in group 5, and if the player fuses a Persona with Tetraja, there is a small chance it will change into another skill in group 5. The Fusion Forecast guarantees skill changes will occur on scheduled days.

When selecting the Magician card in Shuffle Time, there is a different form of skill change: When selecting the upright Magician, a single target spell will change to a multi-target. When selecting a reverse Magician, a multi-target spell will change into a single target spell.

Persona 4 Golden

Main article: Shuffle Time § Magician Card Upgrades, Fusion Forecast § Persona 4 Golden

Skill change when fusing work the same as in Persona 4 and the skill groups are noted on the list of skills in Persona 4 Golden. Additionally, the Fusion Forecast still includes skill change days, but some of the dates have been rearranged in Golden due to new story events and the two new arcana being added.

A new form of skill change can occur with the new version of Shuffle Time. By selecting the Magician Arcana, one of the protagonist's currently equipped Persona's skills will upgrade. There are 107 skills that can be changed this way, and what they change into is predetermined. For example, Agi will always turn into Maragi, and Fire Boost will always turn into Fire Amp. If the equipped Persona has no applicable skills, then nothing will happen.

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	スキルの変化 Sukiru no henka	Change of skill

References

General

• "Chapter 1: Systems: Shuffle Time: Skill Change", Persona 4 The Golden: The Complete Guide, Dengeki Playstation Editorial Staff. Published by Kadokawa (2012). Japanese. p. 67. ISBN-13: 978-4048866637.
• "Chapter 1: Systems: Shuffle Time: Velvet Room: Skill Change", Persona 4 The Golden: The Complete Guide, Dengeki Playstation Editorial Staff. Published by Kadokawa (2012). Japanese. p. 80. ISBN-13: 978-4048866637.