Shiva is one of the toughest non-DLC super bosses in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, sitting at level 96 with a devastating arsenal of skills. If you’re looking to defeat him, you need to be well-prepared. In this guide, we’ll break down strategies, team builds, and tips to help you overcome this challenge.

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Recommended Level

Level 93+ is recommended. The game applies level penalties, so fighting Shiva while under-leveled can result in significantly reduced damage and increased damage taken.

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Understanding Shiva’s Mechanics

1. Multiple Elements:

• Shiva has access to a wide range of elemental attacks, including Almighty, Electric, and Physical.
• His move Hades Blast deals heavy physical damage.

2. Defense Management:

• Shiva frequently uses a move that lowers your party’s defense to the minimum.
• Use abilities like Golden Apple to offset this by providing defense buffs.

3. Healing Threat:

• Shiva can summon a giant snake that casts Mediaharan, a full-party heal.
• Prioritize killing this add immediately to prevent Shiva from recovering.

4. Reinforcements:

• Shiva will periodically summon allies, including Parvati who can also heal.
• Decide strategically whether to leave one alive to prevent additional reinforcements.

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Recommended Team Composition

1. Main Character: Almighty Damage Dealer

• Key Skills:
  • Murakumo: High Almighty damage with critical potential.
  • Almighty Pleroma and High Almighty Pleroma: Boost Almighty damage.
  • Enduring Soul: Extra life for survival.
• Purpose: Burst down Shiva quickly while managing defense debuffs.

2. Eden: Healer and Buffer

• Key Skills:
  • Golden Apple: Heals and buffs attack, defense, and evasion.
  • Zombarian: Single-target dark magic for decent damage.
  • Great Mana Spring: MP management for sustained healing.
• Purpose: Sustain the party and counteract Shiva’s debuffs.

3. Yoshitsune: Physical DPS

• Key Skills:
  • Hassou Tobi: High multi-hit physical damage.
  • Impaler’s Animus: Guarantees crits.
• Purpose: Deal consistent high physical damage and clear adds.

4. Vishnu: Debuffer and Support

• Key Skills:
  • Debilitate: Lowers Shiva’s attack, defense, and accuracy.
  • Donum Gladi: Boosts main character’s damage.
• Purpose: Control Shiva’s attack power and buff main character.

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Strategy Breakdown

1. Turn 1:

• Use Spyglass to reveal weaknesses.
• Apply Golden Apple for buffs.
• Start with Debilitate to manage Shiva’s damage.

2. Managing Adds:

• Kill the giant snake immediately to prevent Mediaharan.
• Use Hassou Tobi or Almighty attacks to focus it down.

3. Buff Management:

• Rotate between Golden Apple and Debilitate to manage buffs and debuffs.
• Keep Impaler’s Animus up for consistent crits.

4. MP Management:

• Use Soma when Eden is low on MP to keep heals and buffs rolling.
• High Mana Spring on Eden helps sustain through the fight.

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Handling Magatsuhi Turns

• Use Magatsuhi Critical turns strategically to burst down Shiva.
• Ensure Murakumo is charged with Donum Gladi for maximum damage.

Expected Outcome:

• If executed correctly, you should be able to burst Shiva down in 10-15 minutes while managing his healing and defense debuffs.

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Conclusion

Defeating Shiva requires careful management of buffs, debuffs, and adds. Stick to this strategy, adapt as needed, and you should come out victorious.

For more Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance guides, stay tuned!