Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis - How to Conquer the Source of the Abyss

In Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis, after navigating the labyrinthine Abyss of Time and uncovering the tragic past of Aigis, your team faces a climactic battle against a formidable opponent: the Shadow of the protagonist from the original game.

Aigis' unresolved grief over losing the protagonist has led this Shadow to manifest the Personas of every team member you bring into battle. To uncover the full truth behind the Abyss of Time, you must confront and defeat this powerful Shadow.

The Protagonist's Shadow Uses SEES' Personas Against You

The emotional weight of witnessing Aigis' past is compounded by the challenge of battling the Shadow of the protagonist—the entity keeping the Abyss of Time alive. This Shadow begins the fight wielding Athena, Aigis' original Persona from before she gained the Wild Card ability. Regardless of the Personas Aigis has at her disposal or the teammates you bring, the Shadow will use Athena to start the confrontation.

As the battle progresses, the Shadow will rotate through the Personas of your party members every quarter of its health bar. For instance, if Yukari isn’t in your party during the fight, her Persona, Isis, won’t be summoned. Instead, the Shadow will call upon the Persona of whichever teammate you did bring. This rotation allows you to strategize based on the strengths and weaknesses of the Personas currently in use.

Choosing Your Teammates

Selecting the right teammates is crucial, as each Persona has specific elemental affinities. For example, Metis is an excellent choice due to her lack of weaknesses compared to other characters who have inherent elemental vulnerabilities. Metis' resilience can make her a valuable asset, particularly in avoiding easy exploitation by the Shadow.

As always, using charged Theurgy at the beginning of the fight can maximize your damage output. While we can’t prescribe a universal team that fits every player's preference, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the Personas the Shadow uses can help you prepare. The Shadow will utilize the elemental affinities and attacks of each Persona it summons, so be prepared for a diverse range of offensive strategies.

Understanding Persona Affinities

Athena (Aigis)

- Weak to: Electric

- Nullifies: Pierce

Isis (Yukari)

- Weak to: Electric

- Nullifies: Wind

Trismegistus (Junpei)

- Weak to: Wind

- Nullifies: Fire

Caesar (Akihiko)

- Weak to: Ice

- Nullifies: Electric

Artemisia (Mitsuru)

- Weak to: Ice

- Nullifies: Fire

Kala-Nemi (Ken)

- Weak to: Dark

- Nullifies: Light

Cerberus (Koromaru)

- Weak to: Light

- Nullifies: Dark

The Shadow will cycle through different Personas, each with its own set of affinities. Notably, Psyche is not summoned by the Shadow, so if Metis is in your party, you won't face this Persona. The other three Personas, however, will be used against you, each having one affinity they are weak to and one they nullify.

Building a team that can counteract the Shadow’s Personas effectively and minimize the exploitation of each other's weaknesses will be advantageous. Preventing the Shadow from gaining extra attacks will also help you defeat it more swiftly and advance to the next challenge, the Colosseo Purgatorio.

By understanding these dynamics and preparing your team accordingly, you can overcome the Shadow of the protagonist and move forward in your journey through the Abyss of Time.