What can you do as a free member?

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and unlock all our premium features and tools to enhance your gaming experience.

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and save articles to your watchlist and get notified when they're updated with new information.

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and save your favorite games for quick access later, synced across all your devices.

Member benefits illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you'll receive instant notifications when someone replies to your posts.

Comment rating feature illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you can make use of convenient features in the comments section, such as rating and sorting comments.

Premium archive feature illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you can access Premium articles that are exclusively available to members.

Site Interface

Guest
Free Member
Article Watchlist
Game Bookmarks
Cross-device Sync
Light/Dark Theme Toggle
User Profiles
Direct Feedback
Comment Rating

Game Tools

Guest
Free Member
Interactive Map Access
Interactive Map Pins
Interactive Map Comments
Interactive Map Pins Cross-Device
Check List
Event Choice Checker
Deck Builder Cross-Device
Message Board Notification
Message Board Cross-Device
Build Planner
Stat Calculator
Diagnostic Tool
Weapon/Armor Wishlist

Want more information?Learn more

Persona 5: The Phantom X (P5X)

Runa Dogenzaka (Howler) Character Build

Add to Watchlist

Runa Dogenzaka, AKA Howler, is a playable character in Persona 5: The Phantom X (P5X). Read on for details on Howler's build, along with her character profile, voice actors, weapons, her Persona and their skills, how to use her, materials to raise her, and best team comps here!

Character Guides
Runa Dogenzaka Character Build Runa Dogenzaka Synergy Bond Guide

Runa Dogenzaka Character Overview

Runa Dogenzaka Profile

Default
Metaverse

Howler
Runa Dogenzaka
Persona
Aura
JP Voice Actor
Mikako Takahashi
CN Voice Actor
TBD

Howler
Runa Dogenzaka
Persona
Aura
JP Voice Actor
Mikako Takahashi
CN Voice Actor
TBD

Part of Phantom Idols

Runa Dogenzaka shows up in the Metaverse as Howler in the Metaverse. They do not have powers to wield a Persona, but they still assist Wonder and his team as they descend down Mementos.

Runa Dogenzaka (Aura) Tier Ranking

Character Rating Reroll Rating
S
►Characters Tier List
S
►Reroll Tier List

Howler specializes in inflicting either a single-target or an AoE defense debuff on the enemies. Her AoE has conditions where only Fire, Ice, Wind, Electric, or Resonance damage can benefit the extra defense debuff, while outside of that, they can only use half of it. She has the strongest defense debuff for AoE damage dealers, but other than that, she does not excel much, hence her placement in S-tier.

Try Pulling for Runa Dogenzaka With the Gacha Simulator

Runa Dogenzaka's Persona and Skills

Aura Overview


Aura
Rarity 5★
Affinity
Role
Weaknesses and Resistances
Physical IconPhysical GunIconGun Fire IconFire Ice IconIce ElectricityIconElec
- - - -
Wind IconWind Psychic IconPsychic Nuclear IconNuclear Bless IconBless Curse IconCurse
- - - -

◯ = Weakness | △ = Resists | - = Neutral

Aura is Howler's initial Persona, which is unlocked upon being pulled by obtaining the character either through story progression, events, or the Gacha Banners.

Aura Skills

Skill Cost Tags
Welcome HugWelcome Hug - Fire / Multi-Target
Effect: Deal Fire damage to all foes equal to 48.0% of Attack. Decrease target's Defense by 15.4% of Runa's ailment accuracy for 2 turns (up to 17.3%). Also, when the target of this effect takes Fire, Ice, Wind, or Electric skill damage, decrease Defense by 17.3% more. The Defense decrease effects from this skill and Furrious Bark do not stack. Also, 50% chance to inflict Burn on the target, and gain Big Welcome for 2 turns
Furrious BarkFurrious Bark - Fire / Single-Target
Effect: Deal Fire damage to 1 foe equal to 112.0% of Attack. Decrease target's Defense by 9.6% + 31.4% of Runa's ailment accuracy (up to 35.2%) for 2 turns. The Defense decrease effects from this skill, and Welcome Hug do not stack. Also, gain Furrocious Follow-Up for 2 turns.
Woof Woof BlazeWoof Woof Blaze - Fire / Multi-Target
Effect: Usable when Big Welcome or Furrocious Follow-Up are active. This skill's damage is counted as a Resonance. Deal Fire damage to all foes equal to 72.0% of Attack. Increase target's damage taken by 24% of Runa's ailment accuracy (up to 26.9%), and Fire, Ice, Electric and Wind damage taken by 13.4% for 2 turns, or Deal Fire damage to 1 foe equal to 144.0% of Attack. Increase target's damage taken by 34.3% of Runa's ailment accuracy (up to 38.4%), and Resonance damage taken by 19.2% for 2 turns.
Thief TacticsThief Tactics - Fire
Effect: Deal Fire damage to all foes equal to 140.8% of Attack. Permanently inflict 2 Enthusiastic Fuse stacks on foes. Stacks up to 2 times. Enthusiastic Fuse: When any foe takes Fire, Ice, Electric, or Wind skill damage or Resonance damage, spend 1 Enthusiastic Fuse stack, and increase the damage by 22.9% of Runa's ailment accuracy (up to 25.6%). If Runa's skills and Resonance activate this effect, Enthusiastic Fuse will not be spent.
1 More: Deal Fire damage to 1 foe.
Peppy Guard DogPeppy Guard Dog - Hidden / Talent
Effect: During battle, increase Runa's Attack by 20% of her ailment accuracy.
Faithful DogFaithful Dog - Hidden / Talent
Effect: When Runa inflicts a debuff on a foe with a skill, increase her Attack by 11% for 1 turn. When an ally deals Fire, Ice, Electric or Wind damage or Resonance damage, grant them the same Attack increase effect.

How to Use Runa Dogenzaka

Runa Dogenzaka Skill Rotation

A0
A6
Skill Rotation
Order Skill
1
Single-Fire Furrious Bark (Single Enemy) /
Multi-Fire Welcome Hug (Multiple Enemies)
2
3
Single-Fire Furrious Bark (Single Enemy) /
Multi-Fire Welcome Hug (Multiple Enemies)
Skill Rotation
Order Skill
1
2
Single-Fire Furrious Bark (Single Enemy) /
Multi-Fire Welcome Hug (Multiple Enemies)
3
Multi-Fire Welcome Hug (Single Enemy) /
Single-Fire Furrious Bark (Multiple Enemies)
4

Runa Dogenzaka Skill Explanation

Start With Furrious Bark For Single-Target Fights

If you are facing against a single enemy, you want to start the fight with Furrious Bark to deal single-target damage and inflict more defense debuff to the enemy.

▲Back to the Top!▲

Start With Welcome Hug For Multiple Enemy Fights

If you are facing multiple enemies, you want to start the fight with Welcome Hug to deal AoE damage and inflict a decent amount of defense down to the enemies. Do take note that this skill has more restrictions where the additional defense debuff will only apply to Fire, Ice, Wind or Electric elements.

▲Back to the Top!▲

Use Woof Woof Blaze After Gaining Warm Welcome or Furious Pursue

After using either Furrious Bark or Welcome Hug, you only have 2 turns until you can spend the unique effect it gives you to use Woof Woof Blaze. If you used Furrious Bark then it will turn to a single-target skill. However, if you used Welcome Hug it will remain as an AoE skill. Both effects will inflict the same defense debuff that is related to the previous skill you used before Woof Woof Blaze.

If you have her at Awareness 6 you can use both skills before using Woof Woof Blaze to get the most out of it inflicted to your enemies.

▲Back to the Top!▲

Highlight to Help Allies Deal More Follow-Up or Fire Damage

Use highlight only if your main DPS of the team can't activate and they are the next character to act after this because this highlight will inflict a unique debuff that increases the damage they receive but only for 2 Fire, Ice, Wind, Electric or Resonance skills. Do take note that Runa's skills will not consume Enthusiastic Fuse stacks.

▲Back to the Top!▲

Runa Dogenzaka Build

Jump to a Section!
SkillsSkill Priority RevelationsRevelation Cards
MindscapeMindscape Priority AwarenessesBest Awarenesses

Skill Priority

Priority Skill
1
2
3
4

You want to max all of her skills except her Thief Tactics as much as you can because she uses all of it all the time depending on your team. However, if you need to prioritize then maxing out Welcome Hug first is ideal as she performs well with AoE damage dealing characters such as Panther. Do the same for her Furrious Bark as both skills works the same except for if you need single-target or AoE debuff.

Next would be Woof Woof Blaze to increase the effectiveness of it, as she will always use it on her second turn or third if you have her at Awareness 6. Last would be her Thief Tactics or her highlight, you can leave it at level 8 as she rarely uses it.

▲ Jump Back to the Top! ▲

Revelation Card Sets

Freedom and Defeat For More Ailment Accuracy and Damage Buffs to Allies

Recommended Cards
Freedom Revelation CardFreedom Defeat Revelation CardDefeat
Recommended
Main Stats
Recommended Substats
• Damage Mult.
• Ailment Accuracy
• Attack
• Ailment Accuracy
• Critical Rate
• Critical Damage
• Attack

Howler's best cards are Freedom, for a party-wide damage dealt increase to enemies inflicted with a debuff and Defeat for more ailment accuracy and damage of her skill.

For her main and sub stats, her star slot should always be Ailment Accucary because her skills scales with it. You also need to hit at least 180% Ailment Accuracy for her skills to reach the maximum amount of debuff she can inflict to the enemies. The rest of her stats should be offensive so aim for Damage Mult., Critical Rate, Critical Damage, Pierce Rate and Attack.

▲ Jump Back to the Top! ▲

Mindscape Priority

Fire Enhance Primary Skills
★★★★★
FireEnhance Extra Skills
★★★★☆
Stat Up Crit Ailment Accuracy
★★★☆☆
Bell Stat Up General Stats
★★☆☆☆
Damage MultDamage Mult
★☆☆☆☆

Note: The amount of ★ indicates the Mind Level to prioritize reaching the max level with.

The best mindscape to prioritize for Runa is enhancing her Skill 1, Welcome Hug, and Skill 2, Furrious Bark, to further increase the defense debuff she inflicts to the enemies. She also uses her Skill 3, Woof Woof Blaze, a lot that is why enhancing her Skill 3 and Highlight is the second best to choose from so she can increase the damage taken of the enemies.

Once you've leveled those mindscape nodes, you will need more Ailment Accuracy to reach the higher cap it provides so level stats up for Ailment Accuracy as your third priority with Damage Mult being the last as she doesn't really need more damage.

▲ Jump Back to the Top! ▲

Best Awarenesses

Awareness 0Station Square Mascot
★★★★★
Awareness 6Station Square Superstar
★★★★☆

Howler is fully functional at Awareness 0 therefore, you can stop right away once you get her as she can perform well without needing to invest more pulls on her banner.

If you wish to change her playstyle while providing even more debuffs to the enemy then your next goal would be at Awareness 6 as she can utilize the debuffs of both Welcome Hug and Furrious Bark and change her skill rotations to every 3 turns.

▲ Jump Back to the Top! ▲

Runa Dogenzaka Best Teams

Pick your team!

AoE Fire Team

Recommended Personas for Wonder
★★★
SurtSurt
★★★★★
DominionDominion
★★★★
DionysusDionysus
Party Composition
Runa DogenzakaHowler Ann TakamakiPanther Ayaka SakaiChord Futaba SakuraOracle

Howler's goal in this team is to provide high AoE defense debuff to the enemies and further increase fire damage output of this team.

  • Howler: She will help Panther with fire AoE damage while inflicting defense debuff to the enemies.
  • Panther: She is the main DPS of this team and her only goal is to follow her skill rotation to deal AoE damage.
  • Chord: She will activate Panther's highlights often while providing attack buffs to help her deal more damage.
  • Oracle: Oracle especializes in inflicting AoE defense down on the enemies while giving them fire weakness debuff.

Wonder will start with Surt with the Ex Machina dagger for more fire damage buff. He first uses Dionysus to provide more crit rate and crit damage buffs then to Surt using Marakunda to inflict an AoE defense debuff then on the third turn to Dominion and casting Cohesion to provide a massive damage boost.

▲Back to the Top!▲

Single-Target Electric Team

Recommended Personas for Wonder
★★★★★
ThorThor
★★★★
DionysusDionysus
★★★★★
VishnuVishnu
Party Composition
Runa DogenzakaHowler YuiBui Ayaka SakaiChord Futaba SakuraOracle

Howler's job for this team is to provide single-target defense debuff and increased resonance damage taken while helping BUI activate her follow-up often because all of Howler's skills are attacks.

  • Howler: She is the sub DPS that has ability to reduce the defense of the enemy and buff electric and follow-up damage taken while still being able to attack to help activate BUI's follow-up attacks.
  • BUI: She is the main DPS of this team and her only goal is to activate her follow-ups as much as possible.
  • Chord: Chord will provide more attacks with her ability to activate highlights and also help with electric attacks to activate BUI's follow-ups.
  • Oracle: Oracle will help inflict more defense debuff to the enemies and, for a single turn, inflict electric weakness.

Wonder will start with Thor with the Ex Machina dagger for more electric damage buff to the party. He rotates to Dionysus on the first turn to cast Rebellion on BUI then switch to Vishnu, cast Wind of Nirvana to reduce defense of the enemy and get a chance for a follow-up with BUI. The buffs these personas provide only lasts 2 turns so this team only needs 2 personas to function with Thor only there to provide the electric damage buff at combat start.

▲Back to the Top!▲

Runa Dogenzaka Awareness Effects

Awareness Effects and Details

Awareness Level Effect and Details
Awareness 0A0 Station Square Mascot
When Big Welcome or Furrocious Follow-Up are active, Runa can use Woof Woof Blaze. When using Woof Woof Blaze, 60% chance to decrease target's healing received by 30%/40%/50%, and Defense by 6%/12%/18% (effect changes at Lv. 1/50/70, respectively) for 2 turns.
Awareness 1A1 Legendary Devotion
After using Woof Woof Blaze and activating the effects of Big Welcome, increase target's Fire, Ice, Electric and Wind damage taken by 36% for 2 turns. When activating the effects of Furrocious Follow-Up, increase target's Resonance damage taken by 50% for 2 turns.
Awareness 2A2 Trapped in Shibuya
When a foe has a debuff inflicted by Runa, increase target's critical damage taken by 36%, and decrease healing received by 20%.
Awareness 3A3 I ❤︎ Shichi-kun!
Increase the skill levels of Woof Woof Blaze and Thief Tactics by 3.
Awareness 4A4 Welcome to Shibuya!
Highlight Enhanced: Increase number of Enthusiastic Fuse stacks inflicted on foes to 4, and increase the maximum number of stacks to 4.
Awareness 5A5 I ❤︎ Shibuya!
Increase the skill levels of Welcome Hug and Furrious Bark by 3.
Awareness 6A6 Station Square Superstar
At the start of battle, gain Big Welcome, Furrious Bark,, and Woof Woof Blaze by 1 turn. When Big Welcome and Furrocious Follow-Up are both active, increase Woof Woof Blaze's Fire, Ice, Electric, and Wind damage taken effect on all foes by 30%, increase the Resonance damage taken effect on the main target by 60%, and the effects granted by Big Welcome and Furrocious Follow-Up will both activate (the damage taken increase effects do not stack, and the greater effect is applied).

Runa Dogenzaka Weapons

Cerberus ClawsCerberus Claws
★★★★★
HP:172 ATK:56 DEF:34
Doggone Savage
Increase ailment accuracy by 36%. When an ally uses a Fire, Ice, Electric or Wind skill or activates a Resonance, increase Runa's ailment accuracy by 23% for 2 turns. This effect does not stack. When using Woof Woof Blaze and activating the effect of Big Welcome, decrease the target's Defense by 16.7% more for 3 turns. When the effect of Furrocious Follow-Up is activated, decrease the target's Defense by 33.3% for 3 turns. These 2 debuffs do not stack.
Hunting Hound ClawsHunting Hound Claws
★★★★☆
HP:138 ATK:45 DEF:27
Doggone Vicious
Increase Attack by 12%. When Big Welcome or Furrocious Follow-up is active, increase Runa's ailment accuracy by 22%.
Guard Dog ClawsGuard Dog Claws
★★★☆☆
HP:103 ATK:33 DEF:20
Doggone Devoted
For every foe inflicted by Runa's debuffs, increase Fire damage by 5.4% (up to 16.2%)
Plushie ClawsPlushie Claws
★★☆☆☆
HP:86 ATK:28 DEF:17
Doggone Determined
Increase Attack by 11.3%

Runa Dogenzaka Upgrade Materials

Overclocking Materials

Level Unlocked Materials Required
Lv. 10 to Lv. 20
Lv. 20 to Lv. 30
Lv. 30 to Lv. 40
Lv. 40 to Lv. 50
Lv. 50 to Lv. 60
Lv. 60 to Lv. 70
Lv. 70 to Lv. 80
Total Needed

Skill Upgrade Materials

Skill Level Materials Required
To Lv. 2
To Lv. 3
To Lv. 4
To Lv. 5
To Lv.6
To Lv. 7
To Lv. 8
To Lv.9

To Lv.10

Total Needed



Should You Pull For Runa Dogenzaka

Only if You Do Not Have a Second Decent Saboteur or Strategist

Howler currently has the highest defense debuff against multiple enemies if Oracle is out of the picture. However, the added defense debuff is restricted to Fire, Ice, Wind and Electric elements only unlike her single-target skill, Furrious Bark, which is a universal defense down without any conditions to meet.

This makes her a bit awkward to place in existing strong teams for example, Noir, Queen or Joker's teams but outstanding when paired with F. Mont, Ann or Fox. Basically, only pull for her if you ever need another Saboteur to any of your teams and it is worth noting that she will be permanently added in the standard pool 6 months after her banner ends.

Upcoming Characters

Runa Dogenzaka Release Date

Released on Version 3.1

P5X - Howler Banner Promo
Runa Dogenzaka, or better known as Howler, released on the Version 3.1 update of P5X, which was on January 22, 2026 after the end of Justine and Caroline's banner.

Version 3.1 Patch Notes and Summary

Will You Pull for Runa Dogenzaka?

Pulling for Runa Dogenzaka

Yes 2
Votes
No 3
Votes

Persona 5 Phantom X Related Guides

P5X Characters

List of Characters

Characters by Role

AssassinAssassins MedicMedics SweeperSweepers
StrategistStrategists SaboteurSaboteurs GuardianGuardians
ElucidatorNavigators P5x - VirtuosoVirtuosos

Characters by Affinity

FireFire IceIce WindWind ElectricElectric
PsychicPsychic NuclearNuclear BlessBless CurseCurse
PhysicalPhysical Almighty EditedAlmighty GunGun

All Characters

Wonder's Team
P5 Phantom X - WonderNagisa (Wonder) P5 Phantom X - LufelLufel (Cattle) P5 Phantom X - MotohaMotoha (Closer)
P5 Phantom X - ShunShun (Soy) P5 Phantom X - WindWind(Riko) -
Alternate Characters
P5 Phantom X - Closer (Summer) CardSummer Closer P5 Phantom X - Moko (Summer) CardSeaside Tomoko P5 Phantom X - Mont (Frostgale) Card IconFrostgale Kotone
P5 Phantom X - Tempest Riko (T. Wind)Tempest Riko - -
Phantom Idols
P5 Phantom X - YaolingYaoling (Rin) P5 Phantom X - HarunaHaruna (Riddle) P5 Phantom X - YuiYui (Bui)
P5 Phantom X - MinamiMinami (Marian) P5 Phantom X - Phoebe Card IconYumi (Phoebe) P5 Phantom X - SeijiSeiji (Fleuret)
P5 Phantom X - KiyoshiKiyoshi (Key) P5 Phantom X - YukimiYukimi (Yuki) P5 Phantom X - MiyuMiyu (Puppet)
P5 Phantom X - KotoneKotone (Mont) P5 Phantom X - TomokoTomoko (Moko) P5 Phantom X - LeoLeo (Leon)
P5 Phantom X - KayoKayo (Okyann) P5 Phantom X - ToshiyaToshiya (Sepia) P5 Phantom X - Vino Card IconChizuko (Vino)
P5 Phantom X - Phoebe Card IconYumi (Phoebe) P5 Phantom X - Chord Card IconAyaka (Chord) P5 Phantom X - Messa Card IconKira (Messa)
P5 Phantom X - Cherish Card IconMasaki (Cherish) P5 Phantom X - Howler Card IconRuna (Howler) -
Phantom Thieves of Heart
P5 Phantom X - Queen Card IconMakoto (Queen) P5 Phantom X - Fox Card IconYusuke (Fox) P5 Phantom X - RenRen (Joker)
P5 Phantom X - MorganaMorgana (Mona) P5 Phantom X - RyujiRyuji (Skull) P5 Phantom X - AnnAnn (Panther)
P5 Phantom X - Oracle Card IconFutaba (Oracle) P5 Phantom X - Noir Card IconHaru (Noir) -
Velvet Attendant
P5X Justine and Caroline CardJustine and Caroline - -

Upcoming Characters

Upcoming Persona 5: The Phantom X Characters
Luce Matoi Ange
Turbo Berry Blitz
Upcoming Alternates for Characters
Wind
(Strategist)
Rin
(Chinese New Year)
Marian
(Summer)
Puppet
(Summer)
Yui (Nuclear) -
Upcoming Phantom Thieves of Heart
Crow Violet -
Upcoming Collaboration Characters
Makoto (P3) Yukari Akihiko
Mitsuru Fuuka -

Upcoming Characters

Author

    Please participate in our site
    improvement survey
    02/2026
    Would you assist in
    improving Game8's site?
    ×
    This survey will take about 1 minute.
    Your answers will help us to improve our website.
    We are listening to our users' valuable opinions and discussing how to act on them.
    The information collected through this survey will be used for the purpose of improving our services. In addition, the information will only be disclosed a part of a statistic in a format that will not allow identification of personal information.
    Begin Survey

    All rights reserved

    Guide Index