How to Beat Black Rider: Black Rider Weakness and Strategies

This is a guide to Black Rider, a boss in Shin Megami Tensei III HD Remaster (SMT Nocturne) for the Nintendo Switch, Steam, and PS4. Read on to know how to beat Black Rider, Black Rider's weaknesses, and best strategies against this boss!

Black Rider Articles
How to Beat Black Rider	How to Fuse Black Rider	Black Rider Fiend Location

Black Rider Pre-Battle Guide

Only Fought in the Maniax/ Chronicles DLCs

To fight Black Rider, you must have played the Maniax or Chronicles Version of the game. They're DLC content that adds new characters, several optional bosses, and a new dungeon required for a certain ending!

List of DLC and Pricing

Recommended Magatama	Anathema or Djed
Recommended Level	55 or higher

Where to Find Black Rider

Black Rider can be found in room B204 of the Annex of Shinjuku Medical Center.

He only appears after you have defeated White Rider and Red Rider, and after you have completed the story mission in the Obelisk.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Weaknesses

Weaknesses
None, but Phys and Magic attacks can go a long way.

Black Rider does not have any elemental weakness, however, using Phys and Magic attacks is useful for dealing damage.

Strengths

Attacks	Almighty, Curse, Ice
Void	Light, Dark, Ailments
Support	Dekaja, Dragon Eye, Call Souls

Black Rider utilizes multi-target Almighty attacks, which cannot be blocked, a multi-target Curse attack that inflicts mute, and a multi-target Ice attack. We recommend bringing along demons that can block Curse and Ice to cut off Black Rider's turns.

Black Rider can void Light, Dark, and Ailment skills, so never use these types of skills as you'll only be wasting your turn. Likewise, Black Rider has Dekaja which removes all buffs in your party, Dragon Eye which grants Black Rider four extra turns, and Call Souls that Black Rider uses to summon Legions.

Best Demons to Use Against Black Rider

Best Demons to Use
Kushi Mitama	Loki	Unicorn
Zouchouten	Daisoujou	Hell Biker
Red Rider	Amaterasu

How to Beat Black Rider

Fuse a Red Rider

Red Rider is useful in this fight as it can block Black Rider's Curse attack, or any type of Ailment in that matter, as well as void Elec, Force, Light, and Dark. You can effectively cut off Black Rider's turns more frequently with Red Rider in your party.

At lvl.58, Red Rider can learn Avenge which can counter the Legions' Phys attacks, enabling your party to deal damage against the enemies.

You can fuse a Red Rider via Deathstone Fusion with these following requirements:

List of Fusion Requirements
Fuse Any Demons That Result In:	Fairy
Moon Phase	New Moon
Stone	Deathstone

Summon an Amaterasu that Has Prayer and Debilitate

Amaterasu can be a valuable Damage-Support Flexi demon in this fight, especially if you have her learn Prayer, a recovery skill that restores Full HP to your party. Likewise, she has Debilitate which can decrease all enemies' attacks, defense, and agility in a single turn.

You can fuse an Amaterasu via Sacrificial Fusion with these following demons:

List of Required Demons
Demon 1	Yatagarasu
Demon 2	Take-Mikazuchi
Sacrifice	Ame-no-Uzume

Prioritize Killing Black Rider

Black Rider will have two Legions by its side, however, Black Rider should be your main priority target. Take the stronger one out to finish this battle early.

Equip Anathema Magatama to Use Against Legion's Dark Instakill

The summoned Legions utilize a Dark Instakill attack. While we also highly recommend bringing along demons that can block Dark, we suggest equipping Anathema Magatama so Demi-Fiend can also block Dark to stay longer in this fight.

Bring Along Demons that Can Block Curse

Black Rider has Soul Divide, a Curse attack that can deal massive damage. We recommend bringing along demons that can block Curse to effectively cut off Black Rider's turns.

Have Demi-Fiend Learn Avenge

Avenge will especially come in handy in situations where Legion will use Phys attacks on Demi-Fiend. You'll be able to return the attack onto Legion, dealing damage against the enemy.

Raise Your Party's Defense/Evasion Rate Against Almighty

Black Rider's Almighty attacks can never be countered. Don't waste your turns using attack-repelling items or skills against Almighty, instead raise your party's defense or evasion rate in hopes of dodging it.

Buff Your Attacks But Don't Overinvest

Black Rider has Dekaja which negates all your party's buffs. It is fine to still buff yourself and your allies but don't overdo it or Black Rider will simply cancel it out in a single turn.

Use a buff like Focus or Tarukaja before using a Phys attack. This allows you to maximize your Phys Attack's damage output in the short turns you get.

Use a buff like Makakaja before using a Magic skill. This allows you to maximize your Magic Attack's damage output in the short turns you get.

No Resistance Against Phys Attacks

None of the enemies have resistance against Phys Attacks, so don't hesitate to use these types of attacks on them.

No Resistance Against Magic Attacks Except for Light, Dark, and Ailments

Black Rider voids Light, Dark, and Ailments, and Legion on the other hand can only resist Ailments. Be comfortable using other elemental Magic attacks aside from ones they can block, as they cannot block or counter other Magic attacks.

Have At Least One Dedicated Healer in Your Party

Summon demons that have Dia or Media so your party can restore HP as you move along the battle. This will be ideal especially in situations wherein you have no available Recovery items on hand.

Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne Related Boss Guides

Boss Guides

Story Boss Guides

Story Bosses
Forneus	Specter
Thor	Berith
Ose	Kaiwan
Mizuchi	Moirae Sisters
Specter (2nd Encounter)	Girimekhala
Sakahagi	Specter (3rd Encounter)
Aciel	Skadi
Albion and Zoas	Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel
Futomimi	Mot
Mitra	Samael
Ahriman	Noah
Thor (2nd Encounter)	Baal
Lucifer	Kagutsuchi

Maniax / Chronicles Only Boss Guides

Matador	Daisojou
Dante	Hell Biker
White Rider	Red Rider
Black Rider	Pale Rider
Dante (2nd Encounter)	Mother Harlot
Trumpeter	Beelzebub
Metatron

Mini-Boss Guides

Troll	Orthrus
Yaksini	Eligor
Koppa Tengu and Incubus	Naga
Surt	Mada

Optional Bosses

Nekomata	Oni
Fuu-Ki	Kin-Ki
Sui-Ki	Ongyo-Ki
Black Frost