How to Beat Specter (3rd Encounter): Specter Weakness and Strategies

This is a guide to Specter (3rd Encounter), 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 Specter, Specter's weaknesses, and best strategies against this boss!

Other Specter Battles
Specter 1st Battle	Specter 2nd Battle	Specter 3rd Battle

Specter Pre-Battle Guide

Strengths and Weaknesses

Weaknesses

Specter does not have any elemental weakness, however, using Phys attacks is useful for dealing damage.

Strengths

Specter utilizes Last Resort, a heavy Almighty attack that cannot be blocked or dodged. Specter reflects all Magic attacks, as well as, void Light, Dark, Nerve, Mind skills, and Last Resort, so never use these types of attacks as you'll only be wasting your turn.

In that sense, we highly recommend summoning your demons that have the highest Str and Vit stats, to survive Last Resort and to deal the most damage you can with Phys attacks.

Specter also has two support skills including Gathering which it uses to replicate 5 more Specters only at the start of battle and 1 more Specter as the battle progresses, and Dekaja which cancels out all debuffs in one turn.

Best Demons to Use Against Specter

Best Demons to Use
Oni	Yomotsu-Ikusa	Titan
Kali	Rangda	Ongkhot
Qitian Dasheng	Beidou Xingjun	Fuu-Ki
Kin-Ki	Sui-Ki	Ongyo-Ki

How to Beat Specter

Buff Your Phys Attacks

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 Multi-Target Phys Attacks When You Can

As much as possible, you want to keep this fight short to avoid getting hit with Last Resort. Use multi-target Phys attacks to damage all Specters in one go.

Bring Demons That Have the Highest Str and Vit in Your Roster

We highly recommend summoning your demons that have the highest Str and Vit stats, to survive Last Resort and to deal the most damage you can with Phys attacks, as you cannot block or dodge Last Resort nor can you use Magic attacks on Specter.

Don't Overinvest in Debuffing

Specter has Dekaja which cancels out all debuffs in one turn. It is fine to debuff Specter, but don't overinvest!

Use Rakunda to lower their defense, to make them more vulnerable to your attacks. Alternatively, you can use Fog Breath or Sukunda as these debuffs will decrease their chance of dodging your attacks.

Have At Least One Dedicated Healer in Your Party

Summon demons that have Dia, Media, or the skill's other variants, 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