How to Beat Surt: Surt Weakness and Strategies

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

Surt Articles
How to Beat Surt	Surt Stats and Skills

Surt Pre-Battle Guide

Strengths and Weaknesses

Weaknesses

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

Strengths

Surt utilizes both single-target and multi-target Fire and Phys attacks. We highly recommend bringing along demons that can block these types of attacks.

Surt absorbs Fire and voids Light, Dark, and Ailment skills, so never use these types of attacks as you'll only be wasting your turn. Likewise, it resists Phys but is not highly resistant to this type of attack, however, we do not recommend using Phys as Surt has Retaliate.

Surt also has two Support skills including Dekunda and Beast Eye which grants it two extra turns.

Best Demons to Use Against Surt

Best Demons to Use
Dionysus	Parvati	Raphael
Yurlungur	Dante	Amaterasu
Dakini	Queen Mab

How to Beat Surt

Avoid Using Phys Attacks

We do not recommend using Phys attack as much, since Surt has Retaliate which enables Surt to counterattack when physically attacked.

Use Magic Attacks Except for Fire, Light, Dark, and Ailments

Surt can block Fire, Light, Dark, and Ailments, but get comfortable using other elemental skills as it cannot block or counter these.

Buff Your Magic Attacks

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.

Best Buff and Debuff Skills

Don't Overinvest in Debuffing

It is fine to debuff Surt but don't overinvest as Surt has Dekunda which can negate all debuffs in a single turn.

Use Tarunda, Debilitate, or War Cry to lower enemies' Phys/Magic Attacks. You will take less damage if you debuff their attacks. 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.

Use an Attack Mirror or Tetrakarn

Surt utilizes both single-target and multi-target Phys attacks, so we highly recommend using an Attack Mirror or Tetrakarn to repel Surt's Phys attacks to cut off its turns and, at the same time, reflecting the damage onto Surt.

You may obtain an Attack Mirror in Rag's Jewelry.

Rag's Jewelry Shop

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