Best Demons Tier List

There are hundreds of demons to fuse and choose from in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (SMTVV) and finding the best ones may prove difficult. Read on for our best demons tier list and the strongest demons to have at every stage of the game.

Best Demons Tier List

Demons Tier List

Best Demons Tier List

List of Demons

Best Demons in Each Game Stage

Jump Table
Early Game	Mid Game
Late Game	End Game

Best Demons for Early Game (Lv. 1-20)

List of Demons
Angel	Mermaid	Turdak
Neko Shogun	Fortuna	Apsaras
Rakshasa	Leanan Sidhe

Angel

Angel is the best healer you can get during the early-game. It can use Humble Blessing which is a weaker Media but it is the only accessible early game heals you can find at this stage of the game for your demons.

Angel Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Mermaid

Mermaid has high luck and magic stats. She possesses the unique skill Stormcaller song that can deal 3-6 weak ice hit to random enemies. Its high luck stat also makes applying ailments easier.

Mermaid Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Turdak

Turdak has a high physical attack stat coupled by some physical skills to amplify this stat even further. To add to this, he can also be fused into Matador later if you have the Demi-Fiend DLC.

Turdak Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Neko-Shogun

Neko-Shogun can be fused using Pixie which will allow him to learn Rakukaja. He becomes a useful buff bot demon when obtained, though he's not recommended for use during the boss fight with Hydra as he's weak to fire.

Neko-Shogun Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Fortuna

Fortuna is more of an Essence bot than a great demon to have. It has Life Spring which increases the user's HP passively and it can be particularly helpful to the Demi-Fiend to increase his survivability.

Fortuna Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Apsaras

Apsaras is a demon that has a high skill potential for Ice attacks. Since you can do her quest pre-Hydra, recruiting her early on is a great way to make your life a bit easier before your first boss fight.

Apsaras Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Rakshasa

Rakshasa is a high Stength stat demon with high Vitality stat as well. It also has counter to deal damage back to enemy attackers and the Charge Skill, which allows it to double its next physical skill's damage.

Rakshasa Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Leanan Sidhe

Leanan Sidhe can be recruited fairly early by siding with her on her questline and she has a good amount of Magic stat. She can learn Media later on which is an AoE Dia and she can take your team's healer role for the next few stages of the game.

Leanan Sidhe Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Best Demons for Mid Game (Lv 21-50)

List of Demons
Daisoujou	Hell-Biker	Oni
Berith	Manananggal	King Frost
Naga	Mothman	Cirronup
Quetzalcoatl	Muu Shuwuu	Onyankopon
Yoshitsune	Konohana Sakuya	Idun

Daisoujou (DLC Only)

Daisoujou has a high Luck stat and the ability to dragin HP and MP from enemies, making it a great magic demon to bring along. Preach is a godly ability that allows you to inflict Confusion, Charm, or Sleep on all enemies.

Daisoujou Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Hell-Biker (DLC Only)

Hell-Biker has strong AoE attacks and the ability to remove buffs from enemies. Its attacks are all AoE as well so it can be a handy demon to bring for clearing out mobs fast.

Hell Biker Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Oni

Oni is one of the earliest demons you can get with a resistance to physical attacks. It can also draw aggro via Taunt, and its high HP and Vitality makes it a good damage soaker.

Oni Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Berith

Berith has high Strength value and it comes with Pierce Armor, an offensive attack that also reduces the enemy defense. It also has Bloody Glee which pairs well with its next abilities Critical Slash and Critical Wave for random critical hits.

Berith Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Manananggal

Manananggal has HP drain ability that also reduces enemy attacks which makes it a great debuff bot against some bosses. Its only weakness is Hama, so make sure to not use it against bosses like Lahmu.

Manananggal Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

King Frost

King Frost is a significant upgrade to Jack Frost, providing King Bufula as an innate skill which lowers enemies' DEF by one stage. He also gets Concentrate and Bloody Glee to round out his amazing magic potential.

King Frost Weakness, Essence and Fusion Guide

Naga

A physical damage dealer that has Puncture Punch. Great for any fights and as a fusion material for future physical damage dealing demons.

Naga Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Mothman

The first demon to get Me Patra. Useful for pesky enemies that use status ailments in battle.

Mothman Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Cironnup

One of the best demons for support because of its Unique Skill, Cautious Cheer can be a valued addition to your team, increasing all allies' DEF and Hit/Evasion by 1 rank. Ghastfire Rain is also a deadly fire multiattack that's help to sweep hoards of demons weak to Fire.

Jatayu Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Quetzalcoatl

Strongest mid-game demon for fire based attacks thanks to its +4 fire skill potential and access to Fire Pleroma.

Quetzalcoatl Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Parvati

Parvati is the best mid-game healer, since she can learn Bowl of Hygieia and Heal Pleroma to increase healing ability effects and it comes with a +4 healing potential and +3 buff potential.

Parvati Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Muu Shuwuu

Innately has Tetrakarn and can learn Boon Boost (extends buff turn duration by 1) so funneling buff skills can make Muu Shuwuu a great buff bot.

Muu Shuwuu Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Onyankopon

Onyankopon is a new demon introduced in Vengeance and presents himself as one of the best buffers and support demons in the game. Onyankopon's unique skill, King of Tales is a fantastic taunt skill that he can utilize with Tetrakarn to create a great taunt-reflect strategy for the player.

Naga Raja Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Yoshitsune

Yoshitsune has insane Str and Agi. Innately has Hassou Tobi, a unique Physical skill that hits random foes 8 times and all hits are critical hits. Learns Retaliate later, same as Counter but deals medium amount of damage instead.

Yoshitsune Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Konohana Sakuya

Konohana Sakuya is one of the two new DLC demons for Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance and she's made her rounds as the game's premier buffer and healer with her unique skill, Sakuya Sakura, that heals HP and MP, along with raising all your stats by one rank.

Konohana Sakuya Fusion and Stats Guide

Idun

Idun is one of the best support demons with her Unique Skill, Golden Apple, which recovers HP and raises all allies' stats by 1 rank. She's a perfect addition to your team in a tough boss fight with a jam-packed heal and buff in one.

Idun Weakness, Essence and Fusion Guide

Best Demons for Late Game (Lv. 51-75)

List of Demons
Loki	Hydra	Surt
Norn	Odin	Titania
Ganesha	Lachesis	Bishamonten
Hecatoncheires	Agrat	Lakshmi
Cleopatra	Lilith (Qadistu)	Nahobeeho

Loki

Loki is a versatile demon for exploiting enemy weaknesses. Having a +3 affinity to Fire, Ice, Electricity, and Force, Loki can land you extra Press Turns while dealing a good amount damage to your foes.

Loki Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Hydra

Hydra is a Strength-based demon that focuses on Ailment attacks. Pairing its innate skills like Toxic Breath and Frenzied Chomp with Dragon Eye greatly increases the chance of inflicting ailments to enemies.

Hydra Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Surt

Surt is known for powerful Fire skills and boasts Physical skills that have a high chance of Critical.

His skill Brave Blade and Mighty Cleave, paired with the passive Murderous Glee, Surt is likely to deal high damage while giving you extra Press Turns along the way.

Surt Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Norn

Norn is the earliest demon you can get with Luster Candy (raises all stats of allies by 1 rank for 3 turns). Ideal demon for buffs and healing around the level 70 mark.

Norn Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Odin

With his Unique skill, Gugnir, he possesses an innate skill that has Pierce as well as a skill that ignores affinity resistances. He is a fantastic single-target Phys specialist to add to your team.

Odin Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Titania

Titania is the ideal demon for healing and buffs around the level 60 mark due to her high MP count. Apart from healing and support skills, Titania also offers decent Electricity skills with a +3 affinity.

Titania Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Ganesha

Due to Ganesha's high Vitality stat as well as a resistance to Physical attacks, Ganesha serves as an ideal tank while providing powerful Physical attacks due to passives Phys Pleroma and Critical Zealot.

Ganesha Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Lachesis

Resistant to all status ailments, making Lachesis worth having against Ailment-focused demons. Ideal demon for inflicting Ailments and providing Support skills.

Ganesha Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Bishamonten

Bishamonten is one of the earlier demons with Pierce skills. Innately has the skill Puncture Punch which deals Medium Physical damage while ignoring affinity resistance.

Bishamonten Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Agrat

Agrat is a great magic damage dealer introduced in Vengeance. Her signature move, Queen's Decree and her high magic stat allows her to dish out a lot of damage in a short amount of time.

Agrat Fusion and Stats Guide

Girimekhala

Girimekhala is a heavy damage hitter that reflects all Physical attacks. Recommended against Strength-based demons to earn extra Press Turns.

Girimekhala Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Lakshmi

Having +3 affinity to Heal and Support skills, Lakshmi can be a great addition to your team especially when she learns Luster Candy, which raises the stats of your party by 1 rank for 3 turns.

Lakshmi Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Cleopatra

Cleopatra's unique skill Frolic is an excellent debuff as it lowers all foes attack and defense by 2 ranks for 3 turns in addition to potentially inflicting Charm. Her affinities are also quite good as she resists Fire/Ice/Electric/Force and drains Light.

Cleopatra Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Lilith (Qadistu)

Lilith is a new support demon from the Canon of Vengeance. Mother Earth, her unique skill, is a barrier than nullifies Physical attacks and removes stat debuffs from the team. She can be built as a pure support character or a hybrid damage dealer with her high affinity to Force.

Lilith (Qadistu) Fusion and Stats Guide

Nahobeeho

Nahobeeho is a Ice-specialized demon that can dish out a lot of Strength-based Ice damage with Jack Tempest, his unique skill. He is a versatile Strength-based demon that can learn the elemental Dracostrike moves that you need to cover your bases throughout the game.

Nahobeeho Fusion and Stats Guide

Best Demons for Endgame (Lv. 76-99)

List of Demons
Amon	Metatron	Khonsu Ra
Zeus	Nuwa (Transformed)	Abdiel (Transformed)
Inanna	Beelzebub	Danu
Demeter	Shiva	Masakado

Amon

Amon's Unique skill Megido Flame deals severe Fire damage to all foes and pierces through any affinity resistance. Its +6 affinity to Fire assures low MP cost while dealing high damage.

Amon Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Metatron

The best Almighty demon in the game. Having a +6 affinity to Almighty, Metatron is an excellent choice against enemies with a lot of resistances. Innately having Dekaja and Dekunda, he can also negate buffs and debuffs of enemies easily.

Metatron Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Khonsu Ra

Khonsu Ra innately has the Fire skill Trisagion which deals Heavy Fire damage to 1 foe that pierces through any affinity resistance. MP cost to his Fire skills are low considering his affinity to it is +7.

Khonsu Ra Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Zeus

Zeus has Impaler's Animus, which increases the damage of the next attack and adds Pierce to it. He is highly recommended for dealing massive damage that ignores affinity resistance.

Zeus Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Nuwa (Transformed)

Possibly the strongest Force-based demon in the game. With a +7 affinity to Force, Nuwa's unique skill Sacrifice of Clay deals massive damage to all foes all while lowering their Attack and Defense by 1 rank.

Nuwa (Transformed) Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Abdiel (Transformed)

Demon with the highest affinity to Dark (+7). Abdiel's unique skill Fallen Destroyer deals Severe Dark damage to all foes and will further be amplified once she learns High Dark Pleroma.

Abdiel (Transformed) Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Inanna

Inanna is an effective demon for exploiting enemy weaknesses. Innately having Fire, Ice, Electricity, and Force skills that does Severe damage to foes, along with a +5 affinity to these elements makes Inanna worth having to score extra Press Turns and for dealing high damage.

Inanna Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Beelzebub

Beelzebub has the best Unique Dark skill in the game, Death Flies, which is a multihit attack with a chance to Instakill Dark-weak enemies. With his high Mag skill, and access to Dark Pleroma and High Dark Pleroma, he's a fantastic Dark-specialized addition to your team.

Beelzebub Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Danu

Danu's Unique skill Matriarch's Love cures all status ailments, negates all debuffs, and moderately heals your party in a single move.

Danu Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Demeter

Demeter has access to her Unique skill, Eleusinian Harvest, which is an amazing healing skill that heals above max HP. Combined with her access to Luster Candy, and High Heal Pleroma, she is an excellent support for the tougher fights.

Demeter Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Shiva

Shiva has the highest Strength stat and max HP out of all the recruitable demons.

Great for dealing extremely high damage with skills like Tandava (Severe Almighty attack to all foes) and eventually Yabusame Shot (Weak Physical attack to all foes, but pierces and is always Critical).

Shiva Weakness, Essence, and Fusion Guide

Masakado

Masakado boasts a unique build that prioritizes stacking Critical passives on him to increase his damage. His unique skill, Recalcitrant Execution, is a very powerful Almighty move that can be made more powerful if it crits. He's an amazing damage dealer that can output so much damage and give you Press Turns with his crits.

Masakado Fusion and Stats Guide

Shin Megami Tensei V Related Guides

Tips and Tricks | Beginner's Guide

Vengeance Guides

How to Use Magatsu Rails	Carry-Over and Save Transfer Bonuses
Virtual Trainer: How to Unlock and Location	How to Start Canon of Vengeance
List of New Demons	Take Her Hand Guide
Demon Haunt	Magatsuhi Demon
Shakan Dungeon	Consecutive Encounters Explained
All Da'at: Shinjuku Features	Innate Skills
Demon Group Skill Explained	Guest Characters
Sky View Guide	List of Cadaver's Hollow Items
All Story Choices and Alignments	Beginner's Guide
How To Unlock Godborn Mode	Post Game Guide: What to Do After the Story
100% Guide	All Demon Navigators (1.0.3 Update)

Game Mechanics

Press Turn System Guide	Battle System Explained
List of Difficulty Modes	How to Fuse Demons
List of Affinities	Effects of Skill Potential
List of Status Ailments	How to Use Magatsuhi Skills
Moon Phases Effects	How to Fast Travel
Interactable Objects	How to Get Essences
All Miman Locations	Demon Statues

Stat and Build Guides

All Stats Explained	Best Nahobino Builds
Strength	Vitality
Magic	Agility
Luck	-

Farming Guides

How to Level Up Fast	How to Farm Macca
How to Farm Glory	How to Farm Mitamas

Tips and Tricks

Best Names for the Nahobino	Best Demons to Use
Best Miracles Tier List	All Abscesses Locations
All Cironnup Locations	All Aogami Essence Locations
List of Special Fusions	All Trophies List
All Missables

FAQ

Apsaras or Leanan Sidhe	What Carries Over in NG+
Principality or Lilim	Should You Eat the Golden Apple?
Black Frost or Dionysus	Where to get the Horn of Plenty
How to Get Dragon Scales	Should You Spare Khonsu?
Futsunushi or Adramelech	-