Xuanwu is an optional boss in Shin Megami Tensei V (SMT 5). Read on to know the best strategies to use against Xuanwu, Xuanwu's weaknesses, best demons to use against Xuanwu, and the best buffs to use to counter Xuanwu!

How to Beat Xuanwu

Use Fire Skills Ice Resist or Block Use Rakunda for Defense Debuffs Guard if Xuanwu Charges Magatsuhi or Uses Critical Aura

Use Fire Skills Ice Resist or Block

For this fight, we recommend having Andras, Mermaid, Fortuna, or Apsaras in your party for the best chances of winning. Make sure both Andras and Fortuna have access to Agi to hit Xuanwu's weakness.

Use Rakunda for Defense Debuffs

Andras and Fortuna also have access to Rakunda which is very helpful for lowering Xuanwu's insanely high defense stat. Also, you can use Rakunda to counteract the boss' Rakukaja, which raises its defense.

Guard if Xuanwu Charges Magatsuhi or Uses Critical Aura

If Xuanwu is allowed to land critical hits on your party, it's turn will extend causing further damage. This can quickly lead to a Game Over if unprepared. Xuanwu doesn't have any unique skills, but the ones he already uses will be more powerful in this state.

Best Demons to use Against Xuanwu

Demons With Agi and Rakunda

Xuanwu's elemental weakness is Fire-type attacks, so bring along any Demons that have access to Agi. Note that Xuanwu's very tanky, so bringing Demons that have access to Rakunda to lower it's defense is also recommended. Fortuna or Andras are great choices as they both have access to Agi and Rakunda.

Demons That Block or Resist Ice Damage

Andras is one of the most useful Demons to use against Xuanwu as it blocks Ice damage and has access to Agi and Rakunda if you fused Andras from Daemon and Neko Shogun. This means that not only is Andras is immune to the boss' Ice attacks while being able to hit it's weakness, but it can also reduce Xuanwu's defense.

Healers

Since Mermaid blocks Ice damage and has access to Dia if you fuse her from Pixie and Gaki, she is very useful as a healer in this fight. An alternate more expensive fusion route for Mermaid is to fuse Fortuna with Daemon to give her both Dia and Rakunda.

Xuanwu Stats and Weaknesses

Recommended Level

Recommended Level	Location	Drops
23	Near Kamiyacho Leyline	-

Xuanwu Stats

Xuanwu's Weaknesses and Resistances

Elemental Weaknesses and Resistances

Status Ailments Resistances

Xuanwu's Skill Proficiencies

Elemental

Other

Xuanwu's Skills

Shin Megami Tensei Related Guides

Boss Battle Guides | List of Bosses

All Boss Types

Related Boss Guides
Story Bosses	Optional Bosses
DLC Bosses	Superbosses

SMTV: Vengeance Story Bosses

SMTV: Vengeance Story Boss Guides
Glasya-Labolas	Naamah
Eisheth	Yuzuru and Hayataro
Agrat	Beelzebub
The Four Qadistu	Zeus and Odin
Abdiel and Ichiro	Tiamat
Tehom

Story Bosses

Story Boss Guides
Hydra	Eligor
Nuwa	Lahmu (1st Fight)
Loup-garou	Fionn mac Cumhaill
Lahmu (2nd Fight)	Shohei Yakumo
Surt	Ishtar
Chernobog	Arioch
Abdiel	Odin
Zeus	Vasuki
Metatron	Tsukuyomi
Nuwa	Abdiel
Lucifer	Lucifer (Secret Ending)

Optional Bosses

Optional Boss Guides
Pazuzu	Anahita
King Frost	Thunderbird
Loki	Belphegor
Moloch	Amanozako
Camael	Abaddon
Arahabaki	Khonsu
Fionn mac Cumhaill (2nd Fight)	Baal
Huang Long	Asura and Mithras
Amon	Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel
Belial	Michael
Inanna	Danu
Maria	Khonsu Ra
Zeus (2nd Fight)	Marici

Optional Mini-Bosses

Optional Boss Guides
Apsaras	Leanan Sidhe
Shiki-Ouji	Xuanwu
Jatayu	Kumbhanda
Quetzalcoatl	Baihu
The Kunitsukami	Futsunushi
Adramelech	Zaou-Gongen

Punishing Foes

Punishing Foes Guides
Oyamatsumi	Horus
Girimekhala	Hecatoncheires
Chimera	Seth
Bishamonten	Jikokuten
Koumokuten	Zouchouten
Garuda

DLC Bosses

DLC Boss Guides
Artemis	Cleopatra
Mephisto	Matador
Daisoujou	Hell Biker
White Rider	Red Rider
Black Rider	Pale Rider
Mother Harlot	Trumpeter

Superboss Optional Bosses

Vengeance Optional Boss Guides
Shiva	Demi-Fiend
Masakado	Satan