How to Beat Zaou-Gongen

Zaou-Gongen is a boss in Shin Megami Tensei V (SMT 5). Read on to know the best strategies to use against Zaou-Gongen, Zaou-Gongen's weaknesses, best demons to use against Zaou-Gongen, and the best buffs to use to counter Zaou-Gongen, and the most effective strategies to use to beat Zaou-Gongen!

How to Beat Zaou-Gongen

Eliminate Kurama Tengu First Consistently Use Elec Attacks Negate Zaou-Gongen Buff to Its Own Party Avoid Using Fire, Light, Dark, and Ailment Skills

Eliminate Kurama Tengu First

Take out Kurama Tengu first between him and Zaou-Gongen. The fight starts with Kurama Tengu acting as extra muscle and Support buff/debuff bot for Zaou-Gongen in battle. Kurama Tengu's Masukukaja and Masukunda can cause trouble for your entire party—making you expend more MP to negate these skills' effects.

Consistently Use Elec Attacks

Hit Zaou-Gongen with Elec attacks as Zaou-Gongen is weak to this element. Take advantage of the weakness-exploit system by targeting Zaou-Gongen's weakness, and in turn, secure more turns for your team.

Negate Zaou-Gongen Buff to Its Own Party

Use the debuff skill Debilitate to negate the effects of Luster Candy which Zaou-Gongen casts to increase his party's attack, defense, and agility by 1 rank for 3 turns. Likewise, continually cast Debilitate up to maximum limit to make Zaou-Gongen more ineffective and vulerable in battle.

Avoid Using Fire, Light, Dark, and Ailment Skills

Zaou-Gongen resists Fire, Light, Dark, and Ailment skills. He can tank through these attack, so avoid using these elemental type attacks as you'll only be wasting your turn. Fire, Light, and Dark attacks inflict little damage to Zaou-Gongen.

Best Demons to Use Against Zaou-Gongen

Demons with Elec Attacks

Summon demons with Elec attacks as Zaou-Gongen is weak to this element. Take advantage of the weakness-exploit system to effectively attack Zaou-Gongen and secure more turns for your party.

Demons Immune to Fire Attacks

Summon demons that can block, resist, or repel Fire as Zaou-Gongen uses Fire attacks on regular turns and as a Magatsuhi follow-up. Blocking or repelling Zaou-Gongen's Fire attacks successfully cuts off Zaou-Gongen's attack turns.

Demons Immune to Phys Attacks

Summon demons that can block, resist, or repel Phys as Zaou-Gongen also regularly utilizes Phys attacks. Blocking or repelling Zaou-Gongen's Phys attacks successfully cuts off Zaou-Gongen's attack turns.

Zaou-Gongen Stats and Weaknesses

Recommended Level

Recommended Level	Location	Drops
73~75	South of Umayabashi Leyline The Destined Leader	Fury Talisman, Destruction Sutra x1

Zaou-Gongen Stats

Zaou-Gongen Weaknesses and Resistances

Elemental Weaknesses and Resistances

Status Ailments Resistances

Zaou-Gongen Skill Proficiencies

Elemental

Other

Zaou-Gongen Skills

Shin Megami Tensei Related Guides

Boss Battle Guides | List of Bosses

All Boss Types

Related Boss Guides
Story Bosses	Optional Bosses
DLC Bosses

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)	Shiva

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
Demi-Fiend