How to Beat Garuda

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

How to Beat Garuda

Find Garuda Use Electric Skills Null Force Damage Use Buffs and Debuffs

Recommended Level	Location	Drops
80	Taito	•Aiding Sutra •Large Glory Crystal

Find Garuda

From the Umayabashi Leyline in Taito, head north and and take a right. To your left will be a narrow path leading up. Once at the top, head right and you will encounter Garuda.

Use Electric Skills

Garuda is weak to Electric type attacks, so take advantage of this by using skills like Ziodyne or Ziobarion. Using single-target Electric skills is recommended as Garuda doesn't summon any allies during this encounter.

Null Force Damage

The main attack to be concerned with in this fight is Garuda's Mazandyne, so if you bring demons that null/repel/drain Force damage you will have a much smoother fight. Garuda's physical attacks aren't very damaging, so prioritize covering Force damage, but if you choose to null Physical damage as well, you will have no trouble with this boss.

Use Buffs and Debuffs

Garuda has access to Masukukaja to boost it's evasion and accuracy, so it's good to bring a debuff move that can counter it like Debilitate which lowers all stats by 1 rank for 3 turns. Also, this boos has no way of negating your buffs, so feel free to use moves like Luster Candy to buff all party stats by 1 rank for 3 turns.

Best Demons to Use Against Garuda

Demons With Electric Skills

Seth naturally learns both Ziobarion and Null Force, so taking Seth into this fight is highly recommended. Seth's base fusion level is 67, so if it may take some grinding to get up to the recommended level if Seth wasn't in your party already.

Thor is also recommended, but it's best to cover his weakness to Force damage before challenging Garuda.

Demons That Null/Drain/Repel Force Damage

Oddly enough, you can fuse Garuda before this fight, and since Garuda drains force damage, it will absorb the boss' Mazandyne and shorten the enemy turn.

Demons with Buffs and Debuffs

Lakshmi has access to Luster Candy which raises all party stats by 1 rank for 3 turns and resists Force damage, making her a perfect support role for this fight. She also has Mediarahan to heal in case the party is taking too much damage.

Garuda Stats and Weaknesses

Garuda Stats

Garuda Weaknesses and Resistances

Elemental Weaknesses and Resistances

Status Ailments Resistances

Garuda Skill Proficiencies

Elemental

Other

Garuda 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