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This article is about the Tarot Arcana. For the demon race with similar meaning, see Reaper (race).
Death-0

The Death Arcana (死神?) is a recurring Arcana revolving around the Persona franchise.

Overview

"The moment man devoured the fruit of knowledge, he sealed his fate... Entrusting his future to the cards, man clings to a dim hope. Yet, the Arcana is the means by which all is revealed... Beyond the beaten path lies the absolute end. It matters not who you are... Death awaits you."
—Nyx Avatar, Persona 3

While it is associated with foreboding and of doom, Death Arcana also symbolizes the metamorphosis and deep change, regeneration and cycles. In the original Tarot deck, it is the only Arcana that doesn't have a name, but the drawing of a skeleton wielding a scythe led people to call it Death.

When one follows the order of the cards in the Tarot deck, one can notice that the Death Arcana implies a change in the deck. The Arcana before this one are named "small mysteries" and are often represented by human figures, while the "great mysteries" following Death include celestial symbols and angels.

The Personas of the Death Arcana are commonly associated with and excel in Dark-based affinities, but weak towards Light-based affinities. Mythological figures of the Death Arcana are usually figures related to death, or are notable in their myths for their own deaths.

In recent games, characters of the Death Arcana are associated directly with death, but a commonality that connects all Death Arcana characters is the cycles of change they experience.

Appearances

List of Personas

Megami Ibunroku Persona

Persona Level
PSP Revelations
Hel
Hera 34
Ankou Inferno 44
Mot
Mondo 58 (Ultimate Persona of Reiji Kido)

Persona 2

Innocent Sin

The Death Tarot is a high leveled Arcana in Persona 2: Innocent Sin. As their arcana suggests, the Personas of the Death Arcana focus on Dark-based attacks, while they are weak towards Light-based attacks. The Death Tarot is also the arcana of the playable character Eikichi Mishina.

Eikichi follows the archetype of the Death Arcana by transforming from his shy, lonely childhood self into a flamboyant, overconfident macho persona. Yet even as swept by the changes in his lifestyle he remains the same person - a timid, sensitive person hidden beneath a boisterous mask, with a deep appreciation for friends.

In the same vein, the cycles the Death Arcana promises are revealed as Eikichi's fears - he assumed said personality as to no longer fear the bullying he endured as a child, but eventually had to deal with his fear of his father and his open disapproval of what Eikichi had become.

Persona Level
Rhadamanthus 1 (Initial Persona of Eikichi Mishina)
Hel 22
Rhadamanthus Prime 32 (Prime Persona of Eikichi Mishina)
Ankou 44
Charon
47
Hades 57 (Ultimate Persona of Eikichi Mishina)
Mot 74

Eternal Punishment

The Death Tarot returns as a high leveled Arcana in Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. It retains the same Personas attributes and affinities as its predecessor.

Persona Level
Hel 22
Ankou 44
Charon
47
Mot 74

Persona 3

The Death Arcana plays a major role in Persona 3. Years prior to the events of Persona 3, the Kirijo Group founded an experiment hoping to study the nature, and hoped to convert the power, of Shadows. During the experiment, the lead scientists learned about the prophecy of the Fall, and subsequently, the arcana that was never meant to be, the Death Arcana.

Accepting death as a deliverance, many scientists willingly embrace it and began collecting more Shadows, to rejuvenate Death and summon it. However, during the last stages of the experiment, one of the lead scientists, Eiichiro Takeba objected to the ideal and interrupted the experiment. As a result, Death was forcefully separated into twelve respective arcana. In his incomplete state, Death tried to run away, however, his escape was stopped by the Anti-Shadow weapon, Aigis. In their battle on the Moonlit Bridge, Death was eventually sealed within a young boy. The young boy is the Protagonist.

Years later, the Protagonist is able to interact with an amnesiac young child named Pharos. He constantly speaks of the Fall, and gives the Protagonist vague hints regarding Death. At some point, Pharos would request the Protagonist to be his friend, allowing him to forge the Death Arcana Social Link. Unique from other Social Links, the Death Arcana automatically upgraded from time to time, regardless of whether the Protagonist visits Tartarus or not (Pharos can only be interacted with during the Dark Hour). By defeating the Hanged Man, the final ordeal of the Full Moon, the Death Social Link will automatically maximize itself, bestowing the protagonist the Ultimate Persona of the Social Link, Thanatos, "the bringer of death."

Pharos would later regain his memories, and bids farewell to the Protagonist. A young man named Ryoji Mochizuki shows up as a transfer student a few days later, who Aigis is immediately hostile towards. Eventually it is revealed that Ryoji Mochizuki harbors something more horrible: he is the manifestation of Pharos, which is also Death given form. He is given a human-like appearance and emotions via the Protagonist while he was assuming the form of Pharos, and his existence proves the unavoidable prophecy of the Fall.

As Ryoji is the Appriser of Nyx, he is destined to be the harbinger of Death and summon Nyx to destroy humanity.

In the end, Ryoji offers the Protagonist two choices: to kill him instead of facing Nyx. By killing Ryoji, however, the memories of the Dark Hour would be wiped clean and the members of SEES will live their lives as normal students until the arrival of Nyx. Declining Ryoji's offers to kill him results in providing the members of SEES with useful information regarding a confrontation with Nyx at the top of Tartarus on the destined day, January 31st.

On January 31st, Ryoji now serves as an avatar of Nyx, bearing the potential and skills of the twelve previous shadows. Throughout the battle, Nyx Avatar, after having gone through twelve forms, finally shifts to a melancholic tone, revealing his true Arcana: Death. In SEES final confrontation and the Protagonist creating The Universe Arcana with Igor's help, Igor states that fate has dealt the Protagonist's Death, but it is the path of the Protagonist's choosing whether to avert or accept the fate that allowed him to go so far, hinting that Death may be the Protagonist's true arcana.

Persona Level
Loa 19
Pale Rider 24
Samael 35
Mot 45
Alice 56
Thanatos 64

FES / Portable

Persona Level
Ghoul 18
Pale Rider 24
Loa 31
Samael 37
Mot 45
Alice 56
Thanatos 64

Persona 4

The Death Arcana Social Link is represented by Hisano Kuroda, an elderly widow in Persona 4. The Protagonist can start the social link once the Devil Arcana social link with Sayoko Uehara has reached level 4. After first meeting her in the hospital at night, she can be found by the banks of the Samegawa Flood Plain every Sunday or during holidays if the weather is sunny or cloudy. By the end of the social link, the ultimate form of the Death Arcana, Mahakala will be bestowed.

Persona Level
Ghoul 9
Mokoi 14
Matador 24
Samael 36
Mot 46
White Rider 58
Alice 72
Mahakala 78


Persona 4 Arena

The Death Arcana is represented by Elizabeth and her Persona, Thanatos.

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

Persona Level
Mokoi 6
Matador 22
Turdak 27
White Rider 33
Samael 38
Mot 47
Alice 58
Pale Rider 63
Thanatos ↓$ 70
Mahakala 78

Persona 5

The Death Arcana is represented by the Confidant with Tae Takemi.

List of Demons

Persona 2

Innocent Sin

Persona Level
Ixtab 13
Hel 22
Hunhau 30
Ankou 44
Kisin 60
Ah Puch 66

Eternal Punishment

Persona Level
Ixtab 13
Hel 22
Hunhau 30
Ankou 44
Kishin 60
Ah Puch 66

Card Designs

 
Death IS
Persona 2
 
Death
Persona 3 FES
 
P5 Death Arcana
Persona 5


Major Arcana
0. Fool Arcana - I. Magician Arcana - 1(E). Councillor Arcana - II. Priestess Arcana - III. Empress Arcana - IV. Emperor Arcana - V. Hierophant Arcana - V(T). Apostle Arcana- VI. Lovers Arcana - VII. Chariot Arcana - VIII. Strength Arcana/Justice Arcana - IX. Hermit Arcana - X. Fortune Arcana - XI. Justice Arcana/Strength Arcana - XI(T). Hunger Arcana - XII. Hanged Man Arcana - XIII. Death Arcana - XIV. Temperance Arcana - XV. Devil Arcana - XVI. Tower Arcana - XVII. Star Arcana - XVIII. Moon Arcana - XIX. Sun Arcana - XX. Judgement Arcana - XX(T). Aeon Arcana - XXI. World Arcana - XXI(T). Universe Arcana - (VS) Faith Arcana - (VS) Hope Arcana
Minor Arcana
Suit of Coins - Suit of Cups - Suit of Swords - Suit of Wands
Shadow Arcana
I. Arcana Magician - II. Arcana Priestess - III. Arcana Empress - IV. Arcana Emperor - V. Arcana Hierophant - VI. Arcana Lovers - VII. Arcana Chariot - VIII. Arcana Justice - IX. Arcana Hermit - X. Arcana Fortune - XI. Arcana Strength - XII. Arcana Hanged Man - XIII. Death
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