Players take on the role of the Demi-Fiend in saving post-apocalyptic Tokyo - and the rest of the world - in Shin Megami Tensei 3 Remaster. As with typical Shin Megami Tensei fashion, the Demi-Fiend needs to recruit and train Demon allies in the fight to save the world from supernatural forces. And while others just expect them to pummel enemies to death, the Demi-Fiend and his new allies need to use defensive abilities to protect each other from harm.
Thankfully, Nocturne offers a diverse set of defensive Magic Skills to protect the Demi-Friend and his friends. However, some tactical benefits of certain defensive Skills just set themselves apart from the rest.
10 Analyze
Best Demons: Decarabia (Fallen, Innate), Ikusa (Brute, Innate), Succubus (Night, Innate), All Mitama (Innate)
In war, knowing wins half the battle. And in a tactically-immersive game like Nocturne, players who know an enemy's strengths and weaknesses can give even elite opponents a run for their money. Thankfully, some Demons can outright discern enemy weaknesses - leaving them wide open for more tactically-sound attacks.
With Analyze, a Demon can simply pay 2 MP to show enemy data, provided they've defeated that enemy before. This is extremely useful when figuring out affinities such as Resistances, Absorbs, and Voids. Demons who know Analyze as an Innate Skill include Decarabia, Ikusa, Succubus, and all members of the Mitama Race.
9 Taunt
Best Demons: Efreet (Yoma, Innate), Kin-Ki (Brute, Level 60), Jinn (Yoma, Level 48)
Fights often determine a loser based on who let their guard down first - and combatants usually do this through taunting opponents. In the Megami Tensei franchise, taunting is a surprisingly-effective battle mechanic. In the case of Nocturne, Demons can pay 20 MP to cast Taunt, which gives all enemies two doses of Rakunda and Tarukaja.
Essentially, they get two debuffs on their defense as well as physical and magic attacks - making them much weaker across the board. When used properly, a well-timed Taunt can transform a losing battle into a surprising upset.
8 Avenge
Best Demons: Shiva (Fury, Level 96), Samael (Vile, Level 76), Rangda (Femme, Level 76)
Sometimes, all it takes is a fierce counterattack to turn the tide of battle. In the Megami Tensei franchise, some Demons can actually return attacks to opponents, sometimes with harsher penalties. In the case of Nocturne, the Avenge Passive gives Demons 50% chance to counter an opponent's Physical Attack with another Physical Attack that deals Heavy damage.
Granted, the 50% chance seems a bit of letdown, since there's still chance of failure. However, the guarantee that one of two enemy attacks will damage them in return can help against harsher opponents.
7 Dekunda
Best Demons: Loa (Night, Innate), The Harlot (Fiend, Level 70), Red Rider (Fiend, Level 57), Matador (Fiend, Level 31), Pisaca (Haunt, Level 32)
As Nocturne - or even in the Persona series - players would soon realize, some of the more stronger opponents in the game rely more on debuffs than actual attacks to soften them up before pummeling them to submission. Sometimes, players will end up with a debuffed party that couldn't do anything against an opponent's seemingly-ordinary attacks. To counter this situation, some Demons simply need to pay 10 MP and Dekunda will remove all debuffs from the party.
This simple Skill can become a godsend to the right selection of allies. Higher-tier Demons such as Loa, The harlot, and Red Rider can definitely make use of Dekunda against tougher enemies in the endgame. Meanwhile, Matador and Pisaca can help manage peskier mid-level threats with this Skill.
6 Tetraja
Best Demons: Loa (Night, Innate), Tao Tie (Vile, Innate), Queen Mab (Night, Level 60), Koumoku (Kishin, Level 37), Unicorn (Holy, Level 24)
Given the more tactical nature of the Megami Tensei franchise, it's not unknown for some attacks to outright kill members of the party. It also doesn't help that not a lot of Demons in Nocturne can resist these instant-kill attacks, which usually come in the form of Expel or Death attacks. Thankfully, Demons that do can actually extend this benefit to the rest of the party.
With 15 MP, a Demon can cast Tetraja to give everyone in the party the ability to nullify the next Death or Expel attack from the enemy. This is crucial against more powerful Demons, whose staple attacks may include such deadly Skills. Thankfully, even an early-game Demon like the Unicorn and Koumoku can learn Tetraja early on.
5 Mediarama
Best Demons: Kushinada (Lady, Innate), Oberon (Fairy, Innate), Pazuzu (Vile, Innate), Queen Mab (Night, Innate), Parvati (Lady, Level 58), Horus (Deity, Level 42)
In times of emergencies, sometimes players don't get enough turns to heal allies one by one. Thanks to Mediarama, 20 MP can have its user restore a large amount of HP across all allies. Despite its status as a measly heal-all Skill, this could easily turn the tide against a pesky boss.
Given its rather "mundane" nature, it makes sense for Mediarama to become a staple among mid-level Demons. These include Kushinada, Oberon, Pazuzu, and Queen Mab that have this as an Innate Skill. Meanwhile, Parvati and Horus can also learn Mediarama throughout their progression.
4 Endure
Best Demons: Bishamon (Kishin, Level 76), Flauros (Fallen, Level 70), Garuda (Avian, Level 67), Ganesha (Wargod, Level 59), Atavaka (Deity, Level 48)
Sometimes, to prevail, an underdog simply has to endure. In the Megami Tensei series, the Endure Skill takes this quite literally. This Status Enhancement Passive gives the user a means to outlast an otherwise-lethal attack. In turn, instead of dying, an Endure user will recover from a fatal strike with 1 HP left.
Granted, this ability only works once per battle. However, with the right timing, this is a great saving grace against tougher enemies and even bosses. Higher-tier Demons work great with this skill, such as the Bishamon, Flauros, and Garuda. Likewise, mid-tiers such as Ganesha and Atavaka would benefit from this emergency Skill.
3 Life Surge
Best Demons: Mada (Vile, Level 87), Aciel (Tyrant, Level 78), Flauros (Fallen, Level 72), Titan (Jirae, Level 51), Hanuman (Genma, Level 50)
At first glance, Life Surge is an extremely straightforward Skill. After all, this Status Enhancement Passive simply gives a 30% Maximum HP boost. This shouldn't matter much than give a bit of a booster to its user, right? Interestingly, the 30% Max HP boost has larger implications in combat with the right combination of Skills.
Essentially, Life Surge makes it more palpable to use HP-based Skills. For instance, Hades Blast costs 32% HP but deals devastating physical damage with a high chance to land a crit. Since HP-based Skills scale damage based on Max HP, Life Surge will give these Skills a nice boost. Moreover, most Demons with Life Surge also have an HP-based Skill to work with.
2 Prayer
Best Demons: Vishnu (Deity, Innate), Raphael (Seraph, Level 85), Titania (Fairy, Level 62), Amaterasu (Deity, Level 60), Daisoujou (Fiend, Level 39)
Who says a little divinity won't help against the Demons in Nocturne? With the right Demon, a bit of prayer can turn the tables against an unsuspecting foe. Essentially, for 50 MP, Prayer not only restores all the HP of all allies, but it also removes all existing ailments. It's essentially an instant reset in a tricky battle.
Given the sheer power of Prayer, it makes sense for high-tier Demons such as Vishnu, Raphael, and Titania to learn Prayer late into their skillset. However, players might want to grab Daisoujou early on, as it can learn Prayer as early as Level 39 - making it quite the perfect addition to the midgame.
1 Samrecarm
Best Demons: Gabriel (Seraph, Innate), Samael (Vile, 74), Yurlungur (Snake, Level 69), Clotho (Femme, Level 62), Lakshmi (Megami, Level 59)
In a tactical RPG, a Spellcaster with a resurrection spell can become a lifesaver in dangerous situations. Thankfully, Megami Tensei gives such a skill with various resurrection options - with Samrecarm its most powerful. In the case of Nocturne, a Demon can use Samrecarm to pay 35 MP to revive an ally with full HP. This is crucial, especially against higher-level bosses, as this handy revive can give the party a fighting chance.
Thankfully, higher-tier Demons have Samrecarm as an eventual Skill in their repertoire. These include Gabriel, Samael, Yurlungur, and Clotho. At the hands of a skilled player, Samrecarm can ensure that allies won't just get out of commission without putting up a fight.