In Shin Megami Tensei 5, there are a large variety of items at the player's disposal. From basic items like healing medicine to items that nullify a specific elemental attack, these can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

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While many items in Shin Megami Tensei 5 have their uses, there are some that have more value than others. Furthermore, even if players are aware of what items they should prioritize, they may not know the best way of acquiring them. Here are some of the most important items to keep a lookout for, as well as the best ways to stock up.

10 Spyglasses

SMT5 Buying a Spyglass from Cadaver's Hollow

Spyglasses are an incredibly important item since they reveal all of a demon's elemental affinities. Such knowledge is invaluable, especially when fighting against bosses where a single mistake can be fatal. This is doubly true against Mitama demons, whose affinities change from battle to battle.

While spyglasses can be bought at the Cadaver's Hollow, players who are short on cash can also get them by searching with their quest navigator. Nevertheless, the cost of spyglasses is negligible by mid-game, so most players likely won't worry about not having enough spyglasses.

9 Revival Beads

SMT5 A Tsuchigumo as it appears in battle

From time to time, a poor stroke of luck can lead to one of the player's demons being killed in battle. When that happens, a revival bead can quickly bring the demon back to life, allowing them to return to the fight.

Revival beads can be bought at the Cadaver's Hollow, but they are fairly expensive early on, and will continue to be so for quite a while. Thankfully, players can farm revival beads by killing Tsuchigumo and Aitvaras, demons that appear in the first and second netherworld maps. Like most items, they can also be found by quest navigators.

8 Chakra Drops

SMT5 Two Cait Sith as they appear in battle

One thing many players will notice early on is that their MP gets used up fairly quickly. This can be inconvenient, especially in long, protracted boss battles. During these times, the player can use a chakra drop to restore a bit of MP.

Chakra pots and other items can also be used to restore MP, but chakra drops are the easiest to obtain. Hunting Cait Sith and Obariyon are an easy way to farm chakra drops early on, but many demons drop this item. In Chiyoda, a Jack'o-lantern will also provide a repeatable quest where the player can trade Fire Gems for a Chakra Drop.

7 Demon Essences

SMT5 The essence menu with Aogami Type-2 highlighted

Demon Essences are an important part of character and demon development in Shin Megami Tensei 5. With Essences, the player can teach the protagonist and his demons skills they wouldn't normally learn, allowing them to improve their versatility.

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Essences can be obtained by looting treasure chests or even by searching with a quest navigator. Recruited demons will also occasionally provide their essence after a level up. The best way to get an essence, however, is to farm that particular demon in battle. As long as a demon is recruitable, the player will always manage to farm their essence.

6 Incenses And Balms

SMT5 Protagonist receiving Incense after search

Incenses are special items that allow the player to increase one of a demon's stats by 1. Balms do the same thing, but for the protagonist instead. These items can improve stats even after a demon has hit maximum level, making them incredibly useful.

Incenses and Balms appear extremely rarely. They can't be bought, and demons don't drop them. The only way to consistently find incenses and balms is to search with a quest navigator. While there is an element of randomness to it, a decent amount of these items can be found this way.

5 Sutras

SMT5 Protagonist receiving a Sutra after searching

Sutras are quite similar to incenses and balms. When used, they increase a demon's skill potential for a specific affinity by 1, which can't generally happen even during fusion. These cannot be used by the protagonist; however, he does not really need them.

Like incenses and balms, sutras cannot be bought, and they are not dropped by demons. They are found by searching with a quest navigator. While Sutras can be found starting in Shinagawa, searching for them is more consistent when done in Chiyoda.

4 Grimoires

SMT5 An Ara Mitama as it appears in battle

Grimoires are extremely powerful items for the player's demons. When used, it grants the demon enough experience to level up. A demon can be leveled up this way until they reach the protagonist's levels.

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Grimoires are as rare as they are useful, and they can generally only be obtained by defeating Ara Mitama (the red Mitama). Since Mitama are hard to find, using a Spyglass to quickly reveal its weakness will trivialize the battle.

3 Gospels

SMT5 A Kusi Mitama as it appears in battle

Gospels are even more powerful than grimoires. These items grant the protagonist enough experience to level up. Not only does this allow the protagonist to grow stronger, but it also increases the number of the demons the player is able to make.

Gospels are just as rare as Grimoires, and they can only be obtained by farming Kusi Mitama (the black Mitama). It is generally advised to save Gospels for times when the player needs an extra level right away, and to use it when the protagonist is unlikely to level up any time soon.

2 Glory Crystals

SMT5 A Nigi Mitama as it appears in battle

Perhaps even rarer than Gospels or Grimoires are Glory Crystals. Glory itself is generally hard to come across, so Glory Crystals are extremely important, especially if the player plans on obtaining a lot of miracles.

Just like Gospels and Grimoires, Glory Crystals can only be obtained by farming Nigi Mitama (the blue Mitama). There are Small Glory Crystals (which grant 10 Glory) and Large Glory Crystals (which grant 100 Glory). In the early game, Small Glory Crystals will be more common, while Large Glory Crystals will appear later on.

1 Macca

SMT5 Protagonist receiving Macca after searching

Macca is definitely the most important resource that players will be struggling to keep a good stock of. It isn't just needed to buy items for use in battle; Macca is also important for creating and developing a strong stock of demons. Many demons will ask for Macca during negotiation, and players will often find themselves using it to summon demons from the compendium.

Players can farm for Macca in many ways, including fighting demons. The best way to get Macca, however, is to collect relics and sell them at Cadaver's Hollow. It can be grueling to work up enough Macca to buy a particular demon or restock on a necessary item, but it is definitely worth the effort.

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