Part 40: 5/27: War Paint
Part 39: 5/27: War PaintMusic: Blooming Villain
Boss: Ichiryusai Azazel Madarame
There is a world the mediocre cannot understand!
This is The Painters Face, and hell be our boss for this evening. If you dont know what youre doing this can be a bit of a trial but its honestly pretty simple.
You arent even worth the art you create !
So, for this fight, well be using just the Shiisaa we fused recently, as it knows a lot of good Physical skills like Double Fangs and Rampage, as well as resist Physical itself. Eventually were gonna have to make a good healing Persona, but between Morgana and the Takemedic-All Vs (100 HP to every party member) we got from Takemi, today is not that day.
Each part of the face is a different target with a different HP bar. Unfortunately, they also each have different elemental affinities, as can be seen here. The mouth absorbs Physical and is vulnerable to magic, and vice versa for the eyes. The nose absorbs nothing, because it sucks.
Another annoying aspect of them each being separate is that they each get their own turn. The eyes go first, in between some of our party members, followed by the nose and mouth when the cycle completes. The Right Eye (our left) uses single-target Fire, Electricity, and Ice attacks, while the Left Eye uses Tarukaja on the mouth and Rakunda on the party. Not bringing a Persona with buffs or Anns Dekaja, and the fact that we havent even seen a Persona with Dekunda (neutralizes debuffs on the party), all compound to make this rather annoying to keep up with, especially if it targets Morgana, whos rather squishy.
The nose uses single-target Wind attacks or will start twitching, meaning we should focus it down.
If we fail to take it down quickly (it doesnt have a ton of health, unlike the mouth), itll use Dust Flurry, a multi-target Wind attack. This is really only dangerous for Ryuji, but its good to not have to experience it at all. Youll probably figure out that you should take it down naturally. In fact, I had to film another take where I intentionally let it happen so I could find out what happens and get those two screenshots.
For its part, the mouth does nothing but bite. This is your body on Resist Physical.
This is your body on being the squishy mage on the receiving end of both Rakunda and the enemys Tarukaja. Its not pretty. Remember that Dia only heals about 50-60 HP and youll see where the problem is and why we need those Takemedics.
It takes a bit of time to down all the parts. I generally always ended up saving the mouth for last because Rampage hits three out of the four parts and magic does less than multi-hit Physical.
Anyway, once you do manage to get them all down, the face retreats, and the true boss emerges, Madarame, or as this form is really known, Azazel. Unlike with Asmodeus, Azazel has nothing to do with any corresponding sin, instead being associated with the scapegoat rite from Leviticus, or alternately the name for a fallen angel.
The Madarame who gathers a full crowd every time he opens an exhibit! Im not someone that worthless brats like you are allowed to defy !
You still have the nerve to say such things!? You will fully taste the wrath of those who were preyed upon by you!
On his turn, Azazel will use (heh) Madara-Megido, a trivially weak attack that does 10 damage to every party member. Our job is just to hit him with all we have at this stage.
After two turns, Azazel will retreat.
And, of course, the painting comes back.
It seems you need a good whipping to make you understand!
The parts respawn with less than full health, which is nice, but the face has some new tricks up its sleeve.
The Right Eye can now cast The Artists Grace.
The afflicted party member becomes covered with paint and weak to everything.
There has to be more than just our color changing! We should be cautious!
The only thing to do when it happens is just guard and pray for the best.
Unfortunately for us, the nose can now also Dust Flurry whenever it wants.
The paint wears off in two turns, thankfully.
Dammit Those things can come back if we dont take them down at once!?
But just in case there wasnt enough bad news, the first time we knock down one of the parts, one of the others will immediately use Restore to bring it back up. From now on, we have to make sure we dont leave a lot of time in between destroying each part or theyll bring each other back, albeit with a paltry amount of health.
Stop it, you brats, or else !
Now, its actually very easily possible to take Azazel down in two cycles, but theres a bit more fight to show off if we hold back.
! Isnt that the same thing Madarames been using? Lets try covering him with paint!
Time to bestow the humiliation of being painted over to him !
Theres really only one choice here.
Two turns of holding off the face later...
Wh-What the !? My powers Theyre suddenly draining...
We make short work of the painting after that.
Even if you cry for help someday youll regret this No adult will help you...
I hope youre prepared to go down, Madarame!
From there, its a simple matter to finish him off.
Ryuji learns Rampage (1-3 Light Physical strikes to all enemies), which would have been amazing to have during that fight.
Meanwhile, Yusuke learns Vicious Strike (Medium Physical to all enemies).