Summary
- Iconic Persona enemies like Hastur and Legion induce fear with their grotesque designs.
- Abaddon and Asterius, massive and eerie demons, tend to terrify players with their haunting presence.
- Encounters with monsters like Mara and Pisaca can be nightmare-inducing due to their unsettling appearances.
The Persona series is full to the brim with many iconic elements that have turned this spin-off into one of Atlus' most recognizable titles. Many players love the idea of controlling a group of high schoolers who masquerade as heroes, projecting their Personas as tangible beings who use some impressive skills to take out their foes.
Persona: 7 Biggest Traditions In the Series
These specific mechanics and features have become integral to the Persona series, and help it stand apart from other JRPGS.
Most of the iconic enemies in the Persona series are ones that can be controlled by the player, ranging from divine beings to heinous monsters. The latter can be especially grotesque, with some horrifying creatures being a total nightmare to look at, effortlessly striking fear in the hearts of Persona players all over the world.
8 Hastur
A Creepy Lovecraftian Demon
- Appears In: Persona 2, Persona 5
It's only a given that Hastur would be one of the creepiest monsters in the Persona series, given its Lovecraftian roots. It may not seem all that imposing at first glance, but that fits perfectly with the muted horror of Lovecraft's tales and how they can take a while to show a dark side.
Fans familiar with Lovecraftian stories will feel a sinking sensation of dread as they gaze upon Cthulhu's half-brother. It's only fitting that he's one of the strongest Personas in the game, using his debilitating techniques to great effect.
7 Abaddon
His Slimy, All-Encompassing Presence Is Sure To Give Players The Heebie-Jeebies
- Appears In: Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona 5, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, Persona 5 Strikers
Some may argue that Abaddon is a bit too goofy-looking to be terrifying, but they'll sing a different tune if they are face-to-face with this massive monster. There's something quite haunting about his massive maw, especially since it can swallow the beast's prey whole.
It's only fitting that this demon personifies the depth of the abyss, as one can gauge from its massive mouth that traps people in a void of nothingness. It's easily one of the scariest monsters in Persona, and many will enjoy a sense of relief when this beast joins their side to augment their strengths.
6 Orthrus
A Two-Headed Monster Who Looks Vicious
- Appears In: Persona 2, Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona 5, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, Persona 5 Strikers
A two-headed dog who looks as fierce as they come, Orthrus is a recurring monster in the Persona games that fans can't get enough of. This beast spits flames and can use this element potently to burn its foes to the ground.
Best Cities In The Persona Games, Ranked
Exploring the cities present in the Persona games is often a rewarding experience. These are some of the best.
Orthrus is related to Cerberus, Sphinx, and Chimera, three iconic beasts that need no introduction. Just like the monsters it's related to, Orthrus can be quite dreadful to behold, especially if it's standing against the player instead of with them.
5 Legion
An Amorphous Fleshy Blob With Multiple Faces
- Appears In: Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona 5, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, Persona 5 Strikers
Legion is one of the most iconic video game enemies, with many gamers loving every single encounter with this recurring boss in the Castlevania series. This unholy blob consists of many heads and is quite icky to look at.
So, it's easy to see why this demon's presence in the Persona series would be so shocking to behold. This disturbing foe is usually weak against physical attacks, scaring players even more before they eventually figure out its vulnerabilities and how they can be exploited to great effect.
4 Mara
One Of The Weirdest Enemy Designs In Gaming History
- Appears In: Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona 5, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, Persona 5 Strikers
It's easy to laugh at Mara's design given how unsubtle the insinuations are. However, no matter how much players want to laugh at this foe, they'll be singing a different tune when they come face-to-face with it.
Mara is uncomfortable to look at and is a nightmare to deal with if players are at a lower level than recommended. The fact that this foe is impervious to numerous elements makes it even harder to nail its weakness, which is usually crucial in taking out the toughest foes with an All-Out Attack.
3 Pisaca
Boasts An Uneasy Design That Is Likely To Send Shivers Down The Spine Of Players
- Appears In: Persona 3, Persona 5, Persona 5 Strikers
One of the scariest monsters in the Persona series in terms of looks alone, Pisaca is not someone to be trifled with. This monster loves to feed on human flesh, with its massive mouth making it clear that it loves to take very large bites.
Metaphor ReFantazio: 10 Things That Set It Apart From Persona Games
Despite being made by Atlus, Metaphor ReFantazio makes a number of design choices that differentiate it from the developer's Persona series.
It's easy to see why encountering this monster will cause a sense of dread to arise in players as they try to figure out the best way to take it on. Thankfully, most players will uncover its weakness to Fire or Bless in no time, making it easier to combat this foe without being intimidated by its visage for too long.
2 Asterius
The Size Of This Demon Is Massive
- Appears In: Persona 4 Arena, Persona 5, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
Asterius is a demon so massive that it doesn't even fit on the screen. It's one of the biggest monsters in the entire Persona series, intimidating players with a single look even though it never stands against them.
The sheer size of this monster as it smashes enemies to bits is a terrifying sight to behold, and this allows for Asterius to become one of the scariest monsters in the Persona series. Players will love utilizing this Persona's strengths to tear enemies apart and burn them to a crisp.
1 The Reaper
The Sound Of His Chains As He Stalks The Player Is Terrifying
- Appears In: Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, Persona 5, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, Persona 5 Strikers
Most gamers who are familiar with the Persona series are well aware of the Reaper, a superboss who hunts players down if they spend too long on a particular level in a dungeon. The sound of its chains as it hunts the player down is one of the scariest things in any Persona game, forcing players to hoof it to a new level instead of gallivanting around for longer than necessary.
Being forced into an encounter with the Reaper at lower levels is a death sentence, and players should thank their stars if they manage to run away from this deadly fight. While a strong party can still feel confident about taking on this superboss, a single misstep can lead to their doom, permitting the Reaper to bombard them with a bevy of powerful attacks.