Nyx Avatar is the final boss of Persona 3 Reload if you decide to continue the path of True Ending and let Ryuji live. It appears on the final floor of Tartarus Tower and is hellishly difficult to take down. This is also the longest boss battle in Persona history, with 14 boss phases.
Depending on your party level and the personas you carry, this fight can take over 30 minutes. Carry the best-fused weapons you can make and equip accessories that resist charm or use items that can instantly de-charm your party.
Phase 1 Fool Arcana
During this phase, don’t use your magic attacks or SP at all. Only use rush attacks, cast buffs on your party, and debuffs on Nyx in Persona 3. He will only smile during his turn in this phase. Take as much advantage of this phase as you can.
Phases 2-5 Magician/Priestess/Empress/Emperor Arcana
You have to fight those Arcanas as main bosses up to this point. These phases are no different. The only difference is the addition of dyne attacks (that can damage the whole party) to the Almighty attack. Change and equip your personas accordingly.
Nyx attacks with Fire in his second phase. Ice in the third, Wind in the fourth, and Electricity in 5th. Don’t let any of your party members go down, or Nyx will gain an additional attack. He will also target members with particular weaknesses. So be prepared with buffs, accessories, and items.
Phases 6-7 Hierophant/Lovers Arcana
These phases mainly focus on Strike and Slash attacks, charm, and panic spells. Nyx can dish out massive damage to any downed party member or cause panic if you are not properly equipped for this fight. Avoid using Strike and Wind attacks during these phases.
Phase 8 Chariot Arcana
Nyx becomes impervious to Slash/Strike/Pierce attacks. It casts a power charge to deal 2x strike damage with God Hand. Buff your defenses and heal any member during your turn to avoid getting demolished.
Phase 9 Justice Arcana
This is a light-based phase with Nyx gaining defense against Fire and Ice.
Phase 10 Hermit Arcana
This is a dark magic attacks-based phase with an emphasis on defense. Nyx can deflect attacks and cast ailments after boosting them with foul breath.
Phase 11 Fortune Arcana
This phase is the most devastating of the first 13. Nyx uses all four elemental attacks and can’t be damaged with them. You have to use Slash/Strike/Pierce and reinforce all of your party to avoid getting down.
Phase 12 Strength Arcana
Nyx uses Slash/Strike/Pierce, so attack him with all your elemental attacks.
Phase 13 Hanged Man Arcana
This is the Dark Magic phase and defense against physical attacks. Use elemental attacks.
He will throw all kinds of dyne magics at your party during his turns and use almighty attack whenever possible. The first 13 phases are all about endurance. Keep healing and buffing your allies while you chip away at his health.
Phase 14 Death Arcana
This phase is Nyx’s true form, and it will use every elemental attack and magic available in the game in addition to 3 Almighty attacks. Its HP becomes 4x compared to previous phases and will take only half the damage from all elemental and physical attacks.
Almighty attacks are only useful against the final boss in this phase. It uses all dyne attacks and Kunda magics in this phase (that affects the whole party).
Halfway through this phase, Nyx uses Moonless Gown that deflects all attacks including Almighty. Use this time to heal and buff your allies and prepare for the worst to come.
Around 1500 HP or less, Nyx will start spamming Night Queen, a death sentence. If not, you are not prepared. It will charm the party into fighting each other and fully healing Nyx. Resistance against charm is a must.
The last phase will give you enough time to deal with some Almighty attacks between a barrage of attacks by Nyx. Persistence and preparation are the keys to this fight. You can easily take down Nyx by following the steps we mentioned above.
Persona 3 Nyx Avatar Stats and Attacks
Nyx Avatar has around 25500 HP—1500 HP each for the first 13 phases and 6000 HP for the Death Arcana phase. Being the final boss of Persona 3 Portable, Nyx’s level is 76. Nyx throws every attack in the game including Almighty attacks at the party relentlessly.
Nyx changes its Arcana in every phase, and depending on its current Arcana, Nyx’s offense and defense change to match it. His stats remain the same for the first 13 phases but increase by a good margin during the last phase.
| Stat | Phases 1-13 | Phase 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 50 | 55 |
| Magic | 50 | 55 |
| Endurance | 45 | 55 |
| Agility | 45 | 55 |
| Luck | 45 | 55 |
Nyx is impervious to light and dark magic attacks and is neutral to all elemental attacks. Your party can land critical hits for increased damage but can’t be downed for an All-out attack. Things become worse in its final phase with Moonless Gown and Night Queen attacks, which can mean instant death for the party.
Best party members against Nyx Avatar
Yukari, Akihiko, Aegis, and MC are the best parties to fight Nyx. We recommend upgrading your party members to at least 80 and equipping Yukari and Aegis with “Lightning Gloves” to increase their electric resistance. Use Yukari for healing, Akihiko for lowering Nyx’s defense, and Aigis to cast buff charms on the party.
You can fuse a lot of powerful personas toward the endgame. We recommend Thanatos, Messiah, Norn, Surt, and Metatron. Some of these Personas are difficult to fuse and need level 90, but they can turn the tide in your favor.
