Persona 5 Strikers - Heavenly Punisher Archangel Boss Guide

Guide on How to Defeat Heavenly Punisher Archangel in Persona 5 Strikers

Heavenly Punisher Archangel is the eighth and final Dire Shadow mini-boss enemy the Phantom Thieves must defeat in Persona 5 Strikers (or Persona 5 Scramble). The mini-boss is encountered at the Tree of Knowledge jail when the player starts clearing the Post-Game requests. You will not encounter this Dire Shadow when finishing the main story of the game for the first time.

Clear All Dire Shadows

Below is a list of all Dire Shadows in the game. The Archangel Dire Shadow is locked in the Post-Game so you need to clear the main story first. We recommended defeating Dire Shadows when you already unlocked Wolf as a party member in the game.

Trophies

Trophy	How to Unlock
Who Dares Wins	Defeat a Dire Shadow.
The Most Daring of All	Defeat all Dire Shadows.

Trophy List

Heavenly Punisher Archangel Information

Here is a breakdown of the mini-boss’ stats, strengths and weaknesses, and skills:

Archangel Persona Stats and Skills

Heavenly Punisher Archangel Stats

Heavenly Punisher Archangel Strengths and Weaknesses

–	–	–	–	–	Weak
					Technical
Weak	Weak	Resist	Resist	–	–

Heavenly Punisher Archangel Skills

Heavenly Punisher Archangel Party Build

Here is our recommended party member setup against the boss. You can choose other party members except for Sophie.

Member	Persona	Essential Skills	Notes
Joker	Arsene	Damage: Garudyne or Magarudyne (Wind), Freidyne or Mafreidyne (Nuke), Psiodyne or Mapsiodyne (Psy)	Has access to Wind, Nuclear, and Psychokinesis skills from other Personas obtained or fused. Can also play the role of healer, buff caster, and debuff caster. Can use Tetraja to nullify instant death Bless/Curse Attacks.
		Recovery: Diarahan or Mediarahan, Recarm or Samercarm, Amrita Drop or Amrita Shower
		Buff: Matarukaja, Marakukaja, Masukukaja, Dekaja, Tetraja, Heat Riser, Charge, Concentrate
		Debuff: Tarunda, Rakunda, Sukunda, Debilitate
Mona	Zorro	Damage: Dormin Rush (Phys), Garudyne or Magarudyne (Wind)	Has access to Wind skills that Archangel is weak against. Has access to Physical skills that Archangel does not have resistances against. Can use a debuff skill like Masukunda to reduce the enemy evasion/critical evasion. Can also use healing skills.
		Recovery:  Diarahan or Mediarahan, Recarm or Samercarm
		Debuff: Masukunda
Queen	Johanna	Damage: Sledgehammer or Flash Bomb (Phys), Freidyne or Mafreidyne (Nuke)	Has access to Nuclear skills that Archangel is weak against. Has access to Physical skills that Archangel does not have resistances against. Can use a buff skill like Marakukaja to boost allies defense power in battle. Can also use healing skills.
		Recovery: Diarahan or Mediarahan
		Buff: Rakukaja or Marakukaja
Noir	Milady	Damage: Hysterical Slap (Phys), Triple Down or Riot Gun (Gun), Psiodyne or Mapsiodyne (Psy)	Has access to Psychokinesis skills that Archangel is weak against. Has access to Physical and Gun skills that Archangel does not have resistances against. Can use an all-in-one buff skill like Heat Riser to boost an ally in battle. Can also use Amrita Drop to cure allies when inflicted with Status and Mental Ailments.
		Recovery: Amrita Drop or Amrita Shower
		Buff: Heat Riser

Heavenly Punisher Archangel Strategies

Here is a breakdown of the battle strategies against the mini-boss:

Carry SP Recovery Items

Before engaging the boss, bring a stock of HP and SP recovery items. These items can be bought from accessible vending machines, food stands, stores, and restaurants. You can also buy ingredients from Sophia’s Shop and other real-world stores. Then, cook these ingredients for additional HP and SP items through Joker’s Kitchen.

Joker’s Kitchen Guide

Land Debuffs

Start the battle by landing multiple debuffs on Archangel. Debuffs can be in the form of attack power decrease (Tarunda), defense power decrease (Rakunda), and evasion/critical evasion power decrease (Sukunda). These debuffs can be accessed by Joker (from Arsene and other Personas) and Mona. Another option is by using Debilitate for an all-in-one debuff. This special debuff can be accessed by Joker (from other Personas).

Cast Buffs

Follow-up the debuffs with party members buffs. Buffs can be in the form of attack power increase (Tarukaja or Matarukaja), defense power increase (Rakukaja or Marakukaja), and evasion/critical evasion increase (Sukukaja or Masukukaja). These buffs can be accessed by Joker (from other Personas), Queen, and Noir. Another option is by using Heat Riser for an all-in-one buff. This special buff can be accessed by Joker (from other Personas) and Noir.

Alternatively, your party can consume kitchen dishes with bonus party buff effects. This is helpful when your party members run out of SP during battle. These dishes include Miso Ramen, Seafood Bowl, Goat Soup, Goya Chanpuru, Kushikatsu, and Osaka Sushi.

Best Dishes to Cook in Joker’s Kitchen

Use Wind, Psy, and Nuke Attacks

Archangel is weak against Wind, Psychokinesis, and Nuclear attacks so a composition with Mona, Queen, and Noir is a must. Continue on using elemental attacks in order to break the shields and stagger the boss. Make use of narrow range elemental skills if you’re close and wide range elemental skills if you’re far from the boss.

Dodge Instant Death Attacks

Observe the upcoming attacks of the boss and check whether it is about to use Instant Death skill such as Hama. You can counter it by moving to another spot or by casting the special support skill, Tetraja, to all of your party members. This special buff can be accessed by Joker (from other Personas).

Cure Inflicted Ailments

By any chance that a party member got inflicted with Status Effects like Dizzy, make sure that you have access to a Status Recovery skill called Amrita Drop or Amrita Shower to cure it. You can also use Status recovery items to remove the Mental Ailment if available. Status Recovery skills can be accessed by Joker (from other Personas) and Noir.

Unleash Showtime Attacks

While engaging Archangel, you may build up your Showtime gauge. When it’s available, unleash the Showtime attack against the boss. If Joker’s Showtime attack is available, make sure he has the right Persona that can capitalize on the weakness of the boss. Also, there is a consumable item that will quickly boost your Showtime gauge build up so feel free to use it against the boss.

Heavenly Punisher Archangel Boss Video

Here is a boss fight video against Archangel. The battle is already timestamped so you no longer need to browse through the whole video:

Other Bosses

All Jail Monarchs

Lock Keepers

Powerful Shadows

Dire Shadows