Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance - Xuanwu / Genbu Boss Guide

Guide on How to Defeat Xuanwu / Genbu in Shin Megami Tensei V

Xuanwu / Genbu is a subquest optional boss enemy faced by the Protagonist or Nahobino in Shin Megami Tensei V (SMT 5). The demon is encountered at Da’at’s Minato Region.

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How to face Xuanwu / Genbu

In order to face Xuanwu / Genbu in battle, start the subquest: “The Gold Dragon’s Arrival”. From the Onarimon Leyline Crossing, head to the peak where you can see Huang Long nearby. Accept the subquest and look for the four demons within Minato Region. Xuanwu / Genbu is located at West Shinbashi north of Kamiyacho Leyline Crossing.

The Gold Dragon’s Arrival Subquest Walkthrough

Xuanwu / Genbu Boss Information

Xuanwu / Genbu Demon Stats and Skills

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

Xuanwu / Genbu Details

Xuanwu / Genbu Strength and Weaknesses

Physical	Fire	Ice	Electricity
–	Weak	Resist	–
Force	Light	Dark	Ailment
–	–	–	Poison

Xuanwu / Genbu Skills

Skill	Skill Effect
Ice Breath +5	Weak 2-5 Ice attacks to random foes.
Rakukaja +2	Raises Defense o 1 ally by 1 rank for 3 turns.
Heavy Blow	Medium Physical attack to 1 foe. Greater effect when landing a Critical.
Bufula +5	Medium Ice attack to 1 foe.
Critical Aura +2	Next Strength-based attack of self will be 100% accurate and guaranteed Critical.
Omagatoki: Critical	All attacks, including magical attacks, will become Critical hits for all allies for 1 turn.

Xuanwu / Genbu Boss Setup

Here is a breakdown of the battle preparation against the boss:

Carry HP and MP recovery items

Before engaging the boss, bring HP and MP recovery items in case your party runs out of HP and MP during battle.

Max your Magatsuhi Gauge

In addition, make sure that your Magatsuhi gauge is already maxed. Having it maxed prior to battle is helpful in setting up your offense. Also, having a Miracle skill, Magatsuhi Wellspring, will provide your party HP and MP recovery at the start of your party’s turn.

Assign Nahobino Fire and Ailment skills

Make sure to import Fire and Ailment skills (Poison) if you can in order to exploit the weakness of the boss. Otherwise, you can rely on your ally demons to have those skills for you. To add, complement your offense with strong Physical skills like Aramasa.

Furthermore, put in Support and Passive skills to boost damage if there are still skill slots remaining. Recovery skills are optional if your active party members do not have these skills. This is to sustain the party during battle.

Attach resistances to Nahobino that nullify Ice skills

With the Divine Amalgamation Miracle, Nahobino can implant new resistances from essences. Add to Nahobino resistances that can Reflect/Absorb/Void/Resist Ice skills.

Pick ally demons that can counter Ice skills

Bring party members can innately Reflect/Absorb/Void/Resist Ice skills if possible. If you can’t, make it a point that their weaknesses are covered during battle. You can make use of Ice Block skills or make use of Dampener items.

Add demons that can use Fire and Ailment skills

Similarly, add demons to your active party that can use Fire and Ailment skills (Poison). If they don’t have access to those skills, utilize Essence Fusion to grab those skills from demon essences.

Xuanwu / Genbu Boss Strategies

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

Pass action to support demons

If you start the battle with Nahobino and don’t have access to debuff/buff Support skills, make use of the Press Turn System and pass your turn to demon allies that can use debuff Support skills.

Land debuffs

Land debuffs on the boss while leaving some MP for offense and recovery. Debuffs are in the form of attack power decrease (Tarunda), defense power decrease (Rakunda), and hit/evasion power decrease (Sukunda). In addition to these Support skills, you can utilize skills from other types such as Fang Breaker (Tarunda), Pierce Armor (Rakunda), Toxic Spray (Rakunda), and Blinding Strike (Sukunda) to cast similar effects. These debuffs can be accessed by Nahobino and any demons in your party.

Prioritize on landing Sukunda first. Followed by Rakunda and Tarunda. Since the boss will keep on using its Rakukaja skill, land -nda debuffs again or Dekaja to nullify its effect during battle.

Cast buffs

Cast buffs on your party members as well. Buffs can be in the form of attack power increase (Tarukaja/Matarukaja), defense power increase (Rakukaja/Marakukaja), and hit/evasion power increase (Sukukaja/Masukukaja). These buffs can be accessed by Nahobino and any demons in your party.

Prioritize on landing Sukukaja/Masukukaja first. Followed by Tarukaja/Matarukaja and Rakukaja/Marakukaja. You may also use Charge/Donum Gladi and Concentrate/Donum Magici buffs to boost your party’s damage even further if available.

Inflict Poison Ailment to Xuanwu / Genbu

Xuanwu / Genbu is susceptible to an Ailment such as Poison. While the boss is suffering from the Ailment, take advantage by resuming your debuff and buff placements. Skills such as Toxic Sting, Blight, Frenzied Chomp, and Poisma/Toxic Cloud can inflict this Ailment against the boss. You can also use Poison items to inflict the same effects if you and your ally demons don’t have them during the battle.

Activate Magatsuhi skill

Unleash the Magatsuhi skill such as Omagatoki: Critical to boost your damage even further. Make sure to use it once debuffs and buffs are already set. Activate the Magatsuhi skill on Nahobino’s turn and you will have up to 8 possible actions against the boss.

Use Fire skills against Xuanwu / Genbu

Xuanwu / Genbu is weak against Fire skills which Nahobino and his ally demons can capitalize on. The damage will be higher if the party is buffed with Tarukaja/Matarukaja and Concentrate/Donum Magici.

Use Almighty skills if available

In addition to elemental skills, you can make use of Almighty skills against the boss. Skills such as Life Drain ignore resistances and some provide additional healing through leech damage.

Use Phys skills against Xuanwu / Genbu

Xuanwu / Genbu does not have resistance against Physical skills so add party members that specialize in this skill type. The damage will be higher if the party is buffed with Tarukaja/Matarukaja and Charge/Donum Gladi. Also, use Nahobino’s Aramasa skill against the boss constantly while you’re not commanding him to set up debuffs or buffs or healing.

Heal allies

Keep the party’s HP sustained by using healing skills. Especially when other party members are getting overwhelmed by enemy damage.

Xuanwu / Genbu Boss Video

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

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