InPersona 5and its expanded versionPersona 5 Royal, players frequently encounter a wide variety of Shadows that require quick thinking and strategic planning to defeat efficiently. Among these adversaries is theChanting Baboon, a peculiar and memorable Shadow with its own set of abilities, resistances, and vulnerabilities. Understanding theChanting Baboon weaknessis critical for any player aiming to get through Palace floors or Mementos with minimal resource consumption. Whether you’re grinding for experience, looking to recruit Shadows, or trying to optimize your battle strategy, targeting enemy weaknesses is a fundamental part of the game’s turn-based combat system.
What Is the Chanting Baboon?
Shadow Identity and Arcana
The Chanting Baboon is a Shadow that belongs to theHermit Arcana. This Arcana is associated with solitude, introspection, and inner guidance, although the creature’s bizarre design and erratic behavior in battle may suggest otherwise. Like many Shadows inPersona 5, it adopts a surreal and slightly unsettling appearance that makes it instantly recognizable in battle.
Appearance in the Game
Players can encounter the Chanting Baboon inMementosas well as specific Palace areas depending on the game’s progression. It is considered a mid-tier enemy in terms of difficulty, meaning it poses a reasonable threat if underestimated, but it is not overwhelmingly powerful. Its presence often signifies that players need to make quick decisions to exploit its weakness before it begins casting debilitating magic skills or status effects.
Chanting Baboon Weakness Explained
Elemental Weaknesses
The most important aspect to remember when fighting the Chanting Baboon is that it isweak to Wind (Garu)skills. Exploiting this elemental weakness allows players to knock the Shadow down and trigger a Baton Pass, All-Out Attack, or follow-up action, making it easier to end battles quickly and preserve SP and HP.
- Weakness: Wind (Garu skills such as Garu, Magaru, and Garula)
- Resistances: May resist Nuclear or Ice, depending on level or variant
- No Reflect or Absorb: It does not reflect or drain Wind damage
Using Wind Personas
To take advantage of its weakness, players should equip Personas with Wind-based attacks. Examples include Morgana’s default Persona Zorro, who starts with Garu and later learns stronger Wind spells. Fuse or summon Personas like Kushi Mitama, Naga, or Jikokuten to ensure at least one party member can target its vulnerability.
Battle Strategy Against Chanting Baboon
Preemptive Strike
Whenever possible, ambush the Chanting Baboon to gain the initiative. A preemptive strike ensures your team gets the first move, which can be crucial for knocking it down and chaining an All-Out Attack before it gets the chance to retaliate.
Turn Order and Baton Pass
After using a Wind skill to knock it down, useBaton Passto transfer your turn to another team member with either higher attack power or additional Wind skills. This can help maintain momentum in battle, especially if you want to conserve SP by ending the encounter quickly.
All-Out Attack
When the Chanting Baboon is the only enemy present, knocking it down allows for anAll-Out Attack, which typically finishes it off or brings it close to defeat. Even when it’s part of a group, prioritizing it early reduces incoming magic threats and stabilizes the battlefield.
Common Attacks and Abilities
Magical Offense
The Chanting Baboon tends to favor magical attacks, often usingstatus-inflicting skillsor elemental magic like Psi or Ice-based moves. These can debuff your party or deal substantial damage if left unchecked. Keeping party members with resistance to its most-used elements is wise for mitigating risk.
Status Effects and Support
It may occasionally use support skills to buff itself or allies, prolonging battle and increasing damage output. Don’t allow it to drag the fight out. Prioritize interrupting its spellcasting with knockdowns or items that cause silence or forgetfulness if necessary.
Best Personas to Use Against Chanting Baboon
Wind-Based Personas
- Zorro (Morgana): Starts with Garu and works well in early-game encounters
- Kushi Mitama: A low-cost fusion option with Wind access and decent agility
- Naga: Mid-tier Persona that provides both Wind attacks and magic resistance
- Raja Naga: Higher-level option with more potent Wind abilities
Support Personas
In addition to Wind attackers, it’s useful to bring Personas that havehealing abilitiesor buffs like Sukukaja (to raise evasion and hit rate). Since the Chanting Baboon can extend combat with support magic, countering that with your own buffs can neutralize the threat.
Chanting Baboon in Negotiations
Talking to the Shadow
If you’re looking to recruit the Chanting Baboon as a Persona, you’ll need to negotiate with it after knocking it down. Its personality tends to fall into the Irritable or Timid category depending on the encounter, which means you should respond with serious or kind answers rather than jokes or brash replies.
Useful Fusion Material
While the Chanting Baboon may not be a long-term staple on your team, fusing it into higher-level Hermit Arcana Personas can yield strong results. Consider using it as a component to build out your compendium or complete requests from the Velvet Room.
Tips for Farming and Efficient Encounters
Location Awareness
When you’re looking to farm the Chanting Baboon for experience, items, or just practice exploiting its weakness, target the right floors in Mementos or the appropriate Palace segment. Using Third Eye or consulting the enemy list will help you know where to focus your search.
Save SP by Exploiting Weaknesses
Because SP management is critical inPersona 5, especially on longer runs in Palaces or Mementos, exploiting enemy weaknesses like that of the Chanting Baboon is one of the best ways to save resources. A knockdown leading to a Baton Pass often allows you to end fights quickly, keeping your party fresh for upcoming battles.
Why Understanding Weaknesses Matters
Turn Economy and Damage Output
One of the core mechanics inPersona 5is thePress Turn System, where exploiting a weakness grants you an extra action. Knowing that the Chanting Baboon is weak to Wind lets you control the tempo of battle. It also ensures that you’re not wasting turns guessing or using ineffective attacks.
Efficient Progression
Speed is important inPersona 5, especially when trying to complete objectives within a limited number of in-game days. The more efficiently you can dispatch enemies like the Chanting Baboon, the faster you can make progress through the game’s dungeons, social elements, and narrative arcs.
TheChanting Baboon weaknessis a detail that might seem minor at first glance, but understanding and exploiting it effectively can streamline your battles and save valuable resources. With a solid strategy, appropriate Wind Personas, and a bit of preparation, this Shadow becomes more of an opportunity than a threat. Whether you’re new toPersona 5or a returning player looking to optimize every battle, knowing your enemy’s vulnerability especially one as specific as Wind in this case gives you a distinct tactical edge throughout your journey.