Since the very first game in the series, the Persona franchise has made a connection between the playable characters and the Major Arcana of the classic tarot deck. The Major Arcana are used to classify characters, demons, and personas, grouping the many mythological and historical figures into categories that often inform their stats and combat skills. Characters typically have personality traits and personal struggles related to their Arcana. persona 6 will likely continue this trend, but one thing fans hope to see is a wearer of the Temperance Arcana. The Temperance Arcana has never been used by any playable character, and persona 6 could be the first title in the series to do this.
While most of the 22 Major Arcana, plus several Arcana variations from other decks, have been associated with playable characters in the series, Persona 3 established a standard of the same pair of Arcana used repeatedly each game. For example, Person 3, Person 4, and Persona 5 they all had a protagonist represented by the Fool Arcana, accompanied by party members wielding the Magician, Emperor, Priestess, and Lovers Arcana. Additionally, the Empress, Chariot, and Justice Arcana were each playable in two of the three games. Some fans hope so persona 6 will not follow this formula and instead introduce some new or rarely used Arcana to the team of playable protagonists.
What does the Temperance Arcana represent?
Temperance is the fourteenth Major Arcana card in the standard Rider-Waite tarot deck. Upright, the Temperance Arcana represents balance, moderation, and patience. Conversely, the Temperance Arcana represents imbalance and excess. A person represented by upright Temperance probably has their life lined up and is patient and wise, while someone represented by reverse Temperance is likely to struggle to find balance in their life and feel they are missing something important. Inverted Temperance is sometimes used to symbolize alcoholics, addicts, or those who work overtime.
The Temperance card is usually represented by an angel pouring water between two cups, symbolizing the card’s connection to balance and evenness. While Persona 5 used these images for his Temperance Confidant, Persona 3 and persona 4 used different Temperance map art instead that symbolized the four elements (earth, air, fire and water) in perfect balance. Under the Major Arcana, Temperance is considered a “Virtue” alongside Strength and Justice. In variant Tarot decks such as the Visconti-Sforza deck, it is sometimes replaced by alternate virtues such as Faith, Hope, and Charity.
What could be a Temperance persona?
Personas from the Temperance arcana have appeared in all five Persona games as well as the Persona Q spin-offs. Many Temperance Persona are birds and animals, such as the mythical bird Phoenix, the white tiger Byakko and the powerful snake Raja Naga. The Ultimate Persona of the Temperance Arcana has changed many times and is different in almost every game. Ultimate Temperance Personas include the celestial serpent Yurlungur, the Hindu deity Vishnu, and the balanced male-female god Ardha. Some Persona games have also associated the angel Gabriel with the Temperance Arcana.
The persona of a playable Temperance user likely depends on: persona 6the theme; for example, Persona 4s The research team all have Japanese culture-inspired personas, while the Phantom Thieves of Persona 5 have picaresque literary heroes. Ideally, a Temperance Persona should be something that represents balance and harmonizes disparate elements. Anubis, the Egyptian Death Judge, would be a good option. Other options include Atlas, the Greek titan who holds up the earth, Harmonia, the Greek goddess of harmony, or the philosopher Paracelsus, who is associated with naming and classifying the four elements.
Temperance social links and confidants
While there has never been a playable user of Temperance Persona, the Temperance Arcana has appeared as a social link or confidant in every game in the main series, starting with Persona 3. Persona 3s Temperance Social Link was Andre Laurent Jean Geraux, aka “Bebe”, a fashion-loving exchange student who wanted to stay in Japan despite his family’s objections. In person 4, protagonist Yu Narukami can work as a daycare nurse to meet Eri Minami, a woman who struggles to bond with her stepson Yuuta. Finally, Persona 5s Temperance Confidant is the teacher of the player’s character, Sadayo Kawakami, who is forced to combine her teaching job with night work as a maid.
Since two of the three Temperance Social Links are adults and the concept of “work-life balance” is often associated with adults, it’s possible that a playable user of Temperance Persona could also be an adult. Most Playable Characters in Persona games are high school students but Persona 5 Strikers recently debuted the first playable Persona-wielding adult since person 2: Police Inspector Zenkichi Hasegawa, which was favorably received by fans. Add another adult to the team in persona 6 can create unique dynamics and make the game feel less identical to the previous titles in the series. Alternatively, the user of Temperance Persona may be an overworked honorary student seeking balance or a foreign exchange student similar to bebe.
How can a Temperance Persona user work in battle?
In general, Temperance Personas embody the concept of ‘jack of all trades, master of nothing’. They have balanced stats and don’t excel in any particular area. They often have access to Persona‘s most powerful support skills. Probably because of the Temperance Arcana’s association with the elements, they are often powerful magical attackers, although Ardha instead excels at physical attacks. Some Temperance Personas, such as Yurlungur, are also capable of high-level healing spells.
A Temperance user in persona 6 could represent the Arcana’s connection to balance by being able to wield multiple elements in battle. This would be a unique fighting style like most party members in Persona games tend to specialize in a single element. Alternatively, they can have a support-oriented Persona, similar to Morgana in Persona 5. The Temperance Arcana can also be a good choice for a non-combat navigation Persona, such as those used persona 4‘s get up and Persona 5‘s Futaba, because it focuses on moderation and could serve as an antithesis to the excesses of combat.
With more information about persona 6 hopefully later this year during PersonaOn the 25th anniversary, some fans are hoping that a Temperance Persona user will finally join the team. Whatever Persona they wield and however they fight, this Temperance user would likely be a unique addition to Persona 6s party.
persona 6 is under development.
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