Unlike most RPGs, Shin Megami Tensei III doesn’t feature equippable weapons or armor. Instead, players need to rely on Magatama to boost their stats outside of leveling. By ingesting Magatama, the Demi-Fiend can influence his stats and which skills he’ll learn upon leveling up. Making use of the Magatama system is the key to success in Shin Megami Tensei III, but it’s also surprisingly easy to ruin a build altogether. 

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Since learnable skills are tied to Magatama and you can’t check in-game which Magatama teaches which skills, a first playthrough can feel like something of a gamble. Shin Megami Tensei III expects players to dive into the deep end of using Magatama, which is just too much to ask in the grand scheme of things. Magatama are divided into three elements – Neutral, Light, and Dark – with Neutral some of the most accessible. 

Wadatsumi is an Ice based Magatama that voids Ice and is weak to Electricity. The Wadatsumi Magatama is obtained by defeating Forneus inside the Shinjuku Medical Center. As Forneus is the first boss, you’ll get the Wadatsumi immediately. Wadatsumi raises the following stats: 

• Magic +3
• Vitality +2
• Agility +2
• Luck +1

Wadatsumi teaches the following skills at their respective levels: 

• Ice Breath | Lv. 7
• Mana Bonus | Lv. 11
• Ice Boost | Lv. 15
• Fog Breath | Lv. 21
• Anti-Ice | Lv. 24

Mana Bonus and Fog Breath are both useful, but Magic builds aren’t all that great in Shin Megami Tensei III. 

Hifumi is a Force based Magatama that can be purchased at the Ginza Junk Shop for 4000 Macca. Hifumi voids Force magic, but is weak to Fire. Hifumi raises the following stats when equipped: 

• Magic +3
• Agility +4
• Luck +3

Hifumi teaches the following skills: 

• Tornado | Lv. 17
• Force Boost | Lv. 22
• War Cry | Lv. 24
• Anti-Focus | Lv. 27
• Void Force | Lv. 40

Tornado is a fairly powerful spell to learn at Lv. 17 and Hifumi’s stat bonuses are useful for just how early in the game the Magatama is obtained, but holding out for anything other than War Cry isn’t worth it. 

Kamudo is an extremely useful physical based Magatama that can be purchased in the Ginza Junk Shop for 6000 Macca. Kamudo resists physical attacks, but is weak to the Mind, Nerve, and Curse side effects. Kamudo raises the following stats:

• Strength +5
• Vitality +2
• Agility +3

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Kamudo teaches the following skills: 

• Heat Wave | Lv. 18
• Focus | Lv. 23
• Mind’s Eye | Lv. 25
• Might | Lv. 29

Both Focus and MIght are skills worth hanging onto for the entire game, so make sure to learn both of them. Heat Wave isn’t too useful, but Mind’s Eye has its uses by cutting down on your chance of being ambushed. 

Murakumo is a status based Magatama that can be obtained by defeating Ongyo-Ki in the Ikebukuro Tunnel. Murakumo resists physical attacks, but is weak to both Fire and Ice – making it something of a gamble to keep equipped. Murakumo raises the following stats:

• Strength +4
• Magic +4
• Vitality +1
• Agility +4
• Luck +1

Murakumo teaches the following skills: 

• Void Mind | Lv. 34
• Void Nerve | Lv. 37
• Chaos Blade | Lv. 40
• Voice Curse | Lv. 42

While the Void skills are useful in their own right, Murakumo leaves Demi-Fiend too vulnerable and doesn’t teach enough useful skills to make it worth using for too long. Grab the Voids you want and move on. 

Djed is a very useful support Magatama that’s obtained by defeating the Moirae Sisters at the Obelisk. Djed voids Curse, resists Expel and Death, and has zero weaknesses. Djed raises the following stats: 

• Strength +2
• Magic +6
• Vitality +2
• Agility +2
• Luck +2

Djed teaches the following skills: 

• Tarukaja | Lv. 42
• Sukukaja | Lv. 43
• Makakaja | Lv. 44
• Rakukaja | Lv. 45
• Dekaja | Lv. 46

With the exception of Dekaja, every skill Djed teaches buffs everyone in the player’s party. Tarukaja increases power, Sukukaja increases agility, Makakaja increases magic, and Rakukaja increases defense. Rounding out the Magatama, Dekaja removes all buffs on enemies. Djed is easily one of the most useful Magatmas in the game. The only downside is its stat spread. 

Gehenna is a Fire based Magatama that can be purchased at the Asakusa Junk Shop for 30,000 Macca. Gehenna absorbs Fire, is weak to Ice, and raises the following stats: 

• Strength +3
• Magic +3
• Vitality +3
• Agility +3
• Luck +3

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Gehenna teaches the following skills: 

• Hellfire | Lv. 33
• Void Fire | Lv. 42
• Mana Gain | Lv. 45
• Fire Drain | Lv. 60
• Magma Axis | Lv. 65

Gehenna is a balanced Magatama that’s worth it for Magic builds if only for Mana Gain, but don’t expect to get too much out of it in the long run. 

Vimana is a physical based Magatama that can be purchased at the Asakusa Junk Shop for 75000 Macca. Vimana is a very useful Magatama that Voids Nerve, has no weaknesses, and raises the following stats: 

• Strength +7
• Magic +1
• Vitality +3
• Agility +2
• Luck +5

Vimana teaches the following skills: 

• Endure | Lv. 50
• Tempest | Lv. 59
• Javelin Rain | Lv. 68
• Life Surge | Lv. 71
• Hades Blast | Lv. 73

Sticking with Vimana is a commitment, but you’re bound to hit the 70s by the end of your playthrough. Both Lige Surge and Hades Blast are worth learning for Strength builds, and Endure is a useful passive skill since it lets you survive a killing blow with 1 HP. 

Kailash is an Almighty based Magatama that can be purchased at the Tower of Kagutsuchi for a whopping 150000 Macca. Kailash has no innate strengths or weaknesses, but is a must-have for Magic builds especially, raising the following stats:

• Strength +2
• Magic +10
• Vitality +5
• Agility +1
• Luck +2

Kailash teaches the following stats: 

• Makarakarn | Lv. 72
• Megido | Lv. 75
• Tetrakarn | Lv. 78
• Freikugel | Lv. 80
• Megidola | Lv. 84

Every single skill in Kailash is worth learning. Freikugel in particular is one of the most useful skills on a Strength build, doing Almighty based physical damage. The -Karn spells also repel physical and magic attacks, making it very useful for the final dungeon. Kailash is worth the grinding. 

Masakados is the final Magatama in the game, unlocked at the Bandou Shrine only after collecting every other Magatama and presenting them to the Minister at the Cathedral of Shadows. Masakados voids everything except Almighty and raises the following stats:

• Strength +10
• Magic +10
• Vitality +10
• Agility +10

Masakados teaches the following skills immediately: 

• Megidolaon 
• Radiance
• Fire Repel
• Elec Repel
• Force Repel
• Phys Repel

Everything Masakados can teach is useful, but you’ll be so overleveled and powerful at that point that you might not even need its benefits. That said, the +10 stat bonuses are almost necessary for getting the True Demon Ending on Hard mode. 

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