Since the very first game in the series, thePersonafranchise has established a connection between its 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 in-battle abilities. Characters typically have personality traits and personal struggles associated with their Arcana.Persona 6will likely continue this trend, but one thing fans are hoping to see is a wielder of the Temperance Arcana. The Temperance Arcana has never been used by a playable character, andPersona 6could be the first title in the series to do so.
Although most of the 22 Major Arcana, plus several variant Arcana from other decks, have been associated with playable characters throughout the series,Persona 3established a standard of the same few Arcana being used repeatedly each game. For example,Persona 3, Persona 4,andPersona 5all had a protagonist represented by theFool Arcana, accompanied by party members who wielded the Magician, Emperor, Priestess, and Lovers Arcana. In addition, the Empress, Chariot, and Justice Arcana were each playable in two out of the three games. Some fans hope thatPersona 6will not follow this formula and instead introduce some new or infrequently used Arcana to the team of playable protagonists.
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What Does The Temperance Arcana Represent?
Temperance is the fourteenth Major Arcana card in the standard Rider-Waite tarot deck. Upright, theTemperance Arcanarepresents balance, moderation, and patience. Inverted, the Temperance Arcana represents imbalance and excess. A person who is represented by upright Temperance likely has their life together and is patient and wise, while someone represented by inverted Temperance is probably struggling to find balance in their life and feels that they are missing something important. Inverted Temperance is sometimes used to symbolize alcoholics, addicts, or those who overwork.
The Temperance card is usually represented by an angel pouring water between two cups, symbolizing the card’s connection to balance and evenness. WhilePersona 5used this imagery for its Temperance Confidant,Persona 3andPersona 4utilized different Temperance card art instead symbolizing the four elements (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water) in perfect balance. Among the Major Arcana, Temperance is considered a “Virtue” alongside Strength and Justice. Invariant Tarot deckssuch as the Visconti-Sforza deck, it is sometimes replaced by alternate virtues such as Faith, Hope, and Charity.
What Could A Temperance Persona Be?
Personas of the Temperance arcana have appeared inall fivePersonagamesas well as thePersona Qspinoffs. 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 frequently, and is different in almost every game. Ultimate Temperance Personas have included the heavenly serpent Yurlungur, the Hindu deity Vishnu, and the balanced male-female god Ardha. SomePersonagames have also associated the angel Gabriel with the Temperance Arcana.
The Persona of a playable Temperance user would likely depend onPersona 6’s theme; for example,Persona 4’sInvestigation Team all have Japanese culture-inspired Personas, while the Phantom Thieves ofPersona 5have picaresque literary heroes. Ideally, a Temperance Persona should be something that represents balance and brings disparate elements into harmony. Anubis, the Egyptian judge of the dead, 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.
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Temperance Social Links and Confidants
While there has never been a playable Temperance Persona user, the Temperance Arcana has appeared as a Social Link or Confidant in each main series game beginning withPersona 3. Persona 3’sTemperance Social Link was Andre Laurent Jean Geraux, aka “Bebe,” a fashion-loving exchange student who wished to stay in Japan despite his family’s objections.InPersona 4,protagonist Yu Narukami can work as a day-care assistant to meet Eri Minami, a woman struggling to bond with her stepson Yuuta. Finally,Persona 5’sTemperance Confidant is the player character’s teacher,Sadayo Kawakami, who is forced to balance her teaching job with working nights as a maid.
As two of the three Temperance Social Links have been adults, and the concept of “work-life balance” is often associated with adults, it is possible that a playable Temperance Persona user could also be an adult. Most playable characters inPersonagames are high school students, butPersona 5 Strikersrecently debuted the first playable Persona-wielding adult sincePersona 2:police inspectorZenkichi Hasegawa, who was positively received by fans. Adding another adult to the team inPersona 6could create a unique dynamic and help the game feel less identical to the previous titles in the series. Alternately, the Temperance Persona user could be an overworked honor student seeking balance or a foreign exchange student similar toBebe.
How Could a Temperance Persona User Work in Battle?
Generally, Temperance Personas embody the concept of “jack of all trades, master of none.” They have balanced stats and do not tend to excel in any one area. They often have access toPersona’s most powerful support skills. Likely due to the Temperance Arcana’s association with the elements, they are often powerful magical attackers, although Ardhainstead excels at physical attacks. Some Temperance Personas, such as Yurlungur, are also capable of casting high-tier healing spells.
A Temperance user inPersona 6could represent the Arcana’s connection to balance by being able to wield multiple elements in battle. This would be a unique combat style, as most party members inPersonagames tend to specialize in a single element. Alternately, they could have a support-focused Persona, similar toMorgana inPersona 5.The Temperance Arcana might also be a good choice for a non-combat navigation Persona, such as those usedPersona 4’sRise andPersona 5’sFutaba, because it focuses on moderation and could serve as an antithesis to the excesses of combat.
With more information aboutPersona 6hopefully coming later this year duringPersona’s 25th anniversary, some fans are hoping to see a Temperance Persona user finally join the team. Whatever Persona they wield and however they fight, this Temperance user would likely make a unique addition toPersona 6’sparty.
Persona 6is in development.
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