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Shin Megami Tensei V

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How to defeat Thunderbird

By
Jarrod Garripoli

Punishing Foes are challenging, completely optional bosses that can be found while exploring the game’s worlds, and are tougher than normal encounters. This page will give details on the Punishing Foe, Thunderbird.

Thunderbird is a Punishing Foe you will find in the Container Yard

Where to Find Thunderbird

Thunderbird is another flying Punishing Foe, similar to Jatayu, except this one won’t come after you should it see you. You will find the Thunderbird flying around the Container Yard area of the Shinagawa region. You will need to defeat it for the Birds of a Feather quest. Of course, there is only a single spot where the Thunderbird can be contacted, which is on top of some containers in the southeast port of the Container Yard. This is the same area where you found the Principality for either Those Seeking Sanctuary or Holding the Line. Jump on top of the containers there and go across the two “bridges,” then hop over to the last set there. Simply wait for the Thunderbird to fly by, then jump up to initiate battle.

Stats and Resistances

Icon Name Lv Weakness Resistances Location
SMT_V_Thunderbird_Icon.jpg Thunderbird 35 Force_Icon_Shin_Megami_Tensei_V.png Electric_Icon_Shin_Megami_Tensei_V.png (BLOCK) Shinagawa - Container Yard

Skills

Type Skill Effect
Electric_Icon_Shin_Megami_Tensei_V.png Zionga +5 Medium Electric attack to 1 foe.
Electric_Icon_Shin_Megami_Tensei_V.png Mazionga +5 Medium Electric attack to all foes.
Support_Icon_Shin_Megami_Tensei_V.png Masukunda +2 Lowers Accuracy/Evasion of all foes by 1 rank for 3 turns.
Support_Icon_Shin_Megami_Tensei_V.png Concentrate +2 Greatly increases the damage of the next Magic-based attack from self.
Force_Icon_Shin_Megami_Tensei_V.png Sonic Boom -3 Medium Force attack to all foes.

Recommended Party

Icon Name
SMT_V_Parvati_Icon.jpg Parvati
SMT_V_Lamia_Icon.jpg Lamia
SMT_V_Cironnup_Icon.jpg Cironnup

With a name like Thunderbird, one could imagine that this Punishing Foe will primarily use Electric attacks. That assumption is right, for the most part, but it doesn’t just have those in its skillset. In addition to Zionga and Mazionga, you will also see Masukunda, which will debuff your entire party’s accuracy/evasion. While Thunderbird doesn’t have a super high Agility, it is decent, so you might want to counter this by using Sukunda on it. You might also see Thunderbird use Concentrate, which makes its next magic-based attack deal a lot more damage, but you can’t anything about this.

The little curveball that the game throws at you is Sonic Boom, a Force skill that hits your entire party. The catch with this, though, is that the Thunderbird has a -3 skill potential with Force, but it can still hit decently hard. However, it also means you can’t have anyone in your party weak to either Electric or Force, as the boss will like to use both elements. Thankfully, you can anticipate the Mazionga, since it only does it after gathering the Magatsuhi, so you can just toss up an Elec Dampener to block it. The ideal thing to have is someone that blocks Electric and someone else that blocks Force, without anyone weak to either one.

(1 of 2) Sonic Boom will hit the entire party for medium Force damage

Sonic Boom will hit the entire party for medium Force damage (left), You will want to counter the Masukunda with you own buffs/debuffs (right)

While you can anticipate the Mazionga, as previously mentioned, you want to avoid being weak to Electric because of possibly being targeted by Zionga. Doing this will allow you to make the Thunderbird waste its turns, especially with Sonic Boom being blocked by a single character. Cironnup is added to the lineup, simply because of Cautious Cheer, which increases defense, accuracy and evasion, the latter two being to offset the Masukunda. Lamia blocks Electric and while she doesn’t learn a Force skill, you can give one to her through fusion or an essence. Parvati is there because she’s a great healer, plus she can help out by giving her Zanma or something.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Atlus, Nintendo, Sega
  • Platforms,
    Switch
  • Genre
    Action Adventure, Action RPG, RPG
  • Guide Release
    5 November 2021
  • Last Updated
    18 February 2022
    Version History
  • Guide Author

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