Race and species

Race or clan is the categorization to distribute the demons into different classes in the Megami Tensei traditional series (Shin Megami Tensei and Majin Tensei series), Devil Summoner (except for the Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha series which uses another demon categorization system) and Devil Survivor subseries. The race title is usually based on the mythological status often found in various legends or religions. Multiple races are grouped under species . Demon race is closely related to demon fusion in which generally fusing demons of races A and B will result in demon of race C of level slightly higher than the average of the ingredient demons. Although not always, demons of one race tend to share similar attributes or traits in gameplay, such as Kishin being physical powerhouses or Fairies having a collection of elemental and healing spells. Majin Tensei and Devil Survivor series emphasize this by giving demons of each race their unique attributes (such as flying) or racial skill which can never be shared across races.
"Species" initially received its official English localization only in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE. Because in other localized games of the series, species is a hidden mechanic behind the more complex demon fusion rules (such as three-demon fusion) and only mentioned in the Japanese game manual. In the English version of the iOS port of Shin Megami Tensei, the species names can only be learned from the demon dictionary; the names used being mostly different from the IMAGINE versions.
In the Japanese version of the Digital Devil Saga duology, the "race" that indicates before the generic enemy demons' name is actually the "species" succeeded from the SMT series. However, these titles do not play an important role in the game system and only serve as the tip of the enemy's attributes.
==List of species and races==
Species (JP)	SMT 	IMAGINE 	DDS:AT 	Races
 	Gods 	Gods 	Deity 	Deity , Megami , Amatsu *, Enigma , Zealot *, Godly , Chaos , Lady *, Nymph , Vile *, Reaper *, Entity *, Meta *, Soshin
 	Kishin 	Guardians 	Evil / Icon 	Tenma , Fury , Kishin , Lady *, Femme *, Vile *, Reaper *, Wargod , Kunitsu , Zealot *, Entity *, Shinshou , Tenjin *
 	Demonic 	Magica 	Fiend / Nether	Tyrant *, Genma *, Night *, Yoma *, Fairy *, Fiend *, Suiyou , Shinoma , Shin Akuma
悪魔族 	- 	Demon 	- 	Tyrant *, Night *, Yoma *, Fairy *
 	Flying 	Aerials 	Aerial 	Herald , Divine , Fallen , Koutenshi , Akuma 
 	Avian 	Birds 	Aerial 	Avian , Flight , Raptor
 	Dragons 	Dragons 	Dragon 	Dragon , Snake , Drake , Hiryu
 	Oni 	Demoniacs 	Demon / Brute 	Touki , Brute , Femme *, Jirae *, Jaki , Haunt *, Henii
 	Beasts 	Beasts 	Beast 	Avatar , Holy , Beast , Wilder , UMA , Food , Kaijuu
樹霊族 	- 	- 	- 	Tree , Wood *, Jusei 
 	Element 	Elementals 	- 	Element *, Mitama , Wood *
妖精族 	- 	- 	- 	Fairy *, Jirae *, Element *, Genma *
 	Evil Spirits	Evil Spirits	- 	Haunt / Ghost *, Spirit , Undead *, Rumor *
 	Humans 	Humans 	- 	Human , Gaean , Messian , Summoner , Meta *, Ranger , Hero , General , Famed , Therian *, Fiend *, Kyojin , Shinja ,
 	- 	- 	- 	Therian *, Fiend *
 	Fouls 	Fouls 	- 	Foul *, Vermin *, Demonoid , Rumor *, Karma , Machine *
怨霊族 	- 	- 	- 	Foul *, Undead *
虫族 	- 	- 	- 	Vermin *
 	Machines 	Machines 	Device 	Machine *, Virus , Vaccine , Kugutsu
Unclassified	Unclassified	Unclassified	Unclassified 	Zoma , Fake , Ghost , Foreigner , Horde
* Race that has been put under different species throughout the series.
==See also==
* Enemy exclusive race
* Arcana
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