Ambush (mechanic)

Ambush, also known as Player Advantage / Enemy Advantage, is a mechanic in the series. It is present in almost every game in the series, with some variations depending on specific games.
==Overview==
Ambush is generally a mechanic used in games including Symbol Encounters, where if the player character sneaks up on and attacks an enemy symbol, they'll be able to initiate combat with a turn advantage. On the other hand, it is also possible for the enemy to ambush the party, leaving them at a disadvantage as well.
In a majority of games from the Megami Tensei franchise, enemy encounters are randomized, so whether or not the party is ambushed or ambushes an enemy is purely determined by chance, influenced by the LUCK stat: a higher LUCK means a higher chance to ambush the enemy and a lower chance to be ambushed. In certain games where difficulty options are available, they also influence the ambush rates (harder difficulty means higher ambush rate for enemies and lower ambush rate for the party and vice-versa for lower difficulties.) This applies to these games:
* Megami Tensei;
* Megami Tensei II;
* Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei;
* Shin Megami Tensei (all versions included);
* Shin Megami Tensei II (all versions included);
* Shin Megami Tensei if... (all versions included);
* Shin Megami Tensei NINE;
* Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne / Maniax / Maniax Chronicle / HD Remaster;
* Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey / Redux;
* Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (PSP version included);
* Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (all versions included);
* Soul Hackers 2
*Megami Ibunroku Persona / Persona
* Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP version included);
* Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (PSP version included);
* Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth;
* Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth;
* Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner;
* Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2;
* Last Bible series (excluding Another Bible);
*Devil Children series
== Game specific mechanics ==
=== Shin Megami Tensei IV / Apocalypse / Shin Megami Tensei V ===
In the Shin Megami Tensei IV duology and Shin Megami Tensei V, Flynn, Nanashi and the Nahobino can strike an enemy from behind, dealing minor damage in addition to giving their party a turn advantage. If they do not attack an enemy from behind but from the front or side, even after being spotted, they still get the turn advantage with the exception of dealing damage. On the other hand, if they get attacked from behind by an enemy, then the enemy faction gains a turn advantage. If the player character makes contact with an enemy from the front or side without attacking them, then the party who gets the turn advantage is based on who has the higher Agility stat.
===Soul Hackers 2===
If Ringo strikes an enemy symbol, it will be knocked down. If she attacks them while they're knocked down, the party will receive a bonus attack and gain a turn advantage. However, if the enemy symbol catches up to Ringo, the demons receive a turn advantage.
The attack's power is based on the party member's Strength stat, and it cannot miss.
=== Devil Survivor / Devil Survivor 2 / Another Bible ===
In Devil Survivor and Devil Survivor 2 plus their updated ports, as well as Another Bible, due to them being strategy RPGs, ambushes work differently. Whenever the party or an enemy attacks someone on the map, they go first in the battle.
=== Megami Ibunroku Persona ===
In Megami Ibunroku Persona and its PSP remake, if the party is ambushed from behind, their formation is reversed (a character usually at the back will now be at the front and vice-versa.) In the original PSX game, this reversed formation will be kept even after getting into another battle, until changed back to normal, either during the battle or afterwards in the formation menu. However, in the PSP remake, the party formation is reversed back to normal at the end of a battle if the party is ambushed. Due to the game having random encounters, ambushes are left to luck.
=== Persona 3 / Persona 4 ===
In Persona 3, Persona 4 and their expanded re-releases, attacking an enemy from behind, even if seen, will guarantee the party a turn advantage. In Persona 4, this also allows the party to make an escape without delay. However, if an enemy attacks the protagonist of either game from behind, then the Shadows are guaranteed a turn advantage. If either party is attacked from the front or side, then neither are guaranteed a turn advantage, and it is based on who has the highest Agility stat. In Persona 3 FES or Persona 3 Portable, if the difficulty is set to Hard or Maniac, there is a chance that the enemy may have the turn advantage even if the player attacks the enemy from the front or side.
=== Persona 3 Reload ===
In Persona 3 Reload, the ambush mechanic is referred to as "S.E.E.S Advantage" or "Shadow Advantage" based on the flow of battle.
While "ambush" and "chance encounter" can usually be considered the same mechanic, in Persona 3 Reload they are separate altogether, where while chance encounters are dependent on what direction the enemy symbol is facing, "ambushing" enemy symbols allows the protagonist to initiate a chance encounter regardless of the direction the shadow is facing.
Ambushing is unlocked through the Security Site Note from The Informant at Club Escapade, which can then be used on the computer. By dashing for about 2 seconds, the protagonist enters the ambush state, which is highlighted by blue trails while moving, until he stops dashing or attack. Sharp turns delay or hinder the ambush state. While in the ambush state, the protagonist leap in the air and perform an uppercut slash whenever he attacks. If hitting a Shadow symbol with this attack, a battle is initiated with the party advantage, and enemy Shadows may gain Distress at the start of the battle.
===Persona 5 / Royal===
The protagonist can directly ambush by sneaking behind a shadow symbol in the Metaverse without being noticed. The protagonist can automatically ambush while sneaking as long as the target is close enough (either while running or from a cover position when hiding behind objects in the environment). Trying to attack the front or side of the enemy while the Security Level is above 0% or when he is spotted by said enemy will only allow him to attack with his weapon and initiate a battle under a neutral stance, in which who goes first is decided by who has the highest Agility stat. 
The party is ambushed if the protagonist is attacked by a shadow symbol. In that case, the party is surrounded by enemies who start with a turn advantage, and in Royal they automatically guard against incoming attacks until getting hit or it is their turn. Multiple shadows will appear to surround the party even if the symbol normally would produce only one shadow otherwise, with the only exception being the Reaper. While Showtimes remain fully functional when the party is ambushed, they cannot switch party members (except with Emergency Shift), do Baton Passes, trigger a Follow Up, escape (except with Kakoi Kuzushi), or flee in Fear. While having an advantage, enemy Shadows never get panicked or beg for mercy. The enemy's surrounding stance can be broken, and these restrictions can be lifted if a Hold Up is initiated. If this Hold Up is prevented because of other conditions (e.g. the protagonist is the only member left in the party, or the protagonist is Downed), the option to Escape will be unlocked, even though the surrounding stance and other restrictions still remain.
In Persona 5, Ryuji Sakamoto's Insta-kill Confidant ability gives the protagonist a chance to instantly win the battle after a successful ambush, which may also yield rewards, but gives no experience points. In Persona 5 Royal, this only happens if the protagonist is dashing, and it gives EXP as well as a Persona. In Persona 5 Royal, Sumire Yoshizawa's Tumbling ability makes it possible to evade scenarios where the party is surrounded, as long as the protagonist is facing the attacking shadow symbol. Also, her Chaînés Hook ability allows the protagonist to ambush from a distance with the grappling hook.
There are several skills in Persona 5 that are influenced by the ambush's condition. Fortified Moxy increases the user's Critical rate when they start with a preemptive turn, while Adverse Resolve does the same but when their side of the battle is surrounded. When the user is surrounded, Thermopylae becomes usable and Cornered Fang gets stronger. The special condition of these skills ceases to apply once the encirclement is lifted, which is only possible for the protagonist's side.
=== Persona 5 Strikers ===
In Persona 5 Strikers, the shadows can be ambushed from afar by default. If a character successfully ambushes an enemy, the battle will start with that character doing a AoE attack, dealing damage to all foes caught in it and knocks them all down temporarily. Similarly, if the party is ambushed, the battle starts with all party members being knocked down for a short while, though the character in the player's direct control can recover from this sooner if the player moves the left stick in a circle.
==Trophies & Awards==
Trophy 	Icon	Description 	For 	Reward
Advantage Mine! 	 	Enter a battle with Player Advantage.	P3P trophy 	
Shrouded Assassin	 	Initiated 50 Chance Encounters. 	P3R trophy 	
Advantage Mine! 	 	Get a Player Advantage 	P4G trophy 	
The Sneaking One 	 	Ambush the enemy 50 times. 	P5 trophy 	
In Shadows Unseen	 	Ambush enemies 50 times. 	Thieves Den	30P
Knife in the Dark	 	Performed 50 ambushes. 	P5S trophy 	
==Gallery==
BonusAttack Arrow.gif|Arrow dealing a bonus attack.
BonusAttack Milady.gif|Milady dealing a bonus attack.
BonusAttack Saizo.gif|Saizo dealing a bonus attack.
SH2 SurpriseAttack.png|Enemies dealing a surprise attack, starting first.
Category:Mechanics