Ryoji Mochizuki

* P3
* Portrait
* Manga
* Anime

*For the original character of the **Persona 3** video game, see Ryoji Mochizuki*

***Ryoji Mochizuki*** 望月 綾時 (mochizuki ryōji) is an important character in Persona 3, just like the protagonist and Aigis, he is also a transfer student in Gekkoukan High School. He is the personification of Death and the true identity of Nyx Avatar, Pharos and Thanatos. In Miyoji: Love never separates. He’s married to Michelle Eyre and have twins together. He also has feelings for another young man named Alex Lopez who is an old friend of Michelle’s.

## Apperance

In his human form, Ryoji resembles a typical teenage boy with porcelain skin, a round face, and a beauty mark on the upper right corner of his cheek close to his eye. He also exhibits Eastern European-Japanese features. and is said to be very handsome boy and girls adore him and his pleasant, flirty demeanor. He is noticably taller than the Protagonist.

He has pale blue-grey eyes and jet-black spiky hair that is pulled back in a Victorian-style.

He is dressed in a white blouse from the Gekkoukan school uniform with a long yellow scarf around his neck, black overalls over his blouse, and a brown belt. He also has on black loafers.

In Miyoji: Love never separates. it’s said that his fingernails are long and sharp.

## Myth

Thanatos, The god of Death is the sibling of (Nyx: The Goddess of Darkness), and (Hypnos: The God of Sleep). Thanatos himself was associated with tranquil death.

Before transporting a dead person to the Underworld and leaving them with another of his brothers, Charon (The ferryman of Hades), Thanatos would come and clip off a lock of the deceased's hair. The deceased were then transported by Charon from the land of the living to the world of the dead across the River Styx. This makes Thanatos a "psychopomp," a being that aids in guiding the deceased into the afterlife.

## Biography

Ryoji is an immortal teenage boy who has the power to shape-shift into three entities. When he seals himself into other people who had a relative of them died and have had severe trauma because of it is often close to them, mostly as a close bond or as a romantic partner, he stays in the form as a teenager. In Miyoji: Love never separates. he doesn’t remember why he never ages until he eventually opens up to Michelle about his true form.

Ryoji first appears as a transfer student from Antwerp, Belgium to Gekkoukan High late in the game. He asks a lot of girls out on his first day since he is quite charming with them. He makes quick buddies with Junpei. However, Aigis continues to be very wary of him and calls him "dangerous." He makes friends with the other SEES members as well, with the exception of Aigis, who continues to be oddly wary of him. Later on in the game, Ryoji's backstory is made known. While standing on the same spot where Aigis and Ryoji first met, they both remembered what had happened.

Aigis's principal goal when the Kirijo Group constructed her ten years ago was to serve as an anti-Shadow android, with the goal of defeating Death as her main objective, rather than solely as an anti-Shadow android.

## Birth

During the incident pertaining to the creation of Shadows, Tartarus, and The Dark Hour, Ryoji was created from the twelve Arcana Shadows. Ryoji was born with the power of all twelve Shadows as Death, the thirteenth Arcana. At the Moonlight Bridge, Aigis and Death engaged in combat ten years ago. Aigis, who was unable to defeat Death, did what she believed was necessary and imprisoned Death inside Makoto Yuuki. Ryoji defeats Aigis after regaining his memories and realizing the terrifying reason for his existence. The Kirijo Group would then be contacted to repair her.

### Harbinger of Death

When Ryoji is questioned by the SEES members, he confesses that he is there so that he might call Nyx into being and cause The Fall. Ryoji, on the other hand, has changed from before. After being imprisoned inside Makoto, he acquired human physical characteristics and first appeared as Pharos, the enigmatic youngster who frequently appeared in the main character's dreams. Ryoji offers them the option of killing him to temporarily halt The Fall or taking on Nyx, whom he believes is insurmountable.

## Ending

 Let Ryoji Live
 Kill Ryoji

## Bad Ending

Ryoji threatens Makoto to kill him so that people won't live in fear in the end. If Ryoji is not killed, the game is extended until January 31st, when Nyx must be fought as the game's final enemy. Killing Ryoji would result in the game's bad ending.

The screen goes black and you can only hear the sound of the Evoker in the awful ending. Graduation Day comes later in the game, when everyone has forgotten about their early school year adventures and Ryoji has kept his promise that The Fall will only be postponed momentarily. Nyx descends shortly after and obliterates the entire world.

### Good Ending

In the Good Ending if Ryoji isn't killed, Ryoji will reveal to the SEES members how to locate and combat Nyx in the good ending. In order to give the player enough time to prepare for the climactic battle, the game is then extended for an additional month. Numerous opportunities will become accessible and enabled. The player gets to battle Nyx at the summit of Tartarus when the player reaches January 31. The good ending, which is regarded as the canonical ending, is triggered once you defeat Nyx.

## Social Link

The main character in Persona 3 was unable to establish a social connection with Ryoji. However, one of the most significant modifications to Persona 3 for the PSP was the Female Protagonist's ability to establish a Social Link with Ryoji Mochizuki. The Fortune Arcana is represented by Ryoji's social connection, who replaces the original Fortune Arcana Social Link, Keisuke Hiraga. Like certain other social links featured in the game, this one will start automatically on November 9th and has no prerequisites.

## Relationships

* Makoto Yuki/Kotone Shiomi- Ryoji has a strong connection to the protagonists due to himself sealing his soul in them as death. His connection to them could be romantic or friendly depending on what path the player takes.

* Michelle Eyre- In the Uncanon story Miyoji: Love never separates., they are married and have kids together. He first met Michelle when she herself was also a Transfer student and once again when he studied at Sunny Hill High for a year.

* Alex Lopez- Ryoji developed feelings for Alex at first glance when he and Michelle were buying plants in the flower shop.

* Yuzuki Fukase- His half sister who's the same age as him, connected by their personifications, Yuzuki had no knowledge of Ryoji until he enrolls a month after she did, their connection is somewhat neutral. Hemera becomes part of Nyx which just like Ryoji, makes her physical body disappear.

* Chrollo Lucilfer- His oldest cousin, He had no knowledge of Chrollo like Yuzuki but the two had a neutral connection when they first met, Chrollo on the other hand saw a similarity between him and knew that they both are related. Chrollo's and Ryoji's powers are different from each other but unlike Yuzuki becoming part of Nyx, Chrollo's heart stayed connected to both Protagonists.

* Junpei Iori- Junpei was Ryoji's first friend he met when he enrolled in Gekkoukan High.

### Sexuality

In Persona 3 Portable, the player can romance Ryoji as the female protagonist. During a social link event, he states that he would still like the protagonist, "no matter if (they) were a guy or a girl", which means he is explicitly bisexual.  Considering how he also developed feelings for Alex, he is also polyamorous.

## Nyx

Nyx (Greek: Νύξ) is the name of the Greek goddess who represents the night. Nyx stood at or near the beginning of creation and gave birth to Thanatos (Death), Hypnos (Sleep), and other personified deities with Erebus (Darkness). She is Chaos's first child. She is frequently depicted as a black-clad woman surrounded by dark mist or as a winged goddess with a halo of dark clouds. Nox is her Roman equivalent.

She is the Primordial God. She is thought to have been formed rather early on.

She lives deep within Hades's underworld. Nyx embodies the night well because of her gloomy appearance.

## Nyx Avatar

***Nyx Avatar***

Nyx Avatar, formerly known as Death (or "Thanatos, *the bringer of death*"), The Appraiser, and the forerunner of the Fall before becoming the Avatar. Because Death is the manifestation of the Arcana that was never intended to exist, it underwent a great deal of transformations. Nyx can be distinguished from Death (Thanatos), Ryoji Mochizuki, Pharos, and Nyx Avatar.

It uses a total of 14 Arcanas in combat, ranging from the Fool to its own Arcana, Death. The Avatar can have a total of 14 stages because each Arcana is treated as a distinct foe. When its HP drops below a particular level during the final phase, it starts to use the two special talents Moonless Gown and Night Queen. All attacks, including Almighty abilities, are reflected by the Moonless Gown. All enemies are dealt severe damage by Night Queen, who also leaves the party with a variety of unpredictable status effects.

## Strategy

The Nyx Avatar boss battle is the longest battle in Persona 3, depending on the player and their level of advancement.

Each turn, Nyx Avatar can launch two assaults (more if its attacks exploit a weakness or strike for critical). Based on its Arcana, the battle comprises 14 distinct phases. Except for the final Death Arcana, which has 6,000 HP, each Arcana has 1,500 HP. The boss has 25,500 HP in total. Regardless of turn order, Arcana Shift is used after its current HP pool has run out in between each phase. A critical hit against Nyx Avatar won't result in anything other than more damage, eliminating the chance for All-Out Attacks.

Nyx Avatar will cast Moonless Gown during the last phase, and it will stay in effect for three turn cycles total—the turn it was cast, the turn after that, and the turn after that. The party can safely heal, buff, or debuff during this time because the boss frequently buffs itself (to do this in the non-Portable versions of the game, temporarily switch tactics to Heal/Support and then switch back once Moonless Gown is over). Attacking Nyx Avatar while it is wearing the Moonless Gown is pointless because it is immune to them. A Mind or Power Charge is also a good option during Moonless Gown's third turn.

Party members may cast a full-heal spell on the boss if the Night Queen form charms them, increasing their chance of success. Therefore, it is advised to eliminate its final form as soon as possible. Ailment-eliminating items are helpful to heal afflicted party members, and equipping a Narcissus Flower accessory will resist Charm. The Night Queen cannot be protected against during this phase by the Infinity Fusion spell (Vishnu and Ananta), as it has already passed through the invulnerability.

Light and Dark spells are deflected by every boss in the game. So players are free to use all of their available items.

### Skills

 ***Arcana:Fool***
***Arcana Shift***: Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Magician***
***Agi*** Deals light Fire damage to one foe.

***Maragi*** Deals light Fire damage to all foes.

***Agilao*** Deals medium Fire damage to one foe.

***Maragion*** Deals medium Fire damage to all foes.

***Agidyne*** Deals heavy Fire damage to one foe.

***Maragidyne*** Deals heavy Fire damage to all foes.

***Fire Break*** Reduces 1 foe's Fire resistance to average.

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Pristess***
***Bufu*** Deals light Ice damage / Freezes one foe. (10% chance)

***Mabufu*** Deals light Ice damage / Freezes all foes. (8% chance)

***Bufula*** Deals medium Ice damage / Freezes one foe. (10% chance)

***Mabufula*** Deals medium Ice damage / Freezes all foes. (8% chance)

***Bufudyne*** Deals heavy Ice damage / Freezes one foe. (10% chance)

***Mabufudyne*** Deals heavy Ice damage / Freezes all foes. (8% chance)

***Ice Break*** Reduces 1 foe's Ice resistance to average.

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Empress***
***Garu*** Deals light Wind damage to one foe.

***Magaru*** Deals light Wind damage to all foes.

***Garula*** Deals medium Wind damage to one foe.

***Magarula*** Deals medium Wind damage to all foes.

***Garudyne*** Deals heavy Wind damage to one foe.

***Magarudyne***Deals heavy Wind damage to all foes.

***Wind Break*** Reduces 1 foe's Wind resistance to average.

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Emperor***
***Zio*** Deals light Elec damage / Shocks one foe. (10% chance)

***Mazio***Deals light Elec damage / Shocks all foes. (8% chance)

***Zionga*** Deals medium Elec damage / Shocks one foe. (10% chance)

***Mazionga*** Deals medium Elec damage / Shocks all foes. (8% chance) <br
***Ziodyne*** Deals heavy Elec damage / Shocks one foe. (10% chance)

***Maziodyne*** Deals heavy Elec damage / Shocks all foes. (8% chance)

***Elec Break*** Reduces 1 foe's Elec resistance to average.

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Hierophant***
***Fatal End*** Deals medium Slash damage to one foe.

***Cruel Attack*** Deals medium Pierce damage to one foe. (1.5x to Downed foes)

***Vile Assault*** Deals heavy Pierce damage to one foe. (1.5x to Downed foes)

***Rebellion*** Increases Critical Rate (all).

***Revolution*** Greatly increases Critical Rate (all).

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Lovers***
***Holy Arrow*** Deals light Pierce damage / Charms one foe. (25% chance)

***Pulinpa*** Makes 1 foe Panic. (40% chance)

***Tentarafoo*** Makes all foes Panic. (40% chance)

***Marin Karin*** Charms 1 foe. (40% chance)

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Chariot***
***Heat Wave*** Deals medium Strike damage to all foes.

***God's Hand*** Deals severe Strike damage to one foe.

***Power Charge*** Doubles physical damage dealt next turn. (2x damage)

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana

 ***Arcana:Justice***
***Mahama*** Light: instant kill, all foes. (25% chance)

***Hamaon*** Light: instant kill, 1 foe (high odds). (40% chance)

***Tarukaja*** Increases 1 ally's Attack.

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Hermit***
***Mamudo*** Darkness: instant kill, all foes. (25% chance)

***Mudoon*** Darkness: instant kill, 1 foe (high odds). (40% chance)

***Tetrakarn*** Barrier that reflects physical damage 1x per ally.

***Makarakarn*** Barrier that reflects magic damage 1x per ally.

***Tentarafoo*** Makes all foes Panic. (40% chance)

***Poisma*** Poisons 1 foe. (40% chance)

***Foul Breath*** Doubles ailment susceptibility to one foe for three turns.

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Fortune***
***Agi*** Deals light Fire damage to one foe.

***Maragi*** Deals light Fire damage to all foes. ,br>
***Agilao*** Deals medium Fire damage to one foe.

***Maragion*** Deals medium Fire damage to all foes.

***Agidyne*** Deals heavy Fire damage to one foe.

***Maragidyne*** Deals heavy Fire damage to all foes.

***Bufu*** Deals light Ice damage / Freezes one foe. (10% chance)

***Mabufu*** Deals light Ice damage / Freezes all foes. (8% chance)

***Bufula*** Deals medium Ice damage / Freezes one foe. (10% chance)

***Mabufula*** Deals medium Ice damage / Freezes all foes. (8% chance)

***Bufudyne*** Deals heavy Ice damage / Freezes one foe. (10% chance)

***Mabufudyne*** Deals heavy Ice damage / Freezes all foes. (8% chance)

***Zio*** Deals light Elec damage / Shocks one foe. (10% chance)

***Mazio*** Deals light Elec damage / Shocks all foes. (8% chance)

***Zionga*** Deals medium Elec damage / Shocks one foe. (10% chance)

***Mazionga*** Deals medium Elec damage / Shocks all foes. (8% chance)

***Ziodyne*** Deals heavy Elec damage / Shocks one foe. (10% chance)

***Maziodyne*** Deals heavy Elec damage / Shocks all foes. (8% chance)

***Garu*** Deals light Wind damage to one foe.

***Magaru*** Deals light Wind damage to all foes.

***Garula*** Deals medium Wind damage to one foe.

***Magarula*** Deals medium Wind damage to all foes.

***Garudyne*** Deals heavy Wind damage to one foe.

***Magarudyne*** Deals heavy Wind damage to all foes.

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Strength***
***Tempest Slash*** Deals heavy Slash damage to one foe. (1-3 hits)

***Deathbound*** Deals heavy Slash damage to all foes.

***Rakunda*** Decreases 1 foes' Defense.

***Power Charge*** Doubles physical damage dealt next turn. (2x damage)

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Hanged Man***
***Mudo*** Darkness: instant kill, 1 foe. (30% chance)

***Mudoon*** Darkness: instant kill, 1 foe (high odds). (40% chance)

***Mind Charge*** Doubles magic damage dealt next turn. (2x damage)

***Evil Touch*** Instills Fear in 1 foe. (40% chance)

***Megidola*** Deals heavy Almighty damage to all foes.

***Ghastly Wail*** Instantly kills all foes who are fearful.

***Almighty Attack*** Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Arcana Shift*** Switch to the next Arcana.

 ***Arcana:Death***
Nyx Avatar is now at its last, most powerful state, with four times as much HP as in earlier phases. It automatically reduces all skill damage by half, with the exception of Almighty; this is different from a standard resistance and cannot be countered by a Break spell.

This phase's offensive moves include all "-dyne" spells, status enchantments and afflictions (such as Dekaja and Dekunda), Power Charge and Mind Charge, mass status affliction spells, all four elemental break spells, and the standard Almighty Attack.

Nyx Avatar will begin using Moonless Gown at roughly half health, which deflects all blows for three turns, including Almighty. At 2,000 HP, it starts to cast spells based on the party member's weaknesses, eliminating their resistances with elemental "Break" spells to do greater damage with its "Ma-dyne" spells. It will start casting Night Queen, which does severe Almighty damage to the party and grants each member a random ailment, when its HP reaches critical levels (about 1,500).

***Agidyne***
Deals heavy Fire damage to one foe.

***Maragidyne***
Deals heavy Fire damage to all foes.

***Bufudyne***
Deals heavy Ice damage / Freezes one foe. (10% chance)

***Mabufudyne***
Deals heavy Ice damage / Freezes all foes. (8% chance)

***Ziodyne***
Deals heavy Elec damage / Shocks one foe. (10% chance)

***Maziodyne***
Deals heavy Elec damage / Shocks all foes. (8% chance)

***Garudyne***
Deals heavy Wind damage to one foe.

***Magarudyne***
Deals heavy Wind damage to all foes.

***Tarukaja***
Increases 1 ally's Attack.

***Matarunda***
Decreases all foes' Attack.

***Rakukaja***
Increases 1 ally's Defense.

***Marakunda***
Decreases all foes' Defense.

***Sukukaja***
Increases 1 ally's Hit/Evasion rate.

***Masukunda***
Decreases all foes' Hit/Evasion rate.

***Dekaja***
Nullifies stat bonuses on all foes.

***Dekunda***
Nullifies stat penalties on party.

***Power Charge***
Doubles physical damage dealt next turn. (2x damage)

***Mind Charge***
Doubles magic damage dealt next turn. (2x damage)

***Fire Break***
Reduces 1 foe's Fire resistance to average.

***Ice Break***
Reduces 1 foe's Ice resistance to average.

***Elec Break***
Reduces 1 foe's Elec resistance to average.

***Wind Break***
Reduces 1 foe's Wind resistance to average.

***Evil Smile***
Instills Fear in all foes. (40% chance)

***Tentarafoo***
Makes all foes Panic. (40% chance)

***Poison Mist***
Poisons all foes. (35% chance)

***Megidola***
Deals heavy Almighty damage to all foes.

***Almighty Attack***
Inflicts a large amount of Almighty physical damage to all enemies.

***Moonless Gown***
Sets up a barrier that reflects all attacks (including Almighty).

***Night Queen***
Inflicts a large amount of Almighty damage and random status effects to all enemies.

## Gallery

Ryoji in the cover of the Persona 3 Portable fanbook.Nyx’s design from the Persona 3 Artbook with Thanatos and Messiah.A rough sketch of Ryoji’s portrait design.Ryoji concept art sketches.Ryoji Beta design.Ryoji in the Anime, smiling.Ryoji sad.Ryoji and Makoto sharing earphones together.Ryoji and ChrolloRyoji and Chrollo art by Nawell Mora.Ryoji in the cover of the Persona 3 Manga.Ryoji and Makoto knitting.Ryoji revealing his true form to Makoto in Persona 3 The Movie.Ryoji revealing his true form as Thanatos to Makoto Yuki in the Manga.Ryoji revealing his truth in the Manga.Ryoji, attempting to die.Ryoji as Nyx in the Manga.Ryoji and Makoto in the Persona 3 Character Drama Vo1 cover.
## Etymology

* 綾時　「りょうじ/ryouji」 (means twill, time)
* 望月 「もちずき/mochizuki」(means full moon)

## Trivia

* Ryoji was originally supposed to have long curly hair and a suit. His Beta design also resembles Shuji Ikutsuki and Takaya Sakaki.
* Ryoji is openly Bisexual and Polyamorous, he implies that he would date the female protagonist if she were a boy or girl, possibly having the same feelings for the male protagonist’s route as well. He’s one of the few LGBTQ characters in the Persona series.

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/catgirlkirijo/status/1549046850078273536/photo/1
2. ↑ https://acourseindying.com/death-personified-the-many-appearances-of-death/
3. ↑ https://www.giantbomb.com/ryoji-mochizuki/3005-6158/
4. ↑ https://lgbtqia-characters.fandom.com/wiki/Ryoji\_Mochizuki
5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyx
6. ↑ <a href="https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/nyx/">Nyx – Greek Goddess of The Night: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net</a> - Greek Gods & Goddesses, June 10, 2018
7. ↑ https://megamitensei.fandom.com/wiki/Nyx\_Avatar?so=search#Death\_