Shadow Miyazawa is the ruler of the second Palace in Persona 5 The Phantom X, and he is the first boss that punishes careless attacks. He hits the whole party with Curse damage, splits into fake copies, hides behind a painting and summons projectors and swords. This P5X Miyazawa boss guide covers each mechanic in the order you will meet it, and the team that makes the fight manageable.
Before the fight
Miyazawa’s Palace is the second story Palace, and finishing it moves you on to the next chapter. Guides for the global version list him around level 55 and suggest a team of about 60 or higher, so if early phases melt your party, level up first. Persona 5 The Phantom X is free to play on PC, iOS and Android, so these numbers can shift with balance patches.
Here is what to prepare.
- Soy is mandatory. Shun Kano joins the party for this fight, and his Ice skills and Icy Defense are central to the strategy.
- Curse resistance. Almost all of Miyazawa’s damage is Curse. Give Wonder a Persona that resists or nulls it.
- A healer. A party-wide heal such as Media keeps you alive through his group attacks. Skill Inheritance can add it to Wonder.
- A status cleanser. He brainwashes party members so they attack their allies. Minami Miyashita (Marian) is a common pick for removing it.
- Items. SP recovery items and ailment cures save runs when your cleanser is busy.
Weaknesses and resistances
Miyazawa himself has no weakness to exploit, so you cannot knock him down by element alone. His summons are another story, and that is where the fight is won.
| Target | Weak to | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow Miyazawa | None | Ice is the most reliable damage. A Japanese guide lists Gun as resisted and Psy as nulled. |
| Clones | Don’t attack them | Hitting a fake triggers a counterattack. |
| Painting form | Nothing | He takes no damage while hiding. |
| Projectors | Physical | Destroy both to make him Dizzy. |
| Swords | Ice | Only the marked sword is the real one. |
Guides also disagree slightly on how many phases the fight has, because some count the clone stage and his transformed form separately. The order of mechanics is the same in all of them, so follow the sections below in sequence.
Clone phase and finding the real Miyazawa
After his first turn, Miyazawa splits into copies. Only one is real, and hitting a fake punishes you with a counterattack. Any area attack hits every copy, so turn off party-wide skills for this stage.
The real Miyazawa is the only figure that moves, with his head swaying while the fakes stay still. He also swaps places after his turns, so look again before every attack. Use strong single-target Ice or Physical hits and keep healing steady until his first form drops to about half health.
Transformed form and the painting
In his transformed form he uses party-wide Curse attacks almost every turn and starts charging his ultimate. This is the stage where Curse resistance and a group heal pay off. One guide notes the first turn of this form hits especially hard, so guarding on that turn is a safe habit.
At points he hides behind a painting. While he is there, your attacks do nothing, and each time he hides he afflicts one party member with Nuisance, which makes that character sometimes attack allies. Use these turns well.
- Cleanse the ailment right away.
- Have Soy use Icy Defense so he draws the attack.
- Heal and guard with everyone else rather than wasting SP on attacks.
- Go back on the offense as soon as Miyazawa steps out.
Projectors and the sword finale
Next, Miyazawa summons two projectors. Left alone, they set up a strong strike on one of your characters. They are weak to Physical damage, so switch to Physical skills and break both. Destroying them leaves Miyazawa Dizzy, which is your biggest damage window of the fight. Save buffs and your strongest skills for that moment.
In the final stage he summons four swords. Only one is real, and it carries a marking on the hilt that sets it apart. Hitting the wrong sword buffs him, and breaking a fake triggers a powerful area attack. The swords are weak to Ice, so aim a single-target Ice skill at the marked one. If you use One More follow-ups, turn off the option that automatically picks the next target, so the extra action doesn’t land on a fake. Breaking the right sword weakens his attacks, and from there it is a matter of finishing him while you keep the party healed.
Recommended teams
These line-ups appear across the guides we checked. Soy is in every one because the game requires him.
- Balanced. Wonder with a Curse-resistant Persona, Soy, Marian and Joker.
- Free to play. Wonder with a Curse-resistant Persona and Media, Soy, Ann and Closer.
- Ice focus. Soy plus other Ice users, with Wonder handling heals, which keeps damage high on the clones and swords.
If the fight still feels too hard, the usual fix is levels and healing rather than a new team. Keep everyone above about two thirds health, because his group attacks can chain into a wipe quickly.
FAQ
What is Shadow Miyazawa weak to in P5X?
Miyazawa himself has no elemental weakness. His projectors are weak to Physical and his swords are weak to Ice, and Ice is the best general damage type for the whole fight.
How do you tell which Miyazawa is real?
The real one is the only copy that moves, with his head swaying while the fakes stay still. He swaps places between turns, so check again before every attack and use single-target skills only.
What level should I be for the Miyazawa boss?
Guides for the global version list him around level 55 and recommend a team of about 60 or higher. Being underleveled makes his Curse attacks much harder to survive.
Is Soy required for the Miyazawa fight?
Yes. Soy, Shun Kano, is a mandatory party member for this boss, and his Ice skills and Icy Defense are a key part of the strategy.
