InPersona 5, negotiation plays a central role in both combat and Persona collection. One particularly memorable foe that players encounter during battles is the Brutal Cavalryman, a powerful Shadow that stands out due to its unique appearance and challenging conversation. Understanding how to successfully negotiate with the Brutal Cavalryman can be the key to acquiring it as an ally or avoiding unnecessary damage. Unlike weaker Shadows, this enemy won’t be easily swayed and requires a thoughtful, strategic approach during negotiation. Players who aim to complete the Persona compendium or are just trying to improve their roster will want to master how to talk to this foe efficiently.
Who is the Brutal Cavalryman?
Shadow Identity and Arcana
The Brutal Cavalryman inPersona 5is the Shadow form of the demon Eligor, a recurring Persona in the franchise. Eligor belongs to the Emperor Arcana, a type often associated with strong physical attackers and knights. True to his role, the Brutal Cavalryman appears mounted, wielding a lance, and draped in heavy armor. This imposing appearance reflects his in-battle personality domineering, prideful, and somewhat difficult to reason with.
Understanding the Arcana is useful for negotiation as Shadows often reflect the archetypal traits of their Arcana. The Emperor Arcana tends to respect strength, logic, and directness rather than flattery or emotion. This plays a huge role in how the Brutal Cavalryman will respond during the negotiation process.
Where to Find Him
You typically encounter the Brutal Cavalryman early in the game, particularly within Kamoshida’s Palace. Later in the game, stronger versions of Eligor appear in Mementos and other Palaces. Because he appears early on, players may find it difficult to deal with him without prior knowledge of Shadow negotiations.
Shadow Negotiation Basics
How Negotiation Works
InPersona 5, knocking down all enemies through exploiting weaknesses or critical hits enables a Hold Up. During this state, players can choose to Talk instead of performing an All-Out Attack. Negotiation allows you to recruit a Persona, demand money, or receive an item. To recruit, you must answer a series of questions that align with the Shadow’s personality type.
Each Shadow falls under one of several personality archetypes:
- Irritable
- Timid
- Gloomy
- Upbeat
Each type reacts differently to certain kinds of answers serious, funny, kind, or vague. The Brutal Cavalryman is classified as irritable, which means he tends to prefer serious or logical responses over emotional or silly ones.
How to Talk to the Brutal Cavalryman
Understanding the Irritable Personality
The irritable personality type wants to be taken seriously. These Shadows dislike joking answers and often respond negatively to responses that appear emotional, apologetic, or unsure. When speaking to an irritable Shadow like the Brutal Cavalryman, the best route is to respond in a calm, rational, and confident tone.
Example Questions and Best Responses
Here are some common questions the Brutal Cavalryman may ask during negotiations, along with suggested responses that work best:
- You came all this way just to kill me?
Recommended Answer: There’s something else.
This shows intent and reason, which irritable types respect. - What do you plan to do with me?
Recommended Answer: That’s up to you.
It puts the power in the Shadow’s hands, a tactic irritable types appreciate. - Why do you fight anyway?
Recommended Answer: To grow stronger.
Emphasizing self-improvement over emotion aligns with the Shadow’s mindset.
It’s worth noting that some answers might fail even if they seem logical. The negotiation system includes a slight randomness factor, but using the right personality tone consistently increases your chances of success over time.
Additional Tips
To improve your negotiation success rate with irritable Shadows:
- Use Personas of the same Arcana when initiating negotiations. This increases your success rate.
- Keep an eye on the Shadow’s current HP and status don’t try to negotiate with them if they’re enraged or under certain effects like Despair or Confuse.
- Always exploit weaknesses first to trigger Hold Up. For the Brutal Cavalryman, Fire attacks are often effective.
Benefits of Recruiting the Brutal Cavalryman
Early Game Strength
Recruiting the Brutal Cavalryman offers a solid advantage early in the game. As Eligor, this Persona has decent stats for its level, focusing on physical strength and endurance. It often comes with abilities like Double Fangs or Rakukaja, making it a useful party member when you need a bruiser or a physical tank.
Fusion Material
Eligor is also a key component in multiple fusion chains later in the game. Recruiting him early can help register him in the compendium for future fusion recipes, saving time and effort. Because of his Emperor Arcana, fusing him with specific Personas can produce stronger allies or fulfill fusion requests from the Velvet Room attendants.
Skill Inheritance
The Brutal Cavalryman can inherit useful physical and support skills, depending on how you choose to level and fuse him. These skills can then be passed on to other Personas during fusion, allowing for creative builds and team optimization.
Troubleshooting Failed Negotiations
Dealing with Rejection
If your negotiation with the Brutal Cavalryman fails, don’t panic. You can always knock him down again in future battles. However, repeated failures can be frustrating, so it’s worth reviewing the Shadow’s personality and planning your responses more carefully next time. Use battle log history to analyze which answers had the best effect and adjust accordingly.
Using Confidants to Help
Building up Confidants such as Morgana and Yusuke early in the game can unlock skills that aid in negotiation. For example, some Confidants grant abilities that allow you to retry failed negotiations or automatically succeed if the target is below a certain level.
The Brutal Cavalryman inPersona 5represents a step up in Shadow negotiation difficulty, but it also serves as a valuable learning moment. Mastering how to talk to this Shadow teaches players the importance of reading personality types, making logical choices, and staying composed in conversation. Whether you want Eligor as a teammate, fusion material, or simply to avoid further conflict, understanding how to handle the Brutal Cavalryman’s talk is a key skill on your journey as a Phantom Thief.
With the right approach, patience, and a bit of strategy, even the most stubborn Shadows can be persuaded to join your cause. Don’t underestimate the power of words in the world ofPersona 5especially when they can win you one of the game’s most memorable early-game allies.