Shin Megami Tensei Codexery

Bufu

The foundational ice spell that freezes foes across the multiverse.

Bufu stands as one of the most recognizable incantations within the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. It is a foundational ice-elemental magic skill used by demons, angels, and human protagonists alike to inflict freezing damage upon opponents. As part of the core elemental trinity alongside Agi and Zio, it represents the cold aspect of destruction in the series' cosmology.

Quick Facts

Element
Ice
Skill type
Magic; Offensive
Targeting
Single Enemy
Series debut
Shin Megami Tensei (1992)
Common users
  • Frost Demons
  • Angels
  • Humans
Counterpart skills
Agi, Zio

Lore & Background

Beyond mere combat mechanics, the presence of Bufu signals a demon's affinity for cold climates or winter domains. High-ranking ice deities often possess upgraded versions like Bufudyne, but the base spell remains ubiquitous among lower-tier spirits and summoned entities. This ubiquity ensures that no matter which timeline or dimension the protagonist traverses, the ability to freeze an enemy is almost always within reach through negotiation or fusion.

Reader's Guide

Bufu functions as a primary offensive magic skill dealing ice-elemental damage to a single target. It consumes a low amount of Magic Points, making it efficient for early-game encounters or conserving resources during prolonged battles. The spell typically connects with one hit per cast, though specific game mechanics may vary regarding critical rates or elemental resistance interactions.

To equip this ability, players often rely on demons naturally proficient in ice magic, such as Frost or Snowman types found across the series. Alternatively, skill-inheriting items like the Ice Book allow human protagonists to learn the incantation directly. In fusion mechanics, inheriting Bufu from a parent demon is a common strategy for creating specialized attackers.

While effective against fire-weak enemies, users must respect ice-resistant foes who may negate or reflect the damage. As players progress, stronger variants like Bufudyne replace this spell in high-level builds, yet Bufu remains essential for managing MP costs during exploration.

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