Listed below are several Beginner Tips and Tricks which will help you in Shin Megami Tensei V.
Save Often
Shin Megami Tensei V can be an unforgiving game if enemies start hitting your weaknesses or getting critical hits in so it is essential that you save the game often to avoid having to re-play content when you die. Unfortunately there is no way to save the game manually whenever you want, in order to save you must reach Leyline Founts (the pillars of blue light) and select the 'Chronicle Deeds' option. It is recommended that you keep multiple save files as there are different choices that can be made throughout the game that affect the ending you get and doing so will allow you to revert to an earlier save to change your decision.
Always Have Macca
The currency used in Shin Megami Tensei V is called Macca and this money is needed to purchase items from Gustave at Cadaver's Hollow. Healing at Leyline Founts requires Macca and you will also require it to recruit demons to your party or pay off enemies if they start the battle with the upper hand. It is therefore important that you always have a stash of Macca put aside for when you really need it.
Stock Up on Consumables
Make sure you always have a decent stock of consumables available, especially healing items as you never know when you will need them. Remember that some demons will request items when being recruited and there are some subquests where you will need specific items, so be careful what you sell. Always hang onto the Spyglass item, as it is able to tell you an enemy's weaknesses and resistances.
Recruit Demons
Attempt to recruit demons to your party as often as possible during battle using the 'Talk' option and then selecting the correct responses or giving the right items. Always look to recruit any demons you don't have already, so they get added to your compendium, and you get more powerful allies to use in battle or create new fusions. There will be some demons that you will not be able to recruit until you reach a certain level. Take a look at our How to Recruit Demons guide to find out how you can collect and add them to your compendium.
Upgrade your Party
Make sure you stop off at Leyline Founts whenever they are available to save and heal. Also visit the World of Shadows to purchase Miracles, fuse Essences, or fuse new and stronger demons to upgrade your team. Remember to register the new demons you fuse and create so they are saved in their stronger new state, and you are then later able to resummon them from the compendium.
Vending Machines
Always keep an eye out for the vending machines that are scattered around as you progress through the game, as interacting with them will enable you to collect Relics. These are items which you can always sell to Gustave to get free Macca. Vending machines also replenish after a period of time, and you can see when this has occurred by checking your map. If a vending machine has replenished their icon will turn yellow instead of gray so make sure if you need to backtrack you visit those vending machines again.
Search for Miman
Don't be afraid to venture off the beaten track and explore as doing so will enable you to find things such as treasure boxes, Amalgams, optional subquests, and Miman. Miman are strange little creatures that are Gustave's pawns and they are scattered all over Da'at, each time you find a Miman Gustave will reward you with Glory when you visit him in Cadavar's Hollow. For every five Miman you find, Gustave will reward you with items that enable demon race-specific Magatsuhi Skills, rare essences or other important items.