Good party composition for hard mode?

[Rat Stuck In A Blender]

So, I'm up to the Rise dungeon. I'm pretty early in the game, so it's not too late to change up my party. So far I've gone with Yu/Souji, Yosuke, Yukiko and Kanji. I have Yu/Souji doing most of the elemental coverage, Yosuke being a jack of all trades (I'm very willing to replace him for someone who can reliably buff/debuff), Yukiko being a healer/situation magic tank and Kanji being just a regular tank
The only party member I have besides these so far is Chie. Should I stick with what I'm doing so far or should I switch someone out for Chie?

[Freudesleid]

It really doesnt matter too much in this game. The main player is mostly the reason why you dont have to worry about any compisition really. If something is missing he will fill the gap.
I mostly stick to the same comp as you do: Yosuke, Yukiko, Kanji mainly because I just like the characters. The only negative consequense is that you lack Ice Damage. But there are countless Personas with strong Ice Skills you can fuse.

But if you however want to have Chie in your team I would switch her with Kanji. Yukiko is late game Magician beast and Yosuke is a allrounder with severe Physical and Heavy Wind Damage.

[Wolfnagi]

Honestly, there's no single set of party composition. You will want them to be individually different so you can bring anyone of them for any type of fights. But if you really need a help, I would suggest you to keep each of them to their own role type:

Yosuke: Garu/Evasion specialist, with his Sukukaja to help in evasion and Garu-spells for any of the mobs that weaks against wind. Can also be an off-healer if you keep his healing spells. Always keep Dekaja on him too

Chie: crit-physical. Try to keep as many physical based skill on her. Some people just throw out her rebellion/revolution but I didn't since she would crit less without it (duh). Bufu-type spells can be keep until near endgame/post Rise-dungeon since you wouldn't have anyone with Bufu spells until Kuma joins in.

Yukiko: Healer/Agi. Pretty much what it says on tin. Would suggest to throw out Recarm/Samarecarm though since you can always use an extra slot for literally anything else and use revive beads instead.

Kanji: Hard Physical/Zio. Similar to Chie but less crit and more pure damage. I've maintained Sukunda/Tarukaja on him so he can also buff the team up/debuff the enemies whenever physical/lightning is useless. Those buffs/debuffs helps to differentiate him and Chie for me, btw.

Kuma: Healer/Bufu. Similar to Yukiko but with Bufu-type spells instead. I've differentiate him with Yukiko by having him hold buff skills to compensate so he can buff/debuff the team/enemy whenever his spells is useless.

Naoto: Full All-Rounder. Couple of bike trips and levelling would let her learn all 6 element types. Add in Megido-spells and Mind Charge and you literally have someone who can fight all types of enemies.

[1337Walrus]

It doesn't matter too much, but once you hit the end-game the best team tends to be Chie/Yukiko/Naoto since they just plain have great chemistry and cover each other well.

[Frost フロスト]

In the early game, I think it is better to stick with early 4 - Yukiko, Chie, Yosuke. It is the most balanced in terms of elements, attacks, and support
In the late game, for me, I found the ultimate team that I think this gotta be the best composition ever: Naoto, Yukiko, Yosuke

Naoto: Mind Charged Bufudyne against boss with ice boosted weapon and accessory, have access to Megidolaon and light/dark for dungeon crawling. Ultimate Shield of Justice save the team a lot of times.

Yukiko: Dedicated healer (Salvation) with Mind Charged Burning Petals. Prime healer, at the same time prime Agi DPS

Yosuke: Second Healer/Support with Youthful Wind, have access to debuff Dekaja, with decent Wind DPS (I say decent because no mind charge)

You can change Yosuke with Chie/Kanji as physical attacker, but I choose Yosuke because I need second healer if the team only receive damage up to half. Also, if the enemy immune to physical attack, Chie/Kanji practically useless while Yosuke if the enemy resist to wind, he can still help the team being the second support (iteming or Youthful Wind)

Naoto and Yukiko though, IMO, is the must have.

[Olly]

You can't go wrong with Yukiko. Outside Yu, she is the best healer, and can deal a ton of damages if you upgrade her correctly

[Hymnos]

Kanji = for physical damager + Matarukaja buff *Why Kanji?? because overall Strenght Stats better than Chie*

Yosuke = for masukaja buff & healer *Youthful Wind Skill*

Yukiko = mostly healer & resu

You as main chara must have Personas :

- Yosh*tsune as Physical damager

- Kaguya = Wind Elemental Damager + Mahamaon Combo

- Alice = for "Die For Me" Skill + Zio/Maziodyne Combo

- Surt = because only this Persona had skill "Ragnarok" the best Fire magic in the game don't forget to add Delibitate skills + Megidalaon on this Persona.

- For Emergency Healer in case Yukiko down i tend use Scahat combo with Bufu/Mabufudyne skills

The rest is up to You

Almost Forgot, You also need skills Fire Break & Wind Break for Yukiko & Yosuke in case enemies had repel immunity for their Personas

[GeassV]

Yukiko = best healer & burning petals ( 3rd persona )
Chie = best crit, area damage & dragon hustle ( 3rd persona )
Naoto = best for wipe enemies & shield of justice ( 3rd persona )

[Hymnos]

Chie & Naoto buff using way to many MP and it's not suitable for long battle since in very hard mode the enemies hit more hard than us and we deal less damage for them that's why i rarely use them in very hard mode.

[Cercamon]

Hero, Yukiko as healer, Kanji, and I change whether I want between Youske and Naoto

[GeassV]

for naoto atleast she still have invigorate 3 ( no need worry about mana ) and chie dragon hustle its awesome ( rarely used )

[Hymnos]

Originally posted by GeassV:

for naoto atleast she still have invigorate 3 ( no need worry about mana ) and chie dragon hustle its awesome ( rarely used )

invigorate 3 skills useless since Naoto buff take half of her MP and took to long for regenerate the rest of her MP
also dragon hustle buff took half of Chie MP and only last 3 Turn kinda suck, if only dragon hustle buff last longer maybe Chie is more useable in Veryhard mode.

in conclusion both of them kinda not suitable for long battle.

[Robepriority]

Chie's damage output primarily comes from phys, she doesn't even get bufudyne - not sure why MP would be that bad of an issue.

[Frost フロスト]

Originally posted by Mikazuki:

invigorate skills useless since Naoto buff take half of her MP and took to long for regenerate the rest of her MP :satisfied:

in conclusion both of them kinda not suitable for long battle.

Laugh in Hollow Forest

If you mean long battle in one who has proven their power Naoto is must have since her ultimate will save your team from devastating blow, enough for 3 times

[Hymnos]

Originally posted by LadyInquist:

Chie's damage output primarily comes from phys, she doesn't even get bufudyne - not sure why MP would be that bad of an issue.

better use MP for power charge + matarukaja/Revolution buff instead dragon hustle if you still insist using Chie as your physical damager.

[GeassV]

Originally posted by Mikazuki:

Originally posted by GeassV:

for naoto atleast she still have invigorate 3 ( no need worry about mana ) and chie dragon hustle its awesome ( rarely used )

invigorate 3 skills useless since Naoto buff take half of her MP and took to long for regenerate the rest of her MP :satisfied:
also dragon hustle buff took half of Chie MP and only last 3 Turn kinda suck, if only dragon hustle buff last longer maybe Chie is more useable in Veryhard mode.

in conclusion both of them kinda not suitable for long battle.

i appreciated your opinion, i dont have problem with chie and naoto about mana in team ( already beat game very hard )