What is the meter on the top left during 3rd person?

[HelgenX]

Trying to figure it out. Playing on Switch btw.

[Blunette]

That's the Moon/Kagatsuchi Phase indicator. It goes from New/1/2/3/Half/5/6/7/Full, then Full/7/6/5/Half/3/2/1/New again in a cycling countdown.

The Kagatsuchi phases are mostly about triggering certain events, manipulating demon behaviours, or dealing with Mystical/Gold chests. For example, certain bosses can only be fought upon Full Kagatsuchi, and the skills Dark Might/Bright Might guarantee critical hits on physical attacks during New or Full Kagatsuchi respectively. Opening Mystical Chests on Full Kagatsuchi guarantees the best possible rewards from them, which is great for getting certain gemstones or Incense. Also, while most demons are completely insane during Full Kagatsuchi and will refuse to join your party or talk to you, certain races like Haunt/Wilder will only be able to be recruited during the Full phase (They can also approach you and offer to join if you have open slots/give them stuff they ask for, but that's fully random and applies to most demons anyway).

I also think that New phase allows easier time with demon negotiations, but honestly with how finnicky the negotiations are anyway, I rarely notice if it actually affects it or not. Sometimes the demon happily obliges, other time they just up and rob you.

[HelgenX]

Thank you very much!