Persona 5: The Phantom X – Best Messa/Kira build, team comp, and Revelation Cards

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Messa is the first character focused on Physical attacks to reach 5-star status since Skull. As a core unit, he’s in a unique spot. While Physical damage isn’t usually effective against tough bosses, Messa can become a top-tier damage dealer with the right team composition, rivaling some of the game’s strongest DPS characters.

This guide will show you the best way to build Messa in Persona 5 Tactica and offer strategies to help you use him effectively in battle.

All Messa skills and abilities in P5X

Harpyia Skills

Messa is special because his attacks work very differently depending on which form he’s using – Doctor or Ripper.

  • Moonlit Scalpel (Doctor) – Deal Physical damage to 1 foe equal to 47.3% of Attack (4 hits). Inflict 1 Bleed.
  • Midnight Surgery (Ripper) – Deal Physical damage to 1 foe equal to 216.6% of Attack, then remove 2 Bleed stacks from the target.
  • Crimson Operation (Doctor) – Deal Physical damage to 1 foe equal to 71.5% of Attack (2 hits). At the same time, activate Bleed damage and reset the turn duration of the target’s Bleed stacks 1 time.
  • Pathology (Ripper) – Deal Physical damage to 1 foe equal to 216.6% of Attack. For each Bleed stack on the target, increase the damage of Rending activated by them and this skill by 2%, then remove all Bleed stacks from the target.
  • Nightfall – Switch to Ripper mode and change Kitazato’s skills (can be activated when any foe has 7 or more Bleed stacks). When using skills in this mode, for every 3 Bleed stacks on the target, inflict 1 Rending stack (Physical damage equal to 57.4% of Attack). After using this skill, Kitazato can use other skills and switches to Doctor mode at the end of the turn.
  • Thief’s Tactics – Highlight: Switch to Doctor mode and immediately inflict 5 Bleed stacks on 1 foe. Then, immediately switch to Ripper mode and deal Physical damage equal to 424.1% of Attack.

Hidden Abilities

  • Hideous Mask – For every 30% of the user’s ailment accuracy, increase Physical damage dealt from Bleed by 4% of the user’s Attack (up to 90% of ailment accuracy).
  • Drawn Blade – When in Doctor mode, increase ailment accuracy by 36%. When in Ripper mode, increase pierce rate by 21%.

Awareness levels and abilities

  • A1: Abdominal Incisions – In Doctor mode, the first time skill damage is dealt to each foe, inflict 5 more Bleed stacks on the target.
  • A2: Forbidden Transfusion – Increase the Attack multiplier by 35% of Kitazato’s Attack. Restore Kitazao’s HP by 2% of Rending damage dealt.
  • A3: Master of the Scalpel – Increase the skill levels of Moonlit Scalpel/Midnight Surgery and Thief Tactics by 3.
  • A4: Bloody Bacchanal – Highlight Enhanced: Increase Highlight damage by 8% for each Bleed stack inflicted on the target.
  • A5: Razor-Sharp Focus – Increase the skill level of Crimson Operation/Pathology and Nightfall by 3.
  • A6: Great Doctor – Increase the maximum Bleed to 13. Also, each foe will always be inflicted with 3 stacks of Bleed.

What does Bleed do?

Messa’s primary way to deal damage comes from his ‘Bleed’ effect. He begins each battle in ‘Doctor’ mode, where his attacks have a 70% chance to apply a ‘Bleed’ stack to the enemy. These stacks cause small damage each turn, but more importantly, consuming them when Messa transforms into ‘Ripper’ mode significantly increases his attack power.

How to use Messa in P5X

Build Bleed Turn 1

On your first turn, focus on applying as many Bleed stacks as possible. This will maximize your damage output later and help you quickly enter Ripper mode.

Only use Pathology at max Bleed

Pathology is your most powerful damage ability, but it’s best not to use it immediately. When you activate Ripper mode, first check how many Bleed stacks your opponent has. If they haven’t reached a high number, use Midnight Surgery, which removes only two stacks, and continue building up Bleed. Pathology removes all your Bleed stacks, converting them into damage, so save it for when your opponent has almost as many stacks as possible to maximize its impact.

Best team composition for Messa in P5X

  • Wonder (with a Phys damaging Persona)
  • Messa
  • Chord
  • Mirian OR Summer Moko
  • Phoebe

This team is built specifically to maximize Messa’s power. While a damage dealer like Skull could be added, the following units are key to helping Messa reach his full potential. Chord is a great choice for boosting damage output; she can increase attack power with her skills and Costar, and she allows Messa to use his incredibly strong Highlight attack much more often.

Messa’s strongest attacks use a lot of HP, so having a good healer like Mirian or Summer Moko is essential. Mirian heals more effectively, while Summer Moko can also deal damage. Phoebe is the best choice for your Navi because she significantly boosts attack power. For Wonder characters, it’s helpful to have a physical-type Persona in front to improve Messa’s stats, and another Persona that can lower enemy defenses to maximize damage.

Best weapon for Messa in P5X

Weapons in this game get stronger as you collect higher-star versions. More stars mean better stats and abilities, so when building your character, always aim for the most powerful weapons available. Below are the stats and effects for all of Messa’s weapons.

  • Daisho (2-star) – HP 99 ATK 30 DEF 14 – Increase Attack by 11.3%.
  • Twisted Corvus (3-star) – HP 119, ATK 36, DEF 17 – When entering Ripepr mode, increase Physical damage by 18% for 1 turn.
  • Undying Embers (4-star) – HP 158, ATK 48, DEF 23 – Increase Attack by 12%. Whenever inflicting Bleed on foes, increase Attack by 1.8% more. This effect is permanent and stacks up to 10 times.
  • Dark Humors (5-star) – HP 198, ATK 60, DEF 29 – Increase Attack by 30%. Increase ailment accuracy by 15%. Increase pierce rate of Rending damage by 25%. Increase damage dealt to foes inflicted with Bleed by 25%.

Best Revelation Cards for Messa in P5X

Since Messa relies on physical attacks, the Oppression & Wisdom combo is a great choice. Oppression directly increases his physical attack power with a 10% flat boost, and an additional 5% boost that stacks each time he hits an enemy with a skill. The Wisdom combo then enhances this further, adding a 20% damage increase once you’ve built up five stacks of Malice.

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2025-10-23 14:17