How to Beat Shadow Miyazawa in Persona 5: The Phantom X

The second Palace in Persona 5: The Phantom X culminates in a duel against Shadow Miyazawa, the ruler of that Palace. This encounter is not merely a high-HP slugfest. It borrows design philosophy from Persona 5 Royal's second Palace boss, adding deception, status pressure, and a punishing unblockable sequence. Players who rush in without a plan will likely be overwhelmed. Players who watch the boss carefully, bring the right party members, and respect the guard command can clear the fight much more comfortably.

Preparation and Recommended Party

Preparation matters before the battle begins. A party level of at least 60 is recommended for this fight. Lower-level teams can struggle badly once phase two begins. The story requires Soy to be in the party, so one slot is already locked. Good options to bring alongside Soy include Ann, Joker, Closer, and Sumi. Joker and Sumi are particularly useful because they have curse resistance. Since Shadow Miyazawa relies heavily on curse damage, these two can survive longer against the boss's stronger attacks.

Wonder should be equipped with a strong curse Persona. Skill Inheritance allows players to pass useful skills onto that Persona and customize the kit for this encounter. Media is an excellent choice because Wonder may be the best available healer for the fight. Having a reliable party-wide heal every turn reduces the risk of a sudden wipe. Status ailment removal is also vital, especially for phase two, because brainwash can turn the battle against the party.

Phase 1: Spotting the Real Miyazawa

The first phase begins simply, but after the first turn Shadow Miyazawa creates two clones of himself. From that point on, attacking the wrong clone triggers a harsh counterattack that deals significant damage to the attacker. The key is patience. Before attacking, players should wait and watch all three Miyazawas. Only the real one moves, and the tell is specifically in his head. The fake clones stand completely still. The real Miyazawa plays an idle animation every few seconds, which reveals his position.

The rest of phase one is manageable once the trick is understood. The real Miyazawa can use a party-wide attack, but it deals only modest damage. The fake Miyazawas use single-target physical attacks. After every turn, the real boss changes places with the clones. That means the correct target must be identified again after each round. A common mistake is to attack immediately after the swap. Instead, players should wait for the head movement and then focus all attacks on the revealed real Miyazawa.

Phase 2: Curse Pressure and the Door Attack

Phase two is significantly more difficult. Shadow Miyazawa now has four health bars, which turns the fight into a longer battle of endurance. He uses a powerful party-wide curse attack almost every turn. Because of that, healing every turn must be the top priority. Curse-resistant characters such as Joker and Sumi can endure these attacks better, but the entire party still needs consistent recovery. A healer should be ready to use Media or similar skills constantly.

Brainwash is another major danger in this phase. Miyazawa's attacks can brainwash party members and disrupt the team. Players should bring items or a spell that can restore status ailments. A healer with a cleanse ability is valuable, but backup items are also wise in case the healer becomes brainwashed.

The most important reactive moment comes when Miyazawa disappears through the door. Players cannot attack him during this window. The next attack can be devastating if the party does not guard. The entire team should block unless a character absolutely needs emergency healing. If a character is above half health, guarding is usually the better option. After the door sequence, the boss returns to his standard pattern of party-wide curse attacks. There are no additional tricks in the final stretch, but the damage remains relentless. The fight becomes a cycle of healing every turn, cleansing brainwash when needed, and guarding the door attack.

Final Tips

• 🛡️ Always guard when Shadow Miyazawa disappears through the door.

• 👀 Wait for the real Miyazawa's head movement before attacking in phase one.

• 💊 Carry status ailment removal items to handle brainwash.

• 🔥 Use curse-resistant allies like Joker and Sumi.

• ⚔️ Keep Wonder's healing option available every turn.

As of 2026, Shadow Miyazawa remains a technical early-Palace skill check. The fight rewards observation, preparation, and defensive timing more than raw aggression. Players who master the clone tell in phase one and respect the door attack in phase two should be able to clear the encounter without excessive retries.