Shin Megami Tensei V - How to Attain "True Neutral" Secret Ending

I struggled to piece together info from many sources and had to experiment a lot to get this ending myself, so I thought a video explaining the general method for getting the ending would be helpful to others! Note that the spoilers "ramp up" with a countdown warning for the huge spoilers. I tried to omit unnecessary spoilers where I could.

[@Trauson]

xD The most interesting thing is no videos in your channel for like 8 years and now you bring this one.... misterious ways xd

[@virtuebro]

Yeah I love making videos but don’t have the time like I used to unfortunately lol. I stream on Twitch on the weekends but that’s about it.

[@iwatchyoutube4179]

The last amanozako quest you don't really need to say no to the Kurama tengu because any choice will lead to the same outcome cuz i have tried it myself

[@virtuebro]

Thank you!

[@tapwater892]

Thank you for saying this i was stressing hardcore over this

[@blastersilver3436]

Just finished the game and got the neutral ending and it will be a pleasure to make another run aiming for the true ending. But I wasn't that far.... It was the first megaten and the experience was great.

[@kevintorres2106]

Dude ty with this i was able to unlock this ending. Great job explaining

[@MogekoMagica]

Thanks! Back when i first got it people were swearing you could only get the true ending on ng+ so I was going for chaos. Now that i'm picking the game back up so much later your guide is very helpful!

[@anastashiawallace8981]

This video is amazing thanks for all the help.

[@nahobino9629]

Now that I know about this ending, I'm going to make a new save just to see the last ending. but I will use your video to get to the secret ending. thanks!!!

[@hungrytaco6879]

Funny how you have to do even the Shiva super boss before all the Nahobino and Lucifer fights. Dam, he’s even 8 levels higher than Lucifer

[@josephallen1695]

For Fionne, I've only done all the fairy village quests and spared Khonsu, and he still appeared at the summit.

[@Turnip1000]

I think you just have to do the fairy village stuff

[@Minarreal]

The dude with the exotic name at 4:40 appeared to me before doing the Egyptian questline, just so everyone knows.

[@jojomojo8047]

got this ending first play through very happy with my decision

[@noway4879]

Hey, I got the true ending. You need to make sure to defeat Shiva before the cutscene where you have to make a choice between lawful, chaos and destroying the throne.

[@TwistedFoo]

So the main thing is to have all the quests done BEFORE you get to that choice point in the final area. I did the shiva quest after since I wanted to save it for later, completed all quests. But didn't get the secret ending.

[@kenjean-baptiste6417]

I think you gotta beat Shiva and all the other requirements before you chose the the destroy the throne the first time. I beat Shiva before the fight where the true ending scene takes place but after I picked destroy the throne.

[@virtuebro]

Pretty sure you’re right. The key is to do everything before the “big choice.”

[@nozarashi4329]

Nooo, I did the same thing, but I used Demeter when beating Shiva so I can't just try the same thing again at a previous save point, since you can only get Demeter after the choice. I'll have to make a completely different party and spend more time grinding now.

[@patrinizer346]

I did beat Shiva...but I also killed Konsu so I locked myself out of the true ending.

[@Nopperabou]

@@patrinizer346 I also killed him

[@MG42Qlippoth]

I did all the quests, beat Shiva and stuff before going further but can't get the scene where Nuwa shows up and I get the neutral ending instead.

[@jorgeelias385]

I made all sidequest in my first cycle, then on the 3rd one, i rushed/speedran it, made sure i was neutral aligned and i got the option of getting true neutral ending Do the data of completing all sidequests carry over in ng+? I haven't done it and kinda do not wish to face shiva in newborn ng+ since shiva is the hardest boss and kinda ruins de difficulty experience

[@virtuebro]

I've heard that it does but unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to confirm for myself.

[@kasumiayanami4501]

The Khonsu side-quest threw me off on my first run (which I mostly went through blind other than looking up boss weakness’s online) and I pretty much sealed my fate… 😅 Currently on my 2nd run now after the Lahmu segment so I got about over halfway to go.

[@defaultyanny861]

Same except the weakness part because spyglass op. What I’m mad about is the fact that there was no indicator that there was a new quest, but it is what it is so time to finish new game plus

[@patrinizer346]

Same. I killed him without knowing. On the bright side, I managed to get the other 3 ending on my first playtrough, due to saving before the final decision.

[@thepurplephoenix6423]

So, let's say I faced off Metatron and selected "destroy the throne" but I forgot about Shiva BUT I did not fight fallen abdiel yet. Am I prevented from this ending? I do have a backup file and even though its not terribly far back (wrapping up Taito), tbf I just don't want to grind for myself or my demons again if I don't have to

[@virtuebro]

Unless they changed something in a patch you unfortunately are past the point of no return. You will need to load that backup file

[@kyleoliver5783]

What’s the music you have playing in the background? It’s quite peaceful

[@virtuebro]

Which part of the video? All the music is actually straight from the game. I use the tracks from the 2nd area, specifically the container yard sub area. And I believe the other track is from the 3rd area.

[@shay3878]

Welp, I didn't choose to destroy the throne, and didn't keep a save file before the choice. And I defeated Shiva after finishing the game anyways so I was always locked out haha. It'll have to be on my next playthrough.

[@PhazonKing]

So... The so-called "true" ending is creating a world for humanity alone. So this basically means you're committing genocide against all angels and demons??? Wow, that's pretty dark :-O I couldn't choose that ending. Actually, I went for the "protecting Tokyo" ending. :-)

[@youraveragesub]

I mean, it's probably for the best. The ending also makes Nahobino (the protag) the exact opposite of Demi-Fiend; Nahobino being the true human as he casted away immense power for a normal world he once lived in because he held onto his humanity despite the clusterfuck he and his fellow humans got into.

[@PhazonKing]

@@youraveragesub Hmmmmm... I'd rather stick to my hotties Amanozako and Pixie, to be honest. :-D

[@gamer-san8923]

​@@PhazonKingsus

[@PhazonKing]

@@gamer-san8923 Indeed. ;-)

[@SSJUnderDog]

If I do all the quests in one playthrough do I have to do them again in a new cycle to unlock true neutral? Also I’m looking at a guide and it says Demeters quests are not necessary

[@virtuebro]

People on the GameFAQs forum have said no, you don’t need to do them again. And yeah, I think it may be ok to skip Demeter’s quests. When I made the video there was some back and forth debate on it on the forums, and I wasn’t able to test myself. But others seem to have confirmed you don’t need to do Demeter’s quests.

[@SSJUnderDog]

@@virtuebro can confirm that if you do these quests once you don’t have to do them again in a reborn cycle to get true neutral. Thanks for the help

[@virtuebro]

@@SSJUnderDog I'll test it on this NG+ cycle for sure, I'm going to be pretty busy with work the next few days but I should know next week.

[@shrimp8545]

Is it alright if I chose "destroy the throne" before finishing all of the quest lines? 😅 Hope I didn't screw up, I just found out there is this true ending.

[@virtuebro]

Unfortunately I believe that you already passed the point of no return. But it may be worth experimenting and trying anyways, if you do let us know your results! Some on the GameFAQs forum claim that everything carries over to NG+ as far as unlocking the true neutral ending. So even if it is too late, you won’t have to repeat the quests on NG+ (supposedly).

[@shrimp8545]

@@virtuebro Oh I might do that, I actualy do have a save file right before the route lock, but I did a bunch of stuff in my neutral ending locked file that I'm going to have to do again 😂. It's alright tho I think Ill just do those things again and go for true neutral. Thanks for telling 👍

I already test that, you wont get the etrue ending

[@virtuebro]

@ thank you!

[@M.G.F427]

@ Well damn it hahaha

[@AntoniusTertius]

My problem: I am yet to fight Shiva, but I already defeated Nahobino Abdiel, so Nuwa is gone, as his love died. What now? Even if I beat Shiva now, I think I won't get the true ending, will I?

[@Primal212]

Na man you will no longer be able to get the true ending

[@mike-ns6sw]

i have a save before the big 3 options i did all my quests and also didnt kill when i had the option so can i get the ending by just going to that save and beat shiva and then beat zues?

[@mike-ns6sw]

oh yeah i also got the sun god quest in the fairy village i didnt do these fights because they were too high level for me

[@virtuebro]

Yeah I think someone was saying you don’t need to beat Zeus but if you beat shiva and do the Sun god quests before the big 3 options you should be good.

[@mike-ns6sw]

@@virtuebro alright thanks

[@mike-ns6sw]

Alright beat Shiva and the sun dude Took me 1 hour to beat Shiva 😭

[@its_mugs2508]

is there a chance to go back and do quest before entering the final area?

[@virtuebro]

Yeah as long as you haven’t made the “big choice.” What I did was reload a file before that and tested various quest triggers.

[@TEKKAH_]

how in the world am I suppose to reach a level high enough to fight Shiva?? Ive been struggling with EXP my entire play through also did all side quest idk what to do lol

[@TheGlasses61]

Okay so I did everything this way except... The first thing. I offered to hand Amanazako off to the Tengu. I'm guessing I'm locked out?

[@virtuebro]

I think you may still be ok actually. I believe someone in the comments said it doesn’t matter what choice you make with that after all, at least in regards to getting the true neutral ending.

[@TheGlasses61]

@@virtuebro okay cool. And Shiva has to be taken down before the intitial destroy the throne choice? That's an odd choice. Level capping before you can go any further makes endgame stuff seem pointless lol

[@klaus.sfc01official30]

So just to make sure (and i hope vengeance didn't change anything about this route) as long as you do every quest and aren't a total pos + defeat shiva you unlock it naturally?

[@joeirl]

I'm bummed that we are required to beat Shiva before making the end game choice. I've made it through my entire first playthrough without any overleveling. I take it this means that I'll be defeating all the end game story bosses WAY overleveled. I can reload this save after obtaining the secret ending and take on Demi fiend whenever I want, correct? I don't plan on going NG+ at all. I decided to do everything first playthrough and just get the secret ending and hang up this awesome game. I just don't have the time to invest multiple playthroughs.

[@virtuebro]

I believe you can do the DLC if you reload the save after the ending. And I agree, its silly the super boss needs to be defeated for the secret ending because none of the end bosses are even close to as challenging.

[@LightningAce3757]

Question, Does it also require you to put your difficulty under Hard mode get the true secret ending? Or it doesn't matter?

[@virtuebro]

I don’t think difficulty matters thankfully.

[@LightningAce3757]

@@virtuebro Okay. Thanks a bunch for the tip Virtue. 😁😁

[@jdjgg9398]

I did everything on my first play through and I didn’t get it tfff

[@Ramash440]

Just finished the game for the first time. Banger of a game, as expected for an SMT title, but the ending was ... rather disappointing, and that's because I went in blind with absolutely zero spoilers and got the regular Neutral ending, which I shall henceforth call the Gimped Neutral because honestly it was kinda weak after all the buildup. I stumbled into Tsukuyomi thinking "Oh, another Empyrean midboss", clapped him (He was easier than Abdiel, I didn't even have a full MP team) and that's the game I guess. No Lucy boss after he basically showed up in a single cutscene and no mention of Nuwa, the first actual boss of the game besides Hydra. I actually did all quests except for the Shiva fight, which is unfortunate because I decided to not do him in my first run because I didn't want to be too overlevelled for the final boss. That's probably why most people seem to think you need to NG+ in order to get the True Neutral ending, Shiva is hard so the natural instinct is to just leave him for later. Oh, yeah, I also beat Zeus *after* Abdiel but most other people don't seem to be calling this quest mandatory for True Neutral. I'll keep it in mind just in case though. Well, I'm done complaining, I still want to see what Shohei and Nuwa's deal is so time to replay the whole damn thing.

[@PhazonKing]

Nonsense. I like all the different endings. But some people always have to complain -_-

[@Ramash440]

@@PhazonKing I mean, good for you but it's undeniable that the Destroy the Throne ending is weak compared to World For Humanity ending.

[@contrary]

I did The exact shit you did. Same.path and skipnshiva but got zeus. Fuck. Let down. Because I only saved one file before the big decision

[@darthjesusmiko]

Im a lawchad

Lmao i did all of that but choosing destroy the throne twice

[@virtuebro]

All the endings are worth seeing imo

[@basmaadelali5677]

I did the fairy village quests but when i went to were you diffeted Khonsou there was no quest

[@virtuebro]

I feel like I ran into the same issue and it turned out I was missing some other quests that chain from the Fairy Village. Check out this guide here and make sure you finished every quest related to Fairy Village. It's been a while but I vaguely remember one spins off into Area 3 or one of the other areas. www.rpgsite.net/feature/11920-shin-megami-tensei-v-quest-guide-all-quests-how-to-complete-them-rewards

[@moe433]

How is this "true ending" satisfying ? Isn't the regular neutral ending better with all humans and demons coexisting in the same world ?

[@patrinizer346]

I just had to kill Konshu didn't I? Sigh, 150 hours down the drain. No wonder I felt empty when I killed him.

[@jonyzom6055]

i did all quests and only 3 choices appeared it should be 4 right???

[@virtuebro]

Later on you will get another choice (2) and the second one is the secret ending. *Just make sure you pick choice 3 on the first set of choices (destroy the throne).

[@jonyzom6055]

@@virtuebro yup got the 4th ending in my first playthrough aiming for the rest thank you

[@youssefdraoui9197]

I dont know what kind of problem i have but i’ve done everything every single step you told us but it didnt work

[@virtuebro]

Did you already pass the point of no return (the “big question” at the end of ToE)? If not, try double checking your quest completion. Trying not to spoil anything in the comments in case some people are just watching the first spoiler-lite part of the vid. Feel free to PM me and we can try to figure it out.

[@youssefdraoui9197]

@@virtuebro no i didn’t pass it yet. I just got my compendium to 80% and received something from sophia and yet it didnt work and wasn’t enough. Are you sure Ng+ is not required? I mean everywhere i see they say it is required

[@virtuebro]

@@youssefdraoui9197 100% positive NG+ isn’t required. I actually still haven’t finished my own NG+ run, I got the true ending on my first play through.

[@youssefdraoui9197]

@@virtuebro thank you for confirming that. I will still look for a way if not i have to do the whole process again which really frustrating me. Thanks for your replies

[@virtuebro]

@@youssefdraoui9197 no problem! I hope you figure it out. The only thing I can think of is maybe a wrong quest choice at some point. But it’s so hard to tell…these SMT games always end up being so cryptic with stuff like this, though I think it gives them even more charm.

[@glimmerxp]

I think I goofed my last save Is after I fought abdiel after saving nuwa I totally forgot about shiva so I doubt beating shiva now will give me the secret ending :( good vid tho

[@virtuebro]

Sorry to hear but at least the game is awesome enough to warrant multiple new game + runs!

[@thelel6591]

if this is true i dont like how they handled the ending gameplay wise. shiva is the hardest boss. once u grind forever to beat him the real final boss will be a breeze because your overpowered. i wish shiva was after the final boss. whats the point of the exp from other remaining bosses? if it wont matter now that your op because u beat shiva

[@M.G.F427]

Well I picked neutral but I think I won't get the true ending because I still haven't done all the requirements

[@virtuebro]

Can always reload or do new game + at least.

[@M.G.F427]

@@virtuebro I only use one save file, I wanted to get an ending in a natural way, without guides or anything

[@virtuebro]

@@M.G.F427 ah, yeah I totally get that. Well, new game + is a good time. I really enjoyed SMT5 and see myself playing through it several times

[@noman1112]

shall i have to play Newgame+ to show me the 4th choice ?

[@virtuebro]

No, no 4th choice at the first big question. Pick the 3rd choice (destroy) then later if you have met all requirements you will get another choice.

[@noman1112]

@@virtuebro i killed Abdiel is that alright 😅

[@virtuebro]

@@noman1112 if you met all the other requirements before killing Abdiel you should have gotten an extra cutscene with a certain someone, and then given one more choice to make before the end of the game. If you killed Abdiel before the side quest completion requirements then unfortunately I don’t think you can get the 4th ending.

[@johneduardoctavianoiv9749]

How long did it take for you to get level 99?

[@kyle123456789986]

If you don't have the exp dlc I think you'd have to do ng+ to reach 99 without hard grinding because quests give gospels

[@citrone294]

I got the Lucifer boss fight in my first playthrough, even when I chose the recreate the world, and save Tokyo route. I allied with Yuzuru, and Nuwa didn't spoke to me in front of the throne. I did not fought againts Fionn or Shiva either. How is this possible? BTW I can't beat Lucifer, so I just give up the game.

[@dragoon1098]

I got the ending with out fighting shiva

[@sweatyman1234]

Holy shit so far I’ve actually been on this ending im at the part where I got all the keys just grinding for now till I hit level 90 for shiva (I like to be over leveled in all atlus games like persona and this)