
Persona 4 Golden: Conquering Happiness Hands
Happiness Hands are formidable foes in Persona 4 Golden, randomly appearing in dungeons and leaping from chests. Each encounter presents a tougher challenge than the last, making them some of the game's most difficult early-game enemies. However, defeating them yields substantial XP, making the effort worthwhile. This guide focuses on overcoming Happiness Hands in Yukiko's Castle.
Happiness Hand Weaknesses & Strategies
Happiness Hands are highly resistant to elemental attacks. The key to victory lies in exploiting their vulnerability to physical attacks. While Almighty attacks are effective against Golden Hands later in the game, this isn't an option early on. Happiness Hands inflict minimal damage and sometimes remain idle, but they flee at the first opportunity. A weakness exploit or critical hit guarantees their escape. Prioritize targeting a single Happiness Hand if multiple appear; defeating even one before they flee is a significant accomplishment.
Defeating Happiness Hands: A Step-by-Step Guide
The most crucial step is fusing Orobas, a Persona possessing the invaluable "Hysterical Slap" skill. This skill's double hit and low chance of inflicting Rage on the enemy is game-changing. A Raged Happiness Hand will continuously use its basic attack, preventing its escape. Orobas can be fused using:
- Apsaras + Forneus
- Apsaras + Slime
Before engaging, ensure your party is fully healed. Concentrate on using physical attacks that consume HP, avoiding any other actions. Utilize Yosuke's Sonic Punch, Chie's Skull Cracker, and the Protagonist's Hysterical Slap repeatedly. Early-game success relies heavily on luck due to limited options, but defeating a Happiness Hand provides significant party level-ups.
Crucial Note: Avoid All-Out Attacks unless a kill is guaranteed. Otherwise, the Happiness Hand will recover and flee.