Conquering Happiness Hands in Persona 4 Golden: A Guide

Happiness Hands, formidable foes in Persona 4 Golden, randomly appear in dungeons, lurking in the open or springing from chests. Each encounter presents a tougher challenge than the last, making them some of the game's most difficult enemies. Despite their strength, defeating them yields substantial XP, making the battle worthwhile. This guide focuses on overcoming Happiness Hands, specifically those found early in Yukiko's Castle.

Happiness Hand Weaknesses and Strategies

Happiness Hands boast strong resistance 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, they're unavailable early on. Happiness Hands inflict minimal damage and often waste turns, but they'll flee if given the opportunity. A weakness exploit or critical hit triggers their escape. Prioritize targeting a single Happiness Hand if multiple appear; defeating even one is a significant achievement at this stage.

Defeating Happiness Hands: A Step-by-Step Approach

The most effective strategy involves fusing Orobas, a Persona possessing the invaluable skill Hysterical Slap. This skill delivers two hits and has a small chance of inflicting Rage, preventing the enemy's escape. Orobas can be fused using:

• Apsaras + Forneus
• Apsaras + Slime

Before engaging, ensure your party is fully healed. Focus solely on physical attacks that consume HP, avoiding other actions. Utilize these attacks:

• Yosuke: Sonic Punch
• Chie: Skull Cracker
• Protagonist: Hysterical Slap

Repeat this cycle until victory. Success relies heavily on luck early in the game due to limited options. However, defeating even one Happiness Hand provides significant experience points for your party.

Crucial Note: If you down a Happiness Hand, avoid using an All-Out Attack unless you're certain of a kill. Otherwise, it will recover and flee.