Demon Fang

Demon Fang (魔神剣), alternatively Demon Fist (魔神拳) and Demon Dog (魔神犬), is a classic technique of the Tales series. This basic technique is usually one of the first artes that a character learns or starts with. All main protagonist characters thoroughout the Tales series have the capability to use this arte, with the exceptions of Kyle Dunamis from Tales of Destiny 2, Yuri Lowell from Tales of Vesperia, and Shing Meteoryte from Tales of Hearts.

Arte Description and History
When the Demon Fang arte is used, the character launches a ground projectile towards a target. This arte is useful for melee characters who need to stay away from enemies temporarily and damage them from a distance, while waiting for healing or support from an ally. However, this arte can travel only along the ground (with the exception of the games that use any form of the Aerial Linear Motion Battle System), causing it to miss any flying or jumping targets. In Tales of Symphonia, all forms of Demon Fang have the added effect to bring up enemies that have been knocked down, as well as being able to instantly guard break enemies if used from the side or behind an enemy.

Demon Fang has two main variants, corresponding with the kanji for "sword" (剣) for characters who use their weapon to create the projectile, and "fist" (拳) for characters who use their fist to create the same projectile force. Recently seen in Tales of Vesperia, the playable character Repede does a new variation which uses "dog" (犬). All forms of this arte are pronounced the same way in Japanese (majinken). The current official English naming convention follows the same pattern with "Demon Fang" and "Demon Fist", following up with "Demon Dog".

The Demon Fang arte first appeared in Tales of Phantasia, as the first arte Cress Albane learns. In the Tales of Fandom Gaiden bonus DVD, Cress says that Demon Fang is a "basic technique of Albane style fencing". This becomes a point of contention for Kyle Dunamis, as the only character in the Gaiden who lacks the ability to use Demon Fang, when it is suggested that one can be a "true hero" only if they can use Demon Fang.

In the original Tales of Destiny, Leon Magnus's Majinken is similar to what Stahn Aileron and he himself can use while in the party, despite being localized as Missile Blow when he uses it as an opponent. During later battles against him, however, Leon's Missile Blow releases two waves of energy, which is eventually developed in future games as another arte called Double Demon Fang.

In Tales of Rebirth, Majinken is not a normally learned arte. To use this arte, Veigue Lungberg requires the "Majin no Tamashii" accessory to be equipped in order to convert his Zehhyoujin arte to Majinken. This requirement is referenced in the sidequest to obtain this arte for Veigue in Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2, where Celsius takes Veigue to the end of the Prison Gate Cave in order for him to learn this "Majin no Tamashii" and successfully perform Majinken.

In Tales of the Tempest and the remake versions of Tales of Destiny, the arte can be used twice immediately to extend it into Majinken Souga (魔神剣・双牙). Additionally, in Tales of the Abyss, Guy Cecil's Demon Fang can be used within a complete Fire or Light FOF to transform into Infernal Torrent. Luke fon Fabre and Asch cannot do the same with their shared Demon Fist, which Luke learns through a sidequest involving finding and buying books of his style, the Albert-style.

In Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, Emil Castagnier can equip the support skill "Tenebrae" to turn his Demon Fang from a non-elemental projectile into a dark-elemental melee slash.

In Tales of Hearts, in addition to being available to Kunzite as a normally learned attack, Stahn Aileron can be summoned during battle through the Connect Command panel, to perform his own version of the arte. Stahn's version is actually a combo that chains together Demon Fang and Tempest into one attack.

Mothership Titles
Tales of Phantasia (SFC) - Cress Albane Tales of Destiny - Stahn Aileron, Leon Magnus (Missile Sword), Leon (Missile Blow) Tales of Phantasia (PSX) + Full Voice Edition (PSP) - Cress Albane Tales of Eternia - Reid Hershel, Valkyrie, Cress (Sonic Blade) Tales of Symphonia - Lloyd Irving, Kratos Aurion, Zelos Wilder (Demon Fang) Tales of Phantasia (GBA) - Cress Albane (Demon Fang) Tales of Rebirth - Veigue Lungberg Tales of Legendia - Chloe Valens (Demon Fang) Tales of the Abyss - Guy Cecil (Demon Fang) Tales of Destiny (PS2) + Director's Cut - Stahn Aileron, Leon Magnus Tales of Innocence - Ruca Milda, Spada Belforma, Asras Tales of Vesperia (X360) - Flynn Scifo, Traitor to Heaven (Demon Fang) Tales of Hearts - Kunzite, Guy; Support Arte: Stahn Aileron Tales of Vesperia (PS3) - Flynn Scifo, Leblanc, Traitor to Heaven Tales of Graces - Asbel Lhant Tales of Xillia - Alvin, Wingull, Gaius

Escort Titles
Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon - Squire costume, Knight costume, Swordsman costume, Samurai costume, Gladiator costume, Fire Knight costume, Dragon Knight costume, Cress costume Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 2 - Swordsman costume, Hail Swordsman costume, Berserker/Amazoness costumes, Demonic Swordsman costume, Thunder Swordsman costume, Holy Swordsman costume Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3 - Swordsman costume, Valkyrie costume, Cress Albane, Stahn Aileron, Reid Hershel, Lloyd Irving Tales of the Tempest - Caius Qualls Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology - Swordsman class, Magic Knight class, Stahn Aileron, Leon Magnus, Reid Hershel, Lloyd Irving, Kratos Aurion (Demon Fang) Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World - Emil Castagnier, Zelos Wilder, Lloyd Irving (Demon Fang) Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 - Swordsman class, Magic Knight class, Twinsword class, Cress Albane, Stahn Aileron, Leon Magnus, Reid Hershel, Lloyd Irving, Kratos Aurion, Zelos Wilder, Veigue Lungberg, Chloe Valens, Guy Cecil, Caius Qualls, Ruca Milda, Spada Belforma Tales of VS. - Cress Albane, Stahn Aileron, Leon Magnus, Lloyd Irving, Kratos Aurion, Caius Qualls, Ruca Milda Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon X - all Swordsman costumes, Cress Albane Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 3 - Swordsman class, Magic Knight class, Twinsword class, Cress Albane, Stahn Aileron, Leon Magnus, Reid Hershel, Lloyd Irving, Kratos Aurion, Zelos Wilder, Veigue Lungberg, Chloe Valens, Guy Cecil, Caius Qualls, Ruca Milda, Spada Belforma, Flynn Scifo, Emil Castagnier, Asbel Lhant

Fan-Translated Names
Tales of Phantasia (SFC) (DeJap Translations): Psion Bolt Tales of Phantasia (PSX) (Absolute Zero): Demonic Blade Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 2 (Kajitani-Eizan): Demon Fang Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3 (Kajitani-Eizan): Demon Fang

Tales of Phantasia
Japanese Description: 剣圧を飛ばして遠距離の敵を攻撃する技 Romanization: Ken'atsu wo tobashite enkyori no teki wo kougeki suru waza Translated Description (DeJap Translations): "Fires a bolt of energy along the ground at the enemy."

Tales of Destiny
Localized Description: "A projectile created by air pressure from a sword swing."

Tales of Eternia
Localized Description: "Attack the enemy with sonic ripples. An effective skill for mid-range attack."

Tales of Phantasia (GBA)
Japanese Description: 剣圧を飛ばして敵を攻撃する技 Romanization: Ken'atsu wo tobashite teki wo kougeki suru Localized Description: "Attack enemy by firing sword force."

Tales of Symphonia
Localized Description: "Lv. 1 Sp. Attack: attack with a powerful shockwave (attack is linkable)."

Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3
Japanese Description: 地を這う衝撃波を放つ Romanization: Chi o genushougekiha o houtsu. Literal Translation: "Fired a ground crawling shock wave." Translated Description (Kajitani-Eizan): "Fires a shock wave."

Tales of Rebirth
Literally Translated Quote: "I won't let you do as you please!"

Tales of Legendia
Localized Description: "Base: Unleash a powerful shockwave along the ground."

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology
Localized Description: "Base: Release a cutting shockwave along the ground."

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Localized Description: "Base: Release a cutting shockwave along the ground. Base arte can be connected from a regular attack."

Tales of Vesperia
Localized Description: "Base Arte: Release a cutting shockwave along the ground."

Mothership Titles
Tales of Legendia - Senel Coolidge (Demon Fist) Tales of the Abyss - Luke fon Fabre, Asch (Demon Fist) Tales of Graces ƒ - Asbel Lhant Tales of Xillia - Jude Mathis

Escort Titles
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology - Warrior class, Fighter class, Senel Coolidge, Luke fon Fabre (Demon Fist) Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 - Monk class, Senel Coolidge, Luke fon Fabre Tales of VS. - Senel Coolidge, Luke fon Fabre Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 3 - Monk class, Senel Coolidge, Luke fon Fabre

Tales of Legendia
Localized Description: "Unleash a powerful shockwave across the ground."

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology
Localized Description: "Base: Release a crushing shockwave along the ground."

Mothership Titles
Tales of Vesperia - Repede (Demon Dog)