Self-Defense is a game mechanic in Yandere Simulator determining how well Ayano Aishi and other NPCs will fare in a fight.
Gameplay[]
Struggle Mini-Game[]
In most cases, when a Heroic or Strict NPC sees Ayano committing murder, they will run up and attempt to apprehend Ayano, triggering a struggle mini-game. The mini-game will also trigger if Ayano attempts to directly attack a Teacher, or if an NPC witnesses Ayano killing people they care about.
The difficulty of the mini-game is determined by Ayano's physical education level and her opponent's self-defense level. If Ayano wins, she will end up stabbing her opponent to death. If she loses, she will be apprehended, leading to a Game Over. If Ayano is a member of the Martial Arts Club, she will automatically win the mini-game. As of the April 24th 2019 build, the mini-game has been "rebalanced", making it a lot easier to beat anyone in the mini-game (even Teachers), providing Ayano's physical education is maxed out.
If Ayano does not equip a small, concealable weapon (such as a knife) when the mini-game starts, she will automatically lose, regardless of her physical education level or her opponent's self-defense level.
In the Befriend/Betray quest for eliminating Osana Najimi, if the stalker discovers Ayano attempting to rescue Osana's cat, he will attempt to apprehend Ayano, initating the mini-game even though Ayano is not armed, as she will knock him out if she wins.
Fighting Mini-Game[]
This mini-game can only be triggered by the Delinquents, who all have the Violent persona. When Ayano provokes them into fighting her (by holding a weapon near them or bumping into them five times), this mini-game will start.
The difficulty of the mini-game is determined by Ayano's physical education. If Ayano wins, the delinquent will be drop his weapon and will be too injured to fight or push Ayano for the rest of the day. If Ayano loses, the delinquent will see that Ayano is unable to fight any longer and leaves her off with a warning. Ayano will then be injured for the rest of the day (but she is still able to fight them again). If they see Ayano commit murder, they will not stop fighting her until she is knocked out or they are dead.
If other students see Ayano fighting, her reputation will lower. If a student council member sees it, she will break up the fight. If a Teacher sees it, she will attempt to apprehend Ayano. If Senpai sees them fighting, it will result in an instant game over.
Sparring Mini-Game[]
This mini-game is very similar to the fighting mini-game. Ayano can spar with any of the members of the Martial Arts Club, supposedly to train her in a real fight. If Ayano loses, she will not be injured throughout the day.
This mini-game can be triggered by talking to Budo Masuta, leader of the Martial Arts Club, while he is in the club room or at the zen garden. Budo himself can be also be sparred with, but he is very difficult to beat, even with Ayano's physical education maxed out.
Variations[]
These are the various levels of self-defense for NPCs:
Invincible (Level 9)[]
Raibaru Fumetsu is currently the only student in the game to have this self-defense level, making her the strongest character to appear in the game so far. She is the friend and bodyguard of rival Osana Najimi. Due to her mastery in martial arts, she cannot be killed directly with a weapon, as doing so will always lead to instant apprehension and game over regardless on how high the player's Self-Defense level is. The same thing will also happen if she catches Ayano committing murder. She can even fend off a mindslave attack, which supposedly have superhuman strength.
However, she is not 100% invincible, as she can still be killed using a number of different ways (such as poisoning and drowning). She can also be rendered vulnerable when a mindslave is attacking her, allowing Ayano to assist the mindslave and successfully stab and kill her. In addition, Ayano can directly attack Raibaru if she has been weakened with any poison.
During Mission Mode, Raibaru Fumetsu's strength in her Student Info screen still says Invincible, though it is possible to kill her with a direct attack, and the difficulty of her struggle minigame is comparable to that of a Peak Physical Strength student.
It is possible that Osoro Shidesu will also have this self-defense level, since YandereDev hinted that she is as strong as Raibaru, and she is shown to break Ayano's arm in the same way as Raibaru.
Megami Saikou may also have this self-defense level, because using Info-Chan's Provide Student Info service on her will reveal her self defense to be Invincible. However, this may not be completely accurate, as it is still a long way to go before she is officially implemented. Her profile stated her to have extensive self-defense training, whether this means she is invincible or just as strong as faculty members is currently unknown. YandereDev once mentioned that Megami can fight on par with Raibaru.[1]
Armed (Level 8)[]
All the delinquents have this level of self-defense. They are all armed with melee weapons and will use them when fighting Ayano. If they are defeated in the fighting mini-game, they will be disarmed and will not be able to fight again for the rest of the day. If a disarmed delinquent sees Ayano commit a crime, instead of fighting her, they will run out of the school compound. If the delinquents are no longer allowed to bring weapons to school, their self-defense level changes to Peak Physical Strength. They will still push Ayano, but will never fight her again, unless they see her commit murder.
Carries Pepper Spray (Level 7)[]
Student Council members, Sonoko Sakanoue and The Journalist have this level of self-defense. Instead of initiating a struggle mini-game, the Student Council will pepper spray the player if she bumps into them five times, gets too close to them with a weapon, or see her commit murder, leading to an instant game over. If they catch the player doing something suspicious, but not incriminating, they will instead just send her to the guidance counselor. It is possible to kill them without stealth, as long as the player keeps her distance when attacking. In Mission Mode, Ayano can pay Info-Chan to get any of the student council members fired, causing them to lose their pepper spray and act like a normal student. However, if they catch Ayano committing a crime, they will still try to apprehend her unarmed, like a Heroic student normally would. The Journalist will pepper spray Ryoba if he catches her killing anyone, getting closer to him with a weapon, carrying a corpse or being bloody. Although Sonoko does the same fashion like the Student Council Members, but she won't send Ryoba to the guidance counselor if she catches her doing something suspicious. But if she witnesses Ryoba commit murder, she will take the Sleuth persona and runs out of the school. Choosing to chase her down with a weapon will cause Sonoko to pepper spray Ryoba.
Extensive Training (Level 6)[]
Because of a past incident in the 1980s, all faculty members are trained extensively in self-defense.[2] As such, their struggle mini-game is the most difficult in the game, requiring at least Rank 1 in Physical Education to even start the mini-game (or Ayano will be apprehended instantly). Beating them with low Physical Education levels is extremely difficult. They also cannot be stealth killed, as even attacking them from behind will still trigger the mini-game. They also cannot be killed with a large weapon. Doing so will lead to Ayano getting apprehended instantly.
Peak Physical Strength (Level 5)[]
Budo Masuta, Chigusa Busujima, Daizo Momose, Itachi Zametora, and Sachihiko Fukuoka have this level of self-defense, but only Budo, Daizo, Itachi and Sachihiko can actually fight the player as they have the heroic persona. All the Delinquents will also have this self-defense level if they are not allowed to bring weapons to school by the guidance counselor, arguably making them a bigger threat to Ayano. The Student Council will also have this self-defense level if one of them are fired in Mission Mode. The struggle mini-game of these students is somewhat easier than Teachers, but they are still very difficult to beat at Rank 1 in Physical Education. Unlike Teachers, they will not put up a fight when directly attacked by Ayano, though they will still try to chase her down and apprehend her if they see her commit a crime.
Very Strong (Level 4)[]
Sumiko Tachibana, Etsuji Odaka, Maaya Ohshi, Mina Rai, and Hojiro Zameshiro are the ones whose self-defense level is very strong. They are slightly weaker than Budo, but are still difficult to beat in the struggle mini-game. Sumiko will only apprehend Ryoba after her week as a rival.
Strong (Level 3)[]
Fuyukichi Kato, Tadaaki Sunada, Sho Kunin, Fureddo Jonzu and Unagi Denkashiza have this level of self-defense. They are opponents whose mini-game is of moderate difficulty. Though Fureddo has the Sleuth persona, he can still fight Ayano.
Weak (Level 2)[]
Etsuko Hayashibara, Nagako Ando, Shima Shita, and Iruka Dorufino have this level of self-defense. They are easier to beat in the struggle mini-game, however they still have the capability to defeat Ayano.
Very Weak (Level 1)[]
Juku Ren, Mantaro Sashimasu, Kyuji Konagawa, Toga Tabara, Himari Fujita, Osana Najimi, Haruto Yuto, Sota Yuki, Hayato Haruki, Ryusei Koki, Sora Sosuke, Koharu Hinata, Fuyumi Tachiki, Umanosuke Yoshinari, Kaguya Wakaizumi, Moeko Rakuyona, Honami Hodoshima, Ritsuko Chikanari, Ai Doruyashi, Teiko Nabatasai, and Komako Funakoshi have this level of self-defense, but only Juku, Himari, Mantaro, Hayato, Koharu, Fuyumi, and Umanosuke can actually fight the player as they have the heroic persona. Kyuji can also fight Ayano if he witnessed her killing Osana. Their struggle mini-game is very easy, but they still are capable of defeating Ayano.
Incapable (Level 0)[]
This is the level of self-defense most NPCs have. NPCs with this self-defense level will almost never engage in a struggle mini-game against Ayano, except some who will attempt to apprehend Ayano if they see her murdering their sibling, loved one or close friend. (e.g. Kokona Haruka and Saki Miyu, Riku Soma (if witnessing Ayano murdering Kokona Haruka) Ryuto Ippongo and Pippi Osu, the suitors, the Photography Club (if witnessing Ayano murdering another member) and the Basu sisters.)
Should they end up fighting Ayano, their struggle mini-game is so easy that even if Ayano's physical education is zero, they will always end up losing to Ayano (as the mini-game slider never moves towards the broken heart). They still can, however, apprehend Ayano if she isn't holding a concealable weapon when the mini-game starts, or if there are four of them (at which point they will all pin her to the ground).
Senpai also have this self-defense level and will never engage in a struggle mini-game. However, while other NPCs have to run up and apprehend Ayano, Senpai merely has to witness Ayano doing anything incriminating to cause an instant game over, technically making him an extremely powerful character in-game. Also, as of the April 24th 2019 build, if Senpai catches Ayano committing a murder while she is wearing a mask, he will rush towards her and rip the mask off her face, also causing an instant game over.
Physical Education[]
- Main Article: Study Points
To increase their physical education, the player must allocate 20 points into the physical education stat per rank. The higher their rank is, the easier it is to beat Heroes and teachers. When starting the game, they are at Rank 1 by default. Rank 6 is the highest rank.
Trivia[]
- Self-defense was implemented in the November 15th, 2015 Build.
- It was originally named "strength" but was changed to "self-defense" in the June 1st, 2016 Build.
- Spamming buttons to beat others when fighting will not work in the final game. It is only easy to spam for debugging purposes.[3]
- As of the April 15th, 2016 Build, there is a stats menu where the player can look at their current self-defense level.