Unlocking Perfection: Maxing Out All Confidants in Persona 5 Royal
Yes, absolutely, you can max out all Confidants in Persona 5 Royal in a single playthrough. It requires a strategic approach, careful time management, and a little foreknowledge, but it’s entirely achievable. Forget multiple playthroughs just to see everyone’s story completed; with the right planning, you can witness every character’s development and unlock their ultimate abilities in one go. This guide will lay out how to do just that.
The Path to Max Rank: A Step-by-Step Guide
Maxing Confidants isn’t just about hanging out; it’s a delicate dance of dialogue choices, gift-giving, and stat optimization.
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Social Stats are Key: The most crucial aspect. You can’t progress many Confidants without sufficient Guts, Knowledge, Charm, Proficiency, and Kindness. Focus on raising these early in the game. The library is your friend! Use your time on rainy days to study to boost Knowledge!
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Persona of the Matching Arcana: Always carry a Persona that matches the Arcana of the Confidant you’re spending time with. This provides a significant boost to your relationship points, allowing you to rank up faster.
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Dialogue Choices Matter: Pay close attention to the dialogue options presented during Confidant events. Choose the responses that resonate best with the character’s personality and goals.
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Gifts that Give: Giving gifts is a great way to boost relationships. Specific Confidants have preferred items, so do a little research to maximize the benefit.
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Fortune Teller’s Power: Max out the Fortune Confidant (Chihaya) as soon as possible. Her abilities, especially “Relationship Readings”, are invaluable for speeding up the Confidant leveling process.
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Temperance is Your Friend: Maxing the Temperance Confidant (Kawakami) offers invaluable time-saving abilities, allowing you to go out at night even after exploring a Palace or Mementos during the day.
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Plan Your Days: Use a guide or spreadsheet to plan each day, ensuring you’re making the most of your time. Prioritize Confidants with upcoming deadlines or those that provide valuable abilities.
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Take Advantage of Extra Events: Pay attention to text messages from confidants, and hang out with them when they are available. These extra events will improve your relationship more effectively than hanging out with them randomly.
The Consequences of Maxing Out
Reaching Rank 10 with each Confidant unlocks several benefits.
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Ultimate Persona: It allows you to create the ultimate Persona of that Arcana.
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Unique Abilities: Confidants grant incredibly useful abilities, such as allowing party members to withstand fatal blows or providing extra turns in battle.
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Key Items: Upon starting a New Game Plus, carrying over the key items you get from maxing confidants will let you start where you left off in a new game with the same person and the same benefits.
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Story Completion: Experiencing the full story arcs of each character.
Deadlines and Time Management
While most Confidants are available throughout the game, some have specific deadlines. Keep in mind the deadline for all confidants is on 12/22.
- Councillor (Maruki): Needs to be at Rank 9 by November 17th to unlock the third semester.
- Justice (Akechi): Must reach Rank 8 by November 17th. (Ranks 9 and 10 are automatic).
- Faith (Yoshizawa): Must reach Rank 5 by December 18th.
Failing to meet these deadlines will lock you out of their storylines and potential game endings.
Romance or Friendship? The Choice is Yours
While you can romance certain female Confidants, it’s entirely possible to max out everyone’s rank without entering a romantic relationship. The game presents clear dialogue choices indicating romantic intent, so simply avoid those options if you prefer a platonic relationship.
The Cheater’s Dilemma
Dating multiple girls in Persona 5 Royal has consequences. On Valentine’s Day, you’ll face a hilarious (but potentially guilt-inducing) scene where all your romantic partners confront you. While there are no permanent gameplay penalties, you might feel like a jerk.
Utilizing Resources for Success
Don’t be afraid to consult online resources, such as guides, spreadsheets, and forums, to optimize your Confidant leveling strategy. However, try to strike a balance between efficiency and enjoying the story. Over-reliance on guides can diminish the sense of discovery and accomplishment.
The Importance of a Well-Rounded Playthrough
Maxing out Confidants is not just about efficiency. It’s also about engaging with the world of Persona 5 Royal. Take your time, explore the environment, talk to NPCs, and immerse yourself in the story. A well-rounded playthrough is not only more enjoyable but also provides valuable context for the characters’ stories and motivations.
Embrace the Challenge
Maxing all Confidants in Persona 5 Royal is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. It requires planning, dedication, and a willingness to learn. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this guide, you can achieve this feat and unlock the full potential of your Persona experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is it possible to max rank all confidants on first run in Persona 5 Royal?
Yes, it is absolutely possible to max rank all Confidants on your first playthrough of Persona 5 Royal. It requires strategic planning, efficient time management, and utilizing resources wisely.
2. What happens if you max out all confidants in Persona 5 Royal?
Maxing out a Confidant grants you their ultimate abilities, unlocks their ultimate Persona, and upon starting a New Game Plus, carrying over the key items you get from maxing confidants will let you start where you left off in a new game with the same person and the same benefits.
3. Can you get Kawakami (Temperance) rank 10 without romance in Persona 5 Royal?
Yes, you can max out Kawakami’s Confidant without romancing her. The game provides clear dialogue choices to avoid romantic involvement.
4. Is it easy to max out all confidants in Persona 5 Royal?
It is easier to max out all Confidants in Persona 5 Royal compared to previous Persona games, thanks to additional dialogue options, the Fortune Confidant, and time-saving abilities. However, it still requires planning and effort.
5. Which confidants have deadlines in Persona 5 Royal?
The Councillor (Maruki) has a deadline of November 17th, Justice (Akechi) must reach Rank 8 by November 17th, and Faith (Yoshizawa) must reach Rank 5 by December 18th. All confidants must be started by December 22.
6. Can you still max confidants without romance in Persona 5 Royal?
Yes, you can absolutely max out Confidants without romancing them. Just choose the platonic dialogue options when they appear.
7. What happens if you date every girl in Persona 5 Royal?
If you date multiple girls, there will be a bonus scene on Valentine’s Day where they confront you about your cheating. This results in a humorous but awkward situation.
8. What is Kawakami’s (Temperance) rank 10 ability in Persona 5 Royal?
At Rank 10, Kawakami unlocks the Special Massage, which allows Joker to spend the evening outside Leblanc after a day in the Metaverse. She also provides free Housekeeping services.
9. Which confidant is generally considered the easiest to romance in Persona 5 Royal?
Makoto is often considered the easiest romance option due to her strong personality, plot relevance, and straightforward romance path.
10. Which confidants should you prioritize maxing out first in Persona 5 Royal?
Prioritize the Fortune (Chihaya) and Temperance (Kawakami) Confidants, as their abilities provide significant benefits to your overall schedule and Confidant leveling process.
11. How do you max out confidants fast in Persona 5 Royal?
Focus on leveling up the Fortune Confidant ASAP, completing Palaces in one day, maximizing your social stats, and always carrying a Persona of the corresponding Arcana.
12. Is it possible to 100% Persona 5 Royal in one playthrough?
While you can max all confidants on one play through, you cannot get 100% in one playthrough. You will need a guide and at least two play throughs.
13. What is level 10 Strength Confidant (Twins) Persona 5 Royal?
At rank 10 of the Strength Confidant, you unlock Special Treatment, which allows you to create Personas of any level, even ones higher than your own.
14. Does Persona 5 Royal punish you for cheating?
The only punishment for cheating is the Valentine’s Day scene. There are no lasting gameplay consequences.
15. What is the easiest way to max out confidants in Persona 5 Royal?
The easiest way is to first max out Guts, Knowledge, Charm, Proficiency, and Kindness. Then max the Fortune and Temperance confidants.
Engaging with games goes beyond just playing; understanding the mechanics and strategies enhances the experience, and exploring the educational aspects of gaming can be incredibly valuable. For more insights into the intersection of games and learning, be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.