Persona 5 Royal: Prioritizing Confidants for the True Ending and Beyond

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So, you’re diving into the captivating world of Persona 5 Royal and aiming for that elusive true ending? Excellent choice! It’s a journey well worth taking, but it requires strategic planning, especially when it comes to Confidants. Forget about just choosing your favorite characters; for the true ending, you need to focus on specific relationships. Here’s the definitive guide on which Confidants to prioritize and why.

The core Confidants you absolutely must prioritize to unlock the true ending in Persona 5 Royal are:

• Takuto Maruki (Councillor): Reach Rank 9 before November 18th. This is non-negotiable. Miss this deadline, and you’re locked out of the third semester content entirely.
• Goro Akechi (Justice): Reach Rank 8 before November 18th. Important note: Some sources indicate the deadline may be November 24th. However, erring on the side of caution with November 18th is highly recommended to ensure you don’t miss this crucial requirement. Also, to properly advance, you must pick certain dialogue options.
• Kasumi Yoshizawa (Faith): Reach Rank 5 before December 18th. Fortunately, she only has five ranks, making her easier to manage than the others.

Prioritizing these three above all others is crucial. Without maxing them out at the right time, you will be missing out on the true ending. They are important for the advancement of the story, and you will miss out on key content.

Beyond the True Ending: Confidants for Gameplay Advantage

While the above Confidants are essential for the story, several others provide significant gameplay benefits that you should aim to prioritize:

• Kawakami Sadayo (Temperance): This is huge. Becky, the Temperance Confidant, dramatically increases your free time by allowing you to slack off in class, make tools, and even go out at night after exploring a Palace. Level her up ASAP.
• Chihaya Mifune (Fortune): Indispensable for efficient Confidant management. Her abilities let you improve your social stats faster, deepen your bond with other Confidants, and even predict which dialogue choices will yield the best results. Reach Rank 5 ASAP to unlock her relationship boosting skill. Remember that you need to visit her 3 times and complete a mementos request before you can even initiate Rank 1.
• Igor (Fool): This one progresses automatically through the story. As the fool persona of the series, he is vital to your growth.
• Morgana (Magician): This one also progresses automatically through the story. As the Magician persona of the series, he is vital to your growth.
• Ryuji Sakamoto (Chariot): Unlocking his “Insta-Kill” ability makes grinding in Mementos much, much faster.

Other Valuable Confidants

• Ann Takamaki (Lovers): Grants follow-up attacks in battle.
• Yusuke Kitagawa (Emperor): Allows for skill card duplication, crucial for efficient Persona building.
• Makoto Niijima (Priestess): Provides defensive buffs and analysis in battle.
• Futaba Sakura (Hermit): Offers a variety of support abilities during battles.
• Hifumi Togo (Star): Allows you to swap party members in battle and escape guaranteed ambushes.

Tips for Efficient Confidant Management

• Gifts: Giving a Confidant a gift they like will boost your relationship with them.
• Dialogue Choices: Always choose dialogue options that resonate with the Confidant’s personality.
• Social Stats: Raise your social stats (Knowledge, Guts, Proficiency, Kindness, Charm) early and often, as they are required to initiate or advance some Confidant relationships.
• Fortune Readings: Utilize Chihaya’s abilities to boost Confidant relationships even when you don’t have enough points to rank up.
• Plan Your Days: Use a guide or calendar to plan your days and optimize your time.

By strategically prioritizing these Confidants, you’ll not only unlock the true ending of Persona 5 Royal but also gain significant advantages in combat, exploration, and Persona fusion. Happy Phantom Thieving! Confidants are an integral part of the Persona experience, and choosing the right ones to focus on can make all the difference! You can learn more about the nuances of game design and how these elements contribute to the overall experience by exploring resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further assist you in navigating the complexities of Confidants in Persona 5 Royal:

1. Do all Confidants have deadlines?

   Yes, all Confidants become unavailable after December 22nd. However, some, like the Councillor (Maruki), Justice (Akechi), Sun, and Temperance, have earlier deadlines in mid-November. Yoshizawa (Faith) has a deadline of December 18th.

2. What happens if I miss Maruki’s Rank 9 deadline?

   If you fail to reach Rank 9 with Maruki before November 18th, you will be locked out of the third semester content and will not be able to achieve the true ending.

3. What happens if I miss Akechi’s Rank 8 deadline?

   Similar to Maruki, failing to reach Rank 8 with Akechi before November 18th (or possibly November 24th) will prevent you from accessing the true ending content.

4. What happens if I miss Kasumi’s Rank 5 deadline?

   Like Maruki and Akechi, failing to reach Rank 5 with Kasumi before December 18th will prevent you from accessing the true ending content.

5. Can I complete all Confidants in one playthrough?

   Yes, it is possible, but it requires careful planning and efficient time management. Utilizing Chihaya’s abilities and looking up optimal dialogue choices is highly recommended.

6. Do I need to romance a Confidant to max out their rank?

   No, you can max out a Confidant without choosing the romantic option. The game typically makes it clear when a romantic choice is available.

7. Do social stats affect confindants?

   Yes, sometimes social stats can affect your access to certain confidants. You will want to be aware of the specific requirements for the various confidants so that you can plan ahead and ensure you are able to make progress.

8. Which social stats are most important to raise early?

   Knowledge, Guts, Proficiency, Kindness, and Charm are all important, as they are required to initiate or advance some Confidant relationships. Focus on raising them strategically based on the Confidants you want to prioritize.

9. What are the best gifts to give to Confidants?

   The best gifts vary depending on the Confidant. Consult a guide to find out which gifts each character prefers for maximum relationship boost.

10. How does Chihaya’s Fortune Confidant ability work?

    Chihaya’s abilities allow you to pay to increase your social stats, deepen your bond with other Confidants, and even predict which dialogue choices will yield the best results.

11. Is Futaba’s Confidant worth leveling up?

    Yes, Futaba’s Confidant provides valuable support abilities during battles, making her a worthwhile investment.

12. Are there any confidants that can be missed?

    Yes, failing to befriend certain individuals prior to their departure will render their confidant unavaliable. Plan ahead and you will be able to avoid this.

13. What happens if I refuse the offers on January 9th and February 2nd?

    Refusing both offers is essential for unlocking the true ending. Accepting either offer will lead to a bad ending.

14. Can I still max out Confidants in New Game Plus?

    Yes, New Game Plus carries over your social stats, making it much easier to max out all Confidants in a single playthrough.

15. Which Confidant abilities are most useful in New Game Plus?

    Temperance (Kawakami) and Fortune (Chihaya) are particularly useful in New Game Plus, as their abilities allow you to save significant amounts of time.