This guide keeps things simple. No fancy jargon, no spoilers you’ll regret reading – just practical advice and small tips that make the game smoother. Whether you’re here to unlock every Confidant or just survive your first Palace, this walkthrough will make the ride easier.
Understanding the Basics
Persona 5 mixes everyday life simulation with turn-based combat. You spend your days attending classes, hanging out with friends, and fighting inside Palaces – surreal dungeons representing people’s distorted desires. Every action consumes time, and managing it wisely is the key to success.
- Morning: School and random classroom questions.
- Afternoon: Hangouts, studying, or working part-time.
- Evening: Train social stats or explore Mementos.
Time management sounds boring, but it’s where the charm of Persona 5 lies. One missed day could delay your Confidant rank, and that affects your abilities in battle later. So, every decision counts – even grabbing that drink at the vending machine.
Best Confidants to Prioritize
Confidants are people you bond with throughout the game. Ranking them up gives you special perks. Some improve your battle performance; others make life easier outside of combat. Here’s a quick breakdown of who you should focus on early.
| Confidant | Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Takemi (Death Arcana) | Discounts and better healing items | Cheaper recovery items = easier boss fights. |
| Kawakami (Temperance Arcana) | Lets you do evening activities after school jobs | Huge time-saver – perfect for building social stats faster. |
| Chihaya (Fortune Arcana) | Fortune readings that boost other Confidants | Helps max relationships much faster near the mid-game. |
| Yusuke (Emperor Arcana) | Allows skill card duplication | Lets you create stronger personas without grinding. |
| Sojiro (Hierophant Arcana) | Coffee brewing = SP recovery during Palaces | Vital early on when SP management is tough. |
You don’t need to max everyone on your first run, but you should focus on Confidants who directly help in Palaces. Building trust with friends like Morgana and Ryuji naturally progresses through the story, so balance your free time wisely.
Palace Tips: Don’t Waste Time
Palaces are long, puzzle-filled dungeons with enemies that can easily wipe your team if you’re careless. A good rule: never try to clear a Palace in one visit unless you’re overleveled or playing on easy. Instead, split your runs into smaller chunks to manage your SP and equipment better.
Always bring items that restore SP, because that’s what limits how long you can stay inside. Don’t ignore enemy weaknesses – hitting those consistently lets you pull off All-Out Attacks, which are your best source of damage early on.
| Palace | Recommended Level | Boss Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Kamoshida’s Palace | Lv 11-15 | Bring Morgana for healing. Use Zio attacks to stun enemies. |
| Madarame’s Palace | Lv 17-22 | Focus on AoE skills and save SP for the final fight. |
| Kaneshiro’s Palace | Lv 24-28 | Target the adds first, then burst the boss when he’s alone. |
| Futaba’s Palace | Lv 32-36 | Prepare for long exploration – lots of SP drain here. |
| Okumura’s Palace | Lv 40+ | Focus on one target at a time. Bring Bless and Curse users. |
Each Palace teaches you something new. Don’t rush through just to see the story – the combat gets easier when you take time to fuse better Personas and manage weaknesses strategically.
How to Manage Time Effectively
Persona 5’s biggest challenge isn’t combat – it’s balancing your daily life. You’ll constantly choose between hanging out, studying, working, or exploring. Here’s a general rule of thumb: mornings and afternoons are for academics or Confidants, and evenings are for side jobs or skill grinding.
- Study when it rains. You get a bonus to Knowledge points.
- Work part-time at the flower shop. It boosts Kindness – one of the harder stats to raise.
- Don’t forget the bathhouse. It’s an easy way to boost Charm early in the game.
- Read on the train. Use that daily commute efficiently!
It’s okay to make small mistakes. You can’t do everything perfectly in one run – and that’s fine. The game’s designed for replaying, so enjoy the story instead of obsessing over optimization.
How to Unlock the True Ending
This part is where most new players mess up. Persona 5 has multiple endings, and missing one dialogue choice can lock you into a “bad” outcome. Don’t worry – you don’t need a spoiler-heavy guide. Just remember this: always stick to your values, trust your team, and question authority when things seem off. If you do that, you’re on track for the best ending without even trying.
Royal players also have extra months of story content, but they only unlock if you rank up specific Confidants (Maruki, Akechi, and Kasumi) before a certain deadline. Treat that as a hint – not a chore.
Extra Tips That Save Hours
- Carry Personas matching your current Confidant’s Arcana – it doubles the bond points.
- Fuse early and often. Don’t get attached to weak Personas.
- Check the Velvet Room after every Palace; new fusions unlock with story progress.
- Save before every major decision or boss fight. Some choices matter more than they seem.
Final Thoughts
This persona 5 walkthrough isn’t about speedrunning or perfection. It’s about enjoying the game without the stress of missing everything. Persona 5 shines when you let it breathe – talk to people, explore the city, and fail a few times. That’s part of the story too.
If you follow this structure, you’ll hit all major beats, see the true ending, and have plenty of time to enjoy the side stories that make Persona 5 special. Take your time, trust your instincts, and most importantly – have fun being a Phantom Thief.
