Unlocking the Third Semester: A Guide to Persona 5 Royal's Requirements
With Persona 5 Royal now available on multiple platforms, it's crucial for newcomers to understand how to access the game’s enhanced content. This guide details the specific requirements to unlock the additional story content, ensuring players don’t miss out on the new experiences that Persona 5 Royal has to offer.
The Core Requirement: Councillor Confidant
The primary condition for unlocking the third semester content is to maximize your relationship with the Councillor Confidant, Takuto Maruki.
- Deadline: You must reach Rank 9 with Maruki before November 18th (effectively, November 17th), coinciding with the deadline for the sixth Palace.
- Introduction: Maruki is introduced on May 13th in an unmissable story scene following the first Palace.
- Availability: After his introduction, Maruki can be found on the ground floor of the practice building at Shujin Academy on most weekdays.
- Rank 10: If you reach Rank 9 before the deadline, Maruki’s final rank event will occur automatically, locking in the third semester. Note that the new story content will not begin until December 24th.
Optional, but Recommended: Justice and Faith Confidants
While ranking up the Councillor Confidant is the main requirement, two other Confidants offer additional scenes and enrich the third semester experience. These are Goro Akechi (Justice) and Kasumi Yoshizawa (Faith).
Justice Confidant (Goro Akechi)
Unlike the original Persona 5, the Justice Confidant doesn't rank up automatically in Persona 5 Royal. You must actively spend time with Akechi to deepen your bond.
- Introduction: Akechi's Confidant is introduced on June 10th during the school social studies trip.
- Location: Hang out with Akechi in the Royal-exclusive Kichijoji region.
- Arcana: Bring a Persona of the Justice arcana to Akechi’s hangout events to increase your rank faster.
- Stat Requirements: Akechi’s rank 3 hangout requires level 3 Knowledge and level 3 Charm.
- Availability: After reaching rank 5, his rank 6 event won't be available until September 2nd. Following that, his rank 7 event is not available until November 2nd and also requires level 4 Knowledge.
- Deadline: Reach rank 8 before November 18th (November 17th). If this is achieved, unmissable rank 9 and rank 10 events will be triggered during the story.
Faith Confidant (Kasumi Yoshizawa)
Yoshizawa's Confidant is shorter than the others, but still important for a complete experience.
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- Introduction: Yoshizawa is introduced at the start of the story, but her Confidant is not unlocked until May 30th during the school cleaning trip.
- Location: She can be ranked up in the Kichijoji region after the unlocking event.
- Availability: Yoshizawa is not as frequently available as Maruki or Akechi.
- Deadline: The final deadline for reaching rank 5 is November 17th. The earliest players can reach max rank is July 28th.
Why Maxing Confidants Matters
These Confidants are linked to additional story content in Persona 5 Royal. Prioritize ranking up the Councillor Confidant (Maruki), keeping in mind that he is a member of the school staff and is therefore only available when the school is open.
The Third Semester: A Divisive Addition
While the third semester offers new content, it has also been a point of contention among players. Some criticisms include:
- Questionable Morals: The narrative explores complex themes, and some players find the morals presented in the third semester questionable and unaddressed.
- Pacing Issues: Despite the length of the third semester, some feel that key character developments, such as Kasumi getting over her problems and Maruki's change of heart, are glossed over.
- Forced Perspective: The game can be insistent about ranking up certain Confidants, which some players find intrusive.
Is it worth it?
Despite the criticisms, many players find the third semester to be a valuable addition to Persona 5 Royal, offering new insights into the characters and themes of the game. By fulfilling the requirements outlined above, players can ensure they experience the full scope of Persona 5 Royal's story.
Addressing Common Concerns
Some players express frustration at missing the third semester content on their first playthrough. It's important to recognize that Persona 5 Royal, like many complex RPGs, has optional content that may be missed. While the game provides some hints, it doesn't explicitly spell out the consequences of not maxing out specific Confidants.
For those who miss the third semester, New Game Plus offers an opportunity to replay the game with increased stats and abilities, allowing for a faster and more efficient playthrough.
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