10 Pro Tips to Master Your Time and Confidants in Persona 5 Royal

1. Prioritize Sun and Moon Confidants Early

The Sun (Yoshida) and Moon (Mishima) Confidants are time-sensitive and easy to rank up quickly. Yoshida only appears on Sundays and holidays, and his abilities boost negotiation chances. Mishima ranks automatically as you complete requests, so focus on them early to maximize benefits.

2. Rank Up Temperance for Time Freedom

Kawakami (Temperance) offers services that let you do evening activities after visiting Palaces or Mementos. Rank 7 unlocks a massage that lets you go out at night after infiltration. Get her to Rank 9 for the ability to do laundry or make tools during class.

3. Use Fortune Confidant to Boost Social Stats

Chihaya (Fortune) can predict outcomes and increase social stat gains. Her Money Reading also gives extra cash from battles. Prioritize her to Rank 5 for the ability to read fortunes that boost Charm, Guts, etc. without spending time.

4. Always Carry a Matching Persona

When hanging out with a Confidant, bring a Persona of the same Arcana in your stock. This increases affinity points earned per hangout, allowing you to rank up faster without needing multiple meetings. Check the arcana before going.

5. Exploit Temperance and Fortune to Save Days

Combine Kawakami’s massage (unlocks evening after Palace) with Chihaya’s luck reading to gain double social stat points. Also, use Chihaya’s Affinity Reading to boost relationship points before hangouts, ensuring you rank up even with lower initial affection.

6. Don't Neglect the Reaper for XP in Mementos

Once you unlock Mementos and reach a certain level, the Reaper appears. Defeating it gives massive XP and rare items. Use a strategy like freezing or confusion to farm it for levels, which helps in Palaces and saves time on grinding.

7. Complete Requests as Soon as You Get Them

Requests from Mishima or others often have time limits or unlock new Mementos areas. Doing them early prevents missing out and gives rewards like new Personas, money, or items. Plus, they increase Mishima’s rank.

8. Target the Tower Confidant for Battle Skills

Shinya Oda (Tower) provides gun-related abilities, including a guaranteed down shot. Unlock him after clearing the 3rd Palace. His skills make gun attacks viable and help with negotiation, especially for technical hits.

9. Use a Guide for Limited Time Events

Events like fireworks festival, school festival, and Christmas have unique events that may grant large affinity boosts or special items. Check a guide to ensure you don’t miss these once-per-playthrough opportunities.

10. Balance Social Stats with Confidants

Some Confidants require certain stat levels (e.g., Guts 3 for Iwai). Use the early game to raise Charm, Knowledge, etc. via part-time jobs, library, or diner. Plan a schedule: one day for stats, next for Confidant, etc.