Quick Links
Persona 5 Royalimmerses you in a variety of social links or as this title likes to refer them,your Confidants, and one of the various popular ones you can develop a bond is with the Priestess Arcana’s Makoto Nijima.
She’s the Shujin Academy’s Student Council Presidentwith a cold first impression but fully opens up during theBank of Gluttony arcas she awakens her Persona, and later becomes an unlockable Confidant for Joker.
Persona 5 Royal: Akechi Confidant Guide
A new confidant to the royal edition, and a crucial one for bonus late-game content, here’s a guide to Akechi’s confidant in Persona 5 Royal.
In this guide, I’ve detailed all the confidant ranks for Makoto Nijima with how many points each dialogue choice gives, if the abilities are worth it, and some general notes before each rank from someone who’s immersed countless hours into the game.
It’s strongly advised that you have aPriestess Arcana Personain your inventory to ensure you get the maximum points with each dialogue choice.
Makoto Nijima Confidant Abilities
Are her abilities worth it? Absolutely. Themost notable Confidant Abilityhere is theShadow Factorization ability,especially for the mid-to-late-game dungeons.
You want this specificallyto make identifying enemy weaknesses a breeze,and even besides that,Makoto is one of the best party members in the game, having access to a full-heal ability withMediaharan and powerful Nuke-buff passive skills.
Below are all the Confidant abilities for Makoto Nijima in Persona 5 Royal:
Social Link Rank
Description
Shadow Calculus
Allows you to see skills and potential item drops on the analysis screen.
Baton Pass
Allows you to pass your turn over to other Baton Pass users after 1 More.
Brainiac Talk
Chance to step in after Shadow negotiation fails, allowing a retry.
Chance to perform a follow-up attack if Joker’s attack does not down the enemy.
Harisen Recovery
Chance to cure status ailments inflicted upon party members.
Shadow Factorization
Allows you to see Null, Repel, and Drain when highlighting a target in battle.
Chance to withstand an otherwise fatal attack with 1 HP remaining.
Chance to shield Joker from an otherwise fatal attack.
Max Social Link Rank
Second Awakening
Transforms her Persona into a mythological trickster. (Anat)
You can initiate your Confidant status with Makoto from 06/24 onwards,but the main requirement to start it isRank 3 Knowledge (Scholarly).
She’s on the third floor of Shujin Academy, in front of the Student Council office room. The first event with her isn’t anything special,Joker takes Makoto to the arcade so she can “broaden her horizons"and get into a comfort zone.
Feel free to choose any choice here,but the one that’ll determine the points comes after the Confidant Rank 1screen, which I have detailed below along with the total points each of the three choices gives you:
“I’ve had all kinds of new experiences today.. and it’s even been a little fun.”
Let’s go again sometime +3
It’s a new you. +3
The red-light district next? +3
Joker takes Makoto to the Red Light District in Shinjukuwhere she learns of the twisted underground world.
Most importantly, in the end, she witnesses a familiar Shujin Academy student entering a salon here, suspicious enough for Makoto to ask them next time in school, with Joker as the witness.
Below are the dialogue options with the maximum amount of social link points they give:
“I heard there were quite a few brothels here as well.”
You’re very well informed. +2
Have you ever been here? 0
Stay close to me. 0
“If you hadn’t been there to rescue me, I…”
You should have known better. +2
That was dangerous. +3
You get flustered easily, huh? 0
" ‘The After School Salon’…?”
Why is it called a Salon? 0
What kind of place is that? 0
“Today was exhausting, but I also learned a lot. I guess nothing beats practical experience.”
Couldn’t agree more. +2
He just wouldn’t give up. 0
Let’s actually go in next time. 0
Joker and Makoto sit down with Eiko Takao,the student who visited the After-School Salon in the previous social link event, and who also happens to be a student Makoto briefly studied with at some time.
After a brief back-and-forth with each other, Eiko learns Makoto’s similar fondness for the Buchimaru-kun Panda, prompting her to exchange phone numbers to stay in touch.
Below are the dialogue choices and as always,as a reminder, verify to have a Priestess Arcana Personain your inventory for the highest points possible:
“What’s up with that, Miss Prez?”
You have the wrong idea. +2
So what if we were together? 0
It’s none of your business. 0
“She thought I was a robot…”
Don’t let it get to you. +2
You can change. +3
Beep boop 0
“It was crazy to see a picture of her entire collection. She even has a bunch of Buchimaru-kun emoticons!”
Sounds like you two get along. +2
Buchimaru-kun? 0
Okay, clam down. 0
Makoto tells Joker how she got a lower score than usual on one of her tests, questions the meaning behind studying so hard for the grand scheme of things, and worries about Eiko.
She also opens up a little about her sister Saeand how her dad used to be a Police Officer before he passed away. The dialogue options for this social rank are listed below:
“So, my class had a practice entrance exam… and my score was significantly lower than last time. I’m concerned…”
That’s unlike you. +2
Is Thieves work distracting you? 0
I’m sure you did better than last time. 0
“I spoke to Eiko about this matter as well, but the answer hasn’t become any clearer…”
“Even at that, her vision of the future is still clearer than mine.”
Don’t you have goals? 0
What about college? 0
What do you mean? 0
“I sent her a picture… and it’s apparently the same brand they use in the nurse’s office at school.”
Why do you use it? +3
That’s adorable. +2
You’re not very ladylike… 0
“I had completely forgotten about that dream, to be honest…”
Do you still want to pursue it? 0
I like a woman in uniform. +2
It’s an amazing goal. +3
Makoto asks usif we can pretend to be her boyfriendnext time to meet Eiko and her boyfriend on a double date to learn more about their relationship.
“Since then, he’s the only thing she’ll talk about. She even sent me a picture of their date at Destinyland.”
Are you jealous of them? 0
That’s annoying. +2
He sounds suspicious. +3
“This time, um… you’ll have to play the role of my boyfriend.”
I got this. +3
Why do I have to do it? 0
Only if I can take it seriously. +2
“But if it turns out he really is toying with Eiko… what should we do…?”
Fist! Of! Justice! 0
Report him to the police. 0
attempt to reach out to her. +2
Persona 5 Royal: Maruki Confidant Guide
A new character to the Royal edition, and arguably the most important social link in the game, here’s a guide to Maruki’s confidant in Persona 5 Royal
Prerequisite:To start Makoto’s Rank 6 Social Link event, you’ll needMax Rank Charm (Debonair)
As you and Makoto join Eiko’s boyfriend Tsukasa at the diner, Makoto’s suspicions turn out to be true for the most part.This ‘boyfriend’ is a Hostwho seemingly is taking advantage of Eiko’s affection for his own means.
To make it worse, when Eiko leaves, he ends up asking Makoto for her number. But hey as much as we want to punch this guy right there, choosing the correct dialogueto safely advance to her next social rank is key,so don’t be brash here.
“Are you seriously datin'?”
We just started. +2
We’re fighting right now. 0
Love comes in many forms. +3
“I-I, um…”
Don’t be so pushy. 0
Back off. 0
Here, have my number instead. 0
“Am I just… getting in the way of their happiness?”
No, you’re being considerate. 0
You worry too much. 0
Probably a little. 0
“He uses these weird symbols—I have no idea what he’s saying. I want to ignore him, but I shouldn’t for Eiko’s sake…”
Tell him you’re on a date. +2
You’re allowed to ignore him. 0
Fire the same thing back. 0
We get to learn more about Makoto’s father and how he passed awayinvolving an incident with the Shinjuku gangs. And most importantly, how this led Makoto’s sister Sae Nijima to become a Prosecutor who had to raise Makoto alone after their parents passed away.
Below are the dialogue choices and answers for this Social Link event:
“His days and nights are reversed due to his work, so he often sends me a ‘good morning’ late at night…”
Do you think he likes you? 0
Does Eiko know about this? 0
“Was I just biased to think that all he wants from Eiko is her money?”
You watch too many soap operas 0.
He’s definitely suspicious. 0
“They suspected that the gang he was investigating hired the driver…”
Who was their leader? 0
What gang was it? 0
I’m not sure any of that would have happened if not for the incident with my father…"
That’s a horrible story. +3
Was it tough without him? +2
He was a noble man. +3
“That was how my father chose to live his life… Trying to bring justice and order to the world around him.”
That’s admirable. +3
I’m sure he was happy. +3
“And more importantly, how do I want to live…?”
Do you have an answer? +2
You can figure that out now. +2
“…Wanna have a double wedding?”
I’m game if you are. +2
What are you going to say? 0
Refuse her, please. +2
“I don’t trust Eiko’s boyfriend yet, so… can we keep this up until I can make a call one way or the other?”
Of course… +2
I guess so. 0
It’s the role I always hoped for. +2
Eiko requests money from Makoto, and despite our convincing her that herbeloved Tsukasa is manipulating her for monetary gains,going as far as Makoto bringing up how she got a text from him too.
The scene ends with Makoto requesting our help to expose Tsukasa to save Eiko and letting us know how to do it on their next trip.
The dialogue options and answers for this event are listed below:
“So he calls you his special princess… What do you think…
He says that to all his girls. +2
That’s how he ropes you in. +2
I’m not sure. 0
“She needs to realize that. You’re going to help, right?”
Absolutely. +3
What are we going to do? +2
Eh, she deserves him. +2
You’ll first need tohead to the bookstore as shown in the image above, and talk to the Irritated Promoterto learn about Tsukasa, which will trigger this Social Link event.
Following are the dialogue choices for this event along with the option of determining whether you want to romance Makoto or be in a platonic relationship with her.
“I dare you!”
Get away from her! +3
Your fight’s with me. +3
I’m calling the cops. +3
“People noticed what happened…”
We should get out of here. +2
Follow me. +2
“I can’t believe I actually hit one of my friends…”
It looked like it hurt. 0
That was the right move. +2
You really smacked her. 0
“How did you ever find somewhere like this? You know so much.”
I’m a regular here. +3
It’s a regular meeting spot. +3
Not as much as you. +2
“I can’t learn about romance by myself…”
You’ll find someone someday. +3(Friendship)
I’ll be your study partner.(Romance)
“I’d probably never have pulled this off alone. Thank you so much.”
No problem at all. +2(Friendship)
Man, that got tense. 0
You could always slap me too. 0
I’d do anything for you. +2(Romance)
Were you scared? 0
No big deal. 0
Recommended gifts:If you miss a few points and hang out with Makoto, the best gifts to give her are a Motorbike Figure from Akihabara or a Designer Perfume from the Underground Mall.
Makoto’s final Social Link event is largely the same between both the romance and friendship routeswith a slight dialogue difference,which we’ve neatly detailed below for your convenience.
“I think she knew it deep within her heart, and seeing him like that finally helped her realize.”
That’s incredible. +2
Your slap worked wonders. 0
I’m so relieved. 0
“I plan on doing the same as well.”
Are you stressing over exams? +2
Back to studying? 0
For your sister? 0
“My dream… is to become a police commissioner. That is why I need to study.”
Police commissioner? 0
That sounds difficult. +2
Why did you choose that? 0
“Instead, I want to head an organization that will destroy the lawless and help rescue victims.”
What an admirable goal. +3
That’s an amazing dream. +2
Your father would be proud. +3
“Must have been difficult babysitting the uptight Miss President, right?"(Friendship route only)
Maybe a bit. +2
We went through so much… +3
“giggle What a funny thought… Studying to become a head of police while working as a thief…”
Haha, yeah. 0
It’s not funny at all. 0
Just be careful, okay? +2
“U-Um…"(Romance route only)
What’s wrong? 0
Do you want to study? 0
