Kindness is the quiet workhorse in Persona 5 Royal. It unlocks big story beats, keeps several Confidants moving, and makes a bunch of day-to-day choices open up. If you have ever hit a wall trying to hang out with Futaba or suddenly found Sojiro’s next rank locked, it was almost certainly Kindness getting in the way. The good news is that there are several efficient, repeatable ways to raise it without burning your calendar to the ground.
Why Kindness matters
Kindness gates some of the most beloved character arcs. Futaba’s Confidant will not progress past its first hangout unless your Kindness is at Rank 4 Selfless, and that check shows up shortly after early September in-game. Sojiro’s Hierophant arc also asks for Rank 5 Angelic at Rank 7, which is late enough that players sometimes panic if they have ignored Kindness. Planning for these two checkpoints keeps your run smooth.
The fastest daily loop for Kindness
Here is a simple loop I lean on in Royal that stacks multiple Kindness gains in a single in-game day:
- Afternoon Fortune reading. If Chihaya is unlocked, buy a Luck Reading for Kindness. It boosts social stat gains for the rest of that day, which amplifies everything below. It does not cost time in Royal, so it is easy to slot in.
- Daytime job at Rafflesia. Work a shift at the Shibuya Underground Mall flower shop. You always gain Kindness here, and you can earn a bigger chunk when you handle a bouquet request correctly. More on that in a second.
- Evening at Leblanc. If Sojiro is not available, clean the cafe for a small, steady bump of Kindness and a little hidden synergy with his Confidant. If he is free, spending time with him often grants Kindness as well.
- Before bed, feed your plant. Your potted plant in your room can be given nutrients for a no-time Kindness boost on a 16-day cooldown. Use the best nutrients you can afford. More on that below.
Stacked together, that is three to four sources in one calendar day, and Chihaya’s boost quietly inflates the totals.
Houseplant care in Leblanc is S tier
Your attic plant is the most efficient Kindness source in the game because it does not consume time. Two quick rules keep it maxed out.
Use the right nutrients. Early on, buy Bio Nutrients at Rafflesia for a smaller boost. Once Shinjuku opens, upgrade to Mega Fertilizer from the Shinjuku flower shop, which grants a larger Kindness gain per feeding. Always have a few bags in your inventory.
Respect the timer. The plant has a 16-day cooldown, and Morgana will usually nudge you when it is ready. Because this takes no time, feeding it is essentially free Kindness. If you are already using Chihaya’s Luck Reading, the feeding benefits from that day’s buff too.
Rafflesia flower shop: reliable and beginner friendly
Rafflesia in the Shibuya Underground Mall is unlocked early and is the cleanest repeatable method to grow Kindness while making money.
How to get hired. You need Charm Rank 2 Head-turning to apply, then you can work day or night.
What you earn. A regular shift grants a steady Kindness bump. Fulfilling bouquet requests correctly gives a larger Kindness payout, so it is worth learning the flower combinations or having a cheat sheet handy.
Power tip. Do your Rafflesia shifts on busy days and after a Luck Reading. Then feed the plant at night. That double tap carries a lot of early and midgame progress.
Crossroads bar: later-game Kindness with bonuses
Once you reach Shinjuku at night, you can bartend at Crossroads for Kindness and other stats.
Requirements. You must start Ohya’s Confidant and hit Kindness Rank 3 and Proficiency Rank 3 before Lala will hire you. After that, different patrons can give different stats. Talking to the downcast patron is the Kindness trigger, and Sundays have extra payouts.
This job is more of a midgame supplement than a core farm, but it is a solid way to diversify gains on nights when you cannot see a Confidant.
Confidants that quietly raise Kindness
Several Confidants hand you Kindness as part of their hangs.
Sojiro Sakura, Hierophant. Spending time with Sojiro frequently yields Kindness, and you will need Kindness Rank 5 Angelic to clear his Rank 7 gate. Keep this in mind through summer so you are not scrambling in autumn.
Shinya Oda, Tower. Time with Shinya is generous, often awarding a big chunk of Kindness per hangout later in the game. If you are behind on Kindness when Akihabara opens up, Shinya helps you catch up fast.
As always, bring a matching Persona for extra Confidant points, and let Chihaya’s Affinity Reading help patch any “almost ranked up” relationships while your Luck Reading props up Kindness for the day.
Low-effort Kindness at home
You can make quiet progress even on nights you are stuck at Leblanc.
Clean the cafe. Interacting with the cleaning spots in Leblanc gives Kindness and can contribute to Sojiro bonding. This is a perfect use of a night when you cannot go out.
Watch DVDs. The Wraith and ICU DVDs raise Kindness. Renting the player’s annual pass in Royal gives you access all year, and finishing these discs is a simple way to keep Kindness moving when you are tired.
Read the right books. Several books grant Kindness, including Zorro, the Outlaw, The Illusory Popess, Buchiko’s Story, and Call Me Chief. If you pick up Speed Reader later, you can push through more titles in train rides and library time.
Movies and games that boost Kindness
Theaters rotate films monthly, and a handful award Kindness. Examples include The Cake Knight Rises in May and Clean Hard in December. At home, the retro game Train of Life is another way to drip-feed Kindness between dungeon days. If you know you are hunting Kindness, check theater listings when the month flips and slot a showing into your calendar.
Early timeline goals you should hit
Aim for Kindness Rank 3 Empathetic by the end of summer. That keeps the Crossroads job in reach and makes everyday options more flexible. Push to Rank 4 Selfless before early September so Futaba does not stall, then budget the rest of autumn to reach Rank 5 Angelic for Sojiro’s late-game lock. The plant timer, a couple Rafflesia shifts per week, and targeted home activities will get you there without stress.
Easy sample week that snowballs Kindness
Here is a light, beginner-friendly rhythm you can follow without a guide:
Mon: Afternoon Luck Reading for Kindness, work at Rafflesia, clean Leblanc at night.
Tue: Watch a Kindness DVD at home, feed the plant if it is ready.
Wed: Hang out with Sojiro if available, otherwise study or craft, then clean Leblanc.
Thu: Luck Reading, Rafflesia shift, check the plant.
Fri: Movie theater if a Kindness film is showing, or read a Kindness book on the train.
Sat: Dungeon or Mementos day, then a Kindness DVD at night.
Sun: Crossroads shift if you meet the requirements, talk to the right patron for Kindness.
Each piece seems small, but Kindness adds up fast when you layer them, especially with Fortune boosts.
Common mistakes to avoid
Relying only on Big Bang Burger or the bathhouse. These do not raise Kindness, so they will leave you stuck for Futaba and Sojiro. Lean on the plant, Rafflesia, and home media instead.
Ignoring Shinjuku’s shops. The upgrade from Bio Nutrients to Mega Fertilizer is a big deal over the course of a year. Make that swap as soon as you unlock Shinjuku.
Forgetting the plant timer. Set a mental cadence for every couple of weeks. That no-time feed is basically free progress.
Kindness looks slow at first, but once your routine is set, it becomes the easiest stat to keep ahead of schedule. Feed the plant, help with flowers, be present at home, and your Angelic badge will arrive right when you need it.
