Category: Guides

Giving gifts in Persona 5 Royal is a simple way to squeeze extra Confidant points out of days that would otherwise just be a nice chat. Royal also opened gifting up beyond the romance options, so you can show appreciation to many of your male confidants too.

Used smartly, gifts shave entire hangouts off maxing the people you care about most, which means more free time for studying, palaces, or a lazy night at Leblanc.

How gifting works in Persona 5 Royal

Gifts are offered at the end of non rank-up hangouts. If the game tells you a confidant will rank up the next time you see them, you will not get the “Give a gift” prompt at the end of that scene. You only see that prompt when you hang out, gain some points, but still do not reach the next rank threshold. Think of gifts as the bridge between ordinary hangouts.

Royal’s other big change is scope: you can give gifts to several male confidants in addition to the romanceable girls. That includes teammates like Ryuji and Yusuke as well as a few adults, which makes planning your shopping runs more meaningful than in the original release.

Within the gift pool there are two useful “universal” options:

• Heart Ring for women and Silver Bangle for men. These are pricey but extremely safe picks that consistently give a strong boost when you are unsure what someone likes.

Some items are romance-only and will not appear as selectable unless you are dating that character. Notable examples are the Heart Ring and Heart Necklace for the girls.

Step-by-step: how to give a gift

1. Buy gifts ahead of time. Stock up when you pass through shopping areas so you always have a couple of safe picks in your bag.
2. Invite or accept a hangout. If the UI says “Your bond will deepen soon,” skip gifting for that outing and enjoy the rank up. If it says you will not level yet, keep going.
3. Finish the scene. At the end of a non rank-up hangout, the game offers “Give gift.”
4. Choose an item. You will see the familiar music notes, with better-matched gifts showing more notes and giving a bigger point injection.
5. Keep it moving. Those points apply immediately, helping push the confidant to “Rank up available” the next time you meet.

I like to treat gifts as a safety net: if I am one good reply short of a rank, I hand over a favorite and lock in the next level before scheduling my day.

Where to buy gifts

Tokyo has several reliable stops that carry most of what you need. The exact shop names matter if you are hunting for specific items.

Shibuya Underground Mall
This is the first real gift hub you unlock. You will find cosmetics, accessories, snacks, and sports gear here, which cover a surprising number of tastes. Many favorite items on most lists come from this corridor.

Shibuya Central Street, Rocinante Discount Store
Great for Snack Pack and Cup Noodles Set, which are both strong choices for certain confidants, especially Ryuji.

Shinjuku at night
The general store and flower vendor have staples like the Flower Basket and Rose Bouquet that show up in multiple “best gift” lists, including romance-only options.

Akihabara
Electronics and hobby shops here sell items like the Electric Toothbrush, Robot Vacuum, Local Mascot Set, Motorbike Figure, and cheap keychains that many confidants appreciate.

Kichijoji
Royal’s new neighborhood adds a stationery store that carries the Fountain Pen and Watercolor Postcard, both clutch picks for several confidants.

Tsurukame Diamond in the Underground Mall
This is the jewelry shop that sells the Heart Ring and Silver Bangle, your universal, high-impact emergency options. They are expensive, but if time is tighter than money, they pay for themselves.

Smart gifting to maximize Confidant points

Match a Persona. Whenever you hang out, carry a Persona of the same Arcana as the confidant for an extra point or two from the scene itself. Gifts stack on top of that, and it all adds up over a schedule.

Save the expensive stuff for the right moment. Drop a high-value gift when you know you are one outing short of a rank. I keep one Silver Bangle and one Heart Ring in my bag for this purpose and only use them when they can flip “not yet” into “rank up next time.”

Remember romance-only locks. Heart jewelry and a few luxury items only work if you are dating that character. If the game will not let you select an item, that is usually why.

Yes, you can gift after Rank 10. If you are chasing Thieves Den records or just want the scene, gifting is still possible even with maxed confidants. It will not change ranks, but it does count for certain in-game rewards.

You cannot force gifts into rank-up scenes. If today is a rank-up event, enjoy the story. Gifts will not appear. If you need a gift prompt, schedule a day that would be a regular hangout instead.

Quick picks that rarely miss

If you just want reliable items without memorizing full lists, these consistently deliver strong boosts and are easy to source.

Universal safety nets

• Heart Ring for the girls, Silver Bangle for the guys. Pricey, but they are almost never wasted. Buy at Tsurukame Diamond in Shibuya Underground Mall.

Women, by archetype

• Ann likes sweets and cute luxuries. Chocolate Truffles or Uji Matcha Flan always land.
• Makoto leans practical and stylish. Designer Perfume or the Motorbike Figure are great.
• Futaba enjoys nerdy or novelty picks. Dragon Sword Keychain and Best of KGB49 work well, and romance-only jewelry if you are dating her.
• Haru appreciates refined items. Glass Vase or Flower Basket are dependable.
• Takemi and Kawakami both respond to a mix of cosmetics and small luxuries. Black Mug, Designer Perfume, Star Mirror, and Idol Pins are all solid.

Men, Royal-only options

• Ryuji likes fitness and comfort picks. Wrist Weights or Cup Noodles Set are efficient.
• Yusuke responds well to artful or sweet items. Watercolor Postcard or Castella are cheap and effective.
• Sojiro appreciates quality everyday items. Fountain Pen or Castella get you there.
• Akechi is easy to please with Omni-Vitamin or the Electric Toothbrush from Akihabara.

These are not the only answers, just the ones I reach for when I want to be done shopping in 60 seconds.

Troubleshooting when the gift prompt will not appear

• You are about to rank up. The scene is a rank-up event, so the gift option is disabled by design. Hang out on a day that does not rank up.
• You already had enough points. If the hangout itself pushed you to the threshold, the game will transition to a rank-up next time rather than offering gifts. That is normal.
• Wrong audience or locked item. Some items only appear for romance partners, and a few NPCs simply do not take gifts. When in doubt, fall back on the Heart Ring or Silver Bangle on eligible targets, or pick from the safe lists above.

A simple shopping plan that works all game long

1. Early May: Clear a lap of the Shibuya Underground Mall and pick up a few inexpensive crowd-pleasers like Castella, Chocolate Truffles, and a Black Mug.
2. First Shinjuku night: Add a Flower Basket and Rose Bouquet to your stash.
3. First Akihabara visit: Grab Local Mascot Set, Motorbike Figure, and one electronics splurge if you can afford it.
4. First Kichijoji visit: Buy a Fountain Pen and Watercolor Postcard from the stationery store.
5. Whenever cash is healthy: Invest in one Heart Ring and one Silver Bangle from Tsurukame Diamond. Save these for tight timelines or important confidants where you do not want to gamble.

Used this way, gifting feels less like guesswork and more like a proper time-management tool. The right present on the right day gets you back to the good stuff faster, and in Royal there are simply more people you can treat right.

Proficiency in Persona 5 Royal is your hands-on, craft-and-practice social stat. It covers anything that looks like manual skill, from putting together infiltration tools to timing pitches at the batting cages. Ranking it up pays off throughout the entire game by giving you more and better tools for Palaces, smoother part-time shifts, and access to activities that would otherwise be a slog. The ranks go from Bumbling to Transcendent, and you will feel the difference as you climb.

Why Proficiency Matters

Proficiency is tied directly to how many infiltration tools you can make in a single session, as well as which tools you can reliably craft. More tools and better crafting success means easier treasure runs, safer exploration, and faster lockpicking when chests start piling up. Proficiency also feeds into a few minigames and jobs, which turn into steady stat income if you build the right routine. Even if you are focused on other social stats, weaving Proficiency gains into your week keeps your momentum strong without sacrificing cash or confidant time.

The Best Ways To Raise Proficiency

There are several consistent sources of Proficiency in Persona 5 Royal. You do not have to do all of them every week, but mixing a few will keep the stat ticking up.

Craft Infiltration Tools at Your Desk

This is the most reliable option from the moment it unlocks. Head to your workbench at Leblanc at night and craft infiltration tools like Lockpicks. Crafting always grants Proficiency, and high quality crafting sessions can give bonus points. As your Proficiency rank improves, you can make more tools per session, which means even more Proficiency back.

Tips that help:

• If you have materials stocked, crafting on nights when you cannot go out is basically free progress.
• Aim to keep a healthy stack of Lockpicks and a few specialty tools ready. You are leveling the stat while preparing for Palaces, so it is double value.
• Check the secondhand and discount shops regularly for cheap crafting materials to keep your stockpile up.

Hit the Batting Cages

The batting cages in Yongen-Jaya are a clean, repeatable way to add Proficiency. Each attempt costs a small fee and can give solid stat gains if you connect consistently. As you get better, you can take on harder machines with faster pitches. If you are short on time in the evening, batting is quick, simple, and still gives Proficiency.

Tips that help:

• Take your time watching pitch patterns. You are not racing the clock; you are building solid timing.
• If you see books or gear that improve your batting minigame performance later in the game, pick them up. Easier home runs can mean stronger rewards and steady progress.

Work at the Beef Bowl Shop

The part-time job at the Beef Bowl on Central Street rewards Proficiency for handling orders smoothly. It is one of the better jobs early because it pairs income with stats. On busy shifts, you can get an extra boost if you memorize and execute multiple orders correctly. This is perfect for days when confidants are not available or you need cash plus a reliable stat bump.

Tips that help:

• Go in on days when your schedule is light. You may get knowledge checks mixed in, but the primary stat you care about here is Proficiency.
• Keep a short mental note of order combinations. The game will reward quick, accurate decisions.

Fish at Ichigaya

Fishing is a calm way to grind Proficiency while banking items. The mini-game rewards steady inputs and patience, and you can trade fish for useful prizes. If you prefer quiet stat gains without spending many nights at the bench, fishing is a good break-in-the-routine option.

Tips that help:

• Go when you have an open afternoon or evening and want something low pressure.
• Save better bait for larger fish to maximize both rewards and time.

Play Proficiency-Boosting Video Games

Once you buy a console and games, certain titles award Proficiency when you clear them. If you pair gaming with tools that shorten playtime across multiple sessions, video games become a comfortable way to turn dead evenings into +Proficiency without leaving Leblanc.

Tips that help:

• Keep an eye out for retro games that mention hand-eye coordination or technical skill in their descriptions.
• Use accessories and books that shorten game completion time so you can rotate through titles faster and stack more stat income per week.

Read Books That Teach Hands-On Skills

Some books increase Proficiency directly, and others unlock efficiencies in related activities. Reading is the most time-efficient method when you can create reading windows on trains, in class, or during short breaks. It does not consume your entire day, which means you can still meet a confidant later.

Tips that help:

• Prioritize books that give straight Proficiency first, then pick up quality-of-life titles that improve crafting or make minigames easier.
• Train rides are free stat time. If the game offers you a seat, use it.

Efficient Scheduling Without Burning Evenings

The trick to maxing Proficiency is weaving it into the week without crowding out confidants or dungeon days.

A sample rhythm that works:

• Early game: Craft infiltration tools two to three nights per week. Fill one evening with the Beef Bowl job when confidants are quiet. Use the batting cages on short nights.
• Mid game: As your crafting output increases, you can craft less often. Layer in one fishing session every couple of weeks and keep the Beef Bowl job as a backup stat-and-money day.
• Late game: Use video games and books to top off remaining ranks on nights when you are forced indoors. You may only need one or two focused sessions to hit the final rank.

Small Optimizations That Add Up

You do not need to min-max to reach Transcendent Proficiency before the end of the year, but a few habits make the climb easier.

• Stock materials early. Scooping up cheap parts when you see them means every time you sit down at the bench you can craft multiple tools and earn more Proficiency at once.
• Favor “two-for-one” activities. The Beef Bowl job pays you while giving Proficiency. Batting is quick and can fit into evenings that cannot support a longer outing. Fishing gives both items and stats.
• Bank reading opportunities. Keep a Proficiency book on hand and capitalize on short, unexpected reading windows. It is pure upside.
• Use quiet days. When confidants are unavailable or story beats lock you indoors, default to crafting or gaming. Those are your safety valves.
• Watch for activity upgrades. If a shop sells something that makes batting easier or crafting more efficient, it is usually worth the pick-up because it speeds up future Proficiency sessions.

Common Questions About Proficiency

Does Proficiency affect lockpicking success and output?
Yes. Higher Proficiency not only makes crafting multiple tools per session more likely, it also improves consistency with infiltration tools over time. The earlier you raise it, the less you will ever feel starved for Lockpicks and utility items.

Can you max Proficiency in the first semester?
You can get very close if you are deliberate, especially if you rely on crafting and the Beef Bowl job while sprinkling in batting. Maxing early demands discipline, but it is realistic by midgame if you keep a weekly routine.

What if my evenings are always busy with confidants?
Lean on “quick hit” options. Batting takes very little time. Reading Proficiency books during commutes is essentially free. When a confidant night falls through, pivot to crafting immediately to scoop the time back.

Is there a best single method?
Crafting infiltration tools remains the most reliable because it scales with your Proficiency and directly supports Palace routing. Pair it with either the Beef Bowl job or batting cages, and you have a sturdy engine that never really stops.

A Simple Plan You Can Start Today

If you want an easy on-ramp, try this three-day loop and adjust based on how your week shakes out.

• One night of crafting at Leblanc. Aim for multiple tools in a single sit-down. Keep an eye on your material count and refill whenever you pass by a shop.
• One short batting session on an evening with limited time. It is low friction and keeps Proficiency ticking upward.
• One shift at the Beef Bowl, especially on a day when confidants are thin. The cash plus Proficiency makes it a clean use of time.

Layer in fishing every couple of weeks when you want a change of pace, and use video games or books to soak up nights when you are forced to stay in. Keep that loop rolling and Proficiency will climb steadily while the rest of your social life and confidants keep moving. By the time late Palaces roll around, you will have the tool stock and the stat checks handled, with no last-minute grind.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

If you want to chew through the game’s book list and still have time for confidants, you want the Speed Reading book as soon as it appears. Persona 5 Royal quietly moved this item compared to the original release, and the new method is much simpler once you know the timing.

What Speed Reading Does

Speed Reading is a single chapter book that permanently upgrades your reading pace. After you read it, you will finish two chapters every time you sit down to read, whether that is on the train, in the library, at home, or during stolen classroom free time. This doubles your progress on any multi chapter book and is one of the best quality of life upgrades for filling out social stat requirements and hangout spot unlocks. The effect is always on once learned, and it does not stack with anything else.

Where to Find It in Royal

In Persona 5 Royal, Speed Reading is borrowed from the Shujin Academy Library starting on July 1. Walk up to the counter and check the list once that date hits. If you already have a library book checked out, return it first so the new stock appears on the menu. This is a change from the original Persona 5, where players bought it later from a specialty bookstore. Getting it in July gives you months of benefit during the busiest stretch of the year.

Step by Step: Grabbing Speed Reading On Time

1. Play through June while reading normally. Do not stress about optimization yet. Focus on early stat books you can finish in a sitting.
2. On July 1 or soon after, visit the school library. If the book does not show, return your current library book, back out, then talk to the librarian again. Speed Reading should now be available to borrow and it costs nothing.
3. Read it immediately. Because the book is a single chapter, you can finish it in one session and unlock the perk on the spot. Save a reading opportunity on or near July 1 so you do not sit on it.
4. Keep a backlog of multi chapter books. The perk only helps when a book has more than one chapter, so line up longer reads to get full value.

Fastest Ways To Finish It The Same Day

Speed Reading only takes one chapter to complete, so you are just looking for the next available reading window. Here is what consistently works:

• Train commutes. Seats are not always free, but when they are, you can read right away without spending an activity block. Always carry at least one unread book so you capitalize on random train reads.
• School library seat. Reading here is quiet and dependable during the day if you are not locked into story events. It also lines up nicely with the moment you borrow the book.
• Your room or Leblanc in the evening. After you borrow it, head home and read at night if nothing more urgent is on your schedule.
• Kawakami’s free time in class. Once she starts giving you downtime, slide in a quick read. This is ideal if you missed a train read earlier.

Because the book is only one chapter, any of these windows will finish it and the perk kicks in for your very next read.

Make The Most Of The Perk

Once Speed Reading is active, your only bottleneck is book supply and timing. Here is how to stretch it:

• Tackle longer books first. Anything with three chapters gets cut to two sessions. That frees evenings for confidants and part time jobs.
• Carry two to three books at all times. I keep one social stat book, one hangout spot magazine, and one oddball like a mini game manual. That way any reading window pushes something useful forward.
• Save single chapter books for tiny windows. Pamphlets and one offs are great for packed days where all you can spare is a single read at home before bed.
• Pair reading with rainy days only when it suits your plan. Studying in the diner is fantastic on rain, but reading does not get the same boosted Knowledge. If you need Charm, Guts, or Proficiency from a book, read when it fits your confidant schedule rather than chasing weather.

Smart July Planning

July is dense with exams, confidants, and summer events. A little planning gets Speed Reading online without losing momentum elsewhere.

• Front load a book in late June. If you think you might forget the library on July 1, remind yourself by returning your current book on June 30 and leaving your borrow slot open.
• Block one evening after July 1. If the day is story heavy, that evening is the backup slot to finish Speed Reading.
• Keep Kawakami progressing. Her confidant eventually creates extra reading windows in class, which converts directly into finishing more books with your new perk.

What If The Library Does Not Have It

You visited after July 1, returned your book, and still do not see Speed Reading. Try these fixes:

• Confirm the date. Some posts on the internet mix up June and July. The correct unlock in Royal is July 1, not June 1.
• Back out of the counter menu and speak again. The list refreshes when you reopen the borrow screen.
• Advance one day and recheck. Story flags can occasionally push daily menus. Check again the next free morning.

For Veterans Of Base Persona 5

If you played the original release, you might remember trekking to Book Town to buy Speed Reading. That was the Jinbocho method, and it required reading a sequence of other books before Speed Reading would even appear for purchase. Royal streamlines this by placing the upgrade in your school library in early July, which is both earlier and free.

Why You Should Still Unlock Jinbocho

Jinbocho, also known as Book Town, is still worth visiting in Royal for other specialty books that unlock mini game helps or passive perks. If you have not opened the area yet, the simplest route is reading the “Musty Pages” magazine from the Shibuya bookstore, which adds Jinbocho to your map. You can also reach the district through confidant events later on. Stopping by every few weeks picks up new titles that round out your library haul, and your Speed Reading perk will chew through them quickly.

Practical Reading Route After You Get It

Here is a dependable order that keeps value high without overthinking:

• Immediately finish any two or three chapter social stat books you already started. With the perk, those wrap up fast and unlock new dialogue checks.
• Clear the hangout magazines that unlock locations you plan to actually use. Reading them earlier means more date and confidant options later in the year.
• Work through specialty manuals you need for mini games, like batting or fishing, especially if you plan to spend time there for trophies or side rewards.
• Keep one long book on deck for random train reads. The perk turns surprise commutes into meaningful progress rather than half finished chapters.

Small Mistakes That Cost Time

A few easy gotchas can blunt the perk’s impact:

• Borrowing Speed Reading then sitting on it. If you do not read it immediately, you are delaying every other book. Finish it the same day.
• Spending rainy days reading. If you are leveling Knowledge, the diner’s study bonus beats reading unless the book reward is exactly what you need for a confidant check.
• Letting your bag run dry. No book in your inventory means wasted commutes and classroom windows. Restock after every two completions.

With Speed Reading in hand and a light plan for July, your calendar opens up in a way that makes the second semester feel roomy rather than rushed. Borrow it on or after July 1, read it right away, and enjoy covering twice as much ground for the rest of the year.

Leveling Charm in Persona 5 Royal does more than unlock dialogue options. It opens part-time jobs, smooths certain Confidant rank-ups, and lets you role-play Joker as an actual head-turner. Charm has five ranks in Royal: Existent, Head-turning, Suave, Charismatic, and Debonair. Behind the scenes, each rank needs a specific amount of hidden EXP, so steady, repeatable routines matter.

Why Charm Matters

Charm gates a handful of opportunities throughout the year, from job applications to specific conversation checks. It also shows up passively when you do well in school or avoid classroom mishaps, so a smart weekly rhythm snowballs your growth without burning precious time blocks. RPG Site’s testing confirms the rank names and the EXP bands for each tier, which is helpful for pacing your route planning.

The Bathhouse Routine: Your Core Farm

The Yongen-Jaya bathhouse is the most reliable, always-available way to raise Charm. You can visit at night for repeatable gains, and you’ll earn extra Charm on Mondays and Thursdays. On rainy nights, the bath can grant a bonus as well, making it the single best anchor for your weekly schedule. If you only remember one thing, remember this: aim to bathe on Monday and Thursday nights, and grab rainy evenings whenever they pop up.

Practical note: if you’re juggling palace deadlines, slot baths on free evenings the moment you see a Monday or Thursday on the calendar. That habit alone pushes you through Head-turning and into Suave surprisingly early.

Free Sunday Boost: Shibuya Aojiru

Every Sunday, the juice stand in the Shibuya Underground Walkway sells a single Aojiru that raises one social stat without consuming time. The drink cycles through stats in a fixed rotation and repeats the current stat until you buy it, so you can target the Charm week with zero time cost. Keep 5,000 yen earmarked for this every Sunday morning you plan to be in Shibuya.

Tip: If you want to squeeze extra value from the Sunday Aojiru, pair it with Chihaya’s Luck Reading (more on that below) to scale the gain.

Diner + Frui-Tea: Study While You Shine

From early July, the Central Street diner lets you order Frui-Tea while studying. You still get the Knowledge from studying, and the tea adds bonus Charm on top. Use this on rainy days for even stronger studying gains, and you’ll progress Knowledge and Charm in the same time slot. This is a perfect daytime option if your evening is already locked for bathhouse runs.

Big Bang Burger Challenge: Multi-Stat Bursts

When your social stats meet each challenge’s requirements, beating the Big Bang Burger Challenge grants a chunk to multiple stats at once, including Charm. The mid-tier challenge awards +2 to each participating stat when cleared, letting you catch up Charm without dedicating a whole day to it. Save these for moments when you’re close to a rank threshold and want an efficient push.

Confidants That Hand You Charm

Two Confidants regularly drop straight Charm gains when you rank them:

• Sun (Yoshida) during his speeches.
• Devil (Ohya) during her nighttime hangs.

Working these into your week advances powerful abilities and pads your Charm curve for free. If you’re torn between a slow grind and a social visit, choose the Confidant and let the stat ticks ride along.

Maid Café and Crossroads: Flavor with Benefits

Once Akihabara is available, the Maid Café offers Charm alongside other stat perks. In Royal, there is a simple stamp card system and a special reward menu once you’ve earned enough points; ordering from that special menu yields a larger Charm boost. It is not the fastest method, but it’s a fun mid-game option when you’re in the area.

In Shinjuku, the Crossroads bar part-time job can grant Charm when you interact with certain patrons. Requirements to work here include multiple social stats, so treat it as a supplemental source once you meet its thresholds.

Books, Movies, TV, and Retro Games That Raise Charm

Media is great filler when you only have a specific window or you’re optimizing train rides and couch time at Leblanc.

• Books: The Alluring Dancer, Playing the Game, and Reckless Casanova all give Charm when completed. Snag them early and read on commutes or during homeroom downtimes.
• Theater schedule: Several films in specific months boost Charm, including Like a Showtime Tiger and Fighting Friends. Use a cinema book if you have it for extra payout.
• DVDs at home: Bubbly Hills 90210 and Not-so-hot-Betsy raise Charm with no travel. Rotate them in on nights when you cannot leave Leblanc.
• Retro games: Gambla Goemon and Punch Out also contribute to Charm. Keep a small stack of game cartridges ready for rainy days after palaces.

Classroom Moments That Add Up

Two easy classroom sources pop up across the year:

• Ace your exams. High exam placement gives a direct Charm bump in addition to the obvious benefits of Knowledge. Use a question guide to ensure you capitalize on every test window.
• Dodge the chalk. If your Proficiency is high enough to avoid chalk in class, you’ll gain a bit of Charm. It is small, but it stacks over the school year.

Supercharge a Day with Chihaya’s Luck Reading

Once the Fortune Confidant is available, buy a Luck Reading before you do Charm-related activities. It increases social stat gains by 50 percent for the rest of the day and does not consume time. That means bigger returns from your bathhouse visit, your Sunday Aojiru, your movie, or your study session with Frui-Tea if they grant Charm that day. Keep 5,000 yen on hand to pop this whenever you plan a Charm push.

Early-Game Milestones to Target

Hitting Head-turning quickly unlocks common gates like the flower shop job and smooths a few event checks. A practical early path looks like this:

• Visit the bathhouse on your first Monday night, then again Thursday.
• On the first Sunday you’re in Shibuya, buy the Aojiru if it is the Charm week.
• Slot daytime diner study sessions with Frui-Tea once July hits so you never “lose” a day to pure stat grinding.
• Mix in Sun speeches or Devil nights to advance those Confidants while collecting safe Charm ticks.

An Efficient Week You Can Copy

Here is a plug-and-play loop that fits most months without messing up palaces:

• Sunday (Day): Buy Aojiru in the Underground Walkway. If it is not a Charm week, still buy it to rotate the drink so the next Sunday might be. If you have Fortune unlocked, grab a Luck Reading first to scale it. Sunday (Night): Free time or bath if a deadline is tight.
• Monday (Night): Bathhouse for the Monday bonus. If it is raining, prioritize the bath even harder.
• Midweek (Day): Study at Shibuya diner and order Frui-Tea starting in July. If it is raining, you also stack extra Knowledge.
• Thursday (Night): Bathhouse again for the Thursday bonus.
• Floating slot: Slot a movie in a month when a Charm film is running, or a Confidant session with Sun or Devil when you need social time and points.

Troubleshooting Common Snags

If Charm feels slow, it is usually a scheduling issue, not a lack of sources.

• You are skipping Mondays or Thursdays. That is free efficiency lost. Protect those nights when possible.
• You forget Sunday juice. Set a mental budget of 10,000 yen on Sundays when Fortune is unlocked: 5,000 for Luck Reading, 5,000 for Aojiru. It is one of the best time-free stat gains in the game.
• You are not leveraging multipliers. Luck Reading stacks with many Charm sources, and the cinema book also amplifies film gains. Saving these boosts for a Charm-heavy day pays off.

Charm is one of the easiest stats to cap when you build around a bathhouse-plus-Sunday core and layer in diner tea, media, and Confidant nights. Keep the rhythm, and Debonair shows up sooner than you think.

Guts is the backbone stat in Persona 5 Royal. It opens doors that your other social stats cannot, from braving Takemi’s clinical trials to tackling intimidating conversations and special activities.

If you have ever been blocked from a confidant or a choice because your Guts was too low, this guide is for you. Below is a practical, no nonsense plan that stacks steady gains with a few big bursts so you reach the higher ranks sooner.

What Guts Does And Why It Matters

Guts measures nerve, resolve, and willingness to take risky options. It gates some social links, certain dialogue choices, and a handful of unique activities. The ranks go from Milquetoast to Lionhearted, and each step takes more hidden points than the last. You never see the counters, but every small gain adds up, so consistency wins here.

Short version: more Guts means more confidants unlocked earlier, better answers in tense scenes, and access to powerful perks sooner.

How Guts Levels Work

Every time you do a Guts-boosting activity, you earn a small number of hidden points. When you cross a threshold, your rank increases at the end of the day. Early levels come quickly if you stack two or three Guts activities per week. Later ranks require a wider net and a few bigger payouts. You do not need exact numbers to optimize. You only need to prioritize repeatable sources and capitalize on high value events.

The Fastest Early Game Gains

If you want momentum right from the start, focus on these.

Takemi’s clinical trials
Once you can visit the clinic in Yongen-Jaya and begin the Death confidant, volunteering for new trials often awards Guts. It also unlocks better medicine for palaces, which is a double win. Push this early. It is one of the most consistent Guts sources in the game.

Big Bang Burger Challenge
Attempting the burger challenge in Shibuya grants Guts even if you fail. Completing a size gives a larger payout and extra social stat points as a bonus. Early on you probably will not clear the larger sizes, and that is fine. The attempt is still value. Slot this at night on days when you are already in Shibuya or when rain narrows your options.

Books and reading time
Several early books raise Guts. Read at Leblanc at night, in the school library after class, and on the rare mornings you get a seat on the train. As soon as Shinjuku opens, buy the Speed Reading book and read it immediately. Speed Reading effectively doubles your reading throughput, which translates to a long term Guts advantage.

Movies and DVDs
The theater rotation and rental DVDs regularly include Guts themed titles. If you see a movie on the theater schedule that raises Guts, watch it before the month flips. At home, DVDs are reliable fillers on nights when you cannot go out.

Using The Big Bang Burger Challenge Properly

A lot of players wait until they can clear the biggest burger. That is a mistake. Here is a smarter way to approach it.

• Attempt early and often. The attempt awards Guts even on a fail, so there is no downside aside from time and yen.
• Watch the calendar. Some campaign days and rainy periods give better results for stat activities. If the challenge is discounted or you know you will be indoors anyway, it is a great time to try.
• Clear sizes as your stats grow. When Proficiency, Knowledge, and Guts rise together, you will start clearing the mid and large sizes for chunky stat payouts. Those clears can push you over a rank threshold.

I like to treat the burger as a night anchor. If I am not ranking up a confidant or crafting, I check the wallet and go eat a meteor with a smile.

Cheap Daily And Weekly Guts Boosts

A few small habits stack up fast.

Sunday juice in Shibuya Underground Walkway
Every Sunday, the juice vendor sells a drink that boosts a specific social stat. When it is the Guts week, always buy it. It is a quick point with no time spent beyond the travel.

Diner studying with the right order
The Shibuya diner can grant Guts in addition to Knowledge when you pick the appropriate menu item. The exact dish rotates by season, but the text will tell you which stat it boosts. If you see Guts on the description, that is your pick. Rain increases Knowledge at the diner, which makes it an efficient double dip day.

Library seat and desk time
If you are short on cash, reading or studying in free spots lets you chase Guts books without paying for coffee or food. The school library is perfect during exam periods when you want to build Knowledge while still reserving nights for Guts activities.

Confidants That Nudge You To Raise Guts

You do not need a checklist of stat gates to see the pattern. A few confidants and story beats lean on Guts to even begin or to push past early ranks. If you ever hit a wall where a character says you need to be braver, that is your cue to frontload a couple of high return Guts days. The upside of raising Guts for a confidant is that the confidant often pays you back with time saving perks that make all social stats easier to manage later.

Media Strategy: Books, Movies, And Games

Think of media as flexible slots you weave between palace runs.

Books
Keep one Guts book in rotation at all times. Once you own Speed Reading, knock out short volumes first to bank quick ranks. Use train seats and Leblanc nights for these.

Movies
Check theater schedules at the start of the month. If a Guts film is showing, set aside an afternoon or evening before it rotates. Theater visits often award bonus points when you bring a party member who likes that genre, which is extra value.

DVDs and retro games
Rent or buy Guts focused titles for nights when you cannot leave LeBlanc. Retro games have their own little minigame challenges that can add Guts after practice. Read the item descriptions before you buy so you do not waste yen on the wrong stat.

Rainy Day Routing For Extra Value

Rain is your friend. Many indoor activities get better during rain. The diner becomes strong for studying and stat boosts, and the burger challenge is a great pick if you are not advancing confidants. Keep a rainy day plan ready that includes a Guts option, so you do not default to crafting tools every time.

A Practical Weekly Rhythm

You do not need to micromanage every calendar square. Aim for a rhythm like this and adjust around palaces and confidant availability.

• Sunday: check the Underground Walkway juice. If it is Guts, buy it.
• One to two evenings per week: Takemi trial or Big Bang Burger attempt.
• One media slot: a Guts book chapter, a Guts movie, or a Guts DVD episode.
• One rainy day: diner study with the Guts boosting order or burger attempt.

This light structure keeps Guts climbing while leaving plenty of room for confidants, Mementos, and story beats.

Money And Time Management Tips

Guts routes do not have to be expensive.

• Bundle errands. If you are already in Shibuya for shopping or a confidant, stack the burger challenge that night.
• Use free reading time. Train seats and library sessions let you grow Guts without spending.
• Invest in Speed Reading. It pays itself back quickly across all five social stats.
• Keep medicine practical. Takemi’s trials raise Guts, but you do not need to buy every flashy item right away. Grab essentials, then reinvest savings into books and media.

Common Mistakes That Slow Your Guts

A few habits quietly stall progress.

• Waiting to attempt the burger until you can clear it. Attempts still pay Guts.
• Ignoring Sundays. The weekly juice is free stat growth for seconds of time.
• Delaying Speed Reading. The sooner you read it, the fewer nights you spend grinding media.
• Letting rainy days drift. Go in with a plan so weather turns into extra points.

Example Early Game Plan Without Spoilers

Here is a simple blueprint that fits most runs. After you unlock daytime freedom, visit the clinic as soon as possible and start Takemi’s confidant. Slot a burger attempt during your first or second free night in Shibuya. Pick up a Guts book from an early bookstore and start reading at LeBlanc. On the first Sunday, check the juice stand and buy the drink if it is the Guts rotation. If rain hits, pivot to the diner or another burger attempt. Keep repeating that loop while you move main story and confidants forward, and you will see Guts ranks pop consistently.

When To Push Hard For A Rank Up

If a confidant or story beat is locked behind a higher Guts rank, that is the time to sprint. Stack two high yield Guts activities on back to back days, like a burger attempt and a clinic visit, or a Guts movie followed by a Guts book finish. Finish the night with a Guts DVD if you are stuck at home. Those little streaks are usually enough to tip a rank without derailing your broader schedule.

Final Pointers From Many Playthroughs

Consistency beats bursts. One or two Guts touches each week add up faster than a single marathon. Attempt the burger early for drip gains, then cash in big clears later. Speed Reading is a quiet powerhouse, and Sundays are free points if you remember to check the stand. With that cadence, you will hit the later Guts ranks early enough to unlock the content that most players do not see until much later.

Build the habit, keep an eye on the calendar, and let Guts climb in the background while you steal hearts in the foreground.