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.