Quick Links
Throughout the long journey ofPersona 5 Royal, you’ll meet tons of different people with their own stories, likes, and dislikes.
These interactions are called Social Links, and the main objective is to reach their maximum rank. Choosing the right dialogue choices during interactions will raise the rank of that specific Social Link.
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.
Ryuji Sakamoto is a character that Joker will automatically meet on April 12. More specifically, you’ll encounter him immediately after exiting Kamoshida’s Palace for the second time.
Meeting Ryuji will instantly start his Social Link, and it’s up to you to hang out with him periodically throughout the game to reach higher ranks to unlock strong abilities and perks.
Confidant Benefits
Ryuji is one of the most valuable characters to engage with in Persona 5 Royal due to the benefits you’ll receive from each rank in his Social Link. Some of his abilities on offer include helping with fatal attacks, getting additional turns, curing status ailments, etc.
Let’s take a look at all of Ryuji’s Confidant Benefits in the grid below:
Description
Baton Pass
Pass your turn over to another Baton Pass user after 1 More.
Possibility to perform an additional attack if Joker’s attack doesn’t down the enemy.
Chance to step in after Shadow Negotiation fails, giving you a retry.
Harrisen Recovery
Chance to cure status ailments for your party members.
Insta-kill
Chance to instantly win a battle after a successful ambush.
Chance to withstand a fatal attack with 1 HP remaining.
Chance to protect Joker against a fatal attack.
Second Awakening
Transforms Persona into a mythological trickster.
Second Awakening R
Fuse with the mythological Trickster, awakening its true power.
All Social Link Ranks
Similar to allother Confidants in Persona 5 Royal, Ryuji Sakamoto has 10 ranks in total. Picking the correct dialogue option while speaking to him is crucial, considering some answers give more points than others.
Since Ryujirepresents the Chariot Arcana, it would be wise to hang out with him while you havea Chariot Personaequipped. Doing so will reward bonus points, as shown in the section below.
Ryuji is available every day of the week, only during the daytime. However, if it’s raining outside, then Ryuji is available during the day and night.
His rank events take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.On school days, he can be found in the hallway right outsideJoker’s classroom. All other days, he is found in the arcade in Shibuya.
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Struggling to figure out what to do between Palaces? Here are the 11 best things to do in your free time in Persona 5 Royal.
Rank 1automatically begins when you meet Ryuji for the first time on April 12. Ryuji first appears during the main story when Joker is exploring Kamoshida’s Castle for the second time. You don’t have to select any correct dialogue options for Rank 1 to be unlocked.
Ryuji brings Joker to a grassy field outside of their school, both decked out in training gear. Ryuji mentions how the other realm made him realize that he’s not in the best shape and it’s time for him to start a workout regime.
The two of them do sprints around the school and make a promise to one another that they’ll work out more in the near future.
“Maybe then I’ll be able to help out a little more.”
“I’m counting on you” +3
“You seem pretty excited” +3
“…Help with what?” +2
“If my time dropped even a little, he’d cuss me out. Then on top of that, he brought up my parents…”
“What about them?” +0
“And then you punched him?” +0
“Do you want to go back?” +2
“Do you regret it?” +2
“I should’ve kept up my running.”
“You’re already fast enough.” +2
“Are your legs okay?” +2
“It’s never too late, man.” +2
Rank 3 puts Ryuji and Joker up against the track team, who appear at their “secret” training spot.
The track team makes fun of Ryuji and hurls insults at him, but Joker defuses the situation. Once the track team leaves, Ryuji thanks Joker for being there for him.
“Let’s not fight” +2
“Want to train with us?” +0
“It’s nice to meet you” +0
“That don’t got anything to do with this…”
“Calm down, Ryuji” +3
“Just endure it” +2
“I’ll shut them up” +0
“I get pissed off so damn easily. I really gotta work on that.”
“I can’t exactly blame you” +2
“Violence is not the answer” +0
“Yeah, that’d be best” +0
Instead of working out this time, Ryuji and Joker decide to go out and get some dinner.
Ryuji opens up about how he feels blessed that he met Joker and his friends since he was always considered an outcast. He’s happy to have a new group to hang out with, other than the track team who ignores him now.
“But for some reason it don’t look like he’s getting along with the others”
“Are you worried about him?” +2
“Nakaoka?” +0
“Just leave him be” +0
“I don’t want them ending up like me”
“But you’re doing great” +3
“I know how you feel” +3
“It’s not so bad” +2
Rank 5 shows Ryuji and Joker heading to the weight room to exercise some more to prepare for their battle against evil. At the gym, Ryuji runs into an old friend, Senpai, who recently graduated.
Senpai informs Ryuji that the track team is being fully reinstated at the school, which leaves Ryuji in a state of shock. No one told Ryuji about this reinstatement, leaving him feeling a bit left out.
Rank 5 is unavailable until May 6th.
“Oh yeah! You bring your stuff?”
“Protein Powder?”
“A towel?” +2
“…good for them.”
“You seem conflicted” +2
“Do you want to rejoin?” +2
“You’re done with them right?” +0
““But I’m still worried about their advisor, Yamauchi. He’s basically like a mini Kamoshida.”
“So he’s an asshole?” +3
“So he’s short?” +2
“I ain’t too worried!”
“Don’t worry, I gotcha” +2
“I haven’t agreed to anything” +0
“Fine, but you’re buying Ramen” +0
During rank 6, Ryuji and Joker are looking for a place to train that doesn’t involve running into the track team. They decide to try the gym, but on their way they hear a familiar voice in the distance.
Turns out the familiar voice is Nakoaka, who is getting ganged up on by the track team. They are blaming Nakoaka for ratting them out and conspiring against them, so Ryuji steps in to protect his old friend.
Unfortunately, Nakoaka doesn’t appreciate the help and continues to give Ryuji the cold shoulder.
“You got any ideas?”
“Let’s stay here” +2
“How about protein lovers?” +2
“We can train at my place” +3
“That’s a load of bull!”
“You guys should trust Nakaoka” +3
“This is no time for arguing” +3
“You get what I’m trying to say, yeah?”
“Absolutely” +3
“More or less” +3
“Not in the slightest” +0
“It’s like how I feel when I’m talkin' to you, man”
“I don’t get it” +0
“Can you explain that?” +0
“Uhhh, I don’t know how else to explain. I just feel…free”
“…huh?” +0
“I really don’t understand” +0
“He’ll keep his mouth shut whether or not someone’s punchin him”
“So he should’ve punched back?” +2
“Sounds like you two were close” +0
“Just like you” +0
To initiate rank 7 with Ryuji,players need to wait for a text from Ryuji on specific dates. Below are all the dates Ryuji will send the text asking for help:
This rank involves Ryuji sending Joker undercover at a new restaurant, where he knows Yamauchi will be having dinner. Joker listens in on the conversation between Yamauchi and his friend, where he learns of some upsetting news.
Yamauchi is planning to take control of the track team for his own personal gain and to do so, he has to get rid of Nakaoka and other members of the team.
“If we don’t do something quick, Yamuachi’s gonna get rid of Takeishi too.. God Dammit!
“Let’s talk to Takeishi” +3
“Should we change his heart?” +0
“I know that ain’t the coolest thing to say, but it’s how I feel.”
“I think it’s cool Ryuji” +3
“Wait, what?” +2
Ryuji invites Joker to their running spot, where they plan on meeting Nakaoka and Takeishi to explain what they heard from Yamauchi at the restaurant.
Luckily, Ryuji recorded Yamauchi’s conversation, so the members of the track team believes every word he says.
“So, I called Nakaoka and Takeishi over here. I’m gonna tell them what that bastard Yamauchi is up to.”
“What if they start fighting?” +0
“I doubt they’ll believe you.” +0
“You saw that, right? That was some serious violence!”
“Things turned out for the best.” +3
“You deserved it” +3
“…Thanks”
“All I did was watch” +3
“Are you gonna pay me back?” +2
“It’s kinda like I was doing a sprint…and you were running next to me”
“But I was just standing there…” +2
“You weren’t cool though.” +3
“Seeing them having a real heart-to-heart talk…They got a good team.”
“So..closed case?” +3
“We make a good team” +0
“You did a great job” +0
In rank 9, Ryuji and Joker head to the restaurant to get some dinner and Ryuji opens up about how he’s been feeling a lot better lately. Due to him helping his old teammates with Yamauchi, they even invited him back to the team.
Ryuji feels better about himself and realizes that everything will turn out fine as long as he continues to be himself. He finally feels less of an outcast.
“Looks like they’re finally walking their own path”
“Are you satisfied now?” +3
“Not running?” +2
“They asked me to come back to the team”
“Don’t do it” +3
“What did you say?” +2
“Do you have any time for that?” +2
“Wherever you decide to be, that’s where you belong”
“You’re right” +3
“I never realized that” +3
“I’m just glad I found it.”
“I agree” +2
“Be more specific” +0
“And where is this place?” +0
“Sounds like they got him under control.”
“Congratulations” +2
“Better watch out for them” +2
“Got him under control, how?” +0
The final rank has Ryuji and Joker meeting up for food once again, where Ryuji explains that Yamauchi was ratted out and kicked off the team. The track team is in a good place now, since the old coach is stepping in to take control.
Ryuji opens up and gets emotional with Joker thanking him for all his help and being a true friend throughout the entire process.
Luckily, there are no right answers here consideringall dialogue options reward the same number of points. Don’t worry about choosing the right choice, just pick whichever you see fit.
Congratulations on finishing Ryuji’s Social Link and reaching max Confidant rank. Outside of Confidant benefits, Ryuji is also simplyone of the best party membersin the game due to his tanky nature and his ability to inflict high physical damage.
Persona 5 Royal: 15 Best Passive Skills, Ranked
Passive Skills help make any Persona into a perfect tool to keep Joker alive and dealing high damage, here are the best.
