The adorable, dorky, and kind-hearted Takuto Maruki is introduced as one of the new characters in Persona 5 Royal. Following the events of the Kamoshida incident, Shujin Academy brings in a guidance counselor to help the students work through their trauma and coach them through their mental health struggles. Here's a spoiler-free guide on how to max out his Confidant.
Availability
Maruki's confidant events will be unlocked on 5/13. On the final day of midterms, Maruki will approach the protagonist and his friends regarding counseling sessions. Once the protagonist agrees to a session, the confidant will unlock.
As the school guidance counselor, he can be found in Shujin Academy in front of the nurse's office. He will appear on Monday and Friday after school.
Rank 6 onward will be locked until after 9/19.
You must achieve Rank 9 before 11/17 in order to unlock the third semester, which includes the new palace and the True Ending of Persona 5 Royal. If you don't, you will be unable to progress and see the new content in Royal.
Perks
Maruki offers permanent increases of 5 SP during his rank up events, as well as some type of healing item (in the form of Maruki's famous snacks that he offers all his students). In addition, he also grants additional perks to be used in battle:
- Rank 2 || Detox X: When Joker is inflicted with an ailment, he may recover immediately.
- Rank 3 || Flow: Chance to receive the effects of Charge and Concentrate at the start of battle.
- Rank 5 || Mindfulness: Chance to restore Joker's SP when it is low.
- Rank 7 || Quick Flow: Increases the chances of Flow succeeding.
- Rank 9 || Detox DX: Increases the chances of Detox X succeeding.
- Rank 10 || Wakefulness: Raises the SP recovered from Mindfulness.
Rank Up Events
As with every confidant, having a persona of a corresponding arcana will increase the number of points you earn with them by one. The point increases with a Councillor persona on hand are indicated in brackets next to the regular increases as such:
Prompt 1) point values for answers a, b, c [point values with matching persona]
Rank 1
This event will occur naturally on 5/13. The answer choices are irrelevant to your confidant progression.
Rank 2
- 1) 0, 1, 1 [0, 2, 2]
- 2) 0, 0, 0
- 3) 2, 1, 0 [3, 2, 0]
- 4) 0, 0, 0
- 5) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
Rank 3
- 1) 1, 0, 1 [2, 0, 2]
- 2) 1, 1, 0 [2, 2, 0]
- 3) 0, 0, 0
- 4) 1, 0, 1 [2, 0, 2]
- 5) 1, 1 [2, 2]
- Phone Call) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
Rank 4
- 1) 0, 0
- 2) 2, 0, 1 [3, 0, 2]
- 3) 1, 0, 2 [2, 0, 3]
- 4) 0, 0
- 5) 1, 1 [2, 2]
- 6) 2, 0, 0 [3, 0, 0]
- Phone Call) 1, 1, 0 [2, 2, 0]
Rank 5
- 1) 2, 0, 1 [3, 0, 2]
- 2) 0, 0, 0
- 3) 0, 1, 2 [0, 2, 3]
- 4) 1, 1, 0 [2, 2, 0]
- 5) 0, 1, 0 [0, 2, 0]
- Phone Call) 1, 0, 1 [2, 0, 2]
Rank 6
Available after 9/19
- 1) 0, 1, 1 [0, 2, 2]
- 2) 2, 1, 0 [3, 2, 0]
- 3) 0, 0
- 4) 0, 0, 1 [0, 0, 2]
- 5) 0, 0
- 6) 0, 0, 0
- Phone Call) 1, 1, 0 [2, 2, 0]
Rank 7
- 1) 2, 2, 2 [3, 3, 3]
- 2) 2, 2, 2 [3, 3, 3]
- 3) 2, 2 [3, 3]
- 4) 2, 2, 2 [3, 3, 3]
Rank 8
- 1) 1, 2, 0 [2, 3, 0]
- 2) 2, 1, 1 [3, 2, 2]
- 3) 2, 0, 1 [3, 0, 2]
- 4) 1, 0, 2 [2, 0, 3]
- 5) 2, 2, [3, 3]
- 6) 2, 2, [3, 3]
- 7) 0, 0, 0
- Phone Call) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
Rank 9
- 1) 0, 0
- 2) 2, 1, 1 [3, 2, 2]
Rank 10
This event will occur naturally in the story, given that you have reached Rank 9 by 11/17. The answer choices are irrelevant to your confidant progression.