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When you first encounter the famous Detective Prince, Goro Akechi, in Persona 5 Royal, you meet him in a television studio while the prodigal detective shares his views on the Phantom Thieves on the program being filmed. Though your opinions on the Phantom Thieves of Hearts couldn’t be more different, the pair begin an unlikely (and admittedly somewhat rocky) friendship.
Though his Confidant ranking in vanilla Persona 5 progressed automatically with the story, in Persona 5 Royal, you have to choose to hang out with Akechi like everyone else. Below, you’ll find as spoiler-free a guide for Persona 5 Royal’s Akechi Confidant as possible.
Updated on December 16, 2022 by Gabrielle Castania: Persona 5 Royal changed a good many things about the main Persona 5 story, and one of those big changes is that instead of Akechi's confidant progressing automatically throughout the story, you've now got to choose to befriend him. With the game launching for new systems in 2022, we wanted to double-check and make sure our Confidant guides are as smooth and up-to-date as possible. We've updated this Akechi confidant guide to reflect those changes, ensuring you'll have an easy experience and be able to get the perfect relationship with him.
Availability And Perks
Akechi’s Confidant will still unlock automatically, which happens on 6/10 when you visit the television studio.
After this point, he can most typically be located in Kichijoji right outside of Penguin Sniper, the bar where you go to play billiards and darts. This is true of every rank except for Rank 6, where he’ll be in one of the booths at Leblanc instead.
Akechi is one of very few characters whose schedules are both difficult to pin down and that change partway through the game. For the most part, Akechi is available to hang out at night on Wednesdays and Saturdays. However, from mid-July through August, Akechi’s availability will change to Tuesdays and Saturdays instead.
Akechi’s Confidant Skill Perks
|
Rank |
Ability |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Follow Up |
Akechi can sometimes perform a follow-up attack in battle if Joker’s attack does not down the enemy. |
|
Smooth Talk |
Allows Joker to try again if negotiation with a godlike Shadow is unsuccessful. |
|
|
2 |
Sleuthing Instinct |
Akechi may reveal one of an enemy’s affinities when a battle begins. |
|
4 |
Sleuthing Mastery |
Akechi may reveal all enemy’s affinities when a battle begins. |
|
6 |
Harisen Recovery |
Akechi may cure a teammate’s status ailment without instruction to do so. |
|
Max |
Endure |
Akechi has a chance to survive an otherwise fatal attack with 1HP remaining. |
|
Protect |
Akechi can protect Joker from otherwise fatal attacks, taking the hit for him. |
If any of the ranks that impart battle abilities for Akechi are reached before he joins the Phantom Thieves for Niijima’s Casino Palace, then his abilities will be granted as soon as he joins the party.
Ranking Up Akechi’s Confidant
Every time you grow closer to Akechi (even if he makes that challenging sometimes), you’ll level up Akechi’s confidant. As with everyone else in Joker’s life, this is easier if you have a Persona of the corresponding arcana in Joker’s party. For Akechi, that’s Justice.
Additionally, as is true of several of Joker’s peers, Akechi is one of the Confidants who receives a bonus if Joker scores well on his exams at school. Ranking first in the school gives a 1.5x multiplier to affinity earned during a hangout while landing in the top ten will give a 1.2x multiplier instead. This combines with the bonus applied for having a corresponding Justice Persona on you.
Though you have ample time with the rest of Joker’s friends, you only have until 11/17 to get Akechi’s Persona 5 Royal Confidant up to Rank 8. If you make this deadline, then Akechi ranks up to Ranks 9 and Max automatically through story events, and you’re able to see the entire True Ending of Persona 5 Royal’s new third-semester content (so long as you’ve unlocked that content as well).
Failing to reach Rank 8 of Akechi’s confidant by 11/17 will change several things about your game from that date on.
You’ll be locked out of content during the third semester without him, and you’ll miss a post-credits scene as well, in addition to a handful of other details that change in Akechi’s absence.
Akechi’s Confidant, Rank 1
|
Akechi's Dialogue |
Joker's Response |
Points Earned Without A Justice Persona |
Points Earned With A Justice Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"That's why I believe, if a truly powerful opponent were to corner them, they would flee without a second thought." |
"They wouldn't run." |
0 |
0 |
|
"They'd fight to the end." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"If it's all right with you, would you continue sharing your thoughts with me?" |
"That's fine by me." |
0 |
0 |
|
"I'd love to." |
0 |
0 |
Akechi’s Confidant, Rank 2
|
Akechi's Dialogue |
Joker's Response |
Points Earned Without A Justice Persona |
Points Earned With A Justice Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"I found myself with some free time, so I was hoping to find someone to play against." |
"You always seem so busy." |
1 |
2 |
|
"Do you have no friends?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Oh, my apologies. A break ace." |
"Is that your win?" |
0 |
0 |
|
"Not bad." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Not bad. Everything's riding on your next shot, though. How will you handle this?" |
"Shoot very carefully." |
1 |
2 |
|
"I'll go for a power shot." |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"Is something the matter?" |
You used your right hand." |
0 |
0 |
|
"...Aren't you left-handed?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"I'm rather dexterous with my right hand. I can even use chopsticks with it. Frankly, I didn't expect you to see through it." |
"Maybe I'll be a detective." |
2 |
1 |
|
"No holding back next time." |
2 |
1 |
|
|
"I see a lot of things." |
3 |
2 |
|
|
Phone Call: "I think you'd be an interesting influence on me. If you're so inclined, we could go out again sometime." |
"Sure." |
0 |
0 |
|
"I'll think about it." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"As rivals?" |
2 |
1 |
Akechi’s Confidant, Rank 3
Unavailable on rainy days. Requires Level 3 Knowledge and Level 3 Charm to progress.
|
Akechi's Dialogue |
Joker's Response |
Points Earned Without A Justice Persona |
Points Earned With A Justice Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"The cake here's fairly popular. I've been wanting to try it myself." |
"Got a sweet tooth, huh?" |
0 |
0 |
|
"Come here often?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Uh-oh. Looks like I've been spotted." |
"Should've figured." |
2 |
3 |
|
"Your life must be so hard." |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"I can shoo them away..." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"We should go." |
"You've done nothing wrong." |
0 |
0 |
|
"Why the rush?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"A shame I don't have glasses like you. Maybe I would have been able to get out of this situation." |
"How about we find out?" |
0 |
0 |
|
"Come here a sec." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"I suppose I'd better learn to watch what I say around you." |
"You looked great." |
0 |
0 |
|
"It was a necessary evil." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"I should've taken a picture..." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Phone Call: "I saw firsthand what happens when I'm too careless with my words around you." |
"That was careless, huh?" |
0 |
0 |
|
"Wasn't it fun?" |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"I can always dress you up again." |
0 |
0 |
Akechi’s Confidant, Rank 4
Unlocks the jazz club location in Kichijoji.
|
Akechi's Dialogue |
Joker's Response |
Points Earned Without A Justice Persona |
Points Earned With A Justice Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"It's nice to take some time off when we can, don't you think?" |
"What kind of place is this?" |
0 |
0 |
|
"This looks shady..." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"It's just a jazz club. You get to hear some great performers here." |
"Do they have coffee?" |
1 |
2 |
|
"But I'm underage." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Now this is my kind of club." |
2 |
3 |
|
|
"Well then, why don't we get some drinks?" |
"Any recommendations?" |
2 |
3 |
|
"Anything's fine by me." |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"An ice-cold beer for me." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Whew... How relaxing. I really do like coming here." |
"It's a great place." |
1 |
2 |
|
"I feel a bit nervous." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"I guess you could call it my go-to place. Do you have anywhere like that?" |
"A run-down café." |
0 |
0 |
|
"A shop with great coffee." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"I live there, actually" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"That reminds me, do you cook?" |
"Pretty frequently." |
2 |
3 |
|
"I can use a microwave..." |
2 |
3 |
|
|
"All I need is curry." |
1 |
2 |
|
|
Phone Call: "There's something about that strange, erratic synchronicity… It's a euphoria like when I manage to solve a case." |
"What are you talking about?" |
0 |
0 |
|
"I kinda get it." |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"You really are having fun." |
0 |
0 |
Akechi’s Confidant, Rank 5
|
Akechi's Dialogue |
Joker's Response |
Points Earned Without A Justice Persona |
Points Earned With A Justice Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"Do you normally play games like these?" |
"All the time." |
0 |
0 |
|
"I'm not great at them." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Have you played any?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Phew! My fingers are going to be sore tomorrow. What a realistic game." |
"Are you used to gunplay?" |
1 |
2 |
|
"You took that seriously, huh." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"All this reminded me of running around the house with it, playing hero..." |
"You wanted to be a hero?" |
2 |
3 |
|
"Very interesting." |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"Hard to imagine." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"So? Which of those two fits more with your conception of a hero?" |
"Sticking to your justice." |
0 |
0 |
|
"Doing what people want." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Neither, really." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Phone Call: "Hopefully I didn't come off as too much of a novice. I wish I'd played better." |
"You did fine." |
1 |
2 |
|
"You've still got a long way to go." |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"You were getting cocky." |
1 |
2 |
Akechi’s Confidant, Rank 6
This rank is locked until 9/3. When it's available, Akechi will be waiting at Leblanc instead of outside Penguin Sniper.
|
Akechi's Dialogue |
Joker's Response |
Points Earned Without A Justice Persona |
Points Earned With A Justice Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"Ahh, this feels wonderful... It's been a while." |
"So relaxing..." |
1 |
2 |
|
"Seeing you here is weird." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"A while, huh?" |
2 |
3 |
|
|
"My mother worked at a nightclub. Whenever she had to bring a man home, she'd send me off to the local bathhouse." |
"That was horrible of her." |
0 |
0 |
|
"...You've been through a lot." |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"Actually, are you all right? I know the hot water can make people dizzy..." |
"This is nothing." |
2 |
3 |
|
"I'll stay until you're ready." |
2 |
3 |
|
|
"Are YOU okay?" |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"Oof... I think I feel a little lightheaded." |
"Same." |
2 |
3 |
|
"I'm just fine." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Guess I win." |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"I've never told anyone else about my family situation, either. I wonder why I told you? Curious indeed." |
"Because we get along." |
1 |
2 |
|
"Because we're similar." |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"We're both victims of the adults who unfairly impacted our lives." |
"I think you're right." |
2 |
3 |
|
"I don't know about that." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Can I put my clothes on?" |
1 |
2 |
|
|
Phone Call: "If they saw how I was acting today, perhaps they'd say I wasn't acting like the Detective Prince." |
"True." |
0 |
0 |
|
"They'd probably love it." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"My bad, I guess." |
1 |
2 |
Akechi’s Confidant, Rank 7
You're playing billiards again in this scene, but Joker needs to win in order to progress Akechi's Confidant ranking. If you lose, you must rechallenge Akechi until you win, as he won't rank up until you beat him.
|
Akechi's Dialogue |
Joker's Response |
Points Earned Without A Justice Persona |
Points Earned With A Justice Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"You can't simply strike the ball you're aiming for. You have to be indirect, but precise, to land it in the pocket..." |
"Yeah, it's convoluted..." |
0 |
0 |
|
"That's why it's so fun." |
2 |
3 |
|
|
"You eliminate your target without ever directly connecting yourself to it. I don't suppose that rings any bells?" |
"The psychotic breakdowns." |
0 |
0 |
|
"What're you getting at?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Even then... do you still intend to play this game?" |
"I've made up my mind." |
0 |
0 |
|
"I won't miss my shot." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Even if it was with my self-imposed handicap, I'm impressed that you beat me. You've become quite skilled." |
"It's thanks to you." |
0 |
0 |
|
"I couldn't let myself lose." |
2 |
3 |
|
|
"Yet I'm doing so as a detective, and you're acting as a phantom thief. Our stances couldn't be more different." |
"But we're teammates now." |
0 |
0 |
|
"You want to join us?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Phone Call: "Why not join me instead...? All you'd have to do is abandon the teammates you have now. How about it?" |
"I'll think about it." |
0 |
0 |
|
"I'm not doing that." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"You're my rival." |
0 |
0 |
Akechi’s Confidant, Rank 8
You'll be fighting Akechi in Mementos with your Personas for this final manual hangout. Be sure to have something on you that can counter Akechi's moves, as well as a Persona of the Justice arcana to max your potential affinity earnings. The battle stops before you finish Akechi off, but being able to effectively do damage is pivotal.
|
Akechi's Dialogue |
Joker's Response |
Points Earned Without A Justice Persona |
Points Earned With A Justice Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"Well, this place should do nicely..." |
"What'd you want to discuss?" |
0 |
0 |
|
"Why are we in Mementos?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Remember what I told you? If you ever won against me using my right hand, I'd take you on with everything I've got." |
"I thought you meant in pool." |
0 |
0 |
|
"You want to fight?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"But why, though?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Thus, I've built up this urge to duel you without holding anything back." |
"All right." |
0 |
0 |
|
"Let's do this." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"You've caught up to me on this front already, too..." |
"Are you satisfied?" |
0 |
0 |
|
"Was that all you've got?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Do you want to keep going?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"In all honesty, it's to the point that I'd be relying on you in a pinch." |
"I'd say the same for you." |
0 |
0 |
|
"The feeling's mutual." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"By the way, about that duel—if we had fought to the end, do you see yourself winning?" |
"I definitely wouldn't lose." |
2 |
2 |
|
"I don't know." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Probably." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"...You're the one person I refuse to lose to." |
"Same here." |
1 |
1 |
|
"Really hate losing, don't you?" |
2 |
2 |
|
|
"Should the opponent accept the glove, the duel is also accepted." |
"I accept." |
0 |
0 |
|
"Let me think about it." |
0 |
0 |
Akechi’s Confidant, Ranks 9 And 10 (Max)
Most of this ranking will happen automatically during Shido's Cruiseliner Palace, so long as you've reached Rank 8 with Akechi before beginning the Black Mask fight at Shido's Palace.
|
Akechi's Dialogue |
Joker's Response |
Points Earned Without A Justice Persona |
Points Earned With A Justice Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"Change Shido's heart... in my stead... End his crimes... Please!" |
"You better deliver your promise." |
0 |
0 |
|
"I'll hold on to your glove" |
0 |
0 |
Akechi During The Third Semester
So long as you've completed the requirements to progress into Royal's third semester and you got Akechi to Rank 8 on your own through manual hang-outs, he's available during the third semester as well. In order to get him to this point, you'll need to have chosen the right dialogue options along the way.
Those are:
|
Occasion |
Required Dialogue Choice |
|---|---|
|
Rank 7 |
"You're my rival." |
|
Rank 8 |
Defeat Akechi in Mementos and then choose, "I accept." |
|
The night after securing the route to Shido's treasure |
"I want to keep our promise." |
|
Nighttime on 2/2 |
"We're stopping Maruki." |
This not only ensures that Akechi sees it to the end of the bonus content added in Persona 5 Royal but also allows you to see his third Persona awakening.
You'll only see Akechi's third-semester content if you progressed him to Rank 8 before finishing Shido's Palace. If you have, though, you'll see one last long conversation with him before the end of the game on 2/2. While it doesn't impact your affinity with Akechi, it does see you choosing which of the endings you'll see.
|
Akechi's Dialogue |
Joker's Response |
Points Earned Without A Justice Persona |
Points Earned With A Justice Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"Don't tell me you think dangling my life before us is going to have any impact on our decision." |
"You figured that out?" |
0 |
0 |
|
"So you knew..." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
(Maruki) "I'll be going now." |
"This is for you." |
0 |
0 |
|
"You forgot something." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"I refuse to accept a reality concocted by someone else, stuck under their control for the rest of my days." |
"Are you sure?" |
0 |
0 |
|
"But then, you'll..." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"......" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Or, are you really so spineless that you'd fold over some bullshit, trivial threat on my life?" |
"This isn't trivial." |
0 |
0 |
|
"Don't oversimplify this." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"I won't fold." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"I won't wait a moment longer. Answer me." |
"We're stopping Maruki." |
True Ending |
|
|
"We're taking the offer." |
Bad Ending |
||
|
"Are you serious?" (Only happens if you say you're taking the offer above. If not, the scene ends without this confirmation.) |
"I misspoke." |
True Ending |
|
|
"I am serious." |
Bad Ending |
||
Non-Ranking Hangouts
7/29 at the Shinagawa Aquarium
This is the only time in which Akechi reliably asks Joker to hang out. Though you won’t rank up his Confidant here, you’ll still receive affinity. Replying to his text immediately offers a 1.2x multiplier for the day, with your other bonuses also still in effect.
Though, this scene will be skipped if you’ve not begun Ichiko Ohya’s Confidant before 7/29. We have a guide for how to befriend the lush journalist, so be sure to make her acquaintance before 7/29. Additionally, when you go to hang out with Akechi at the aquarium, be sure to bring a Devil Persona as well, as Ohya will be present and can also earn points, still boosted with a Persona of the same arcana.
|
The Dialogue |
Joker's Response |
Points Earned Without A Matching Persona |
Points Earned With A Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
|
(Akechi) "Sorry for dragging you along." |
"It's a nice place." |
2 |
3 |
|
"Why me?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"Could bring a girl here..." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
(Ohya) "And we even got the second Detective Prince here, too— W-Wait, what!?" |
"Keep it quiet, please..." |
0 |
0 |
|
"Why are you here?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
(Ohya) "And unlike you, he's pretty hardline anti-Phantom-Thieves, right? Mind if I ask a couple questions about you two?" |
"If you like." |
1 (to Ohya) |
2 (to Ohya) |
|
"That's kind of personal." |
0 |
0 |
|
|
"What's it worth to you?" |
0 |
0 |
|
|
(Akechi) "And if I heard right, you two have some sort of professional agreement?" |
"What of it?" |
0 |
0 |
|
"It's nothing bad." |
1 |
2 |
|
|
"How about these fish, huh?" |
0 |
0 |
Outside this day, simply choose to hang out with Akechi when he's milling about in Kichijoji, and you should reach the 11/17 deadline for Persona 5 Royal's Akechi Confidant with ease.