The student council president of Shujin Academy, Makoto Nijima is first introduced as an unpopular gal known for her goody-goody reputation. In Persona tradition, this character is far more than meets the eye, and enjoyable to see evolve before our eyes.
While she's initially tasked with the job of exposing the Phantom Thieves, she later discovers how well her own views align with theirs and joins their group. Here's a spoiler-free guide on how to max out her confidant in Persona 5 Royal.
Updated on March 23, 2023 by Quinton O'Connor: We've transformed some of the data in this guide into easier-to-read tables while double-checking for spelling and grammatical issues with this republish.
Availability
Makoto is available to hang out with anytime after successfully infiltrating Kaneshiro's Palace (and thus concluding her intro arc). She can most often be found standing outside the student council building on the second floor of Shujin Academy. On days off, she will stand outside the Shujin Academy school gate. Towards the end of November until the end of December, she will hang out on the Aoyama-Itchome subway platform.
Makoto is available after school on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. On rainy days, she can also be found at night.
Note that there are several rank-up events that cannot happen on rainy days.
Perks
|
Rank |
Perk |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
One |
Shadow Calculus |
Allows you to see skills and potential item drops on the analysis screen. |
|
Two |
Baton Pass |
Allows you to pass your turn over to other Baton Pass users after a 1 More. |
|
Three |
Brainiac Talk |
Chance to step in after Shadow negotiation fails, allowing a retry. |
|
Four |
Follow Up |
Chance to perform a follow-up attack if Joker’s attack does not down the enemy. |
|
Six |
Harisen Recovery |
Chance to cure status ailments inflicted upon party members. |
|
Seven |
Shadow Factorization |
Allows you to see Null, Repel, and Drain when highlighting a target in battle. |
|
Eight |
Endure |
Chance to withstand an otherwise fatal attack with 1 HP remaining. |
|
Nine |
Protect |
Chance to shield Joker from an otherwise fatal attack. |
|
Ten |
Second Awakening |
Transforms her persona, Johanna, into a mythological trickster, Agnes. |
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 Priestess Persona on hand are indicated in brackets next to the regular increases.
In addition, Makoto is one of the confidants where scoring high on exams will also provide a bonus. Ranking first in the entire school will give you 1.5x affinity points, while ranking within the top ten will give 1.2x. This stacks with the bonuses from having a matching Persona.
If you’re receiving bonus points on top of three points already, you will still see only three musical notes but gain more within the actual mechanics.
Rank 1
Locked until Kaneshiro's palace has been successfully cleared. Level 3 Knowledge ("Scholarly") required.
The only prompt that awards affinity points is the phone call at the end of the event:
- Phone call) 2, 1, 3 [3, 2, 3]
Rank 2
Unavailable on rainy days.
- 1) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
- 2) 1, 2, 0 [2, 3, 0]
- 3) 0, 0
- Phone call) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
Rank 3
- 1) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
- 2) 1, 2, 0 [2, 3, 0]
- Phone call) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
Rank 4
- 1) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
- 2) 0, 0
- 3) 0, 0, 0
- 4) 2, 1, 0 [3, 2, 0]
- 5) 0, 1, 2 [0, 2, 3]
Rank 5
- 1) 0, 1, 2 [0, 2, 3]
- 2) 2, 0, 1 [3, 0, 2]
- Phone call) 0, 0, 1 [0, 0, 2]
Rank 6
Level 5 Charm ("Debonair") required.
- 1) 1, 0, 2 [2, 0, 3]
- 2) 0, 0, 0
- 3) 0, 0, 0
- Phone call) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
Rank 7
- 1) 0, 0
- 2) 0, 0, 0
- 3) 0, 0
- 4) 2, 1, 3 [3, 2, 3]
- 5) 3, 3 [3, 3]
- 6) 1, 1 [2, 2]
- 7) 1, 0, 1 [2, 0, 2]
- Phone Call) 1, 0, 1 [2, 0, 2]
Rank 8
- 1) 1, 1, 0 [2, 2, 0]
- 2) 2, 1, 1 [3, 2, 2]
Rank 9
Unavailable on rainy days.
Note that this rank-up event will cost both a day and nighttime activity.
You and Makoto will travel to Shinjuku to look for info on Tsukasa. Run up to people with speech bubbles over their heads. The person who has information on Tsukasa is standing in front of the Shinjuku bookstore. After you talk to him, the rank-up event will start.
- 1) 2, 2, 2 [3, 3, 3]
- 2) 1, 1 [2, 2]
- 3) 0, 1, 0 [0, 2, 0]
- 4) 3, 2, 1 [3, 3, 2]
- 5) 3 (romance), 0 (remain friends, end of conversation)
- 6) 3 (romance), 0 (remain friends, end of conversation)
If friends:
- Phone Call) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
If dating:
- Phone call) 1, 0, 1 [2, 0, 2]
Rank 10 (MAX)
- 1) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
- 2) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
- 3) 0, 1, 0 [0, 2, 0]
- 4) 2, 1, 3 [3, 2, 3]
If friends:
- 5) 1, 2 [2, 3]
- 6) 0, 0, 1 [0, 0, 2]
If dating:
- 5) 0, 0, 1 [0, 0, 2]
- 6) 0, 0
Non-Rank Invited Hangouts
Occasionally, Makoto will text Joker to hang out with her somewhere. While these hangouts will not increase your rank, you will still receive affinity points. Replying to Makoto's messages immediately will incur a 1.2x increase in affinity points. All the same parameters for bonuses apply to non-rank hangouts as well.
7/12 - Studying In The Shujin Library
- 1, 1, [2, 2]
Additional effects
- Knowledge +3
7/28 - Movie In Shibuya
- 2, 1 [3, 1]
Additional effects
- Guts +3
8/15 - Shopping in Jinbocho
Unlocks the Jinbocho location.
Only available if you've already begun your confidant with Hifumi.
Make sure to equip a Star persona with you, as Hifumi will also be present.
- 1) 2, 0 [3, 0]
- 2) 0, 0
- Priestess & Star 3) 2, 2 [3, 3]
9/10 - Date In Hawaii
Only available if you have achieved rank 5 or higher with Makoto. Unavailable if you are in a friendship with rank 9 or above. On 9/6, make sure you have a Priestess persona with you before flying off to Hawaii.
- 1) 2, 3, 2 [3, 3, 3]
- 2) 3, 2, 1 [3, 3, 2]
- 3) 3, 0, 0
- 4) 3, 3
- 5) 0, 0
Receive the "Tiki Keychain" accessory (Ma+5/En+5).
10/14 - Studying In The Shujin Library
- 1, 1, [2, 2]
Additional effects
- Knowledge +3
10/26 - School Festival Afterparty Date at Shujin
Only available if you are in a romantic relationship with Makoto.
- 1) 1, 0, 2
- 2) 0, 0, 0
- 3) 0, 0, 0
- 4) 3, 3
- 5) 0, 0
- 6) 3, 3
Receive "Makoto Donuts" (restore 100 SP to 1 ally).
Non-Rank Hangouts
If you do not have enough points to unlock the next ranked event (or have already maxed out your bond with her) you can invite Makoto out to several different locations. All the same parameters for bonuses apply to non-rank hangouts as well.
Expansion of Insight (General Hangout Activity)
No conversation options. You will receive 2 [3] affinity points afterward.
Ogikubo Ramen Shop
- 2, 2, 3 [3, 3, 3]
Suidobashi - Dome Town
Unavailable on rainy days.
- 2, 2, 3 [3, 3, 3]
Receive the "G-Nyant Doll" room decoration.
Harajuku - Takenoko Street
Unavailable on rainy days.
- 1, 2, 1 [2, 3, 2]
Tsukishima - Monjaya
- 2, 2, 3 [3, 3, 3]
Chinatown
Unavailable on rainy days. Only available on Sundays, public holidays, and summer vacation.
- 1) 1, 1, 3 [2, 2, 3]
- 2) 1, 2, 1 [2, 3, 2]
Receive the "Shumai Cushion" room decoration.
Odaiba - Seaside Park
If friends:
- 1, 2, 3 [2, 3, 3]
If dating:
- 2, 2, 3 [3, 3, 3]
Aoyama-Itchome - Leblanc Attic
Only available if you are in a romantic relationship.
- 2, 1, 1 [3, 2, 2]
Destiny Land
Unavailable on rainy days. Only available on holidays and if you are in a romantic relationship.
- 1) 1, 1, 3 [2, 2, 3]
- 2) 2, 2, 2 [3, 3, 3]