In the world of RPGs, leveling up is crucial, and Persona 5 Royal is no exception. Failing to keep your team leveled can make facing late-game bosses a daunting task, potentially forcing you to spend extra time grinding in Mementos. As an enhanced version of Persona 5, Persona 5 Royal brings quality-of-life improvements and an additional 20 hours of gameplay, introducing a new semester for the Phantom Thieves and tweaking some boss fights. With all this fresh content, maintaining high levels for your team is essential, and knowing the fastest ways to gain experience is key.
Updated on January 13, 2025, by Renri Seong: While being over-leveled can make Persona 5 Royal less challenging, aiming to match the levels of Palace Rulers, especially on a new file, is advisable. The game offers various methods to streamline experience farming, from leveraging Confidant Skills to utilizing Jose in Mementos. Additionally, Joker can earn EXP for his non-active Personas with a passive skill. This guide now includes a new section on how to quickly farm experience using the Insta-kill ability.
Accessories and The Moon Arcana
--------------------------------Mishima Yuuki's Confidant
In Persona 5 Royal, players can enhance their EXP gain by equipping the Team Glasses accessory, available as free DLC from the PlayStation Store. These glasses boost EXP gain by 15% when equipped on each character. However, only Joker and three other Phantom Thieves can participate in battle, leaving the backline members to receive less experience.
To ensure your entire team benefits from EXP gains, focus on advancing the Moon Confidant with Yuuki Mishima. Reaching Rank 3 and Rank 5 allows backup members to earn EXP, and achieving Rank 10 ensures they gain the same amount as frontline fighters. Progressing Mishima's Confidant is straightforward; just choose dialogue options that resonate with him and bring a Moon Arcana Persona when spending time with him. Note that Mementos Missions, now linked to Mishima's Confidant, must be completed to advance his rank.
Mementos: Increase EXP Gain
----------------------------Cognition of Mementos
Persona 5 Royal introduces Jose, a character who, while not central to the plot, significantly aids gameplay. In Mementos, players can collect "flowers" and visit "Stamp Stations," which can then be exchanged with Jose. These exchanges can alter the Cognition of Mementos, allowing players to increase EXP, Money, or Item rewards. To boost EXP gains to 110%, you'll need 5 Stamps, while maxing it out at 200% requires 12 Stamps. With 165 Stamps available throughout the game, you'll need 85 to fully optimize EXP gains. Keep an eye out for Stamp Stations in the dead ends of Mementos floors, accessible through breakable walls, and you might encounter Jose when transitioning to new floors.
Fight the Reaper
-----------------What Level is the Reaper?
The Reaper, a formidable foe from the Persona series, appears in Mementos if you linger too long on a floor. Signs of his arrival include a blinking red screen, the sound of chains, and warnings from Morgana or Futaba about an ominous presence. Early in the game, defeating the Reaper is nearly impossible unless you're on a New Game+ file. With level 85 and high stats, his Agility, though his lowest at 75, can still outpace your team if not adequately prepared.
However, defeating the Reaper yields substantial rewards in experience and money, often resulting in level-ups for all characters. It's advisable to challenge him at level 60 or above, using Defense-raising skills and Makarakarn to reflect his magic. Alternatively, if you've purchased the Persona DLC including Izanagi-no-Okami (Picaro), stacking Concentrate, Heat Riser, and using Myriad Truths can deal devastating Almighty damage to take him down.
Defeat Treasure Demons
-----------------------How to Summon Treasure Demons
Treasure Demons, first encountered in Madarame's Palace, are unique Shadows that appear in the Metaverse. Unlike typical Shadows, they're harmless and tend to flee after a few turns. Each type has different Affinity Weaknesses and Immunities but is vulnerable to Almighty attacks. To prevent their escape, use Shinya's Rank 1 Ability, Down Shot, to down them, enabling an All-Out Attack. Alternatively, Morgana's high-crit attack, Miracle Punch, can be effective if the Treasure Demon doesn't nullify Physical damage.
Treasure Demons appear more frequently in Palaces with high security. You can also use the Treasure Trap infiltration tool, crafted with 2x Silk Yarn, 3x Plant Balm, and 1x Cork Bark, to increase encounters.
Use Persona with EXP Skills
----------------------------How to Get Growth Passive Skill
In Persona 5 Royal, Personas not equipped by Joker at the end of a battle typically don't earn EXP. However, those with the Growth passive skill can still gain a percentage of the battle's EXP even if they're not used. There are three levels of Growth Skills:
- Growth 1: Persona gains a quarter EXP when inactive.
- Growth 2: Persona gains half EXP when inactive.
- Growth 3: Persona will gain full EXP when inactive.
Personas like Saki Mitama (level 7), Koppa Tengu (level 12), Lachesis (Innate), Kurama Tengu (level 36), Thoth (level 42), Ananta (level 47), Izanagi (level 25), Izanagi Picaro (level 28), Narcissus (level 50), and Raphael (level 81) can learn these skills upon leveling.
In the Velvet Room, using the Electric Chair, players can turn Personas into Skill Cards. However, in Persona 5 Royal, only Izanagi Picaro can be transformed into a Growth 3 Skill Card. To obtain the Growth 2 Skill Card, visit Miura Beach with Caroline and Justine between September 2nd and September 29th, after clearing event 6 (Sky Tower), and spend time with them during evenings near the Velvet Room Door outside of Mementos.
Ryuji Sakamoto's Confidant
---------------------------How to Unlock Insta-Kill
Insta-kill, a skill that instantly defeats Shadows without engaging in battle, becomes available by ambushing enemies when Joker's level is at least 10 levels above the Shadow's. In Persona 5 Royal, a successful Insta-kill grants items, yen, experience, and, if space permits, a Persona. Use Joker's Third Eye ability to identify Shadows susceptible to Insta-kill, marked by a green outline.
To unlock Insta-kill, you must reach Rank 7 in Ryuji Sakamoto's Confidant. Fortunately, advancing Ryuji's Confidant doesn't require any Social Stat prerequisites, making it one of the easiest to max out. To quickly gain Insta-kill, spend time with Ryuji and select the most favorable dialogue options to maximize points, ideally before you begin unlocking other Confidants.
