As you navigate the compelling narrative of Persona 5 Royal, you’ll encounter numerous characters, each with their unique backgrounds and preferences. These interactions are termed Social Links, and your goal is to enhance your rank with each character by making thoughtful dialogue choices.
One key character you will meet is Ryuji Sakamoto, who becomes a vital ally starting on April 12. You will cross paths with Ryuji right after your second exit from Kamoshida’s Palace, marking the official beginning of his Social Link.
Initiating a bond with Ryuji requires you to spend time with him during your playthrough. Advancing his Social Link unlocks powerful abilities and benefits that prove crucial for your journey ahead.
Confidant Benefits
Ryuji is an essential character whose Social Link rewards players with significant advantages, enhancing both gameplay and strategy. His abilities encompass critical functions, such as performing fatal attacks, securing additional turns, and healing status effects. Below is a comprehensive chart of Ryuji’s Confidant Benefits:
|
Rank |
Ability |
Description |
|
2 |
Baton Pass |
Transfer your turn to another Baton Pass user after achieving a 1 More. |
|
3 |
Follow Up |
Ability to strike again if Joker’s attack does not incapacitate the enemy. |
|
4 |
Punk Talk |
Opportunity to retry Shadow Negotiation if it fails during encounters. |
|
6 |
Harrisen Recovery |
Chance to eliminate status ailments affecting party members. |
|
7 |
Insta-kill |
Possibility of winning a battle instantly following a successful ambush. |
|
8 |
Endure |
Chance to survive a lethal blow with 1 HP remaining. |
|
9 |
Protect |
Ability to shield Joker from a fatal attack. |
|
Max |
Second Awakening |
Transforms Ryuji’s Persona into a trickster aligned with mythology. |
|
Royal |
Second Awakening R |
Fuse with the mythological Trickster, revealing its ultimate power. |
Complete Social Link Ranks
Ryuji Sakamoto features a total of 10 ranks in his Social Link progression. Selecting the correct dialogue options during your interactions is crucial, as some choices yield more points than others. Ryuji embodies the Chariot Arcana, so it would be strategic to hang out with him while equipped with a Chariot Persona for bonus points.
Availability: Ryuji can be met every day from morning until evening, but if it’s raining, he is accessible both day and night. His rank events are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with locations varying between school hallways and the arcade in Shibuya.
Rank 1
Rank 1 initiates automatically upon encountering Ryuji for the first time on April 12, during your exploration of Kamoshida’s Castle. No correct dialogue choices are necessary to unlock this initial level.
Rank 2
During this rank, Ryuji invites Joker to train outside their school. Here, he recognizes the need to improve his physical condition after experiencing the other realm. Ryuji proposes a promise to work out together more often.
|
“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
At this rank, Ryuji and Joker confront the track team at their hidden training spot, where the team taunts Ryuji. Joker intervenes, allowing Ryuji to express gratitude for having a supportive friend during tough times.
|
“…..” |
“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 |
Rank 4
This time, instead of training, Ryuji and Joker decide to have dinner, where Ryuji expresses gratitude for their friendship. He reflects on feeling like an outcast before meeting Joker and his companions.
|
“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
Ryuji and Joker visit the weight room as they prepare for facing off against their enemies. During this time, Ryuji encounters an old friend, Senpai, who reveals that the track team is being reinstated, leaving Ryuji stunned and feeling left out.
Note: This rank becomes accessible on 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 |
Rank 6
In this rank, Ryuji and Joker seek a training space away from the track team. However, they unexpectedly hear a familiar voice from a distance. It turns out to be Nakaoka, who is currently being harassed by members of the track team. Ryuji comes to his defense, but unfortunately, Nakaoka does not welcome Ryuji’s assistance.
|
“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 |
Rank 7
To progress to rank 7, you need to receive specific texts from Ryuji. These messages will request Joker’s assistance on the following dates:
- May: 18th, 20th, 25th, 27th
- June: 29th
- July: 1st, 6th
- August: 12th
- September: 21st
- October: 2nd
- November: 2nd, 4th, 9th, 11th, 16th, 30th
- December: 2nd, 7th, 9th
In this rank, Ryuji recruits Joker for an undercover operation at a restaurant, aimed at overhearing Yamauchi‘s plans concerning the track team. Joker discovers troubling information regarding Yamauchi’s intention to manipulate the team for his gain and eliminate team members.
|
“If we don’t do something quick, Yamauchi’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 |
Rank 8
In this rank, Ryuji arranges a meeting with Nakaoka and Takeishi to share the insights gained from overhearing Yamauchi. Fortunately, Ryuji recorded the conversation, ensuring that his track teammates believe his revelations.
|
“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 |
Rank 9
In the penultimate rank, Ryuji and Joker visit a restaurant where Ryuji divulges how much better he feels after assisting his former teammates. He confides that they’ve reinvited him back to the track team, and he anticipates a more positive future for himself, acknowledging that all he needs to do is remain true to himself.
|
“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 |
Max Rank
The final rank sees Ryuji and Joker reunited at a restaurant, where Ryuji shares his relief and joy following Yamauchi’s downfall and the track team’s restoration under better leadership. During this heartfelt moment, Ryuji expresses his gratitude towards Joker, acknowledging him as a true friend during this journey.
There are no incorrect answers at this final stage, as all dialogue choices yield equal points. Feel free to select whichever responses resonate with you.
Congratulations on completing Ryuji’s Social Link and achieving the maximum Confidant rank! Beyond the strategic advantages he offers, Ryuji serves as one of the most formidable party members, known for his resilience and impressive physical attack capabilities.
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