Persona 3 Reload (2024) is chock-full of awesome Social Links, but sometimes they’re locked behind social levels. Here are some of the best ways to increase social stats.
About Persona 3 Reload
Persona 3 Reload, the long-awaited Remaster of the hit JRPG Persona 3 (2006), hit shelves on February 2nd, 2024, to almost instantly become a smash hit. With an average score of 9/10, a good amount of reviews even hitting 10, this game planted itself as one of the best ways to experience what Persona is all about. Becoming the quickest game to hit 1,000,000 copies in Atlus history, Persona 3 Reload lived up to the hype.
Follow the story of the nameable protagonist (canonically deemed Makoto Yuki) as he moves into the dorms at Gekkoukan High, only to find a mysterious event called the Dark Hour occurring on his way there. Follow his mysterious story as he joins the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad, meets companions such as Yukari and Junpei, encounters numerous shadows in the hour between one day and the next, and makes a variety of friends and bonds in the social half of the game. All of these things work to fuel the team’s resolve to fight shadows and seal the fate of the world.
One of the most crucial parts of this title is the social stats, which allow the player to explore parts of the real world previously unavailable, such as Club Escapade. This, along with some Social Links that are locked behind levels, prove to provide useful abilities and great stories. Of course, they are available once the player reaches a certain level of social stats. Here’s some of the best ways to level up the protagonist’s courage, charm, and intelligence.
This game contains mature content and themes, including violence and self-harm. You have been warned. If you or a loved one is suffering from depression and/or self harm, please reach out for help or call the Suicide and Crisis Hotline (988).
1. Work Part-Time at Chagall Café
The best early game option for increasing social stats is without a doubt Chagall Café. Although Screen Shot’s part-time position can get the player similar benefits to their social stats, Chagall Café is open from the very first evening in game, and is more reliable throughout the entire game. Especially when there’s little to nothing to do at night for the first few in-game months, it’s the perfect opportunity to start increasing two of the three stats, along with some money for equipment and other activities down the line.
Chagall Café is open on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings at Paulownia Mall from the beginning of the game, and starts with a rate of 2,500 yen. Each night, it awards the player with a +1 to Courage and a +1 to Charm. This rate gradually increases the more the player works there, as well as on busy nights, commonly on Tuesdays. Especially when the protagonist starts off with almost nothing in his pocket, it quickly stacks up to benefit him in more ways than one.
2. Finish the Wilduck Big Eater Challenge
Perhaps one of the most beneficial events a player can do at night, the Wilduck Big Eater challenge ends up with a reward of two notes into each category. This is a total of six points, something nowhere else offers. Though it does require some trial and error to get the chat options correct without a guide, failures still give the player benefits in courage. Do not be scared though, as the answers are set and predictable, which make life much easier.
Though it is only a one time increase, the Big Eater Challenge can be attempted in the evening at the Strip Mall on nights where Wilduck is not crowded. Each attempt costs 1,800 yen, but when completed, awards the player with a +2 to Charm, +2 to Courage, and +2 to Intelligence. This is also considered an Elizabeth Request, which awards the player with bonus twilight fragments.
3. Go to the Movies
Going to the movies is almost always a staple of a Persona game’s day to day life, and Persona 3 Reload proves to be no exception. Especially during summer, when social links invite the protagonist, the benefits become more than worth it. Not only is there an increase to a social stat, but the social link gains points as well. Not to mention the movies are laced with cool references from across the Persona series, with little nods to other pieces of popular culture. It shows a cool cutscene, and can help round out those few stragglers that have their next Social Link level locked behind an extra hangout or two.
The movies give the player a +2 to the Social Stat listed, as well as at least a +1 to a Social Link if one accompanies you. This is mainly available during the Film Festivals in August and December, but the theater is open for the player to watch alone throughout the entire game. Screen Shot Theater is at Port Island Station, open everyday of the week excluding Sundays, although a part time position opens up that day and holidays.
4. Accept Link Episodes & Dorm Hangouts
Though these hangouts have one of the lowest social stat benefits on this list, they end up becoming more useful than just social stats. Not only does each party member provide a new, interesting story, as well as SP and HP increases, but also exclusive items and combat characteristics. Combat characteristics become one of the best additions in this version of the game, giving each character a bonus exclusive to their playstyle. The items also prove to be some of the best in the game at times, and to have social stats on top of this only make it better.
Though each normal event only adds a +1 to the listed social stat, the other benefits help to make these all the more useful, especially when the player can see the direct benefits of these almost instantly the next time they go to Tartarus. These events open up to the player in the middle of June, and become one of the most crucial additions to the game. Some S.E.E.S. members may request to hang out during the day, but most of them will offer at night to either read, watch a film, cook, or help with the rooftop planters. If they have a Social Link, the player also gains a +1 to that Social Link alongside the stat increase.
These scenes become especially important when getting close to an exam, when a little book icon appears over the main table in the lounge of the dorm. These study sessions not only develop the characters at them, but provide a +2 and sometimes +3 to Knowledge. There are only so many of them, so take advantage of the few nights where they are available.
5. Play a Game at the Arcade
The arcade saw a cool improvement in Persona 3 Reload, but at its core still achieves the same thing. The available games shuffle everyday, and are open day and night. Though it’s known for the social stats available, it also offers games that increase persona statistics. It’s a cool shop themed around shoving as many references across the gaming landscape into one store.
Some of the better games available can provide a +2 to Charm, Courage, or Intelligence on different nights, some having better availability than others. It’s a good place to revisit every now and then, since each game has a different cost, the cost averaging at about 1,500 yen.
Where to Find Persona 3 Reload
Persona 3 Reload is available across PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam, with additional DLC skins and background tracks cosmetic add-ons. Seal your fate, scale Tartarus, and find out what the dark hour has to offer today!
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