Summary
Persona 5Royalisboth one of the best games made by developerAtlusand also one of the best JRPGs made this generation; packed with hours and hours of gameplay for players to enjoy and a slew of activities. Be it regular combat or just its charming life sim elements, players will find themselves quickly falling in love with this game. What stands out above the other elements of the game, however, are the characters.
More specifically called confidants toPersona 5,these characters not only provide the player with engaging dialogue but if players spend enough time with them and strengthen their bond, they will prove useful to the protagonist in combat as well. ThebestPersona 5confidantsare notable for both their likability and usefulness. While some people may argue that every Confidant inPersona 5is worth interacting with, there’s no denying that prioritizing some will make for an objectively better experience with the game, especially if players unlock their benefits early on to make the most of the useful advantages they provide.
Updated on July 27, 2025:This article has been updated to include every confidant in the game based on the Royal edition of the game. While there is a spoiler warning below, these confidants are deeply intertwined with the story elements added in the Royal content, and being surprised by them on a first playthrough is best. The Akechi confidant did exist in base Persona 5, though for this article we’ll only be focusing on that confidant in the Royal edition of the game since it was refurbished in a lot of good ways.
***** Spoiler warning forPersona 5 Royal’s story and character arcs, including the ending *****
23Ichiko Ohya
Devil Arcana
Ohyais one of the few confidants who gives a closer view of the effects of the rotten adults in society who are bending the world to their will. While the Phantom Thieves see themselves as powerless because they are kids, Ohya shows that you can still be powerless and be an adult.
While her confidant can easily be missed, it does give good hints at Shido long before he’s fully introduced in the story. That all being said, Ohya’s personality can be a little off-putting to some people, and the confidant overall has Joker being more someone Ohya talks to than him helping her through her situation, landing her at the bottom of this list.
22Shinya Oda
Tower Arcana
Shinyaoffers an even more childlike view of the world than the Phantom Thieves. While he understands there are some bad people in the world you need to fight against, his child-like worldview leads him to go too far with it.
Shinya paints the world in even darker shades of black and white than the Phantom Thieves do and offers helpful insight into why some levels of moderation are important. While his confidant isn’t necessarily bad, it can be hard to remember he’s only a kid when he goes to the extremes when wanting to deal with someone he sees as a problem.
21Haru Okumura
Empress Arcana
It’s a shame thatHaru’s Confidantis unlocked very late into the game, given that she’s the final playable character players get to control. While the game is lengthy enough that players should still have enough time to interact with her, players who are new to the game can potentially end up not completing her Confidant because of how it’s unlocked and the Max Proficiency requirement, which can stall players.
However, people who make the effort to interact with one of the bestConfidants inPersona 5 Royalwill witness a story that is in line with Mitsuru’s fromPersona 3. After her father’s fall from grace, Haru is thrust into the role of the heir apparent and feels forced to do what’s best for her family’s company instead of what she believes in. Not only does the protagonist help her forge her own path, but he can also convince her to avoid an arranged marriage and initiate a relationship with Joker instead.
20Yusuke Kitagawa
Emperor Arcana
There’s no denying thatYusukegives off a very poor first impression, with his clichéd, tortured artist personality and a weird insistence on painting Ann naked making him more unlikable than was necessary (or likely intended). However, it doesn’t take long for Yusuke to come into his own and finally stand against Madarame,awakening his Persona in the process. While the person who profited off his name was eventually exposed, this event led to Yusuke losing his mojo for making art.
The protagonist spends a lot of time with Yusuke as he goes through an artistic crisis. A piece he puts his heart and soul into ends up being rejected, and Yusuke realizes that his inspiration needs to come naturally to him. Forcing himself to paint when he had no vision was a futile endeavor, and Yusuke eventually crafts a piece that is beautiful and is arguably on par with Sayuri’s quality, if not better. It’s a wild journey that cements this party member as one of thebest Confidants inPersona 5 Royal.
19Ann Takamaki
Lovers Arcana
It’s easy to write offAnnas a character who’s absorbed by her own looks and faces no problems because of her beauty. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth, and it’s not until this character awakens her Persona that players realize that there’s more to this blonde than meets the eye. After Kamoshida’s dungeon is over and done with, players can really get to know Ann by progressing her Confidant.
Joker accompanies Ann on her modeling ventures, encountering a nemesis who tries to sabotage Ann’s future prospects. While she loses her zeal midway through, the protagonist eventually helps Ann regain her confidence before coming out on top of the modeling world once again. This can culminate in a beautiful romance, capping off the journey of one ofPersona 5 Royal’s best Confidants.
18Igor
Fool Arcana
Terrifying to look upon, this prison warden of one’s cognitive gaol is the Confidant for theFool Arcana, which often represents the protagonist in bothPersonagames and in lore related to Tarot cards. His intense visage, deep voice, and vast knowledge make interactions with him unique, though, in doing so the player will also eventually be able to summon the most powerful Persona from the Fool Arana (in New Game+ and with the required components).
Satanael is usually first seen as the final form of Arsène that emerges when the protagonist shatters the chains binding them. However, this is the only time they can be used in a first playthrough. This angel from Abrahamic mythology, usually associated with rebellion and fallen angels, is a level 95 Persona that possesses severely damaging offensive skills that deal Almighty, Gun, and Nuclear damage as well as a plethora of awesome passive ones.
17Morgana
Magician Arcana
Morganais a character that many fans are really split down the middle about. This cat has the ability to interact with other users of the Metaverse’s power and plays a pivotal role in the story by shaping his bond with Joker.
The best thing about his Arcana is that it naturally developsover the course of the storyas well, which is something fans would definitely appreciate. This, coupled with some memorable story beats that place Morgana front and center, leads to this lovable cat having a fairly memorable arc of his own.
Maxing out his Arcana lets players form Futsunushi, the God of Swords. Suffice it to say, Joker will gain access to a wide array of helpful melee abilities after fusing this Persona.
16Ryuji Sakamoto
Chariot Arcana
Ryujifills the role of the protagonist’s clumsy yet good-hearted friend who sticks by his side from the very start of the game. It’s a cliche that has remained in thePersonagames since the third game and has consistently delivered.
Ryuji’s side story explores his relationship with the track team, which was halted after Kamoshida’s vile actions. It’s a great story that sees him reconcile his bonds with his fellow track mates and become closer to Joker as well. Maxing out the Chariot Arcana gives players access to Chi You, a powerful Psy-based Persona with some of the best attacks of this element in the game.
15Makoto Niijima
Priestess Arcana
This scholarly student and cognitive world biker badass is the Confidant for thePriestess Arcanaand a valuable member of the player’s party. She also has a huge part in the story and in supporting Joker throughout the game. Spending time withMakotowill eventually max out the Social Link and grant access to the mighty Greco-Roman goddess Cybele, who was said to be a protector of many cities.
InPersona 5, this deity manifests as an excellent ‘White Mage’ archetype that has great healing and support skills as well as an attack that unleashes heavy Bless damage to all foes. At level 73, they sit atop this Arcana’s summon-tier list.
It helps that Makoto herself is a very fun character to interact with. Her concern for her friends makes the misunderstood student council president one of the most interesting characters in the game that many people consider to be the best waifu by a country mile.
14Sae Niijima
Judgement Arcana
The older sister of Makoto and also an interrogator attempting to gain information from Joker,Sae Niijimais the Confidant for theJudgement Arcanaas well as the possessor of a Palace. Throughout the course of the game, the player will be faced with her questions, and if one answers correctly, they will be able to max out their Social Link with her and unlock the ability to summon the dreaded fallen angel themself, Satan.
In addition to straight-up broken passive skills, such as automatic regeneration of some SP after each turn, Satan is a level 92 Persona that is equipped with multiple severely damaging Ice skills and a unique one that can unleash colossal Almighty damage to a single target aptly named Black Viper.
