Persona 3 Reload: Social Link Guide (Best Choices, Rank)

One of the most important mechanisms of Persona 3 Reload is social links. These are the bonds you form with people throughout the game and are important for your advancement. In this guide, we explained the information and dialogue options required for social connections.

Contents

Social Link Guide (Best Choices, Rank)

This guide will contain all the necessary information regarding Social Links, such as rank up requirements and best dialogue choices. Furthermore, you will also find details regarding Link Episodes, which are newly added side stories for P3R which expand on the cast that don’t have a Social Link with the protagonist.

The Social Link System

Social Links are a key mechanic in the Persona series and represents the bonds you’ve formed with people throughout your journey. In Persona 3 Reload, there are 22 Social Links, with a few that rank up via story progression, but most following a point system (Social Link Points) for ranking up.

Here are some ways you can earn Social Link Points to rank up your Social Links:

Spend time with them (or rank up interaction)
Choose dialogue responses that make them happy
Drawing a fortune at the shrine
Meeting them during your evening walk with Koromaru

Social Link Points also do not carry over between rank ups, but any points earns during the rank up event are counted towards your next rank’s progression. It’s therefore important that you choose responses that net you the most points during these events to minimize the amount of time needed to meet the next rank up requirement.

One thing you should get into a habit of doing is to carry a matching persona with whatever Social Link you are currently interacting with, as this provides a 1.5x multiplier to all Social Link Points earned during interactions (final point value rounds down to whole numbers only). Starting a new S. Link will never require S. Link Points, and generally the matching persona bonus isn’t necessary until after reaching rank 2 of any S. Link, but it’s best to get into this habit early.

What are Link Episodes?

These are new, time-sensitive events that are made available during specific times in the story and are effectively Social Links in all but name. They’re not exclusive to members of S.E.E.S. either, and watching them will reward with you stat boosts and special persona fusion recipes, so definitely prioritize completing them (They’re also technically called Linked Episodes because they’re linked together, as in you have to watch them as they’re made available to be able to continue future episodes; but I prefer Link Episodes because of the term “Social Link,” and because it’s called Link Episodes in the Japanese version).

Social Link Overview Table

Social Link	Time of Day	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Holiday
Magician (Classmate)	Day	–	✓	–	✓	✓	–	–	–
Priestess (Fụuka Yamagishi)	Day	✓	–	–	–	✓	✓	–	–
Empress (Mitsuru Kirijo)	Day	–	✓	–	✓	–	✓	–	–
Emperor (Student Council)	Day	✓	–	✓	–	✓	–	–	–
Hierophant (Elderly Couple)	Day	–	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Lovers (Yukari Takeba)	Day	✓	–	✓	✓	–	✓	–	–
Chariot (Track Team)	Day	✓	✓	–	✓	✓	–	–	–
Justice (Treasurer)	Day	–	✓	–	✓	–	✓	–	–
Hermit (Online Game)	Day	*	*	*	*	*	*	✓	✓
Fortune (Art Club)	Day	–	✓	✓	✓	–	–	–	–
Strength (Team Manager)	Day	–	–	✓	–	–	✓	–	–
Hanged-Man (Girl at the Shrine)	Day	✓	–	✓	–	–	✓	–	✓
Temperance (Foreign Exchange Student)	Day	–	✓	✓	–	✓	–	–	–
Devil (Businessman)	Evening	–	✓	–	✓	–	✓	–	✓
Tower (Unusual Monk)	Evening	–	–	–	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Star (Rival Athlete)	Day	–	–	✓	–	✓	–	✓	✓
Moon (Gourmet King)	Day	✓	✓	✓	–	✓	✓	✓	✓
Sun (Dying Young Man)	Day	–	–	–	–	–	–	✓	✓
Aeon (Aigis)	Day	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	–	–

Link Episode Overview Table

Character	Time of Day	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Junpei Iori	Day	–	✓	–	–	✓	–	–
Akihiko Sanada	Evening	✓	–	–	–	✓	–	–
Koromaru	Day	–	✓	✓	–	–	–	✓
Ken Amada	Evening	–	✓	–	–	–	–	–
Shinjiro Aragaki	Day	✓	–	–	✓	✓	–	–
Ryoji Mochizuki?	Day	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Takaya?	Evening	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Notes:

Shinjiro Link Episode Reward Item – Incomplete Form (Hell Biker can be fused)
Akihiko Link Episode Reward Item – Hand Wraps (Horus can be fused)
Koromaru Link Episode Reward Item – Koromaru’s Collar (Byakko can be fused)
Junpei Link Episode Reward Item – Baseball Glove (Surt can be fused)
Ken Link Episode Reward Item – Silver Key (Michael can be fused)

Fool Arcana – 0

S.E.E.S. (Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad)

Social Link Trigger

Automatic on April 18

Ranks	Rank Up Requirements
1	(Automatic) April 18
2	(Automatic) April 20
3	(Automatic) May 9
4	(Automatic) July 7
5	(Automatic) July 22
6	(Automatic) November 2
7	(Automatic) November 4
8	(Automatic)
9	(Automatic) November 28
MAX	December 31 Requires letting Ryoji live (True Ending).

Magician Arcana – I

Kenji Tomochika

Social Link Trigger

Automatic on April 22

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Tue, Thu, Fri
Location: Classroom 2-F

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	No way. / That’s a secret. I’m into older women, too. / I like them all!
2→3	What, of life? Good luck!
3→4	– “Good luck.”
4→5	???
5→6	– I’ve got plans already.
6→7	What happened? Bride-to-Be? Congrats!
7→8	“Are you in trouble?” “You should go with her.” / “You should talk to her.”
8→9	Confront Emiri
MAX

Priestess Arcana – II

Fụuka Yamagishi

Social Link Trigger

Available starting June 19
Requires Fortune Rank 1
Requires Courage Rank 6 (Badass)

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Mon, Fri, Sat
Location: 2F Classroom Hallway (Next to Classroom 2-E)

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	“Sure.”
2→3	??? ??? ???
3→4	– “Oh, I don’t think so.”
4→5	“It’s really good.” / “You did a great job.” “I’m glad I could help.”
5→6	“Okay.”
6→7	– –
7→8	Any “I want to be with you too.”
8→9	– –
MAX	– “I’ll be by your side.” Any

LOVERS ROUTE

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
7→8	?
8→9	?
MAX	?

PLATONIC ROUTE

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
7→8	?
8→9	?
MAX	?

Empress Arcana – III

Mitsuru Kirijo

Social Link Trigger

Available starting November 21
Requires Academic Rank 6 (Genius)

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Tue, Thu, Sat
Location: 1F Faculty Office Hallway (Outside the Faculty Office)

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	“Is this your first time?”
2→3	Ask her to treat you “Does that make you happy?” “Maybe you’re in love.” / “Maybe you’re anxious.” Agree to forget about it
3→4	“Did something happen?” “It’s the result of love.” –
4→5	“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” “A motorcycle?” “Let’s go for a ride.”
5→6	“Can I get a book for you?” “That’s news to me!” “You have to reconsider.”
6→7	“Let’s do it!”
7→8	– – Say something to the guy Any
8→9	“That makes me happy.”
MAX	Any

LOVERS ROUTE

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
8→9	?
MAX	?

PLATONIC ROUTE

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
8→9	?
MAX	?

Emperor Arcana – IV

Hidetoshi Odagiri

Social Link Trigger

Available starting April 27
After Mitsuru invites you to help out the Student Council, inform Ms Toriumi at the Faculty Office for permission, then head to the Student Council Room to initiate Social Link.

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Mon, Wed, Fri (except exams)
Location: 2F Classroom Hallway (Student Council Room)

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	Sounds like nonsense.
2→3	No need to fight.
3→4	– Looks like you’re hard at work.
4→5	They’re the worst.
5→6	– Any
6→7	“He should suffer.”
7→8	– “It wasn’t me.”
8→9	“Don’t blame yourself.”
MAX	“So-so.” Any

Hierophant Arcana – V

Bunkichi and Mitsuko Kitamura

Social Link Trigger

Available starting April 25
Enter Bookworms bookstore to talk to them; retrieve a Persimmon Leaf from Gekkoukan High School, Corridor; then return to initiate Social Link

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
Location: Iwatodai Station Strip Mall 1F (Bookworms, Used Bookstore)
*Bunkichi will be one of the victims lost in Tartarus on 9/12. If he is not rescued by 10/4, the Social Link cannot be continued.

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	Tell him “Thanks!” – – – Receive Melon Bread
2→3	Looking for something? Can I help? – – – – Receive Medicine
3→4	I should go too. – I’m worried. Receive Cylon Tea
4→5	I wouldn’t worry about it. Any Receive Crab Bread
5→6	“Please stop quarreling.” – Receive Fried Bread
6→7	Ask why she’s crying “That’s great.” Any Receive Cielo Mist
7→8	Any – “Let’s go.”
8→9	Any –
MAX	– – “What!?” –

Lovers Arcana – VI

Yukari Takeba

Social Link Trigger

Available starting July 25
Requires Charm Rank 6 (Charismatic)

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat
Location: Classroom 2-F

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	Cute pink. That’s mean.
2→3	–
3→4	Are you okay?
4→5	– – – ??? I’m sorry.
5→6	Anytime. I wouldn’t mind.
6→7	Sounds good. (alternate choice checks?)
7→8	“Alright.” –
8→9	“……”
MAX	Any

LOVERS ROUTE

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
8→9	?
MAX	?

PLATONIC ROUTE

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
8→9	?
MAX	?

Chariot Arcana – VII

Kazushi Miyamoto

Social Link Trigger

Available starting April 23 (Forced Rank 1 on May 27 if not started)
Head to the School’s Gym Hallway to start Social Link

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri (except exams)
Location: Classroom 2-F / Gym Hallway
*Not available near exam dates

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
0→1	Greet Yuko & invite her to walk home together (Strength Flag)
1→2	Toughen up! – – Greet Yuko & invite her to walk home together (Strength Rank 1)
2→3	Are you going to be okay? Will it heal?
3→4	– That really sucks.
4→5	Back from the hospital? Take my shoulder!
5→6	Show some guts, man! Why go so far? What about your knee?
6→7	How’s your knee? You have to get tougher!
7→8	Any
8→9	I don’t mind at all.
MAX	– “What about the big meet?”

Justice Arcana – VIII

Chihiro Fushimi

Social Link Trigger

Requires Emperor Rank 1
After joining the Student Council, talk to her across 3 separate days prior to initiate Social Link

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Tue, Thu, Sat
Location: 2F Classroom Hallway (Outside the Student Council Room)

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	Don’t worry about it. I read the classics. / I read manga. I’m having fun. – –
2→3	They have no shame. I agree.
3→4	– ???
4→5	“So, how was it?” “It’s just a coincidence.” “Don’t be hard on yourself.” Hold her hand
5→6	“Is it good?” Any
6→7	It’s gotta be a misunderstanding. We have to do something…
7→8	– ???

LOVERS ROUTE

Rank

Requirements / Dialogue Choices

8→9

Don’t worry, she’ll help us.
???
–
???
I feel the same, Chihiro.
???

MAX

PLATONIC ROUTE

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
8→9	Don’t worry, she’ll help us. ??? – ??? I like working with you, but… ???
MAX	?

Hermit Arcana – IX

Maya

Social Link Trigger

Available starting April 29

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Sunday (and Holidays)
Location: Desk in Protagonist’s Room (Play the MMORPG)

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	“Of course.” “Sunshine is overrated.”
2→3	“Oh really? o_O” “So you don’t like your job?”
3→4	“Why don’t we get married?”
4→5	Do you mean S.O.B.? Are you a teacher?
5→6	What bastard?
6→7	“Guys like younger chicks.” “She um… what?”
7→8	“Hurry up and tell me.” “What is he like?”
8→9	“No way!” – “What are you planning?”
MAX	“Oh, no worries.” – “I’ll miss you.”

Fortune Arcana – X

Keisuke Hiraga

Social Link Trigger

Available starting June 17

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Tue, Wed, Thu
Location: 1F Laboratory Hallway (Art Club Room)
*Not available near exam dates

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	– –
2→3	“Great job!” –
3→4	Any “Complaining here won’t help.”
4→5	“You should tell your dad.”
5→6	– “Do whatever you want.”
6→7	“Are you gonna be a doctor?”
7→8	“Yeah, I’m fine.” – –
8→9	Try to stop him – – – –
MAX	Any Any

Strength Arcana – XI

Yuko Nishiwaki

Social Link Trigger

Requires Chariot Rank 2 (Greet & ask to walk home with her after Chariot Rank 1 & 2 events)
Earliest possible on April 24

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Wed, Sat
Location: 2F Classroom Hallway
*Not available near exam dates

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	What happened? It wasn’t your fault. That’s true.
2→3	? ? ?
3→4	??? ???
4→5	Hold her hand “Do you know him?” Any
5→6	“Let’s hope for the best.”
6→7	??? Are you relieved? Let’s do it.
7→8	– “A boy.” / “A girl.”
8→9	??? An instructor? ??? Romance/Friendship Choice
MAX	Any “That’s true.” Any

LOVERS ROUTE

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
8→9	?
MAX	?

PLATONIC ROUTE

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
8→9	?
MAX	?

Hanged-Man Arcana – XII

Maiko Oohashi

Social Link Trigger

Available starting May 6
Requires having given her Weird Takoyaki & Mad Bull prior (Weird Takoyaki can be purchased from Octopia at Iwatodai Station Strip Mall 1F, and Mad Bull from the vending machine at Iwatodai Station)

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Mon, Wed, Sat
Location: Naganaki Shrine
*Maiko will be one of the victims lost in Tartarus on 10/21. If she is not rescued by 11/3, the Social Link cannot be continued.

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	Sure, let’s go. – –
2→3	– Don’t worry, he’ll be there.
3→4	That’s great news. / Of course they care.
4→5	That’s awful. They would never.
5→6	“Calm down.” “That should be enough.”
6→7	– –
7→8	“Hamburgers.” “Yeah, you did good.” “Choose your dad.”
8→9	Friends forever.
MAX	“I bet you will.” “Sure thing.”

Death Arcana – XIII

Pharos

Social Link Trigger

Automatic on June 12

Ranks	Rank Up Requirements
1	(Automatic) June 12
2	(Automatic)
3	(Automatic) July 12
4	(Automatic)
5	(Automatic) August 7
6	(Automatic) September 12
7	(Automatic)
8	(Automatic) October 6
9	(Automatic)
MAX	(Automatic) November 4

Temperance Arcana – XIV

Andre Laurent Jean “Bebe” Geraux

Social Link Trigger

Requires Hierophant Rank 3
Requires Academic Rank 2 (Average)

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Tue, Wed, Fri (except exams and Holidays)
Location: 1F Laboratory Hallway (Home Economics Room)
*If you do not initiate this social link before the third Full Moon, he will be unavailable for the rest of the game

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	“There’s nothing to teach.” “Yeah, Japan is great.”
2→3	“Thanks.” “Something traditional?”
3→4	“Are you alright?” –
4→5	“Sure.” “Then, stay.”
5→6	“Take a break.” “Alright.” Support him
6→7	“That’s a good idea.”
7→8	“He’ll agree for sure.”
8→9	Congratulate him / Ask about his country
MAX	Any Any

Devil Arcana – XV

President Tanaka

Social Link Trigger

Requires Hermit Rank 4
Requires Charm Rank 4 (Smooth)
Need to pay him ¥20,000, then ¥10,000 twice more across 3 separate days to initiate Social Link

Schedule

Time of Day: Evening
Day of Week: Tue, Thu, Sat
Location: Paulownia Mall

Rank Up Progression

*Your responses do not matter as the Devil Social Link will always rank up every time.

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	“Placebo.” ???
2→3	“Maybe a little.”
3→4	“I sure have!”
4→5	“Who’re you talking about?” – “Is it always about money?”
5→6	“Sounds fun.”
6→7	“Sort of…” “The organic one.”
7→8	“Oh, really?”
8→9	Any
MAX	“Absolutely…”

Tower Arcana – XVI

Mutatsu

Social Link Trigger

Requires Strength Rank 4 (Talk after reaching Rank 4 to learn about Unconventional Monk)
Requires Courage Rank 2 (Ordinary)
Speak to bartender at Club Escapade and help take the customers’ orders to initiate Social Link.
The drink order is: Margarita, Bloody Mary, Screwdriver, Oolong Tea.

Schedule

Time of Day: Evening
Day of Week: Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun (and Holidays)
Location: Club Escapade (Paulownia Mall)

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	None of your business. “I’m sorry, um…”
2→3	I don’t have any friends.
3→4	Yeah, that might look cool.
4→5	I have enough. No.
5→6	You should go home. “What about the others?”
6→7	“I don’t think you should.”
7→8	“Dad?” “I was with a friend.” / “None of your business.” – “Are you running away?”
8→9	Any Any Any
MAX	“Awesome!”

Star Arcana – XVII

Mamoru Hayase

Social Link Trigger

Available starting August 5
Requires Courage Rank 4 (Tough)

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Wed, Fri, Sun
Location: Iwatodai Station Strip Mall 1F

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	“I’m jealous.” “Myself, really.”
2→3	Any Any
3→4	Any That would be amazing! Yeah, I bet it would.
4→5	Are you okay? I’ll come back here with you.
5→6	– – – Don’t worry, it’s okay.
6→7	“I don’t mind.” Any – “Don’t give up!”
7→8	“You should get some more.” Any
8→9	“And you won?” Do a victory celebration Any Thank him for his generosity
MAX	– –

Moon Arcana – XVIII

Nozomi Suemitsu

Social Link Trigger

Requires Magician Rank 4 (Talk after reaching Rank 4 to learn about Gourmet King)
Requires Charm Rank 2 (Unpolished)
Requires Odd Morsel.
Must answer his initial questions correctly: Pheromone Coffee, Red, Hagakure Bowl.

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun
Location: Paulownia Mall

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	“Sure, okay.”
2→3	“You are the Gourmet King!”
3→4	Are you feeling sick?
4→5	“Yeah, that’s right.”
5→6	Are you sick?
6→7	The world is ending? –
7→8	No, you’re not.
8→9	–
MAX	Any

Sun Arcana – XIX

Akinari Kamiki

Social Link Trigger

Requires Hanged-Man Rank 3
Requires Academic Rank 4 (Smart)
Talk to him, retrieve his Red Fountain Pen from Koromaru, and return it to start Social Link

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Sunday
Location: Naganaki Shrine

Rank Up Progression

*Your responses do not matter as the Sun Social Link will always rank up every time.

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	Any Any
2→3	I couldn’t say. “Try not to talk so much.”
3→4	I’d say so. I stop if I get bored.
4→5	You need to listen to your body.
5→6	“Hey, that’s cool.” “It sounds interesting.”
6→7	“That’s a good story.” / “It sounds really depressing.”
7→8	Any Any
8→9	Any Any
MAX	–

Judgement Arcana – XX

Nyx Annihilation Team

Social Link Trigger

True Ending Route

Ranks	Rank Up Requirements
1	December 31 Requires choosing to let Ryoji live (True Ending).
2	Reach Tartarus Floor ???.
3	Tartarus Floor ??? Post-Battle.
4	Reach Tartarus Floor ???.
5	Tartarus Floor ??? Post-Battle.
6	Tartarus Floor ??? Post-Battle.
7	Reach Tartarus Floor ???.
8	Tartarus Floor 253 Post-Battle.
9	Tartarus Floor 254 Post-Battle.
MAX	Tartarus Floor 255 Post-Battle.

Aeon Arcana – XX

Aigis

Social Link Trigger

Available starting January 8

Schedule

Time of Day: Daytime
Day of Week: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat
Location: Classroom 2-F

Rank Up Progression

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
1→2	I like it here.
2→3	– That’s not true.
3→4	I might have… / No, I haven’t. – (This dialogue choice only occurs if you answered “I might have…”) All right. ???
4→5	You might be right.
5→6	No you didn’t. / He thought I was your boyfriend. (Check*)
6→7	– – –
7→8	I’m doing it now. – It’s love. / Because we’re friends. (Have to choose for rank 9 decision?*)
8→9	You’re right. I love you, too. / Sorry, but I can’t… (Choose for platonic / lovers?)

LOVERS ROUTE

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
8→9	?
MAX	– –

PLATONIC ROUTE

Rank	Requirements / Dialogue Choices
8→9	?
MAX	?