Persona 5 Royal: Best Ways to Get EXP

Quick Links

• Accessories and The Moon Arcana

  • Mishima Yuuki's Confidant

• Mementos: Increase EXP Gain

  • Cognition of Mementos

• Fight the Reaper

  • What Level is the Reaper?

• Defeat Treasure Demons

  • How to Summon Treasure Demons

• Use Persona with EXP Skills

  • How to Get Growth Passive Skill

• Ryuji Sakamoto's Confidant

  • How to Unlock Insta-Kill

Leveling up is crucial in Persona 5 Royal, just like in any RPG. Neglecting your team's levels will make late-game bosses significantly harder, forcing tedious grinding in Mementos. Persona 5 Royal, an enhanced version of Persona 5, boasts numerous quality-of-life improvements and a substantial 20 hours of added gameplay.

This includes a new semester for the Phantom Thieves and adjustments to existing boss battles. With so much new content, maintaining high character levels is key to a smooth experience. Knowing the fastest ways to gain experience is essential.

Updated January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: While being over-leveled can make Persona 5 Royal too easy, matching the Palace Rulers' levels is vital, especially on a new playthrough. Several methods expedite experience farming, from Confidant Skills to utilizing Jose in Mementos. Joker can even earn EXP for his inactive Persona with a specific passive skill. This guide has been updated to include a new section on rapidly farming experience using the Insta-kill ability.

Accessories and The Moon Arcana

Mishima Yuuki's Confidant

Download the free DLC from the PlayStation Store to obtain the "Team Glasses" accessory in Persona 5 Royal. These glasses boost EXP gain by 15% when equipped. Remember, each character needs their own pair.

Since only Joker and three other Phantom Thieves fight directly, those on the backline receive less EXP.

Ranking up the Moon Confidant (Yuuki Mishima) to Rank 3 and 5 increases EXP for backup members. Reaching Rank 10 grants them the same EXP as frontline fighters.

Progressing Mishima's Confidant is straightforward; consistently choose dialogue options he favors. Bringing a Moon Arcana Persona during hangouts is also beneficial.

In Persona 5 Royal, Mementos missions assigned by Mishima are linked to his Confidant rank. Neglecting these missions hinders your progress.

Mementos: Increase EXP Gain

Cognition of Mementos

Jose, a new character in Persona 5 Royal, is a valuable asset.

Throughout Mementos, collect "flowers" and "Stamp Stations." Exchange these with Jose for items or to modify Mementos' Cognition. The Cognition menu lets you increase EXP, money, or item rewards within Mementos. A 110% EXP boost costs 5 Stamps, while a maximum 200% boost requires 12.

Persona 5 Royal contains 165 Stamps; maximizing EXP gain requires 85. Stamp Stations are found in Mementos dead ends, behind breakable walls. Jose appears randomly on new Mementos floors.

Fight the Reaper

What Level is the Reaper?

The Reaper, a formidable recurring enemy, appears in Mementos after prolonged stays on a floor. A red screen flash and chains' sound precede his arrival, with Morgana (or Futaba) providing a warning.

Early game encounters are nearly impossible without a New Game+ file. The Reaper possesses -dyne spells and support skills like Concentrate and elemental Breaks.

He's level 85 with incredibly high stats. While his Agility is his lowest (75), it's still enough to outspeed unprepared Phantom Thieves.

Defeating the Reaper yields massive EXP and money, often leveling up all characters.

Fighting the Reaper at level 60 or higher is recommended. Utilize defense-boosting support skills and Makarakarn to reflect magic. Alternatively, those with the Izanagi-no-Okami (Picaro) DLC Persona can use Concentrate, Heat Riser, and Myriad Truths for significant Almighty damage.

Defeat Treasure Demons

How to Summon Treasure Demons

Treasure Demons, first encountered in Madarame's Palace, subsequently appear in the Metaverse. Unlike most Shadows, they're harmless and flee after a few turns.

Each Treasure Demon has unique weaknesses and immunities, but all are vulnerable to Almighty attacks. Shinya's Rank 1 ability, Down Shot, quickly downs them for an All-Out Attack. High-crit attacks like Morgana's Miracle Punch also work, provided the demon doesn't null Physical attacks.

Treasure Demons appear more frequently in Palaces with high security. The "Treasure Trap" infiltration tool increases encounter rates. Required materials: 2x Silk Yarn, 3x Plant Balm, 1x Cork Bark.

Use Persona with EXP Skills

How to Get Growth Passive Skill

Unequipped Personas typically don't earn EXP. However, the "Growth" passive skill grants them a percentage of battle EXP even when inactive. Three tiers exist:

• Growth 1: 25% inactive EXP
• Growth 2: 50% inactive EXP
• Growth 3: 100% inactive EXP

The following Personas learn Growth upon leveling:

The Electric Chair in the Velvet Room transforms Personas into Skill Cards. Growth 1 and 2 Skill Cards from Persona 5 are unavailable in Persona 5 Royal. Only Izanagi Picaro yields a Growth 3 Skill Card.

Growth 1 Skill Cards are unobtainable in P5R.

To obtain the Growth 2 Skill Card, visit Miura Beach with Caroline and Justine between September 2nd and 29th (after clearing event 6). Spend evenings with them near the Velvet Room door outside Mementos.

Ryuji Sakamoto's Confidant

How to Unlock Insta-Kill

Insta-kill instantly defeats Shadows via ambush. It requires Joker's level to be 10 levels higher than the Shadow's. In Persona 5 Royal, successful Insta-kills grant items, yen, EXP, and potentially a Persona.

Shadows with a green outline are susceptible.

Reaching Ryuji's Confidant Rank 7 unlocks Insta-kill. His Confidant has no Social Stat requirements, making it easy to max out. Prioritize this Confidant for early access to Insta-kill.