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, as underleveled teams struggle against late-game bosses. Persona 5 Royal, an enhanced version of Persona 5, boasts significant quality-of-life improvements and 20 hours of new content, including a new semester and revised boss fights. Maintaining high character levels is key to enjoying this expanded experience.

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

Accessories and The Moon Arcana

Mishima Yuuki's Confidant

Download the free Team Glasses DLC from the PlayStation Store for a 15% EXP boost. Equip these glasses on each character for the bonus to take effect. Note that only four Phantom Thieves, plus Joker, actively fight, meaning backline members gain less EXP.

Ranking up the Moon Confidant (Yuuki Mishima) to Rank 3 and 5 increases backup member EXP gains. Reaching Rank 10 grants them the same EXP as frontline fighters. Progressing Mishima's Confidant is straightforward; choose dialogue options he favors and bring a Moon Arcana Persona during hangouts. In Persona 5 Royal, Mementos missions are linked to his Confidant; neglecting them hinders progress.

Mementos: Increase EXP Gain

Cognition of Mementos

Jose, a new character in Persona 5 Royal, offers significant gameplay advantages. Collect "flowers" and "Stamp Stations" in Mementos and exchange them with Jose for items or to modify Mementos' Cognition. Increase EXP rewards to 110% (5 Stamps) or 200% (12 Stamps).

While 165 Stamps exist, 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 (signaled by flashing red screens and chain sounds). Early-game encounters are nearly impossible except on New Game+.

The Reaper (level 85) possesses potent -dyne spells and support skills like Concentrate and elemental Breaks. His Agility is his lowest stat (75). Defeating him yields substantial EXP and money, often leveling all characters.

Fighting the Reaper at level 60 or higher is recommended. Utilize defense-boosting support skills, Makarakarn to reflect magic, or, if you own the Izanagi-no-Okami DLC Persona, use Concentrate, Heat Riser, and Myriad Truths for massive Almighty damage.

Defeat Treasure Demons

How to Summon Treasure Demons

Treasure Demons, first encountered in Madarame's Palace, appear throughout the Metaverse. They flee after a few turns but yield rewards. They have varied weaknesses but are vulnerable to Almighty attacks.

Quickly defeat them using Shinya's Rank 1 ability, Down Shot, for an All-Out Attack, or with a high-crit attack (like Morgana's Miracle Punch), provided they don't null Physical. They appear more frequently in Palaces with high security. The Treasure Trap infiltration tool (2x Silk Yarn, 3x Plant Balm, 1x Cork Bark) increases encounter rates.

Use Persona with EXP Skills

How to Get Growth Passive Skill

Unequipped Personas usually don't gain EXP, unless they possess the Growth passive skill. Three variations exist: Growth 1 (¼ EXP), Growth 2 (½ EXP), Growth 3 (full EXP).

Several Personas learn Growth:

The Electric Chair in the Velvet Room transforms Personas into Skill Cards. Growth 1 cards are unavailable in P5R. Growth 2 is obtained by visiting Caroline and Justine at Miura Beach (September 2nd-29th, post-event 6).

Ryuji Sakamoto's Confidant

How to Unlock Insta-Kill

Insta-kill instantly defeats Shadows if Joker's level is 10 levels higher (indicated by a green outline using the Third Eye). In P5R, this yields items, yen, EXP, and potentially a Persona.

Reach Ryuji's Confidant Rank 7 to unlock Insta-kill. His Confidant has no Social Stat requirements, making it easy to max out. Prioritize this before other Confidants for immediate access to Insta-kill.