1. There's a lot of Persona 5 games! Which ones do I get?

It is recommended to start with Persona 5 Royal. Please note Royal specifically, not "Persona 5." While a different game, it is missing content compared to Royal.

If you want to read more about the different games, please read below:

1. Persona 5 (P5) is the vanilla game, often called P5 Vanilla or base game. It goes from April to December in-game.

2. Persona 5 Royal (P5R) is the updated game, released after Persona 5. It has the base game + Royal contents, which is sprinkled within the base game and then has another semester in the January month.

   Note that you can't use saves from P5 for P5R.

   There are requirements to getting to the bulk of the Royal content, ie Third Semester/January.

   It is best to save for P5R instead of P5. If you're still around Palace 4, then it's recommended to redo P5R instead.

3. Persona 5 Strikers (P5S), or Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers, is a sequel to P5/P5R, but it doesn't mention P5R characters. It is a musou game similar to Dynasty Warriors.

   If you want more P5 after beating the game, you can buy this next if the other Persona games don't interest you.

4. Persona 5 Tactica (P5T) is an SRPG compared to the previous games. It's set somewhere during February but before P5 Strikers.

   You can play this game before or after P5S. This does not narratively affect P5S.

5. Persona 5 Dancing (P5D), or Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, is a rhythm game where you watch characters dance.

   It's not narratively connected to anything, but it is best played after P5/P5R.

6. Persona Q 2 (PQ2) is a dungeon crawling game in the vein of the Etrian series that includes the Persona 3 (both the original [Remake a good one to play] and Portable) and Persona 4 casts.

   Best played after the P3, P4, and the base game, but it is set around November, so you can play it after the 7th Palace.

   It is only playable on the 3DS.

7. Persona 5 X (P5X) is a mobile gacha-game based on an alternate world. Its main cast is another set of Persona users in the P5 timeline, and the OG cast does make cameos. It first came from China is slowly releasing in Taiwan and Korea.

   No official English version yet.

2. How do I access P5R's new content: Third Semester?

You only need to get Councillor to Rank 9 by 11/17. On 11/18, you'll get Rank 10 automatically as a cut-scene.

You may have heard Justice and Faith are required, but that's based on old news when P5R was just released. They give cutscenes, fleshing their characters.

For the True Ending, you do not need Justice nor Faith, but they give extra scenes.

For more information on Councillor, Faith, and Justice requirements for extra content, check this spoiler comment.

For more tips:

1. If you want to access both the Vanilla ending and Third Semester without replaying the game:

   1. Create a back-up save file on 11/17 afternoon while Councillor is Rank 8. DO NOT LOSE THIS FILE.
   2. DO NOT DO Councillor Rank 9 on 11/17. Instead, do something else on the main save file.
   3. Proceed with the game into the Vanilla Ending.
   4. Return to the save file from Step 1, and do Councillor Rank 9 on 11/17.
   5. Proceed to Rank 10 on 11/18 and towards the Third Semester.

2. It's X-month! Will I make it to the Third Semester?

   1. Unless it's very late into November, October and November has a lot of availability. Theoretically, there are 9 days in November before 11/17, but I highly suggest not to do this.

3. I need help on 5th Palace/Okumura's Boss!

Use the command !OkumuraGuide. You can also check the Guides on the sidebar for the same guide.

Here is an example of how it works

4. I need help on the Royal/Third Semester Boss!

Check this spoiler comment.

5. Guides

I typically use GameFaqs for guides.

Steam Guide

Thank you, u/ZOLTANstudios, for google doc that contains a list of Personas for tracking, traits, itemizations, etc.

Thank you, u/lazy_bread442, for an optimized P5R NG+ Builds guide.

Thank you, u/bryanktr, for a guide testing P5R's Battle Mechanics.

6. Fusion Calculators

There are 2 main Royal calculators:

1. aqiu384
2. Chinhodo

I prefer using aqiu384's calculator since it also gives the level ranges for Treasure Demon fusions, which Chinhodo is missing. aqiu384's calculator also has itemizations, skills, and they recently added a way to calculate how to get a specific Persona.

If you want to have a deeper understanding of the fusion mechanic, you can check this out.

7. Need help with Maxing Confidants without a day-to-day guide?

Try reading this guide.

8. Overpowered Personas in the beginning of P5R

You might notice Personas that are over your level available for free for you in the beginning of the game. These are DLC Personas, and you can buy them once for free, and then you're required to pay if you want to summon them from the Compendium after.

There are no rules as to their use. You decide how to use them or if you even want to use them. If you think they're overpowered, don't use them. Don't care? Use them. This is your playthrough.

9. Progress of Confidants

So long as you're doing them, you'll be fine for the most part.

For Councillor specifically, , check point 2.