Persona 5 Strikers is an action-oriented game with RPG mechanics like leveling, gear management, and lots of dialogue. To get players off to a good start, we’ll go over a list of important tips and advice to help you get settled in the game and get the best start.

It’s a fun game with deep mechanics that will reward exploration and experimentation despite the emphasis on action.

You can change the difficulty at any time

It’s possible to change the difficulty at any time, so don’t be afraid to jump up or down the ladder. It won’t affect the story at all so that you don’t miss any content.

The type of damage really matters

Damage type is extremely important in battles, so be sure to use the right Phantom Strikers members and change your Personas to Joker as often as you need to. The difference between winning and losing is using the best damage type for the situation you find yourself in.

Chat with the phantom thieves

As you walk around the different areas of the game, be sure to chat with your friends. Not only does this help build the story, but you can get a lot of free items as well.

Related skills

As you play the game you will unlock bonding skills, and some of them are just simply better than others. You can accumulate a lot of Leap skill points by playing through the countryside and grinding in the prisons, dungeons in the game.

Bond strengthening facilities

There are places in cities that will give you a Bond level boost. You can tweak the game a bit by stepping into an existing dungeon and then revisiting those facilities for that extra boost.

Don’t be afraid to spend the money

Money can be earned by smashing dungeons, and you’ll have to do that a lot anyway, so don’t be afraid to spend your money because earning more is very easy to do.

The velvet room

Another mechanic that you will have access to as you play is the Velvet Room. Here you can improve Personas and merge them to create new ones. One of the most important things you can do is pass skills from one Persona to another during the merge, so choose the ones you want very carefully, depending on the needs of your party. Skills that heal your team are never a bad idea.

Don’t be afraid to leave a prison

The prisons are tough and you are unlikely to enter them with enough HP and SP recovery items. They are designed to play for a while, then depart via one of the checkpoints, columns of blue light that can be found scattered throughout the prison. It’s not a failure to leave, it’s just the way the game is designed. You will not lose your progress and can return to the same checkpoint if you wish. It also forces ground loot (but not treasure chests) to respawn.

It’s a linear campaign

There is only one ending to Persona 5 Strikers, so don’t worry about choices and things like that, the story will always end the same. What you should be concerned about is fully exploring the regions of the world before continuing, because once you do, you can’t go back.

Don’t ignore the commercials in boss fights

While it can be tempting to ignore lesser enemies in boss fights, you need to focus on them as quickly as possible. They may have healing abilities that will increase the health of the boss if you don’t take them out quickly.

The fight is frantic, but you can slow it down

The combat is frantic, but you can slow it down to take a moment to think it over. Using your Persona skill, you effectively enter a pause menu, giving you time to check out surrounding enemies, note your party’s health levels, and plan your next moves.

Change character regularly

In combat, jump between characters regularly, this causes what is called a Baton Pass and will increase the charge rate of Showtime abilities. Showtime abilities are powerful, hard-hitting attacks and the more you use them, the more free time you’ll have in a fight.

Refuel HP and SP recovery

Having a lot of HP and SP recovery will be extremely useful in combat, allowing you to spam abilities and recover from any damage you take. By pressing the down button on the D-Pad, your characters will automatically use all available items to heal themselves.

Learn how to start a fight

There’s more to starting a fight than just getting close to a shadow. If you can ambush them you have a major advantage, but if they instigate you, you will start the fight stunned and take damage. Your weapon is a great way to start a fight because it guarantees a neutral start and you can avoid the risk of being knocked out.

Buy recipes and ingredients

Get as many recipes as you can and prepare them for awesome SP healing and recovery items. You can purchase ingredients from Sophia’s Shop and use a Binding Skill to get a discount there, if you wish.

Stock up on Persona Ability Cards

Opening a chest or completing certain missions can earn you Persona ability cards. These teach a specific skill to a Persona. As tempting as it may be to use them at this point, keep them. You’ll need Personas with certain skills for missions and endgame requests, and these cards are the easiest and fastest way to do them.

Spin your party

While everyone has their favorite members of the Phantom Thieves, it’s important to keep them all on a similar level. Make sure you use them regularly in combat so that no one is left behind. You don’t want someone you need late in the game to be extremely underdeveloped.