Unlock the Persona 5 Royal Third Semester may seem like a daunting task if you are unsure of the criteria. Honestly, this task couldn’t be easier. While many theories were floated right after the JRPG’s initial PS4 release in 2020, we’ve since had time to determine the true terms.
You will want unlock the new third semester in Persona 5 Royal for many reasons. Along with the expanded storyline and quality of life improvements, Royal includes a new palace, new characters, an extended trip down memory lane, and a third level evolution for every character in Phantom Thief. Not unlocking it means you missed the main reason to play Royal on the original Persona 5.
Of course, we always have to get there first, which is no small feat for a JRPG that takes over 100 hours to beat. It’s worth noting that Persona 5 Royal’s third semester unlock significantly overlaps with Persona 5 Royal’s true ending unlock. You can’t do one without the other. However, there are a few key details that don’t fit into the ending guide, and we’ll expand on that below.
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If you want to learn more about Persona 5 Royal, check out our guides on test answers, Will Seed locations, merges, social stats, and how to unlock endings.
What are the unlock requirements for the third semester of Persona 5 Royal?
Getting the true, original Persona 5 ending is key to unlocking Royal’s third semester. Without spoiling what happens, you must choose the first answer during the interrogation sequences, reach the last dungeon, and refuse the offer made to Joker.
Above all, you must reach Rank 9 for Confidant Advisor Dr. Maruki by November 17. He’s the only required Confidant to unlock this, and he’s not available to visit during the summer, so we recommend prioritizing him over other Confidants. If you don’t reach Rank 9, Royal kicks you out of the third semester altogether, giving you the true, original Persona 5 ending instead.
It’s worth keeping Kasumi (Faith Confidant) and Akechi (Justice Confidant) in mind before they reach the third half. No social link is required, but if Kasumi is not at rank 5 by December 22, her social link remains locked for the rest of the game. Additionally, getting Akechi to Rank 8 by November 17 unlocks an additional post-credits scene.
What else can I do during the third semester of Persona 5 Royal?
The third semester contains unique opportunities, including a third evolution for your teammates’ Personas. This becomes available once you max out their original Social Link to Rank 10, upon which their Personas evolve into their second form. Once done, find them in January to trigger this third evolution.
Spending time with the six thieves (Morgana, Akechi, and Kasumi excluded) will naturally reduce your available free days, so be careful with time management. Joker can still rank with most other Confidants except Toranosuke Yoshida (Sun Confidant). Its deadline is November 17; if not, you can still do whatever is possible in the main game.
Enjoy the third semester of Persona 5 Royal!
