Confidants (Synergy) — Choices & Gift Guide

20 Synergy partners counted from the game's own data (20 total). This page focuses on gift timing and dialogue-choice mechanics — for the full roster, ranks and rewards, see the Synergy database.

TL;DR

Picking the wrong hangout-event line or skipping a gift doesn't just waste time — you lose that day's Synergy progress for good, since most events only trigger once per day per character. Give a gift every time you hang out (the FIRST gift to any partner is worth double), and where a branching question shows up, one option always raises affection more than the other.

Persona 5: The Phantom X calls its social-link system "Synergy" in-game. If you came here searching "P5X confidants", you're in the right place — the full character-by-character database (unlock quests, perks, rank rewards, birthdays) already lives on the Synergy page below. This page only adds what that page doesn't cover: gift-value mechanics and dialogue-choice guidance.

Synergy →

All Synergy partners

15 live now · 5 not yet on Global

5 partners exist in the game's own data but are flagged as not yet shown as of the data snapshot — this does not mean they were cut, just not unlocked on Global yet.

Riko Tanemura Not yet on Global
Toshiya Sumi Not yet on Global
Runa Dogenzaka Not yet on Global
Mayumi Hashimoto Not yet on Global
Mio Natsukawa Not yet on Global

Who are they? — Companion profiles

15 live companions with an official intro bio

Merope

Faithful servant to the master of the Velvet Room, Igor. As part of her master's orders, she acts as Joker's personal concierge to oversee the strengthening of his desire, and offers support to the Phantom Thieves from the sidelines.

Motoha Arai

A second-year high school student at Kokatsu Academy, and Joker's classmate. She is skilled at sports, and very popular at school. However, she tends to rely more on intuition than logic, so her grades aren't exactly the greatest.

Lufel

A mysterious creature that resembles an owl and can communicate with humans. He has a calm disposition, but his antiquated vocabulary tends to confuse those around him. Nestled comfortably in Joker's bag, he is a reliable companion that offers helpful advice.

Shun Kano

A second-year student at Kokatsu Academy from class 2-D, next to Joker's classroom. While a compassionate guy, his awkwardness and poor social skills keep him from having many friends his age, so he spends his time alone more often than not.

Kiyoshi Kurotani

A first-year student at Kokatsu Academy. Deeply immersed in a world of fantasy, he is the self-proclaimed "Chosen One." He claims to possess otherworldly powers, but this has left him with few friends and a life of solitude.

Yaoling Li

A first-year university student from Sichuan, China currently staying in an apartment in Yongen-Jaya. She's an optimistic girl who'll approach anyone with a smile, though she does have a bit of a childish side.

Tomoko Noge

A second-year student at Kokatsu Academy, belonging to class 2-D. She's been friends with Motoha since elementary school, and was battery mates with her in little league, where they won countless games together.

Kayo Tomiyama

A lively housewife who lives next door to Joker. She was once a stylist, but retired after getting married, and feels a slight tinge of emptiness in her heart. She's known to let slip some occasional outdated slang from her youth.

Yui

A mysterious avatar that Joker meets in Harvest World Online. Cheerful and friendly, her somewhat refined manner of speech and eccentric behavior is rather endearing.

Ayaka Sakai

A university student stands in Shibuya Station square holding a guitar. Despite wanting to go solo after her high school band disbanded, she lacks the strength to do so and fails to play a single song.

Yumi Shiina

A woman who works at a cocktail bar in Shibuya. Specializing in flair bartending, she tosses bottles and shakers as she mixes drinks with style. Although she might appear mature at first glance, looks can be deceiving...

Miyu Sahara

A young girl puts on a puppet show on the streets of Shinjuku. Despite facing harassment and hardships, she continues pursuing her craft.

Kira Kitazato

Joker comes across a master at shooting games at the arcade in Shibuya. He appears to be a resident doctor at a nearby hospital and is always seen wearing his white coat. While a genius, his snarky comments invite trouble.

Masaki Ashiya

Joker got to know Ashiya, his senpai of sorts at his part-time job at the flower shop in Shibuya. He's a kind-hearted third-year student at Kokatsu Academy with a passion for flowers. However, he does come off as a bit awkward with getting to know others, perhaps because he comes from a wealthy family.

Kotone Montagne

A world-class figure skater who Joker and Tomoko helped pull out of her slump and has returned to the rink. She is of Japanese and French descent, and is well-known for her glistening silver hair.

The game's own hangout episodes for each companion run much longer (up to 10 chapters per person) — this page shows the opening profile only, translated in full. Deeper episode-by-episode content is a planned follow-up.

How companions unlock

6 unlock mechanisms confirmed from the game's own data

Reach a required player level

Form a bond with a specific companion first

Reach a Synergy Rank with an accomplice

Clear a designated mission

Clear required story content

Clear a limited-time event

Each companion uses one (sometimes more) of these 6 mechanisms — exact level/quest/event targets differ per companion and per game version, so they're left out here rather than guessed.

Social Stat needed to rank up

Which stat gates each partner's rank cap
Confidant Stat needed
Merope None — unlocked differently
Motoha Arai Proficiency
Lufel None — unlocked differently
Shun Kano Guts
Kiyoshi Kurotani Guts
Yaoling Li Knowledge
Tomoko Noge Kindness
Kayo Tomiyama Charm
Yui Kindness
Ayaka Sakai Proficiency
Yumi Shiina Charm
Miyu Sahara Kindness
Kira Kitazato Knowledge
Masaki Ashiya Kindness
Kotone Montagne Proficiency

Past a certain rank, further progress is gated by this Social Stat, not just affection points — raise it through city-life activities. Sourced from community guides; the game's own data files don't label which stat maps to which partner.

Gift value & the first-time bonus

Self-calculated from the game's own gift data

Confirmed in the game's own data: the very first time you give ANY partner a specific gift item, it grants exactly 2× the normal affection value. Every gift after that first one gives the base value shown below. On top of this, giving a partner one of their personally liked items adds an extra bonus on top of the base value (the game hasn't published the exact liked-item multiplier, so we don't display a made-up number here).

Gift item Base affection First-time affection
Heart Ring 125 250
Silver Bangle 112 224
Popular Designer Perfume 112 224
Vanilla Perfume 110 220
Popular Board Game 67 134
Digital Camera 64 128
Luxury Sports Watch 61 122
Mini Speaker 60 120
Deluxe Camera Drone 56 112
Paranormal VHS 55 110

Ranked by base affection value across the game's full named gift catalog — highest first. These are universal values before any personal-preference bonus; a partner's own liked items (shown on their Synergy card) will usually beat a same-tier item on this list once the liked-item bonus is applied.

Dialogue choices that raise affection

Confirmed choices for 18 confidants so far — a mechanic the Synergy database doesn't cover

The game's own data files don't expose branching dialogue text, so this section is sourced from community-verified playthroughs rather than official data — treat it as a worked example of the mechanic, not a complete answer key for all 20 partners.

Riko Tanemura
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shibuya Ask for it / Decline, out of consideration Ask for it
Shimokitazawa Of course, I don't mind / Are you skipping...? Of course, I don't mind
Kichijoji I want to look it up myself / Tell me a fashionable shop Tell me a fashionable shop
Shinjuku Calm down a little / So you like movie theaters? So you like movie theaters?
Ueno I want to go / Let's rest first I want to go
Home (1-1) No problem / You're acting like a guardian No problem
Home (1-2, follow-up) Gladly / That's a bit much Gladly
Motoha Arai
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shimokitazawa Squats / Sit-ups / Wall sit Squats
Shibuya Let's try it / Want to compete? Want to compete?
Tsukishima Toppings are fine / How about cheese? How about cheese?
Shun Kano
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shibuya I'm looking forward to it / I think it's worth the price I'm looking forward to it
Shimokitazawa I buy it at the school store / It depends on the day / I skip lunch I buy it at the school store
Harajuku Look at clothes / Character goods shop Look at clothes
Tomoko Noge
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shibuya Let's pick a nice flower / Maybe you should choose yourself... Let's pick a nice flower
Odaiba Marine Park Don't worry about it / If that's the case... Don't worry about it
Suidobashi That seems too much... / In that case, I won't hold back In that case, I won't hold back
Kiyoshi Kurotani
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shibuya I understand how you feel / Don't lump me in with that I understand how you feel
Shinjuku It's a scary place / It's not that dangerous It's a scary place
Ogikubo Great idea / I'm hungry... Great idea
Ayaka Sakai
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Suidobashi Let's ride the Ferris wheel / Let's try the roller coaster Let's ride the Ferris wheel
Shikenjaya An old classic film / A newer movie would be better... An old classic film
Miura Beach I'm happy you invited me / Maybe I'm a bit hungry I'm happy you invited me
Merope
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shimokitazawa Enjoy your youth to the fullest / Take it easy, sort of Enjoy your youth to the fullest
Shinjuku Beef / Pork / ...an Obariyon? Beef
Jimbocho I only read manga / Reading is my hobby Reading is my hobby
Yaoling Li
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Kanda I've heard of it / No, I have no idea I've heard of it
Tsukishima Maybe so / I wonder... Maybe so
Zoshigaya Let me treat you / Treat me Let me treat you
Kayo Tomiyama
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Harajuku A Harajuku master's shop, huh / What era is this from? A Harajuku master's shop, huh
Shimokitazawa What kind of smell? / Sweaty smell? What kind of smell?
Odaiba Marine Park It's true, not very grown-up / More like an older-sister vibe? More like an older-sister vibe?
Yui
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Wilderness It's big / Is this really for beginners? It's big
Nearby town Let's dare to go... / It doesn't seem to suit me Let's dare to go...
Distant town Want to buy it? / Seems hard to raise Want to buy it?
Yumi Shiina
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shibuya Leave the guiding to me / Let's play together Let's play together
Shinjuku That's a shame... / Once you're an adult Once you're an adult
Tsukishima Call me a craftsman / I worked hard for you, Shiina I worked hard for you, Shiina
Kira Kitazato
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shibuya Choose based on price / Nothing in particular Nothing in particular
Kichijoji I want to be popular / What about you, Kira? What about you, Kira?
Kanda I guess that happens sometimes / A doctor's skill matters more A doctor's skill matters more
Zoshigaya It really is an ordinary town / Actually, it has some interesting spots Actually, it has some interesting spots
Shinjuku What kind of book were you expecting? / Actually, in the back there's... Actually, in the back there's...
Home (1-1) I clean it myself / My pet does it for me I clean it myself
Home (1-2, follow-up) You're joking, right? / It's fine for free It's fine for free
Akihabara A fly trap, no question / An air purifier seems good A fly trap, no question
Masaki Ashiya
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shimokitazawa Sometimes / What about you, senpai? What about you, senpai?
Asakusa I want something sweet / I want something spicy I want something sweet
Inokashira Park Do you know about trees too? / What about in winter? What about in winter?
Shinjuku The manager's hobby / The difference in customers The manager's hobby
Kichijoji What shape is the planter? / Was it expensive? What shape is the planter?
Home I'm used to it / I'm not lonely today since you're here, senpai I'm not lonely today since you're here, senpai
Motomachi Chinatown You figured it out / Do you like it? You figured it out
Miyu Sahara
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shinjuku Let's not get too far apart / We should finish our errands first... Let's not get too far apart
Shibuya Leave it to me / I wonder if I can live up to it... Leave it to me
Jimbocho I'm looking forward to it / I wonder if it's still there...? I'm looking forward to it
Miura Beach Tell me about it / I don't know if I can help Tell me about it
Odaiba Marine Park I'm honored / Why...? I'm honored
Home I'm nervous too / Oh, calm down... I'm nervous too
Ginza I'm glad you invited me / I'm a little restless... I'm glad you invited me
Kotone Montagne
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shibuya I know some good tape / Maybe some medicine...? I know some good tape
Shikenjaya What do you want to see? / Why so sudden...? What do you want to see?
Shimokitazawa Leave the school tour to me / If you've already contacted them, you could go alone... Leave the school tour to me
Shinjuku Because it's dangerous / Because it's not beautiful Because it's dangerous
Kichijoji I'll stay with you until you're satisfied / Maybe it would've been better to come alone... I'll stay with you until you're satisfied
Home (1-1) Because I made it for you, Kotone / Cooking is love Because I made it for you, Kotone
Home (1-2, follow-up) Do as you like / It'd be trouble if it got written about Do as you like
Shinagawa Let's secure good seats / We could go elsewhere first Let's secure good seats
Runa Dogenzaka
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shibuya (Central Street) That's an unexpected side of you / You really know your stuff You really know your stuff
Shinjuku Something bold, fitting for Shibuya? / Miso ramen, no question Miso ramen, no question
Tsukishima Everything on the menu, start to finish / The one marked 'popular' The one marked 'popular'
Odaiba Marine Park Are you good at frisbee? / That's rough on your dad... Are you good at frisbee?
Motomachi Chinatown No, that's a bit much... / Shibuya really does run deep Shibuya really does run deep
Shibuya (restaurant) I hear the cake is famous / Maybe a chocolate fountain? I hear the cake is famous
Home (1-1) Honestly, I thought so / I thought you could do it Honestly, I thought so
Home (1-2, follow-up) Want to come up to my room? / I want to stay together a little longer I want to stay together a little longer
Mio Natsukawa
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shikenjaya Let's forget about work for once / Let's settle it at the batting cage! Let's settle it at the batting cage!
Shibuya Don't you want to go shopping? / Why don't we watch a movie? Why don't we watch a movie?
Akihabara They don't sell electricity here / Isn't your knowledge a little one-sided? Isn't your knowledge a little one-sided?
Asakusa I'm curious about the fried manju / I'm curious about the souvenirs I'm curious about the fried manju
Motomachi Chinatown That's impressive / Could I get in too? Could I get in too?
Home (1-1) I appreciate it / Why not just come hang out normally? I appreciate it
Home (1-2, follow-up) It's fine to lean on me / I want to lean on you too I want to lean on you too
Mayumi Hashimoto
Hangout / scene Options Higher-affection pick
Shibuya I like it / Not really... I like it
Shinjuku I like it fairly well / Horror is a bit much... I like it fairly well
Jimbocho That's interesting / Isn't looking it up online enough? That's interesting
Ogikubo It was very delicious / Want to hit another place? It was very delicious
Ueno I get it completely / I understand what you're trying to say I get it completely
Home (1-1) I don't mind, but... / That's a bit much... I don't mind, but...
Home (1-2, follow-up) Want to stay for dinner? / Umm... Want to stay for dinner?

Community-verified (Japanese server), translated and condensed here — not from the official data. Only the confirmed portion is shown; unverified event steps are left out rather than guessed at.

Not in the list above: Lufel and Toshiya Sumi. Lufel's synergy rises purely through main story progress, not dialogue picks, so there's no answer to give. Toshiya Sumi doesn't have any confirmed choice list yet — left out rather than guessed at.

Beyond unlock conditions and rank rewards, this page explains the first-gift double-value rule and how branching dialogue choices actually work.

Every gift value on this page is self-calculated straight from the game's own data.

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