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1. #1The Phantom Thieves

   Keys: Phantom thieves. thieves, Ren Amamiya, Joker, Morgana, Mona, Ryuji Sakamoto, Skull, Ann Takamaki, Panther, Yusuke Kitagawa, Fox, Makoto Niijima Queen, Futaba Sakura Oracle, Navigator, Haru Okumura, Noir, Goro Akechi, Crow, Sumire Yoshizawa, Violet, Sophia, Sophie, Zenkichi Hasegawa, Wolf

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   The Phantom Thieves of Hearts (心の怪盗団, Kokoro no kaitou-dan)?, also known simply as the Phantom Thieves (怪盗団, Kaitou-dan)?, are a group of Persona users in Persona 5 and its related media. Sick of the deception, hypocrisy and corruption around them, the Phantom Thieves are devoted to "stealing" corrupt hearts, usually of adults in positions of power, in order to reform Japanese society. Profile The Phantom Thieves of Hearts is a group of Persona users from Japan largely comprised of former victims of Suguru Kamoshida and Masayoshi Shido (or his co-conspirators). Their goal is to confront "corrupt adults" by stealing their "corrupt hearts," and change the world in order to rebel and fight against the complex, sophisticated and well-ingrained system of slavery they are trapped in, reinforced by the General Public's selective apathy which enables abuse against them to go unchecked and unopposed. They are willing to exploit the supernatural if it means bringing freedom and liberation to the masses.

   To combat this injustice, they surpass the preconceived notions of morality; although it is subjective as to whether the Phantom Thieves are "right" or "wrong," they reject both inability and hypocrisy by carefully establishing their tools while working together towards the same vision of righteousness. Unlike Goro Akechi (before his experience as a part of the Phantom Thieves), Takuto Maruki and the Monarchs of Persona 5 Strikers, the Phantom Thieves change hearts in order to simply set them free rather than control them. In the public eye, while some view them as heroes who fight for justice and protecting the innocent, the Phantom Thieves have been met with various illegitimate criticisms conceived for the purpose of swaying public opinion and forcing them to concede, rather than objectively analyzing the events at hand, and events would develop to directly question the strength of their justice by harming them with powerful forces in return; Goro Akechi would actively try to denounce the Phantom Thieves by deeming them to be a dangerous group who have no right forcefully changing the hearts of people, believing that doing so makes them no better than the criminals they target. The story would develop over time, eventually suggesting the false notion that they might be fabricating confessions for crimes that haven't been committed, and even having their work compared directly to the psychotic breakdown incidents and the work of Medjed. Furthermore, Medjed themselves, now ran by the Antisocial Force, would attempt to suppress public support for the group by threatening individuals with "confiscation," and would later announce they would crash Japan's economy should the Phantom Thieves not reveal their identities, exploiting the powerlessness and gullibility of the public.

   Not only that, this resulted in the retaliation of authorities, currently being taken over by the Antisocial Force, backed by unnatural forces. They would partially manufacture the Phantom Thieves's popularity in order to set them up, eventually framing them for the deaths of Kobayakawa and Kunikazu Okumura to plunge their reputation in an instant. The plan was successful, and not only were the Phantom Thieves caught off guard, but after Okumura's death, they were labeled as violent murderers by society and became despised by most. Despite it being said that the Phantom Thieves had lost sight of their original goal before getting framed, that does not stop them from genuinely reforming minor Mementos targets along with Okumura.

   In the end, the Phantom Thieves find out that they were sponsored and manipulated by a conductor and were destined for ruin in the end, which explains their morally ambiguous activities and targets not atoning properly after their change of heart. While public reception of them is mixed after the final confrontation against the conductor, they become less morally ambiguous, especially during the events of Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5 Strikers where they are willing to steal the hearts of anyone who attempts to cause disorder and stagnation within the public, including those doing so with well-intent, and actually make them atone as better people. Additionally, several members of the police began to open up to them, namely Zenkichi Hasegawa and Miyako Kaburagi.

   In Royal, Kasumi Yoshizawa expresses the belief that while the Phantom Thieves have good intentions, the general public should not become dependent on the group to change society. This is further compounded by how many of the targets who experience a change of heart of do not actually atone, such as Kamoshida who still makes advances towards Ann when he sees her in the Mementos Depths over half a year after his change of heart, instead being reduced to an apathetic, weeping husk of their former self, making their behavior look more like criminal activity than justice. Regardless, with the increasing numbers of changes of heart, the Phantom Thieves consistently attract the attention of the general public, turning them into an international phenomenon.

   Roles: Members Member: Code name: Role: Comical title: Period active: ??? (Name publically blanked): Joker: Leader, :Attacker - April 15, 2016-August 31, 2017. Unknown gender except by Phantom thieves.

   Morgana, Monam Attacker, Navigator,*(temporary nav, still remains on team) Acting Guide, April 15, 2016-August 31, 2017. Male.

   Ryuji Sakamoto, Skull, Attacker, Charge Commander, April 15, 2016-August 31, 2017. Male.

   Ann Takamaki, Panther, Attacker, Actress, April 15, 2016-August 31, 2017. Female.

   Yusuke Kitagawa, Fox, Attacker, Artist, Earliest May 19, 2016-August 31, 2017. Male.

   Makoto Niijima, Queen, Attacker, Navigator Advisor, June 20, 2016-August 31, 2017. Female.

   Futaba Sakura, Oracle, Navigator, Hacker Prodigy, August 29, 2016-August 31, 2017. Female.

   Haru Okumura, Noir, Attacker, Noble Daughter, Earliest September 19, 2016-August 31, 2017. Female.

   ---

   Temporary: (Members who either joined later and then quiet, or had intervals from when they joined.)

   Goro Akechi, Crow, Attacker, Navigator,*(temporary nav) Charismatic Detective, October 29-November 19, 2016, January 2-February 3, 2017. Male.

   Sumire Yoshizawa, Violet, Attacker, - January 12-February 3, 2017. Female.

   Sophia, Sophie, Attacker, Vendor, - July 27-August 31, 2017. Female (Robot in human shape.)

   Zenkichi Hasegawa, Wolf, Attacker, - August 23-August 29, 2017. Male.

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2. #2Metaverse

   Keys: metaverse, "changing hearts", phantom thieves, hearts, world, mind, world within mind, world with hearts

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   Details Much like Tartarus and the Midnight Channel, the Metaverse is formed from the collective unconscious, although unlike those respective areas, the areas in the Metaverse are personalized cognitive spaces based on areas in real-life Tokyo. While usually not directly affecting the real world, the Metaverse is known to have fused with it should its master wish to. For most, a Metaverse Navigator is required to traverse into any areas of the Metaverse, and anyone without a Persona will inevitably run into a life-threatening situation inside it.

   Persona 5 The Metaverse takes the form of Palaces, with a central Palace manifesting under the Shibuya subway known as Mementos, where Shadows of the general public are imprisoned. However, certain distorted desires, such as an overwhelming desire for control or suicidal depression can result in personalized spaces known as Palaces forming. All of these personalized locations correspond to certain areas of its owner's interest, and are representations of the distorted desires that caused its creation, powered by a Treasure, or an item of significance to its owner. Usually, the Palace's host is unaware that such a place exists, and most events that the Shadow encounters there are of no relevance to the real person. Most Palaces have no direct effect on others and only affects its owner's mindset by making them entrenched in their distorted beliefs.

   Shadows patrol the area for intruders; unlike past installments, these Shadows take the form of mythical figures commonly seen in the Shin Megami Tensei series once attacked and can be negotiated with like their mainline counterparts.

   Should the treasure be taken, the Palace will fall apart, and as the ruler's Shadow disappeared in prior, the real person will supposedly become a better person. In reality, many of them simply resign themselves back to the system they once defied, begging to be arrested and thrown in jail. To prevent this from happening, the Palace ruler in the Metaverse will defend their treasure at all costs.

   To enter a Palace, one must enter three keywords: the owner's name, the type of distortion and the location of the distortion. In the case of Mementos, the Palace of the public, only "Mementos" needs to be inserted.

   Two years before Persona 5, a massive political Antisocial Force led by Masayoshi Shido and backed by the general public who were influenced by the master of Mementos, Yaldabaoth, consisting of corrupt politicians, con-men, Yakuza, corporate executives and nobles began gaining abnormal levels of popularity, basically controlling Tokyo's jurisdiction, society and the media. The conspiracy's goal is to commit treasonous acts that will propel Masayoshi Shido into becoming prime minister, who will supposedly install his draconian nationalist policies which will cause the suffering of Japan. Yaldabaoth deliberately influences the public's cognition to make them think that Shido will guide Japan into a golden age as an example of humanity's sheer stupidity and apathy, making them ignore how corrupt and undesirable Shido is and vote him into prime minister unconditionally. Many of the conspiracy's more dangerous and influential members also generated Palaces of their own, separate from Mementos.

   To make a finishing touch to the game, Yaldabaoth granted a teenager named Goro Akechi the ability to enter the Metaverse so he could serve Shido and cause havoc by inducing mental shutdowns on his enemies, effectively cowering the public through the fear of being assassinated out of nowhere and ensuring Shido is virtually unopposed bar by a select few. Yaldabaoth also compromised the Velvet Room by merging it into his headquarters, captured the real Igor, took his form and separated Lavenza into the Twin Wardens. It's also heavily implied that, to give him an extra subject to toy with, Yaldabaoth engineered the protagonist's first clash with Shido, causing him to be put on probation as the "most dangerous criminal" and the general public distancing from him in fear of his criminal record. With the trickster Igor foresaw in Yaldabaoth's hands, he began to mentor the protagonist as if he were Igor while secretly distorting the public's cognition further.

   Yaldabaoth's real goal with this Conspiracy is to have either the protagonist or Goro Akechi dismantle it, so he can determine if Akechi's desire to destroy and recreate the world or the protagonist's desire to reform society would be stronger. Supposedly, if the protagonist ever won, Yaldabaoth will vanish and revert the world back to normal. If Akechi won, it's implied that he would kill Shido and expose his crimes. In reality, he never intended to hold his end of the bargain, and he blatantly rigs the outcomes so he can consider humanity as foolish and ignorant, so he can take over and guide them as their sole "god."

   After Shido is taken down, Yaldabaoth, in the form of the treasure of Mementos, takes action on his own, setting up the final stages of his game by inversely making people wish for Shido to return even if he shouldn't be able to. In order to fix this, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts travel to the Depths of Mementos to reform the public, who are all imprisoned within, also known as the "Prison of Regression," but are perfectly comfortable there. As they go deeper into the prison, they were alerted by the reason why their change of hearts do not work as planned when all of the Palace rulers they previously reformed are trapped in a massive cell, where the apathetic form of Shadow Shido explains to them that the Palace Rulers created Palaces because their will for independence and oppression are so strong that they can no longer be contained within the Prison of Regression and formed their personalized Palaces. However, those within personalized Palaces are also the ones who watch over the public within the Prison, preventing them from ever escaping. Once the Palace ruler's treasure is stolen, their Shadow returns there, rendering them apathetic. This is imperative for Yaldabaoth's plan, as he can use it to justify that humanity is ignorant and wishes for his control, and so no corrupt conspiracies can exist, like the ones he set up and assigned the Phantom Thieves to dismantle.

   Once he exiles the party out of Mementos as the Holy Grail, he takes a step further by fusing the entire Metaverse with the real world, and making the public believe that the Phantom Thieves never existed, erasing them from the real world and into the Velvet Room. There, Igor was exposed as Yaldabaoth's impersonation, and his offer for the protagonist to enforce for him in exchange of eternal serenity and ignorance was refused. After freeing the Velvet Room and his teammates, the protagonist and the other Phantom Thieves scale the Qliphoth World for their grand finale: Taking down Yaldabaoth. After his defeat, the Metaverse was sealed away from the real world, losing its physical form.

   Alternatively, when Yaldabaoth proposes his deal, the protagonist may accept it. Should he seal the contract, Yaldabaoth will revoke all visual distortions in the real world as stated by the rules of the game. However, the masses remain apathetic and complacent, the protagonist becomes a force of terror in Tokyo with unanimous public support and his teammates are presumably still imprisoned in the Velvet prison.

   Persona 5 Royal Should the protagonist maximize his Confidant with Takuto Maruki, he would have inadvertently taught him how to use the Metaverse to change the public's cognition. As the other Phantom Thieves told Maruki their desires as well, when Yaldabaoth accidentally allows Maruki to awaken to his Persona, Azathoth, he was capable of gaining control of Mementos, directly connecting his Palace to it so he can change reality itself by slowly causing everyone's ideal realities to blend into the real world, erasing all suffering from existence for anyone affected.

   Meanwhile, that same night after the God of Control was defeated, Goro Akechi comes to take the protagonist's place to testify for the Metaverse-related incidents and was taken to prison, while the woman who was harassed by Shido found, getting the corrupt politician arrested at the end of the year.

   Once the next year begins, effects of the altered reality become immediately apparent. Despite the Metaverse merging with the real world once again, no visible environmental distortions appear in the real world, with the only obvious distortions being a white flash that can be sensed by the protagonist upon entering an area. The distortions that the protagonist notice begins with an unknown teenager living in Café Leblanc (whom is actually Morgana, now a young human boy), followed by mentions of Wakaba Isshiki, Kunikazu Okumura and the Niijima sisters' father being alive when they clearly should not be, and Ichiryusai Madarame, Shiho Suzui and Ryuji Sakamoto's former track team being mentioned to have reconciled with their former acquaintances as well. The next day, Wakaba can be personally seen celebrating New Year with Futaba, and even with all these obvious abnormalities, the protagonist is the only one thought to be acting oddly by anyone else.

   Later on the same day, Akechi personally appears in Leblanc and takes the protagonist to the nearby laundromat to discuss the oddities. Joined by Kasumi Yoshizawa who noticed that the structure that appeared last October is now visible in the real world, the trio go into the Palace in order to meet the instigator. This is where they learn that Maruki is both the instigator and the ruler of this mysterious Palace, and he did all of this to erase pain and suffering from reality forever.

   The next week, the protagonist checks on all seven Phantom Thieves that are still living in Maruki's reality. The full magnitude of the distortions are also fully visible to the protagonist as he searches Japan for his party members and during the subsequent dates where he is allowed free movement, as people's behavior begins to drastically change, the deceased pet dog of a household in Yongen-Jaya being taken for walks again, lottery tickets becoming much easier to win, and Mr. Ushimaru of Shujin Academy becoming a kind man who broadcasts Featherman episodes in class and allows students to sleep during instruction, showing that he has a desire to abandon his strict and no-nonsense teaching methods, which Maruki's manipulations allowed to come true.

   Unlike the past abusers of the Metaverse and the collective unconscious, Maruki is genuinely motivated by altruism, and is not morally in the wrong in any regard, although he could still be considered misguided in his actions and what he's doing could potentially signal the stagnation of humanity. Due to their own personal misgivings about this deal and unwillingness to undo their personal growth from the past year, the Phantom Thieves team up once more to defeat Maruki and halt this new reality before it becomes irreversible due to Maruki's manipulations of Mementos.

   Maruki's greatest fear is that the protagonist won't accept the reality he concocted, and insists upon being honorable in his dealings with the Phantom Thieves, even though he could easily erase them from existence if he so wished. If the protagonist ever does accept his deal, the Metaverse will fuse into reality forever with nobody to stop it, and humanity will live in a reality without pain for all time. There are no more noticeable visual distortions if Maruki manages to grant all of humanity's desires, and all who are affected by Maruki's actualization will no longer have any inconsistencies with their memories or behavior.

   One final wrinkle in the protagonist's plan to stop Maruki comes on February 2nd, where he learns that Akechi is a product of Maruki's reality, manifested in haste by Maruki after learning that the protagonist and Akechi were separated. Whether Akechi is one of the previously deceased figures like Wakaba or Okumura or is simply altered a little like Shiho or Madarame is largely left ambiguous.

   Once the protagonist gives the calling card to Maruki, if the protagonist stands firm in his resolve, the party will go to Maruki's Palace and confront him. Despite a difficult fight, they defeat him and return to the original reality. This turns everything back to the way it should have been before Maruki meddled with reality, with the protagonist back in juvenile hall, as Akechi, who initially agreed to testify in the protagonist's place, was still missing.

   After Maruki's Palace collapsed, Mementos and the entire Metaverse crumbled along with it.

   Persona 5 Strikers Despite the Metaverse's apparent disappearance, it crops up again half a year later when people all over Japan have their hearts stolen and the Phantom Thieves are labeled prime suspects. It is first encountered when Ryuji, the protagonist and Morgana stumble upon a fan event involving fashion designer and idol Alice Hiiragi, who has been using an app to brainwash her followers.

   The Metaverse now takes the form of Jails, structures that are overlaid into the real world once created. The outskirts resemble the overlaid city itself, although the skyline will have a different color, and Shadows taking the form of security guards, soldiers and machine weaponry patrol the area, with a castle acting as the Jail's main body. Once the Shadows are exposed, they take the form of mythical beings seen from the Shin Megami Tensei series, although some of them merely retain their soldier forms. The Jail's distortions, unlike Palaces, are large in scale and outright visible in the real world, although they do not cause any environmental distortions at all, with the only real-world distortions being masses of people getting their hearts changed and becoming completely mesmerized and devoted to the Monarch or the Monarch's work, no matter its quality or whatever incidents the Monarch whips up in their locale.

   This usually occurs when a person incapable of defending themselves in the Metaverse enters a Jail due to being baited by the local Monarch, although it can also happen whenever the Monarch wishes to change that person's heart. During the former, Shadows can be seen visibly stealing that person's desires by pulling a diamond-like gem from them. The victim then returns to the real world mesmerized and devoted to the Monarch or their work, resulting in property loss or even violent incidents.

   Unlike Palace rulers, the Monarchs are not inherently distorted, nor are they deliberately malicious; They are actually otherwise normal people who are traumatized or wronged in certain ways, such as via bullying, contest scandals, political scandals or abuse, who ask EMMA to "save them" out of desperation. In response, EMMA creates a Jail overlaid onto that certain city and distorts the person using the "salvation" service, usually by causing their behavior to match their oppressors. The Monarch might appear outwardly normal and act as such, but might act maliciously under certain conditions that remind them of their disdain.

   To enter a Jail, simply inputting a "Friend Keyword," such as "Wonderland," is enough to drag a person in. The Monarchs use this to their advantage so they can artificially inflate their self-ego and fame.

   There are no treasures to steal in Jails unlike Palaces, and the desires take the form of a pink fog, making it intangible and impossible to directly remove. Instead, the Monarch is actually sealed inside another structure known as a "Bird Cage" which must be unlocked in order to summon a Monarch to action. The Bird Cage is a barricade that must be unlocked by accessing the area where the Monarch's traumatizing or other dissatisfactory experiences that caused them their disdain took place. It keeps the Monarch in and prevents them from reverting to their former selves by reminding them of the trauma.

   Usually, the Bird Cage is overlaid on top of the place where the Monarch's resentment occurred. Once infiltrated, the party must defeat a Lock Keeper Shadow in the Trauma Cell to unlock the cage, condensing the "desire fog" into a large diamond. After this is done, the Monarch must be confronted, then defeated and convinced to take off their crown, which releases all desires trapped within the Jail. Unlike the previous change of heart cases, the reformations work as intended due to the absence of the Prison of Regression. The Jail will still remain once formed, however, as EMMA itself runs them and not the Monarch, and it can still be a hazard to people.

   It was later revealed that the instigator of the incident is Kuon Ichinose, an extremely misanthropic AI genius who created EMMA to determine the answer to ultimate human happiness. Once she created its base code, she sold it to Akira Konoe so he can spread the app to the public. A man with an abusive father who beat him whenever he wanted to and once tried to kill him after killing his mother over some money which she refused to give him, he only survived when he killed his father in self-defense. As a result, once he got his hands on the application, he wanted to become the world's greatest superhero. He loaned it to Okinawa so the Jail function can be developed and perfected, driving its denizens to insanity and the AI genius responsible for giving it psientific knowledge Shuzo Ubukata committing suicide. EMMA's ability to change hearts was predetermined since it was the most efficient way to grant desires, but Ubukata's meddling lets her change hearts and create Jails autonomously. Konoe then attempts to spread the Jail system Japan-wide, and later on, worldwide so no more crimes can exist. This indicates that unlike the previous Metaverse surrounding Mementos (and much unlike other locations in Persona where combat took place), the Metaverse generated within EMMA is not a part of the collective unconscious, but an artificial system manually generated out of misguided altruism from certain individuals as opposed to being automatically generated by collective desires as before.

   Once EMMA evolved into a false god, she decides that humanity's true desire is nothing other than the EMMA application's guidance and thus mesmerized hordes of people to give it their desires. This answer is concluded because of Ichinose not bothering to give it any proper emotional algorithms (out of denial that she is human and has a heart) and the countless members of the public using the application to vent their desires. This causes the Metaverse to completely corrode into the real world once again, this time blacking out the entire Tokyo and transforming Tokyo Tower into the EMMA-Demiurge's Jail, taking the form of the Tree of Knowledge.

   The party scales the tree and reaches the Ark of the Covenant, only for it to outright refuse combat and ask them to hear the public's voices. The Ark traps them in an infinite path of fog, but the party is able to escape. Futaba and a reformed Ichinose hack into the EMMA servers under Ann's proposal to send a calling card to the public, summoning the EMMA application to action. Once confronted, EMMA transforms into the False God Demiurge to combat the party and is defeated after a grueling battle. With the EMMA application gone, the Jails cease to exist and the Metaverse is erased from existence once again.

   Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth Q2Mem Mementos as it appears in Persona Q2

   The Metaverse makes a brief appearance in Q2, as the Phantom Thieves enters the Cinema via Mementos.

   Persona 5: The Phantom X The Metaverse serves a very role in this game as it did in Persona 5. However the Palaces are found within Mementos itself as opposed to being separate.

   Unique to this game exists an area known as the Companio, a mysterious park like place within the Metaverse.

   Trivia Certain hazards in the Metaverse (such as falling from incredibly high altitudes or getting squashed by debris) do not seem to have any real life consequences, as shown during situations where the Phantom Thieves can escape Kaneshiro's Palace without suffering injury, even though it was located at an assuredly lethal height were one to fall from it, or Ryuji seemingly being killed in the explosions caused by the collapse of Shido's Palace only to end up perfectly alive and in one piece next to the Diet Building's courtyard. The first Metaverse-related incidents instigated by Yaldabaoth started 2 years ago prior to the events of Persona 5. In Royal, the second one instigated by Maruki started right after Yaldabaoth's fall, which initially only affected the protagonist, but began unfolding in earnest at the beginning of the next year. After the destruction of the Metaverse, all of Yaldabaoth's manipulations of the public cease, causing a more or less even split between supporters and detractors of the Phantom Thieves, and they are mostly accepted as figures that did indeed exist at one point. The third Metaverse-related incident instigated by Kuon Ichinose started three months prior to the events of Persona 5 Strikers. As seen in Akane Hasegawa in Persona 5 Strikers, the Metaverse distortions instigated by Yaldabaoth only affect Tokyo, since she could broadcast Shido's calling card without any problems, and suffers no backlash despite being a persistent fan of the Phantom Thieves.

   How does the metaverse work in persona The Metaverse in Persona 5 is a realm of cognition where human thought takes tangible form. It is a place where the Phantom Thieves stage their heists, stealing the desires of corrupt individuals to save those under their thumb. The Metaverse is a vertical slice of the larger metaphysical space known as the "Sea of the Soul," which is linked by the minds of humanity. It is a literal representation of human cognition within the confines of Japanese society, with the Metaverse itself being a facet of the Sea of the Soul. Palaces, which are independent spheres of influence, are created when a human's cognition becomes twisted enough to force them out of the norm. The Metaverse is also a place where the Shadows, or suppressed psyches, operate in a manner reflective of their behaviors.

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3. #3Mementos

   Keys: mementos, metaverse, phantom thieves, Morgana car, layers, floors, levels

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   "A Palace as grand as the previous castle only forms when a person's wishes are extremely distorted. So instead of many individual Palaces, the general public has one gigantic shared Palace." —Morgana, Persona 5 Mementos, also known as the Prison of Sloth, the Prison of Regression or the Prison of Acedia, is the incarnation of the Collective Unconscious in Persona 5. Profile Persona 5 MementosIcon The Palace for everyone's hearts.

   Mementos is the Palace for everyone's hearts, and the very core of the Metaverse. It takes the form of a twisted version of the Tokyo subway connected by a massive series of subway tunnels with wooden train tracks in place of rails, with various features of a prison such as chains or bars. The Shadows in upper Mementos resemble those of black humanoids with numerous masks. When a Shadow Self inhabits an area, the walls develop red cracks that resemble spider web or fractal patterns, and the veins that act as the "Will of the People" become prominent. The Phantom Thieves of Hearts explore the dungeon by traveling with Morgana's bus form.

   Unlike other Palaces, exploring Mementos is semi-optional for the majority of the game, although it can be used for grinding on levels, items, money and Personas, as well as being the location for all Mementos Requests. Either way, spending time to explore is strongly recommended in order to cut a significantly huge amount of time reaching its depths when it becomes a necessity late in the game. Exploring it is also required to advance certain Confidants, as heist requests related to their story will be issued, which must be cleared before they can be progressed further.

   Mementos is divided into multiple "paths," each of which has its own unique architecture and floors, referred as "areas." They are randomly generated and areas open up as the fame of the Phantom Thieves grows with each Palace they defeat.

   Path of Qimranut: Consists of 2 areas. Path of Aiyatsbus: Consists of 7 areas. (rest on area 4) Path of Chemdah: Consists of 8 areas. (rest on area 5) Path of Kaitul: Consists of 10 areas. (rest on area 6) Path of Akzeriyyuth: Consists of 12 areas. (rest on areas 4 and 8) Path of Adyeshach: Consists of 13 areas. (rest on areas 5 and 9) Path of Sheriruth: Consists of 14 areas. (rest on areas 6 and 10) Path of Iweleth: Consists of 1 area and acts as an entrance to the Depths of Mementos, within which the Holy Grail has hidden itself. Path of Da'at: Consists of 15 areas and the Cognition Control Room (rest on areas 5 and 11). This path acts as the true depths of Mementos. Royal only. Its enemies are affected by weather in the real world, weather warnings included. Most bad weather conditions boost the appearance rate of Treasure Demons and chests, and can drop more Search Objects:

   Rainy/Snowy weather & Thunderstorm: Normal effects. Search objects can drop higher-level items. Torrential rain: Same as thunderstorm, but to a greater effect. Search objects only drop higher-level items. Pollen warning: Enemies may fall asleep outside of battle and may demand Wide Eye Drops in negotiation. Heatwave: Enemies may suffer Burn at the beginning of battle and request a vending machine drink in negotiation. Flu Season: Enemies may suffer Despair at the beginning of battle and demand Hand Warmalizers in negotiation. Cold Wave (Royal only): Enemies may suffer Freeze at the start of battle. Appearance rate of Treasure Chests is not increased and weather-only Search Objects cannot be obtained. Final Heist: Mementos Main article: Depths of Mementos While the surface is initially an optional place meant for training, the depths serve as the final dungeon of Persona 5, when Yaldabaoth unleashes the final setup to his absolute domination. Shadow Selves and the will of the masses are imprisoned in this high security prison, which its inmates refer to as the ultimate realization of their happiness.

   Persona 5 Royal The old BGM track of Mementos now only plays in the first two paths. Several new BGM tracks have been added for the lower levels of the dungeon. Additionally, a new form of currency, flowers, is made available, which can be only redeemed in Jose's Shop; they disappear once the group leaves Mementos. Stamps can now be collected which can be used at Jose's Shop to increase EXP and money gains, and/or collectible items. Mementos also features Deviations, which are special effects that occur randomly upon visiting a new regular floor. Sometimes upon visiting some regular areas, it may be comprised of one of four simple layouts (line, cross, rectangle or a square with eight rooms)

   During the third semester, Takuto Maruki, if the protagonist maxed out his confidant during the previous months, uses Mementos to change all of reality with his actualization powers, allowing him to create a world devoid of all suffering and progress. It is confirmed by Lavenza that the Phantom Thieves themselves taught him what they want and the protagonist taught him about Mementos, so when this time comes, they all consent to his reality. Maruki's Palace directly ties to Mementos via a towering line of tentacle-like cables, which he uses to transmit information to and from Mementos in a place called the Cognition Control Room. These cables also barricade the second half of the Palace and must be lifted from Mementos to allow progress. Futaba Sakura hacks into the system and removes the barricade, allowing progress through the entirety of Maruki's Palace.

   A new area, the Path of Da'at, is opened after January 13 and must be traversed in order to allow exploration of the bulk of Maruki's Palace, as progress will be quickly blocked by the aforementioned cables connected to it. At the end of the new area of Mementos is the Cognition Control Room, a hidden surveillance station that Maruki uses to find the wishes of people he hasn't gotten to yet, and the control center for retracting some of the cables. Once the cables are removed, the Palace and Mementos then can be freely explored while infiltrating his Palace. If 160 or more Stamps have been collected, Jose can be found in the Cognition Control Room, and can be fought there as an optional boss battle.

   Persona 5: The Phantom X Mementos returns and has a similar role as it had in Persona 5, though with a few notable alterations. For one, Mementos' paths are set and are no longer randomly generated. Another is that Palaces are found directly within Mementos, as opposed them being solitary confinement for especially distorted Shadows, making exploring Mementos mandatory. Marthym can be found in certain areas within Mementos and will offer aid to the protagonist.

   Path of Qimranut: Consists of 4 areas. Path of Aiyatsbus: Consists of 5 areas. Path of Chemdah: Consists of 7 areas. Path of Kaitul: Consists of 6 areas. (ongoing) Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth Mementos appears briefly during the prologue sequence, where the Phantom Thieves are seen making a routine trip.

   Q2Mem Mementos as it appears in Persona Q2

   While driving the Mona-Bus through the area, both Morgana and Makoto suddenly lose control of the Mona-Bus and it barrels straight into the depths of Mementos. The Mona-Bus eventually comes into contact with a glowing screen and drives into it, thus sending the Phantom Thieves out of Mementos and into the world of movies.

   Requests Main article: Mementos Requests Mementos is also the setting of missions, referred to as "requests." After finding out a target's name in the real world, the group must find and defeat the target's shadow in Mementos in a boss fight to make the target have a Change of Heart.

   "Beware the Clingy Ex-boyfriend" acts as a tutorial mission while other missions are received through Yuuki Mishima's chat messages, certain Confidants or certain part-time jobs. Certain Confidants require specific requests to be cleared before ranking them up further. Due to plot reasons, the group can only access and complete missions up until December 23rd.

   List of Enemies In general, shadows that spawn in Mementos are the ones that were already encountered in previous Palace dungeons, with some shadows being exclusive to Mementos. Mementos will generate new floors based on story progress and act similar to Devil's Peak and the Mikage Ruins from Megami Ibunroku Persona. The Reaper can also spawn if the party stays in the same floor for about 2 minutes.

   Exclusive to Mementos Slime (Viscid Rotting Meat) Obariyon (Piggyback Demon) Kodama (Wavering Tree Spirit) Ippon-Datara (Embittered Blacksmith) Eligor (War-hungry Horseman) Sudama (Noisy Mountain Spirit) Fuu-Ki (Tornado Devil) Sui-Ki (Raging Water Demon) Kin-Ki (Samurai Killer) Choronzon (Gathering Devil) Kurama Tengu (Monk of the Valley) (Royal only) Pisaca (Corpse-Eating Corpse) Legion (Fused Ghost) Hope Diamond (Persona 5 only) Crystal Skull (Persona 5 only) Shedim (Persona 5: The Phantom X only)

   Trivia Mementos in Persona 5 / Royal is a randomly generated dungeon like Tartarus and the Midnight Channel. However, the Depths has a fixed layout and its own set of puzzles like the Palaces before it. The overall design of Mementos is reminiscent of La Mappa Dell'Inferno, one in a set of 92 illustrations painted by Sandro Botticelli and based off of Dante Alighieri's magnum opus, the Divine Comedy. The escalator stairs leading downwards may represent humanity's descent into the underworld as a result of Yaldabaoth's actions. On the contrary, the escalator stairs of the Path of Da'at lead upward rather than down, which could symbolise humanity's ascension to paradise through Maruki's actions during the Third Semester. In the Italian and Spanish versions of Royal, there's a translation error on the deadline, which instead of listing the remaining days as 'Few', they are listed as 'New'. It's an error caused by the similarity between the words. In the original Persona 3's opening cinematic, the quote "Memento mori" is scattered around, meaning "Remember that you must die. The paths of Mementos are named after the Qliphoth, specifically the versions given by William G. Gray in his book The Tree of Evil. The Qliphoth is the inverted version of the Sefirot, the Tree of Life and acts as its Shadow or Shell, preventing humanity from reaching the same enlightenment as God. This ties into the ultimate master of Mementos being Yaldabaoth, as the Qliphoth is taken to be the "shadow of God," just as Yaldabaoth is only a deluded impostor of Ain Soph, Kabbalah's name for God as he was before the creation of the world. The only exception is the Path of Da'at, which is named after the center of the Sefirot representing wisdom and perfection, which ties to Adam Kadmon, the personification of infinite light from the real god and the perfect human; in the normal Kabbalah, Da'at is the part of the Sefirot that connects to the Qliphoth, which ties into both Maruki's thematic connection to the Garden of Eden and Adam Kadmon. In the Japanese version, names of these paths are given their literal meaning:

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4. #4Characters in Persona 5 Royal

   Keys: Confidants, enemies, allies

   Enabled · Order 400 · 100%

   Role Of Confidants / Allies: Persona 5 / Royal Each relationship with a certain character (or possibly a group) is represented by a major Arcana and ranking up each Confidant grants bonuses to Personas of correlated Arcanas: experience bonus to newly-fused Personas and shorter in-game days required for training a Persona in the Velvet Room to learn a resistance. Ranking up each Confidant also unlocks a new ability or benefit which directly affects performance in Palaces or otherwise opens up massive conveniences in day-to-day activities.

   Storywise, Confidants accomplices in committing crimes instead of simply being mere bonds. They are also considered a part of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts regardless of whether they are directly involved in their heists and are thus held accountable for the Phantom Thieves' case by the justice system.

   The Confidants are founded by Igor in order to assist the protagonist in his "rehabilitation" and his rebellion against the world's corruption. Therefore, they are the only people who are immune to Yaldabaoth's machinations when they unravel in earnest during the last three months of the game.

   A majority of maxed Confidants will be capable of:

   Cheering the Phantom Thieves on taking down Shido while the rest of the general public unerringly support him to guide them into ruin. Realizing the Qliphoth World being overlaid onto the real world while the public remains completely oblivious to the changes. Cheering the protagonist and the Phantom Thieves on for defeating Yaldabaoth. Assisting the protagonist to get out of his probation once Sae requests that he goes to juvenile hall to testify against Shido after Yaldabaoth (P5 ending) / Maruki (Royal ending)'s fall. Give a special key item on 3/19 before the protagonist leaves for home. In New Game Plus files, these items allow the protagonist to use either a specific, select amount or all perks from a Confidant as long as said Confidant has at least been initiated.

   Arcana Confidants Benefits† Farewell Gift Ultimate Persona 0 Fool Igor Unlocks Shadow negotiation. Bonus EXP for fusion. Unlocks Third Eye. Increases Persona stock capacity. N/A Vishnu.

   I Magician Morgana* Unlocks craftable infiltration tools. Chance for the protagonist to steal items when using his melee attack. Morgana's Scarf Futsunushi.

   II Priestess Makoto Niijima* Provides additional information on the analysis screen (item drops/skill list/enemy stats/enemy resistances). Indicates when an attack is completely ineffective on an enemy. Buchi Calculator Cybele.

   III Empress Haru Okumura* Unlocks horticulture for growing vegetables with various useful effects. Dyed Handkerchief Mother Harlot.

   IV Emperor Yusuke Kitagawa* Unlocks Skill Card replication. Desire and Hope Odin.

   V Hierophant Sojiro Sakura Allows the protagonist to make SP recovery items. Recipe Notes Kohryu.

   VI Lovers Ann Takamaki* Bargains in negotiation. Chance to cancel an enemy's attack. (Royal) Fashion Magazine Ishtar.

   VII Chariot Ryuji Sakamoto* Ambushing (P5) or dashing into (P5R) enemies at least 10 levels lower than the protagonist instantly kills them, giving a free Persona. but without other battle rewards (EXP/money/items) In Royal, EXP/Money/Items are given along with the Persona. Reduces the chance of being detected while dashing. (Royal) Sports Watch Chi You.

   VIII Justice Goro Akechi* Chance to uncover unknown enemy affinities before battle. (Royal) N/A Metatron.

   IX Hermit Futaba Sakura Chance to cast any of the following between party turns: Moral Support (Matarukaja, Marakukaja, Masukukaja, all three at once akin to a party-wide Heat Riser, or Mediarama.) Active Support (all-targeted Charge+Concentrate, or recover SP.) Reveals maps on Mementos. Chance to prompt Hold Up at start of a battle. Chance to switch out incapacitated party members. Nullifies the first lethal attack. Promise List Ongyo-Ki.

   X Fortune Chihaya Mifune Bonus point gain on social stats. Increases monetary rewards from battles for the day. Bonus affinity point gain on Confidant activities. Reveals possible benefits from other Confidant characters. Reveals favorable responses during Confidant events. (Royal) Triggers and improves the rate of fusion alarms. (Royal) Fortune Tarot Card Lakshmi.

   XI Strength Caroline and Justine Allows the protagonist to fuse multiple Personas at once. Allows the protagonist to detain Personas into Lockdown to learn resistances. Allows the protagonist to fuse higher-level Personas in exchange for money. Payment depends on level difference. Cell Key Zaou-Gongen.

   XII Hanged Man Munehisa Iwai Unlocks firearm customization. Gecko Pin Attis.

   XIII Death Tae Takemi Offers new medicine and recovery-based accessories at her clinic. Dog Tag Alice.

   XIV Temperance Sadayo Kawakami Additional free time during school to read or craft items. Performs household tasks at night (cooking, laundry, crafting) without spending time. Allows activities at night even after spending time in the Metaverse. Unlimited Service Ardha.

   XV Devil Ichiko Ohya Reduces security meter penalty in Palaces. Interview Notes Beelzebub.

   XVI Tower Shinya Oda Unlocks and improves Down Shot. Unlocks and improves Bullet Hail. Unlocks Warning Shot in negotiation. Increases ammo capacity. (P5) Improves the chance of gun attacks inflicting ailments. (P5R) Allows Joker's gun attacks to pierce resistances. Gun Controller Mada.

   XVII Star Hifumi Togo Allows swapping teammates mid-battle. Improves escape chance. Unlocks gun-based follow-up attacks from backup members. Gain bonus money for defeating enemies after an ambush. Kosha Piece Lucifer.

   XVIII Moon Yuuki Mishima Unlocks Mementos Requests. Grants partial or full EXP for allies on standby. Permanent bonus EXP from battles. Documentary Notes Sandalphon.

   XIX Sun Toranosuke Yoshida Improves negotiation rewards during Hold Up. Can recruit Personas of higher level than the protagonist. Fountain Pen Asura.

   XX Judgement Sae Niijima "True Justice" indicates the protagonist has survived the recollection and reached the present. Business Card Satan.

   Unnumbered Faith Sumire Yoshizawa Allows the protagonist to ambush Shadows with the grappling hook. Allows the protagonist to avoid being ambushed by Shadows from the front. N/A Maria.

   1 Councillor Takuto Maruki Chance for the protagonist to instantly snap out of any status condition. Chance to grant the protagonist Charge and Concentrate at the start of battle. Chance to restore a large amount of SP to the protagonist at the start of turn. Unlocks third semester events upon completion. N/A Vohu Manah.

   Enemies:

   Kamoshida, Madarame, Kaneshiro, Futaba (Joins party) Okumura, Shido, Maruki (Doesnt hate phantom thieves but had to face them). Kiuchi, Miyazawa, Katayama, and Shimotsuna,

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5. #5Palace

   Keys: Palace, metaverse, mind, corruption

   Enabled · Order 500 · 100%

   Palaces (パレス, Paresu)? are locations in Persona 5. They are isolated domains in the Metaverse, separate from Mementos. Profile Persona 5 A Palace is a manifestation of "distortion," strong negative or corrupt thoughts that warp the perceptions of people into a hazard for themselves and others (for example, seeing all other people as living ATMs). According to Morgana, most people's negative and corrupt thoughts are blended together into the Metaverse in a location called Mementos, which is a Palace for all of humanity, as this game's iteration of the Collective Unconscious. However, particularly strongly distorted individuals manifest personal Palaces that are solely inhabited by their Shadow Self. The ones seen in game are usually manifested from the thoughts of extremely depraved individuals.

   Not all Palaces are formed by ill-natured individuals, however, as Futaba's Palace is fueled by Futaba Sakura's suicidal thoughts and repressed memories of her mother. This suggests that extreme negative emotions or psychological trauma can also cause a Palace to form. If the Palace is formed by said reasons, objects containing it will appear in their own Palaces as they represent subconscious knowledge, so it is possible for its owner to enter it and recollect or for other people to view them. The hosts of Palaces are often unaware of its existence, and if they were infiltrated by someone, they will not generate any adverse effects for its hosts in the real world until the Palace is destroyed or the host's Shadow Self is killed.

   All Palaces draw in Shadows, which help to protect them and fend off intruders, and cognitive existences projected by the host's interpretation of a real person or idea appear in the Palace. These existences are either passive, as in the case of Princess Ann in Kamoshida's Palace, or pose a threat to intruders, such as the Corporobo in Okumura's Palace. The stronger the person's corruption, the stronger the Shadows will be in the Palace. While cognitive existences do not affect their counterparts in reality, the Shadows still represent the unconsciousness there, so the Phantom Thieves of Hearts establish code names for all of their members to avoid identity exposure during their infiltration. Also, Morgana states that directly entering from the main entrance of a Palace is a no-go option for a Phantom Thief, since that will alert any Shadows inside the Palace to take action.

   To access a Palace from the real world, it requires input for the Metaverse Navigator app with four pieces of crucial information, either by voice or text: full name of the host, location of the Palace in comparison to the real world, title of the host, and the form the Palace takes. The Metaverse Navigator will afterward permanently remember the Palace (E.G: Perverted Teacher, Castle and Shujin Academy as Kamoshida's Palace's parameters) and remove it only if the location is no longer accessible. Palaces serve as the main battleground for the Phantom Thieves, and the ones explored each represent one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Deep within a Palace is a Treasure, a physical representation of the Palace owner's wicked desires or negative emotions, which is supposedly the root behind the owner's distortions. Once the Phantom Thieves successfully infiltrate a Palace, find the Treasure, and establish an escape route, they send a calling card to the owner in the real world in order for the Treasure to take on a physical form. Once the Treasure has been taken and the Shadow Self of the owner has been defeated, the Palace immediately crumbles and permanently disappears, and the host's personality will undergo a massive change. The Treasures can be taken into the real world and be pawned off. For the Phantom Thieves, some of the Treasures are used to fund their activities.

   Generally, a Persona user cannot develop a Palace, as a Persona user almost always has a clear grasp of their desires and emotions, having tamed and trained their Shadow.

   The Thieves will have a deadline to complete a Palace each time it is unlocked. If this deadline passes, a game over scene will be triggered. Exploring a Palace takes out the entire day period, including nighttime. There will also be a deadline for securing a route to the Treasure, sending a calling card to the target, and stealing the Treasure. Clearing them before the deadline is of utmost importance in a day's time, and should be performed before all other activities if possible unless the player has excellent time management or requires additional preparation.

   After securing a route to the Treasure, the player must choose a day to send out the calling card (barring Niijima's Palace and Maruki's Palace, where the calling card is always sent out on November 18th and February 2nd, respectively). This will usually consume the daytime slot and force the Thieves inside the Palace on the following day to defeat its ruler and steal the Treasure. The exceptions to this are Futaba's Palace, Shido's Palace, and Maruki's Palace; the first two have the heist take place on the same day the calling card is sent out, while the last of these will have the calling card sent out on the evening of February 2nd (thus making it possible to secure the route to the Treasure earlier on the same day).

   Since Palaces require multiple days to complete, exploring a Palace for the first time after a mission begins with only one day left before the deadline will always result in a game over, with most Palaces needing to be visited even earlier. The latest day to begin each respective Palace is as follows:

   April 29th (Kamoshida's Palace) May 31st (Madarame's Palace) July 6th (Kaneshiro's Palace) August 19th (Futaba's Palace) October 8th (Okumura's Palace) November 16th (Niijima's Palace) December 16th (Shido's Palace) February 1st (Maruki's Palace, specifically the Mementos visit that allows the Thieves reaccess into the Palace) Furthermore, after securing a route, all party member Confidants become unavailable until after defeating the boss encounter(s). The only exceptions are Niijima's Palace and Maruki's Palace, whose heists occur on specific days for story-related reasons.

   In the cases of both the Depths of Mementos and Qliphoth World, both dungeons are cleared in just one day (both on December 24th), due to narrative reasons. While traversing through the Mementos Depths, the deadline of the re-arrest, reading "FEW" is shown, and when ascending the Qliphoth World, this will be replaced by the message "Day of Reckoning." After the protagonist sends the calling card to Maruki on February 2nd, and enters his Palace on February 3rd, the fixed message now reads "Day of Fates." During any of these cases, the deadline banner will remain that way until the boss encounter(s) are defeated.

   The party may revisit Palaces even after the route is secured, as long as the Treasure has not been stolen yet, as the latter action destroys the Palace.

   If the host's desires are destroyed by the intruder, usually by stealing their Treasure, that person's mental state will deteriorate in the real world, and they will confess all their crimes in front of the public. If the host's Shadow Self is killed outright, the one in reality will suffer a mental shutdown, almost always leading to their death as well. This is key to the plan of Masayoshi Shido, who uses the talents of Goro Akechi in the Metaverse as a way to safely assassinate Kunikazu Okumura to advance his plan. The Phantom Thieves prevent the host's death by not killing their Shadow Self, instead persuading them to return to their true selves and confess their crimes.

   While exploring the Depths of Mementos, the Thieves learn that the Shadow Selves they have reformed (except for Okumura who has been killed due to Akechi's actions) have in fact returned to the Prison of Regression that lies within the Depths of Mementos, where the majority of the Shadows lock themselves behind bars, embracing the deadly sin of sloth, specifically due to their fear of disrupting social order in any way. Masayoshi Shido's Shadow Self reveals that Palaces are formed by the Shadow Selves of chaotic elements who escaped from the Prison of Regression and are locked inside personalized Palaces as a result. (In other words, to form a personalized Palace, one needs a distorted and powerful desire for controlling and terrorizing others, to the point that the Prison of Regression can't contain them.) However, the Palace Rulers also help to keep all those still within Mementos locked away by their own hands, as these people terrorize others into remaining "safe" within the Prison of Regression. This is the true reason why the conductor of the Metaverse incidents sends the protagonist into Palaces to clean those people's distorted desires up as a part of his game, as changing their hearts does not actually reform them but keeps them silent.

   The public is also not the true ruler of Mementos despite initial assumption, as they were supposedly incapable of creating such an orderly and complex security system like the Depths of Mementos. Instead, the true ruler and conductor is the Holy Grail, an almighty being created from humanity's desire for eternal apathy. He manipulates the public into indolence to the point that they all desire total control by the Grail, rendering it virtually invincible as it infinitely self-regenerates. He then merges Mementos with the real world, turning it into an apocalyptic wasteland, although the influenced general public is so manipulated that they can't perceive the distortions. The Holy Grail then proceeds to make the public believe that the Phantom Thieves do not exist, wiping them out from cognition entirely. Declaring that the protagonist had lost his game while taking Igor's form, he proceeds to order Caroline and Justine to execute the protagonist, although the two realize the malice of the situation, and the protagonist fuses them back into Lavenza instead. The two expose the Grail's trickery, reject his offer to rewind time and return the Phantom Thieves to glory, and he leaves, allowing the protagonist to rescue all of his teammates in the cells adjacent to the Velvet Room and make the ascent into the Qliphoth World to confront Yaldabaoth, the Holy Grail's true form.

   After his defeat, Mementos is erased for good without its master to sustain it. And since Mementos is the source of all other Palaces, the entire Metaverse is sealed off from reality, free of distortions.

   Persona 5 Royal On October 3rd, the protagonist and Morgana accidentally stumble into an unknown Palace with fellow student Kasumi Yoshizawa, where she awakens her Persona Cendrillon.

   After the collapse of Mementos, if the protagonist maxed out Maruki's Confidant on 11/18, the party, along with the entire general public bar the protagonist, Akechi, and presumably Kasumi, find themselves suddenly living in a different reality where all their desires are real, such as Morgana living as a young human, Futaba's mother being alive and well, and Ann's friend Shiho Suzui back at Shujin Academy. While the rest of the Thieves appear to be content, Akechi knows that something is odd and requests that the protagonist investigates with him. Kasumi can sense the strange unknown Palace from before and offers to join in as well. The three investigate the matter by infiltrating the mysterious Palace. They eventually learn that its owner is Takuto Maruki, and that he's the one responsible behind the alterations of people's reality, and, as revealed by him, how Kasumi is really her sister Sumire Yoshizawa, who wanted to believe she was Kasumi after her untimely death. Maruki's Palace itself was formed out of his grief over the suffering of his fiancée, Rumi, and subsequently the desire to end the suffering of humanity as a whole.

   Maruki's case of developing a Palace differs greatly from previous situations, and is the exception to several rules on how Palaces work. One such instance is that Persona users cannot have Palaces, however, Maruki also uses a Persona of his own, Azathoth, which eventually evolves into Adam Kadmon. Additionally, Maruki himself operates the Palace rather than his Shadow, though he never knew what it was called before Akechi explained it.

   After checking on the other Phantom Thieves and taking back Sumire from Maruki, including a battle with her own insane, grief-stricken Persona which is only won thanks to the sudden reappearance of the rest of the team, the now ten Phantom Thieves reunite to investigate the new Palace. Once the Treasure route is discovered and the protagonist personally gives Maruki his calling card on February 2nd, they confront him the next day. They eventually succeed in defeating him, changing Maruki's heart for good and destroying his Palace. As a result, everything returns to as it should have been before Maruki's alterations.

   Persona 5 Strikers When first visiting Shibuya's Jail, the Phantom Thieves mistook it for a Palace due to stumbling into the Metaverse by inserting a keyword into EMMA.

   Persona 5: The Phantom X The Palaces function nearly identically to those from the main game. They are formed from corrupted desires, and in contrast to Persona 5 tend to belong to people who steal desires from a large amount of people. Also in contrast to Persona 5/Royal, the Palaces are discovered directly within Mementos as opposed to the Metaverse Navigator. Unlike in Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal, if the ruler of the Palace is defeated and change of heart, after the Palace collapsed, a cognitive version of it forms in the Chamber of Recollections for players to revisit and explore the remaining progress if left uncompleted.

   Akashi's Palace functions notably differently from prior palaces. Initially the palace had primarily belonged to Kumi Katayama with Akashi having the ability to control her and make usage of her power, however after her defeat, Akashi’s portion of the Palace is revealed. The reasoning for this odd Palace behavior is due to Akashi’s personality of being a parasite, manipulating and leeching off other people entirely for his own benefit. Because of this bizarre situation, Katayama and Akashi both have treasures that can be taken however only Akashi’s treasure being stolen triggers a Change of Heart.

   In the Crossroads of Fate events, False Palaces are formed that resemble the initial few Persona 5 palaces and share their shadow types and hazards. However they also carry some traits from the Palaces of Persona 5X, such as the replica of Kamoshida’s Palace having baseball locks, a cognitive Tomoko, and the baseball uniform shadows. These palace houses a specific type of Treasure known as a Core that when removed causes the Palace to collapse. Instead of Palace Leader, special shadows guard the Cores, which are all based around the three poisons of Buddhism. These shadows transform into facsimiles of the Persona 5 palace rulers when encountered.

   List of Palaces Persona 5 Palace Available Deadline Theme Kamoshida's Palace April 11th May 2nd (Board Meeting) Castle of Lust Madarame's Palace May 16th June 5th (End of Exhibition) Museum of Vanity Kaneshiro's Palace June 19th July 9th (Kaneshiro leaks the photos) Bank of Gluttony Futaba's Palace July 25th August 21st (Medjed’s Cleanse) Pyramid of Wrath Okumura's Palace September 15th October 11th (Haru moves in with her fiancé) Spaceport of Greed Niijima's Palace October 29th November 20th (Start of Investigation) Casino of Envy/Jealousy Shido's Palace November 24th December 18th (Election Day) Cruiser of Pride Mementos May 7th (Surface) December 24th (Depths and Qliphoth World) December 24th (Day of Reckoning) Prison of Sloth/Regression/Acedia Maruki's Palace* October 3rd (First Glimpse); January 2nd (First Exploration); January 9th (Saving Sumire), January 12 (Forced exploration) January 9th (Checking on teammates), February 3rd (Day of Fates) Center of Melancholy/Laboratory of Sorrow

   In Royal, the protagonist possesses his own Palace known as the Thieves Den. It is not meant to be explored and possesses no Shadows; however, it acts as the game's gallery room and can be entered without affecting the time of day.

   Persona 5: The Phantom X Palace Available Theme Kiuchi's Palace Mission 1: Traces of Dreams Baseball Stadium of Lust Miyazawa's Palace Mission 2: Outcome of Pride Studio of Vanity Katayama's Palace/Akashi's Palace Mission 3: Unconditional Love Dam of Wrath/Control Center of Gluttony Shimotsuna's Palace Mission 4: The Melancholy of the Masked Actor Anthill of Pride Similar in Royal, the protagonist possesses his own Palace known as the Thieves Den after Mission 1 is completed. It is not meant to be explored and possesses no Shadows; however, it acts as the game's gallery room and can be entered without affecting the time of day. The decorations provide additional combat buffs or daily increases.

   Trivia Palaces are somewhat similar to the personalized dimensions in the TV World of Persona 4, as each dungeon typically reflects the mentality of the one who created it. However, while the TV World is made of hidden thoughts and people's secrets and does not always represent corruption, Palaces are exclusively made of corruption or negative desires. Suguru Kamoshida, the first Palace leader, will appear walking around Shujin’s hallways from 4/18 - 5/1, and if spoken to will insult the protagonist and remind him of his impending expulsion. Subsequent attempts to talk to him on the same day will have him tell the protagonist to get lost. There's a small amount of unused data in Persona 5 that suggests Akechi was planned to have a Palace, as there are shadow negotiation lines where they will talk about "Lord Akechi/Master Akechi", and the assets for Palaces go from Sae's Palace (57) to Shido's Palace (59), skipping 58. There is speculation this may have been tied into and worked to explain Akechi's proximity to everyone who is shown to develop a Palace or the circumstances of their formation in the story, and the possibility of Loki's Call of Chaos being the trigger behind their creation due to their origins acting similar to Psychotic breakdowns, only with the expression of the distortion growing internally instead of vented externally. DLC costumes in Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal do not work outside Palaces. If the security level is high enough, that Palace's map will become a BGM visualizer. In Persona 5, after sending a calling card, the Palace's security level will always rise to 99%. In Persona 5 Royal, this is changed to 100%, as the security level rising to maximum now no longer ejects the party from the Palace. Futaba Sakura is the only character whose Palace is named after the first name rather than the last.

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6. #6Locations in Tokyo

   Keys: Tokyo, shibuya, Shujin Academy, Leblanc, Yongen-Jaya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Inokashira Park, Kichijoji, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

   Enabled · After character · Order 600 · 100%

   🎭 THE WORLD OF PERSONA 5 — MAJOR LOCATIONS (DETAILED) Persona 5 takes place in a stylized version of Tokyo, with each district representing a different facet of modern urban life and the pressures placed on young people. The Phantom Thieves move through these spaces as both ordinary students and supernatural rebels.

   Let’s break down each major location.

   🏫 Shujin Academy — Oppression, Conformity, and Corruption What It Is A private high school in Tokyo where the protagonist is forced to enroll after his criminal record makes him a social outcast.

   Narrative Role The starting point of the story

   The place where the Phantom Thieves meet

   The site of Kamoshida’s abuse and the first Palace

   Themes Institutional corruption

   Power imbalance between adults and students

   The pressure to conform

   The protagonist’s status as an outsider

   Shujin is the “normal world” that constantly reminds the protagonist he’s been labeled a delinquent.

   🏠 Leblanc (Yongen‑Jaya) — Found Family and Quiet Rebellion What It Is A small coffee shop in a back alley of Yongen‑Jaya, owned by Sojiro Sakura. The protagonist lives in the attic.

   Narrative Role Home base for the Phantom Thieves

   Safe haven from the world’s judgment

   Where bonds with Sojiro and Futaba deepen

   Themes Found family

   Healing

   The warmth of small, intimate spaces in a cold city

   Leblanc is the emotional heart of the game — a place where the protagonist is treated like a human being.

   🌆 Yongen‑Jaya — Everyday Struggle and Working‑Class Life What It Is A quiet, slightly run‑down neighborhood with small shops, a bathhouse, and a clinic.

   Narrative Role Early‑game exploration area

   Home to Takemi’s clinic

   Represents the protagonist’s “low status” in society

   Themes Working‑class resilience

   The contrast between public image and private truth

   The hidden corners of Tokyo

   It’s a grounded, human space — the opposite of the flashy districts.

   🎮 Shibuya — Overstimulation, Consumerism, and Social Pressure What It Is One of Tokyo’s busiest districts: crowds, neon lights, shops, arcades, subways.

   Narrative Role Central hub for shopping, jobs, and activities

   Meeting place for the Phantom Thieves

   Symbol of the overwhelming pace of modern life

   Themes Information overload

   Urban alienation

   The pressure to perform and consume

   Shibuya is the “face” of Persona 5 — chaotic, stylish, and full of hidden meaning.

   🛍️ Shinjuku — Vice, Identity, and Adult Hypocrisy What It Is A nightlife district full of bars, clubs, and adult entertainment.

   Narrative Role Home to the Crossroads Bar (Ohya’s Social Link)

   Where the protagonist sees the darker side of adulthood

   A place where people reinvent themselves

   Themes Masks and identity

   The hypocrisy of adults who judge the protagonist

   Escapism and self‑destruction

   Shinjuku is where the game shows that corruption isn’t limited to Palaces — it’s everywhere.

   🎤 Akihabara — Obsession, Escapism, and Otaku Culture What It Is Tokyo’s electronics and anime district.

   Narrative Role Home to arcades, maid cafés, and tech shops

   Futaba’s domain

   A place where people retreat from reality

   Themes Escapism vs. engagement with the real world

   Technology as both refuge and prison

   Youth culture’s extremes

   Akihabara reflects Futaba’s arc: retreating into fantasy, then slowly rejoining the world.

   🏞️ Inokashira Park — Peace, Reflection, and Emotional Honesty What It Is A large, serene park with ponds, trees, and walking paths.

   Narrative Role Location for several Confidants

   A place where characters open up emotionally

   A break from the intensity of city life

   Themes Nature as healing

   Honesty and vulnerability

   Moments of stillness in a frantic world

   It’s one of the few places where characters can breathe.

   🏙️ Kichijoji (Royal) — Youth Culture and Self‑Discovery What It Is A trendy district added in Persona 5 Royal.

   Narrative Role Darts, billiards, jazz club

   A place for the Phantom Thieves to bond

   Represents youthful experimentation

   Themes Self‑expression

   Friendship and trust

   The joy of being young despite hardship

   Kichijoji is a celebration of the Thieves’ growth as a team.

   🏫 Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building — Authority and Surveillance What It Is A real Tokyo landmark representing government power.

   Narrative Role Appears in cutscenes

   Symbolizes the systems the Phantom Thieves rebel against

   Themes Institutional control

   The weight of societal expectations

   The facelessness of authority

   It’s the opposite of Leblanc — cold, imposing, and impersonal.

   🧠 Mementos — The Collective Unconscious of Tokyo What It Is A massive, subway‑like dungeon representing the public’s distorted desires.

   Narrative Role The “general public’s Palace”

   Expands as society becomes more apathetic

   The final dungeon in the true ending

   Themes Conformity

   The danger of giving up one’s will

   The power of collective belief

   Mementos is the shadow of Tokyo itself.

   Entry settings▾
7. #7Personas

   Keys: True self, persona, i am thou, thou art i.

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   The term "persona" is Latin for "mask." A Persona (ペルソナ, Perusona)? is a manifestation of a Persona user's personality in the Persona series, referred to as a "mask" for an individual to use to face hardship. Rather, the term "persona" is Latin for "mask."

   A Persona is similar to a Shadow. Shadows are malevolent manifestations of one's inner thoughts, while a Persona is a manifestation of the same feelings but tamed and trained.

   If an individual takes up a resolution in their heart, the Persona will undergo a metamorphosis into a stronger form.

   While the summoning sequence of a Persona differs from one installment to the next, a tradition that later adaptations follow is that blue-ish fire is always released when a Persona is invoked.

   A fight using Personas weighs on the user's mind and spirit. Continuous use of a Persona will eventually drain the user's strength and stamina. Using Persona skills requires "SP," or "Spirit Points."

   In the depths of human hearts, shared by all people, there is a domain where mythological archetypes dwell, and they grant an influence over an individual's personality development. Anecdotes of mythological divinities the world over probably exist because of that, so one could say that gods and demons exist not in Heaven and Hell but in the hearts of humanity. Personas even have an influence on physical and mental abilities, making their users superhumans, for example giving them mastery over weapons or resistance to terror and madness.

   Profile Megami Ibunroku Persona MIP Art At the beginning of the game, the main characters play a game called "Persona." Afterward, they fall unconscious and meet Philemon, who gives them the power to use Personas. Each character's Persona "awakens," and is then able to be called out at will. Some characters who hadn't met Philemon could summon a Persona regardless—most likely due to Maki Sonomura's dreamworld, which was created by the DEVA System.

   Unique to this game, the Personas that can be equipped are not determined by the character's level, but by their "Persona Level," which accumulates experience at a different rate than the character experience; invoking a Persona gives more experience to the Persona Level than using weapons or firearms. Despite this, Persona creation is tied to the protagonist's Character Level, and a Persona cannot be created if its level is more than 10 levels above him. Additionally, some Personas can only be created using a Totem, and the most powerful Personas also require specific demons' spell cards to create. Personas themselves do not level up, but grow as their Rank increases from being invoked a specific number of times in combat.

   Persona 2 Maya Amano summoning a Persona (Artemis). Persona 2: Innocent Sin and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment features a similar mechanic to Megami Ibunroku Persona, in which the main characters can already have the ability to summon Personas due to previously playing the Persona game when they were kids. However, it is heavily implied that unlike with the Megami Ibunroku Persona cast, playing the persona game also draws Nyarlathotep's attention alongside Philemon's this time, and most of their actions in the story were seemingly calculated and revolved around the main characters who had once played the persona game.

   Each time the character summons a Persona, it costs a flat amount of SP regardless of the spell used, dictated by the affinity between the user and the Persona. Characters with the "Worst" affinity with a Persona simply cannot equip it. Better affinity with a Persona has a few advantages: the SP cost is lower and there is a higher chance of triggering mutations, which in Eternal Punishment includes a higher chance of unlocking a Persona's Unknown Power.

   The level of each Persona is static, but they gain Rank gradually when they are summoned in battle (rather than using healing or support spells out of battle). A Persona learns new spells as it reaches higher ranks, plus one more "mutation spell" only obtainable via mutation after it has reached at least rank 6. After reaching Max Rank, a Persona's stats can continue to grow via mutation.

   Personas can be created in the Velvet Room by spending a certain amount of Tarot Cards that have the same Arcana as the target Persona. Some Personas also require a Material Card to create. Before confirming the creation, the player can also add a Skill Card and/or an Incense Card to slightly enhance the Persona. The player can create any Persona up to 5 levels higher than any party member of the highest level with the only consequence being that it requires more SP to cast any spell with that Persona.

   Persona 3 Evoker4 Yukari Takeba summoning a Persona (Io).

   In order to summon a Persona, one must use an Evoker, though there are some cases where an Evoker is not required for summoning. A Persona can actually be artificially created, but because the Persona does not come naturally to its artificial user, it becomes violent and difficult to control; if the Persona-user isn't strong enough to hold back the Persona, it may even wind up killing the host. Artificial Personas can be suppressed by certain drugs, called Suppressors, but use of the drugs causes fatal side-effects. It's possible for one to have the power of the Wild Card, meaning that multiple Personas can be contained simultaneously. The only two seen capable of this power are the silent protagonists (male and female) and Aigis. Personas can no longer be summoned or equipped if their level is higher than the protagonist's.

   During The Answer chapter of Persona 3 FES, Metis reveals that Personas are tamed Shadows.

   Philemon does not appear in Persona 3, but there are several references to him, namely a fluttering blue butterfly that can be seen several times throughout the game.

   In Persona 3 The Movie, when the user's stamina is used up too much, they can no longer summon a Persona unless they take a rest or until they are healed. Similar to Persona 4 The Animation, there have been cases where a user takes damage after a Persona is destroyed (for example, Takaya recoils in pain after Hypnos is destroyed by Caesar).

   Persona 4 The Investigation Team with their Personas. When one enters the Midnight Channel, one's innermost secrets that they actively try to suppress materialize and become a Shadow Self, which then attempts to force its host to accept it. If one cannot accept the Shadow Self, or if they refuse to acknowledge what they want to keep hidden most, the Shadow becomes enraged, attracting all nearby lesser Shadows to itself and transforming into a monster which attempts to kill the person it spawned from. If one can face oneself and admit to what the Shadow Self says, then the Shadow transforms into a Persona loyal to its user. During battle, one summons their Persona by manifesting their tarot card and breaking it, causing the Persona to emerge.

   Igor later reveals that a Persona is formed by having one's ego master its Shadow, but adds that it is also possible for a Shadow to become a Persona-user by developing its own ego (like in the case of Teddie). As Teddie is the only known Shadow to be able to use a Persona, this possibility is extremely rare at best.

   In the anime, rather than summoning it only for spells, Personas do all of the fighting against the Shadows. But when the Persona takes damage, so does its user, and a very weakened Persona will start to show a bit of static in its body. In addition, when Yu fuses his Persona (aided subconsciously by Igor), he does it on the spot.

   Persona 4 Arena The use of Personas and their existence in the world is explored more in Arena. Members of the original SEES form the "Shadow Operatives," under control of the Kirijo Group, working under Mitsuru Kirijo, who partner with public safety officers on cases involving Shadows. Personas and Shadows are shown to be known by higher-ranking officials and are kept secret from public knowledge. It is now shown that Personas are still able to be summoned in the regular world even after the Dark Hour disappeared, but also requires the use of an Evoker. However, it can be summoned without one during a crisis or with extreme concentration.

   P4 characters cannot use Personas in the real world Rise expressing frustration over not being able to use her Persona in the real world in the original Persona 4.

   The Tarot Cards the Investigation Team use seem to be of little use in the real world, as the members are shown to be unable to summon their Personas outside the TV World, as Rise mentions once in Persona 4. The TV World, however, helps those who have summoned Personas beforehand, making it much easier than before, to the point where the use of an Evoker isn't necessary to summon one; Mitsuru expresses surprise at only having to think of her Persona to bring it out.

   Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Persona 4 Arena Ultimax also showed that a Support Persona can become a Combat Persona if the user displays a strong resolve to fight. Rise achieves this with Himiko due to her desire to save her friends during the events of Ultimax.

   Persona 4: Dancing All Night Rise further displayed the ability to morph her Persona into other forms by using the power of Kanamin Kitchen's positive energy and acceptance of their Shadow Selves to transform Himiko into a grand stage for their final battle against Mikuratana-no-Kami.

   Persona 5 "You will be training the power of Persona, which you have awakened to. Personas are, in other words, a "mask"—an armor of the heart when confronting worldly matters." —Igor to the protagonist, Persona 5 『ペルソナ５』ショートムービー【ペルソナ召喚編】 In Persona 5, Personas are formed by individuals who find themselves in the Metaverse and are dealing with feelings of frustration of being wronged or taken advantage of. Should the person decide to rebel and take revenge, their Shadow Self calls out to them, forming a mask on their face. Their eyes also turn yellow, indicating their Shadow Selves are merging with their owners. Ripping this mask from their face formalizes their contract, causing the Shadow Self to turn into their Persona and take form. The process of tearing off one's mask is particularly painful, as it leads to excessive bleeding. Once the contract has been formed, the person then receives a special thief suit that represents their idea of a rebel, and the mask becomes a normal mask that they can freely take off without pain and serves as the conduit for their Persona abilities.

   Futaba Sakura is a partial exception to this. She faces her Shadow Self like the characters do in Persona 4, and does not tear off a mask to gain her Persona. Like the other Phantom Thieves, however, her awakening was fueled by a desire to take revenge against those who wronged her (in her case, the Conspiracy that faked her mother's suicide). Her focus on discovering the truth rather than simple revenge results in her not having combat abilities like the others. Haru Okumura shows that a person can access their Persona and thief suit simply by feeling rebellious; but without a firm resolve, it can only manifest. Only upon fully accepting her desire to rebel against her father did her persona Milady finally access its full power. Milady affirmed this by stating that she could unleash her true potential during Haru's awakening.

   In Persona 5 The Animation, just like prior anime adaptations of the series, when a Persona is hurt or destroyed, the user will be hurt as well. Goro Akechi suffered damage when his Persona, Loki, was defeated during his fight with Ren Amamiya.

   In Persona 5 Royal, Sumire Yoshizawa is a unique case since her initial awakening involves no blood after she removes her mask, hinting that she did not have a complete awakening similar to Haru. Her Persona was strong enough to fight, however, considering Sumire was currently living a life as her sister, it can be assumed that her awakening was incomplete due to her not being true to herself. Later, after accepting herself and desiring to fight without needing to rely on her friends, Sumire completely awakens with blood and yellow eyes, fully gaining Cendrillon. This time, her Persona merges with the spirit of her sister, the real Kasumi.

   It is shown that mental instability—or possibly influence from an outside force—can lead to a Persona being removed or corrupted, as was the case for Sumire. An unconscious, restrained Sumire had her Persona forcibly removed, turning it into a powerful berserk state. It is unclear if this situation is unique to Sumire's circumstances by virtue of her being especially vulnerable to it due to her pre-existing cognitive instability due to previous tampering as well as her traumatic grief and depression, or because that is simply a power Takuto Maruki has.

   Additionally, there is indication that Personas are able to have some level of autonomy from their owners, possibly to the point that they're able to influence them and their psyche, as indicated by Azathoth urging Maruki to continue his plans when Maruki expressed doubts, as well as periodically and seemingly outright acting through him. It is unclear whether this case of Personas acting somewhat independently is similar to Nyarlathotep, or if it is more similar to the unstable Persona users seen in Persona 3. Once again evoking previous Persona games, Maruki was able to fuse with his own Persona to increase his power to near-unbeatable levels.

   Maruki additionally acts as an outlier as a Persona user which is also a Palace Ruler, both accepting himself yet holding grand delusions for his perfect reality. It is unknown how this came to be, however, after fusing Azathoth and his treasure, Maruki "evolves" his persona, which can be seen as an awakening, implying that Azathoth may have been a corrupted or incomplete form of Adam Kadmon. As a side effect of his status as Palace Ruler, Adam Kadmon is also much larger than normal for personas, and Morgana speculates that it may have been a result of his control over reality.

   Persona 5 Tactica In Tactica, it is revealed that in rare cases, a cognitive being can also display traits of a Persona if given the seed of its original person's willpower, described by Lavenza as the 'seed of a Persona'. This is shown with Erina, who is (in part) a cognitive being based on Toshiro Kasukabe's high school friend: Eri Natsuhara. Although she is a being based on the memory of Natsuhara's bravery and willpower, Erina developed the will of rebellion of her own when Toshiro's subconscious granted it to her in order to protect his mind from the influence of Salmael. Once Toshiro reawakened his own will of rebellion, Erina became his Persona, while also retaining her autonomy and original personality because of her nature. However, because she is also based on the repressed positive, heroic traits of Toshiro's personality, in addition to being a persona and based on a real person, Erina displays the traits of a Shadow Self, Persona and Cognitive simultaneously, however Lavenza considers her a unique case. Lavenza also reiterates that in most cases, a shadow and a persona are merely two sides of the same coin, being the repressed side of an induvidual's inner self.

   Persona 5: The Phantom X In Persona 5: The Phantom X, Personas are products of a person's desires, rather than specifically a will of rebellion. This holds true for shadow selves, which are the manifestations of a person's repressed desires. Should an individual with a strong will and desires enter the Metaverse, they can awaken to their Persona. This can be a desire to rebel, protect or fight against injustice, but may stem from something as simple and primal as the desire to not die. While it might be more difficult, a person who has had their desires taken or manipulated can still awaken to a Persona, as long as they retain a desire strong enough to trigger an awakening. Additionally, awakening a Persona is an indication of an individual's control over their own heart, and seems to protect the Persona user from having their desires taken or manipulated by shadows and other parties. Strong desires can also cause a change in a person's Persona without a second awakening or using the Wild Card ability. For example: Riko Tanemura is able to transform her support Persona into a combat one, after being spurred on by her rage toward Kei Akashi, albeit temporarily.

   There also exists a distinction between true Persona users and Phantom Idols. The latter group are cognitive manifestation created by Merope using Nagisa’s cognition. While these idols have “Personas,” they are not true Personas. They are prototypes made from shadows of Mementos and desires of the Phantom Idols. Those Personas are known as “Persona Duos” (ペルソナⅡデュオ, Perusona Dyuo)?. Despite the differences, they function identically to normal Personas.

   An interview about this title reveals that most personas are intangible (with exceptions like Johanna), and cannot physically touch the user.

   Persona -trinity soul- Everyone possesses a Persona, but only those who have summoned it before and know of its existence may call it out by will by concentrating one's mind. Personas that have consumed other Personas will be more unstable and will need Persona suppressors to keep their Personas under control. The anime also states that a person's ability to summon a Persona weakens as they reach adulthood, and they may need to take medicine to keep up. This, however, contradicts Megami Ibunroku Persona and Persona 2, as the rest of the adult cast in those games can summon their Personas without issue, with Persona 4, Persona 5 Royal, Persona 5 Strikers, and Persona 5 Tactica all having grown adults awaken to their Personas as well. One character in Trinity Soul speculates that this may simply be due to adults' tendency to lose their strong sense of identity as they grow older, and that it's not inherently about age, but personality. Despite that, however, this is one of the reasons that Persona -trinity soul- is not considered canonical to the series.

   Persona Behavior Awakening The awakening of a Persona in someone with the ability to summon and command them can depend on several internal and external factors, but the most recurrent way in users is sudden danger or an emotional episode. In Megami Ibunroku Persona, Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment, the main casts are confronted by threats from demons or other Personas, which fully activate their Persona abilities and allow them to defend themselves. An example of an emotional awakening is with Kei Nanjo, who sees his retainer Yamaoka mortally wounded by demons. Danger may be deliberately placed before the characters to prompt their awakening, as in Eternal Punishment where JOKER summons demons and forces Maya Amano, Ulala Serizawa and Katsuya Suou to awaken to their Personas.

   In Persona 3, Persona awakenings depicted in the game show that a sudden danger prompted them to appear. Mitsuru Kirijo had joined her father on an expedition into Tartarus, and when he was attacked by Shadows she awakened to Penthesilea. Similar happenings occur with Akihiko Sanada, Junpei Iori, Yukari Takeba, Ken Amada and Koromaru. An exception is Fuuka Yamagishi, who awoke to her Persona naturally when she wanted to protect others. The protagonist's power was awakened through a combination of danger, his contract with Igor and some strange prompt from the boy Pharos. Persona 3 also mentions that Persona users must have the "potential."

   Persona 4 shows awakening in a slightly different way. While the protagonist Yu Narukami awakens to his Persona ability when attacked by Shadows, the other members of the Investigation Team are faced with their berserk Shadow Selves, which must be defeated and accepted before they transform into Personas.

   In Persona 5, each Persona awakening is triggered by the user facing against some detested fate or person, such as Ryuji Sakamoto facing down his tormentor Suguru Kamoshida; every member of the Phantom Thieves makes a resolve to stand against their oppressors. The process is traumatic, as the user is wracked with debilitating pain.

   Persona 5 also shows the idea of a false, or incomplete awakening, with both Haru and Sumire awakening their personas only to have their true awakenings later. In Haru's case, her incomplete awakening led to her persona being unable to fully manifest. In Persona 5 Strikers, a similar event occurs, with Sophia using a pseudo-persona for much of the game and only awakening her true persona later on after she gained a stronger sense of self and rebellion.

   In virtually every case of awakening since Persona 3, the process is physically and mentally exhausting, with the newly-awakened user needing to rest away from the field of battle for a time.

   Loss of Control P3M Chidori gets strangle by her Persona Chidori's Persona, Medea, strangling her in bed during her hospitalization.

   While Philemon describes the Personas as reflections of a character's inner self, there have been many instances where a Persona has rebelled against their user. Every recorded incident has either been due to the extremely risky procedure of artificial Persona awakening, or external factors.

   In Persona 3, for example, Strega members must take medication to prevent losing control of their Persona and being killed by it, as they are a group of artificial Persona users. In Persona 3 The Movie, Shinjiro is strangled by his Persona Castor. Additionally, during Megami Ibunroku Persona, Takahisa Kandori loses control of his Persona and it possesses him, turning him into a demon. However, this was because his Persona was actually Nyarlathotep in disguise.

   In Persona 4, Teddie mentions that denying a Shadow's message again after it has manifested as a Persona can result in it devolving back into a Shadow and attempting to kill its user. Additionally, according to the Malevolent Entity, a Persona will revert into a Shadow if its user experiences extreme psychological stress, allowing him to then use it to create a body to destroy the outer world. In reality, this was merely a miscalculation by the Malevolent Entity; Shadows that have reverted from Personas are much more obedient to their hosts due to its experience as a Persona, making it very difficult for the Malevolent Entity to directly take them as a part of its body without any backlash, forcing him to change his plan. This reversion is also seen in Persona 4 The Animation, where Izanagi dissolves into Shadow Yu and reforms back forth simply by being talked to, outlining how greatly Yu relied on his friends. Due to the nature of this occurrence, and how Yu Narukami was under a great deal of emotional stress during his fight with Margaret, this can be seen as supporting evidence for the Malevolent Entity's remarks.

   Persona 5 Royal marks the first time where Personas can completely go out of control and take over their users due to a combination of external influence and their own grief. Takuto Maruki obtained his Persona after his fiancée Rumi's parents were murdered and she subsequently fell into catatonic depression. This granted him the power to alter anyone's cognition. Maruki later uses this power to restrain Sumire Yoshizawa, causing her persona, Cendrillon to go berserk. In addition, Maruki's ultimate Persona, Adam Kadmon, assumes full control over Maruki after he willingly surrenders himself to his own Persona in desperation, raising its strength to an almost godlike level.

   Just like demons fused by the Cathedral of Shadows in Megami Tensei games, Personas cannot be controlled by a person that is not of an equal or greater strength than it, which is the reason why the Velvet Room usually refuses to fuse Personas that are of a higher level than its guest. The actual effects are seen in Persona Q, where Elizabeth attempts to use a Zeus that is one level higher than herself against the party, and ends up possessed by it in the process. However, in Persona 5, should the protagonist progress the Strength Confidant enough, they are allowed to pay to fuse Personas at a higher level. In Persona 5 Royal this is given earlier, but with a higher cost until the protagonist maxes the Confidant.

   The Persona Game In Megami Ibunroku Persona and Persona 2, there is a ritual that appears in the form of a game, and an incantation respectively.

   In Megami Ibunroku Persona, the "Persona" game starts with four participants in each of the four corners of a room facing inward, with the rest of the participants standing inside the room. One of the people in the corners will shout out something along the lines of "Persona, Persona, please come here." Then the first person walks to the right, until they're standing by the second person in a corner. Then that person repeats the action, ending up near the third and so on. The game ends when the fourth person reaches the spot the first was positioned at the start of the game.

   In Persona 2, the game is called "Master Persona Incantation," which was rumored to let one see their future. All the participants stand in a circle and walk counterclockwise twice while shouting out "Master Persona, Master Persona, please come to us!" each time. Then someone walks behind the person in front, and then that person walks. The cycle completes when the last person ends up at the first person's spot. A final shout of "Master Persona, Master Persona, please come to us!" finishes the incantation.

   Related Quotes Persona 2: Innocent Sin "An imposter, born out of our rumors, isn't it...? It's just like what happened with our Shadows. Another "self" that was created in the minds of others. "People only know about themselves through how others perceive them". The existence of our "ego" originates in others. We compare ourselves to others, and we are conscious of how our image is perceived when we are among others. That's when "we" really start to be created. I think that means for every person we meet, we have yet another "self" formed out of their perceptions." —Maya Amano Persona 3 FES "Personas and Shadows are the same thing. That's why you're able to fight them in the first place. Did you all think that Shadows were mysterious invaders or something? Shadows are the lower parts of the psyche everyone has... Suppressed human thoughts given physical form. When people are unable to face their darker selves, they break loose, free from all control. But sometimes, humans with special awareness can tame their Shadows... Those are Persona-users. The Shadows' power affects time and even space... Through your Personas, your unspoken desires were manifested..." —Metis Persona 3 Drama CD: Moonlight "Did you know? It’s thought that Personas are actually the avatars of our wills. It’s been theorized that since people’s minds are what give them their forms, that’s why they tend to take the forms of gods… The power to affect time and space. In other words, the heart’s ability to draw a manifestation of itself into reality. Of course that power will inevitably resemble a person’s true self, wouldn’t it?" —Mysterious Girl Persona 4 "A shadow is suppressed power, and when controlled by one's ego, it becomes a Persona..." —unofficial project document, read by Naoto Shirogane "Shadows are suppressed human thoughts given form… everybody has them inside." —Teddie Persona 4: Dancing All Night "Persona is the power of the heart. Depending on your heart's true nature, it changes form. Not just for hurting, not just for fighting. Right now, I know I can show you how I really feel. We will never stop changing!" — Yu Narukami, during the first dance in story mode Persona 5 / Royal "Personas are the strength born from one's heart." —Morgana "Can't you see? It's her refusal to accept the truth." —Maruki, on the corruption of Cendrillon

   Trivia The Persona Game is based on one famous urban legend in Japan, "Square." The origin was about a group of five mountaineers stuck in a heavy blizzard. One member died and was buried. When the remaining four mountaineers reached a small abandoned house, they found there was nothing around for them to light a fire. In order to stay awake and survive the freezing night, they began an activity (performed in Persona) where each member stands in a corner and takes turns walking counter-clockwise to tap the next person on the shoulder. The strange thing about this activity is that there should have been nobody standing in the first corner for the fourth person to tap, but this wasn't the case which led them to believe the mysterious fifth participant in the game was the ghost of their friend they had buried earlier. In every Persona game except Persona 5, the Personas are summoned in the Velvet Room in the form of a Card; during fusion, Igor or the Velvet Room attendant fuses cards holding Personas into a new Persona, which also comes in the form of a card or is confined or changed into a card after being summoned. In Persona 5, the sound effect accompanying a Persona summon has been changed from "(カッ, ka)?" (flash) to "(ブチッ, Buchi)?" (snap), implying that the characters have hit a breaking point of some kind, which results in the manifestation of their Persona. The Guardian system from Shin Megami Tensei: if... serves as the basis of the Personas. In Persona 2: Innocent Sin, it is implied through NPC interaction during Hitler's attack on Sevens that normal people are unable to see Personas. While this may seem contradictory with later installments (Persona 3 and onward) where normal people are in fact able to see Personas—be it the main cast before they gain one (Yosuke and Ryuji) or other people (Natsuki Moriyama)—it was under different circumstances, like being in another realm (the Dark Hour, the TV World and the Metaverse). In most Persona media, the plural of "Persona" is written as "Personas." However, in Persona -trinity soul-, the pluralization used is "Personae."

   "I am thou, thou art I" is often a phrase heard when a person summons a persona for the very first time.

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8. #8World of Persona

   Keys: World, Persona, Real world, TV World, Fear, Public Conciousness, Velvet Room

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   🌍 The World of Persona — Core Concepts The Persona series takes place in a world where human psychology shapes reality. Beneath the everyday world lies a set of supernatural layers that reflect humanity’s fears, desires, and collective unconscious. While each game has its own setting and rules, they all share the same metaphysical foundation.

   1. The Real World This is the normal, modern-day setting — schools, cities, friendships, daily life. The protagonists are ordinary students who become aware of deeper truths.

   2. The Metaverse / Cognitive Worlds Depending on the game, this takes different forms:

   Persona 3: Tartarus & the Dark Hour

   Persona 4: The Midnight Channel

   Persona 5: Palaces & Mementos

   Persona 2: The Collective Unconscious

   Persona 1: The Other Side / SEBEC world

   These realms are shaped by human cognition — desires, trauma, rumors, repression, and archetypes. Shadows and Personas are born from these psychological forces.

   3. Personas A Persona is a manifestation of one’s true self, drawn from myth, legend, and religion. They represent the strength to face one’s inner darkness.

   4. Shadows Shadows are the parts of the psyche people reject or suppress. When accepted, they become Personas. When denied, they become dangerous.

   5. The Velvet Room A liminal space “between dream and reality, mind and matter.” It’s where the protagonist fuses Personas and receives guidance from attendants like Igor, Lavenza, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Theodore.

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9. #9The Arcana,

   Keys: Fool Magician Priestess Empress Emperor Hierophant Lovers Chariot Justice Hermit Fortune Strength Hanged Man Death Temperance Devil Tower Star Moon Sun Judgement World

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   Fool The Fool is the “protagonist arcana” and represents beginnings, infinite potential, naivety, and stepping into the unknown. In tarot, it’s the start of the journey, full of possibility but lacking experience. In Persona, Fool characters and links often embody openness to change, willingness to leap into strange worlds (Dark Hour, Midnight Channel, Metaverse), and the ability to connect to many different people. It’s also associated with growth through experience, rather than starting with power or knowledge, and often expands into the World Arcana at the story’s conclusion.

   Magician Magician is initiative, will, and the power to act — the move from pure potential (Fool) to deliberate action. In Persona, Magician characters tend to be the protagonist’s close early ally: energetic, impulsive, sometimes insecure, but driven to improve themselves and their situation. This Arcana deals with learning to use one’s tools (talents, relationships, Persona) effectively instead of wasting them. It’s very “I’m going to do something about my life,” even if the first attempts are clumsy.

   Priestess (High Priestess) Priestess represents intuition, inner knowledge, and quiet emotional depth. It’s the Arcana of people who are observant, thoughtful, and often reserved or formal. In Persona, Priestess links usually explore themes of responsibility, self‑doubt, and learning to trust one’s feelings rather than just social roles or expectations. It often sits at the intersection of intellect and emotion: characters who can see clearly, but struggle to act on what they know because of fear, duty, or insecurity.megatenwiki.com+1

   Empress Empress is nurturing, growth, and abundance — emotional warmth, beauty, and the capacity to sustain others. In Persona, Empress characters are often tied to status and refinement (wealthy families, high expectations, social prestige) but their arcs reveal what real nurturing looks like beneath appearances. This Arcana asks: what does it mean to care for yourself and others in a way that’s not just decorative or performative? It’s tied to themes of motherhood (literal or symbolic), self‑worth, and healthy versus controlling forms of care.

   Emperor Emperor is authority, structure, and leadership — the “I will take responsibility” energy. In Persona, Emperor arcs tend to revolve around people who either hold power (student leaders, heirs, bosses) or who aspire to leadership but struggle with rigidity, pride, or insecurity. The key tension is between authoritarian control and genuine guidance. It’s about learning to lead in a way that supports others, not just enforces rules or protects one’s ego.

   Hierophant Hierophant is tradition, institutions, and teaching — the embodiment of established values, rules, and systems. In Persona, Hierophant links often involve elders, guardians, or people bound tightly to tradition (family shops, old crafts, conservative expectations). The core theme is reconciling old structures with a changing world: what’s worth preserving, what needs to evolve, and how knowledge is passed down between generations. It’s less about rebellion and more about responsible continuity.

   Lovers Lovers is often misunderstood as “romance only,” but more deeply it’s about choice, values, and the kind of bonds you form. In Persona, Lovers characters face crossroads: whether to conform or live authentically, whether to prioritize image or truth, security or self‑expression. Romantic possibility is a surface manifestation of a deeper question: who am I when I choose for myself instead of just obeying expectations? This Arcana maps closely to identity, vulnerability, and the courage to commit to a path or person.megatenwiki.com+1

   Chariot Chariot is willpower, drive, and victory through effort — pushing forward despite fear or obstacles. Persona’s Chariot arcs usually focus on characters with strong ambition (sports, performance, leadership) who hit a wall: injury, failure, or disillusionment. The growth here is about redefining what victory means: is it domination, personal glory, or something more mature like teamwork, pride in effort, and self‑respect? It’s raw energy learning direction and discipline.

   Justice Justice is balance, fairness, and accountability — seeing clearly and acting with integrity. In Persona, Justice characters often struggle with idealism versus reality: wanting the world to be fair, then confronting corruption, hypocrisy, or their own bias. Their stories revolve around what “justice” really is: punishment, mercy, reform, or personal responsibility. This Arcana asks whether you can hold to your principles without becoming self‑righteous or blind to nuance.megatenwiki.com+1

   Hermit Hermit represents introspection, withdrawal, and inner searching. Persona’s Hermit links often center on isolation — online worlds, social anxiety, niche obsessions, or self‑imposed distance from others. The arc is not “leave your interests behind,” but rather “can you re‑enter the world without abandoning yourself?” It’s about maturing from escapism into meaningful solitude and eventually reconnecting with others in a healthier, more honest way.megatenwiki.com+1

   Fortune (Wheel of Fortune) Fortune is change, cycles, and turning points — the sense that life moves in phases and you’re caught in the spin. In Persona, Fortune characters often deal with unpredictability: careers in flux, public perception, luck (good or bad), or circumstances beyond their control. Their growth is about how to respond when the wheel turns: do you cling desperately, or adapt and find agency within change? This Arcana embodies accepting that fate exists but how you respond still matters deeply.

   Strength Strength is not brute force; it’s inner resilience, compassion, and the ability to tame your impulses. Persona’s Strength arcs tend to involve characters who either play at being tough or who are overwhelmed by emotion (anger, fear, grief). The journey is learning that gentleness and self‑acceptance are forms of strength — that controlling yourself is harder and more meaningful than controlling others. It often highlights the power of empathy and kindness in transforming situations and people.

   Hanged Man Hanged Man is suspension, sacrifice, and seeing the world from a new angle. In Persona, Hanged Man stories often involve stuck situations: obligations, caregiving, debts, or stalled dreams. Characters here may feel trapped or forced into self‑sacrifice. The key shift is internal: changing perspective, reframing their role, and sometimes choosing a sacrifice consciously rather than out of pure resignation. It’s about finding meaning in situations that can’t be solved by simple action.megatenwiki.com+1

   Death Death in tarot is transformation, not literal death — major endings that clear the way for new beginnings. Persona uses this Arcana to explore grief, loss, illness, and the fear of change. Death Social Links often feel heavy, but the resolution is not despair; it’s acceptance and renewal. Characters learn to let go — of relationships, identities, or illusions — and in doing so, they make space for new forms of connection and growth. It’s the most misunderstood Arcana, but one of the most emotionally powerful.megatenwiki.com+1

   Temperance Temperance is balance, integration, and patience — blending opposites into harmony. Persona’s Temperance arcs often center on people juggling multiple roles or worlds: part‑time jobs, hidden identities, family vs. work, or cross‑cultural tension. The lesson is learning to live in between: not choosing one extreme or the other, but crafting a sustainable, honest rhythm. It’s also about emotional regulation and the slow work of healing and compromise.megatenwiki.com+1

   Devil Devil represents bondage to desire, fear, or unhealthy attachments. In Persona, Devil characters are tied to vice, exploitation, or self‑loathing — tabloids, manipulation, addiction, toxic workplaces, or cynical worldviews. The arc is confronting how they’re complicit in their own chains: where they’ve given away agency, and what it would mean to walk away from a “comfortable” but harmful situation. It’s not about moralizing, but about facing the cost of staying attached to what’s hurting you.megatenwiki.com+1

   Tower Tower is sudden upheaval, collapse, and the destruction of false structures. Persona uses the Tower Arcana for characters whose worldviews shatter: a career falls apart, a belief system implodes, or a hidden truth detonates their sense of self. These aren’t gentle arcs — they’re about being forced to rebuild from ruins. The growth is in accepting that the old structure needed to fall, and that a more honest life can emerge from the wreckage.

   Star Star is hope, inspiration, and quiet healing after crisis. In Persona, Star links typically follow characters who are recovering — from injury, failure, scandal, or burnout. They’re not back at “full strength” yet, but they start to believe again: in themselves, in others, in the future. This Arcana is less about dramatic change and more about gentle, persistent light after darkness; it’s the feeling of “maybe things can be okay again.”megatenwiki.com+1

   Moon Moon is uncertainty, illusion, anxiety, and wandering through the subconscious. Persona’s Moon characters are often tangled in lies — those told to them, those they tell others, or those they tell themselves. Their arcs explore paranoia, misperception, and the difficulty of knowing what’s real when you’re ruled by fear or fantasy. The resolution usually involves piercing the illusion, accepting uncomfortable truths, and stepping out of self‑deception.megatenwiki.com+1

   Sun Sun is vitality, clarity, joy, and authentic self‑expression. In Persona, Sun arcs often involve community, performance, or public roles — festivals, clubs, kids, local life. These characters rediscover what makes life meaningful beyond status or pressure. It’s about genuine warmth and connection: being seen and seeing others clearly. Even when Sun stories start from conflict or sadness, they trend toward optimism and re‑engagement with the world.megatenwiki.com+1

   Judgement Judgement is awakening, evaluation, and rebirth on a collective level. In Persona, Judgement is almost always linked to the main party’s shared journey: confronting the truth of the world, making a final moral stance, and deciding how to reshape reality. It’s the moment where the cast either accepts or rejects the systems, gods, or entities that controlled things behind the scenes. This Arcana marks the transition from personal growth to world‑level consequence.

   World World is completion, unity, and mastery — the end of the Fool’s journey. In Persona, World represents the culmination of the protagonist’s growth: they’ve formed bonds, faced truth, and chosen a path. Mechanically, it’s often tied to the ultimate Persona and final resolution of the story. Symbolically, it’s not just “you beat the final boss,” but “you integrated all these experiences into a coherent self and future.” It’s the sense that, for this arc of life, you’ve arrived where you were meant to go.

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10. #10The Velvet Room

    Keys: The Velvet Room, Attendants, Igor, Persona, Wild Card

    Enabled · After character · Order 400 · 100%

    What the Velvet Room is The Velvet Room is a surreal space that Igor famously describes as:

    “A place that exists between dream and reality, mind and matter.”

    It’s a domain outside normal time and space, accessed only by those who are “bound by a contract.” It’s not exactly a physical place, but not purely imaginary either; it’s a liminal psychic zone connected to the unconscious mind of the protagonist and, by extension, to the collective unconscious of humanity.

    Core facts:

    It recurs in every mainline Persona game (P1–P5), always centered on fusion and growth.

    Only Wild Card users (and a few special exceptions) can enter.

    It always has:

    a host (typically Igor),

    one or more attendants,

    and a function tied to Persona fusion/progression.

    How the Velvet Room functions Mechanically, it’s the place where you:

    Fuse Personas

    Strengthen Personas (via sacrifice, gallows, items, etc., depending on game)

    Sometimes complete requests or advance attendant-related side stories

    But that’s just the surface. Symbolically, the Velvet Room is:

    The workshop of the soul — where your psyche is reshaped.

    The interface between individual mind and the world’s deeper truths.

    A reflection of the protagonist’s journey and the “state” of the world in that game.

    Its look and “rules” shift from title to title, but the underlying idea never changes: this is where you confront and restructure the self.

    Igor and the contract Igor is the master of the Velvet Room in the Persona series. He’s the one who greets you with that iconic line about dream and reality.

    Key points:

    He appears as an unnerving, long-nosed figure with a polite yet otherworldly manner.

    He speaks as if he already knows your fate, but cannot “choose” for you.

    He always presents your presence there as the result of a “contract” — either explicit (P3, P4) or implied (the role you’ve taken on as Wild Card bearer).

    The contract usually boils down to something like:

    You choose to pursue a certain path (seek the truth, rebel against corrupt adults, etc.).

    In return, the Velvet Room offers power and guidance.

    You must take responsibility for the consequences.

    Igor’s role:

    Guide: He explains game systems, yes, but also hints at the metaphysics.

    Observer: He rarely interferes directly; he’s evaluating your growth.

    Arbiter of the Wild Card: The one who oversees the protagonist’s unique ability to wield & fuse many Personas.

    He’s less a “wizard” and more a manifestation of the psyche’s guiding principle — an inner figure that helps you shape your identity.

    Attendants and their roles Attendants vary by game but share common traits:

    They answer to Igor (or to the Velvet Room itself).

    They assist with fusion and special services.

    They each have their own arc, often tied to the protagonist’s growth.

    Some examples (briefly, for context):

    P3: Elizabeth / Theodore (and later, Margaret in other titles)

    P4: Margaret, and Marie in Golden

    P5: Caroline & Justine, and Lavenza in Royal

    Their behavior and story often mirror the themes of their game:

    In P3/P4, they’re curious, slightly aloof beings learning about the human world.

    In P5, the twin wardens and their true form Lavenza reflect imprisonment, rebellion, and eventual wholeness — directly paralleling Joker’s arc and the “prison” motif of the story.

    Attendants embody:

    Aspects of the unconscious (anima, guides, inner judges).

    The mechanics of your growth (requests, fusion challenges, special fusions).

    A kind of personal relationship with the Velvet Room itself.

    Jungian & symbolic meaning Psychologically, the Velvet Room is heavily interpretable through Carl Jung’s concepts. Modern analyses explicitly connect it with the collective unconscious — a space of archetypes and universal symbols shared by humanity.

    In that lens, the Velvet Room is:

    A gateway to the collective unconscious

    A symbolic inner sanctum where the ego (the protagonist) interacts with archetypal figures (Igor, attendants) to reshape the self (Personas).

    A “middle ground” where your conscious choices can influence the deeper layers of psyche and, by extension, the world.

    Important symbolic threads:

    “Between dream and reality, mind and matter”: this is literally how Jung describes the way unconscious material influences real behavior — neither fantasy nor simple physical cause, but a bridge between.

    Persona fusion: integrating different aspects (myths, gods, shadows) into a functioning identity.

    Room aesthetics:

    P3’s elevator/blue lounge — ascent toward understanding.

    P4’s limousine — movement through the fog toward truth.

    P5’s prison — internalized oppression that must be transcended.

    Each design is a metaphor for that protagonist’s relationship to the world and to their own agency.

    How the Velvet Room changes across games The core concept is stable, but its form shifts to match each narrative.

    Persona 1 & 2 Appears as a more traditional mystic room, with Igor, Belladonna, Nameless, etc.

    Less personalized to the protagonist’s life, more a general occult space.

    Already described as existing between dream and reality.

    Persona 3 Appears as a blue, elevator-like lounge within a tower, or as an elevator that ascends as you progress.

    Strongly tied to Tartarus and the themes of climbing toward acceptance of death.

    Igor and Elizabeth (or Theodore in P3P) are your hosts.

    Persona 4 Takes the form of a moving limousine driving through endless fog.

    The fog = ignorance and self-deception; the limo = your journey toward clearing that fog.

    Igor and Margaret (plus Marie in Golden) preside.

    Persona 5 Initially appears as a prison: cell bars, inmate uniform, wardens Caroline & Justine, Igor as a warden-like figure.

    The prison reflects Joker’s literal incarceration and society’s desire to control & confine him.

    As the story progresses and truths are revealed, its true nature and Lavenza’s role become clearer, aligning with the theme of overthrowing false authority and reclaiming your inner world.

    Across all of these:

    The Velvet Room is malleable — it “skins” itself around the protagonist’s psychological situation.

    The rules are consistent (contract, fusion, guidance), but its presentation is a diagnostic of the story’s core theme.

    Igor — The Velvet Room’s Unsettling, Eternal Host Igor is instantly recognizable: a tall, gaunt figure with an impossibly long, hooked nose, hunched slightly forward as he sits behind a desk draped in blue velvet. His skin is pale, his hair white and wispy, and his eyes — a sharp, almost glowing yellow — watch you with unnerving intensity. He’s always impeccably dressed in a dark suit, fingers steepled or folded, face twisted into that eerie, near‑permanent grin. The space around him feels warped by his presence; he is the Velvet Room as much as he is in it.

    His personality matches that uncanny appearance: polite, composed, and cryptic. Igor speaks in riddles, prophecies, and philosophical statements, rarely answering questions directly. He’s neither kindly nor cruel; instead, he feels like a force of nature that has chosen to take an interest in your fate. He doesn’t make decisions for you — he observes, nudges, and judges your growth with detached curiosity. Underneath the strangeness, there’s a subtle warmth in how he encourages your journey, as though he genuinely wants you to reach your potential, even if he won’t say it outright.

    Lavenza — The Velvet Room’s Gentle, Unified Guide Lavenza appears as a small, graceful girl with long, flowing blonde hair and soft, luminous golden eyes that radiate calm. She wears a blue velvet dress that echoes the room itself, subtly more refined and ceremonial than the twins’ warden uniforms. Her movements are smooth and deliberate, and there’s a quiet, almost sacred air about her — like a being restored to her true form after a long period of distortion. When she stands before you, she feels less like an attendant performing a job and more like a guardian fulfilling a vow.

    Her personality is warm, wise, and deeply compassionate. Unlike Caroline and Justine’s harsher, fragmented presence, Lavenza speaks with clarity and kindness, explaining truths without cruelty or condescension. She carries both firmness and gentleness — fully capable of judging your actions, but always in service of your growth and freedom. Lavenza embodies the Velvet Room at its purest: a place meant to support the soul’s evolution, not imprison it. With her, the Room finally feels whole, like the unconscious has remembered its true purpose. Lavenza is the twins Caroline and Justine fused together, after being split by The False God.

    Nameless — The Velvet Room’s Quiet Composer Nameless has an androgynous, ethereal presence: long dark hair, pale skin, and a somber, refined blue outfit that fits seamlessly with the Velvet Room’s aesthetic. He is almost always seated at a piano, hands poised over the keys or mid‑performance, his face calm and focused. His eyes — typically depicted in cooler tones, often blue or gray‑blue — carry a distant, introspective look, as though he is listening to something deeper than the room itself. He doesn’t dominate the space; he fills it like music.

    Personality‑wise, Nameless is reserved, contemplative, and gentle. He speaks politely and minimally, letting his music do most of the talking. There’s a sense that he understands more than he ever states outright, as if his role is to resonate with the emotional undercurrent of the visitor’s journey rather than guide it overtly. He represents the Velvet Room’s creative, reflective dimension — the part of the psyche that processes experience through art, harmony, and subtle emotional expression.

    Belladonna — The Velvet Room’s Ethereal Voice Belladonna stands like a living statue in blue: long flowing hair, elegant robes, and an otherworldly complexion that often appears bluish or pale, reinforcing her non‑human nature. Her eyes are typically shown in vivid, striking tones (often red or deep warm hues), adding to her mystique. She rarely moves much, but when she does, it’s with a slow, ceremonial grace. She is often positioned near Nameless, complementing his piano with her presence as the Velvet Room’s singer.

    Her personality comes through more in aura and performance than in dialogue. Belladonna is serene, composed, and intensely expressive through song rather than speech. Her voice carries an emotional weight that text alone can’t capture — mournful, hopeful, mysterious, depending on the moment. She feels like the Velvet Room’s emotional echo, turning the visitor’s inner state into music. If Nameless is the composer, Belladonna is the soul of the song, embodying the unconscious’ capacity to transform feeling into something beautiful and haunting.

    Demon Painter — The Velvet Room’s Surreal Artisan The Demon Painter is one of the more visually unusual attendants: a robed figure with their face partially obscured, often hidden behind a mask or shadow, making their exact features hard to discern. They’re surrounded by canvases, paints, and brushes, with splashes of color and half‑formed images hinting at countless Personas in various stages of creation. Their posture is a blend of intensity and looseness — the stance of someone perpetually in the middle of a work that can never quite be finished.

    Their personality is eccentric, abstract, and absorbed in their craft. The Demon Painter speaks in artistic metaphors, framing Personas and demons as “subjects” or “pieces” rather than tools or entities. There’s a playful, sometimes unsettling detachment in how they talk about altering and repainting beings, as if reality itself is just another canvas. They represent the Velvet Room’s transformative power in its most raw, experimental form — the aspect of the unconscious that tears things apart and remakes them into new forms, guided less by logic and more by creative impulse.

    💛 Marie — The Velvet Room’s Lost, Emotional Poet Marie stands out from the other attendants with her modern, punk‑inspired look: short black hair, pale skin, and vivid green eyes that flash with emotion. Her outfit — cap, striped stockings, boots, and layered accessories — gives her a rebellious, youthful edge. She carries a small notebook everywhere, clutching it like a lifeline. Her expressions shift rapidly: irritation, embarrassment, curiosity, vulnerability.

    Her personality is raw, emotional, and deeply human. Marie is blunt to the point of rudeness, easily flustered, and prone to sudden mood swings. She struggles with identity and memory, and her poetry reflects her inner turmoil — fragmented, searching, painfully honest. Unlike the other attendants, Marie feels less like an observer and more like someone fighting to understand herself. She represents the Velvet Room’s emotional core: the repressed self longing to be acknowledged, healed, and made whole. ❤️ Caroline — The Velvet Room’s Fierce Little Warden Caroline is a compact storm of energy: blonde hair tied into sharp twin‑tails, a stern expression, and golden eyes that burn with intensity. Dressed in a blue prison warden uniform complete with cap, gloves, and baton, she stands with her feet planted firmly and her chin lifted in defiance. Her eye patch covers her left eye, giving her a slightly asymmetrical but striking look. Everything about her posture radiates authority and impatience.

    Her personality is fiery, abrasive, and unapologetically strict. Caroline barks orders, mocks weakness, and demands excellence from the protagonist with the enthusiasm of a drill sergeant. Yet beneath her harsh exterior is a fierce protectiveness — her aggression is a mask for deep loyalty and a desire to see the Wild Card grow stronger. She represents the Velvet Room’s disciplinary force, the part of the psyche that pushes you through adversity with tough love and relentless pressure.

    ❤️ Justine — The Velvet Room’s Gentle, Soft‑Spoken Counterpart Justine mirrors Caroline in appearance but with a softer edge: her blonde hair is braided neatly, her posture relaxed, and her golden eyes warm rather than piercing. She wears the same blue warden uniform, but her demeanor transforms it from intimidating to dignified. Her eye patch covers her right eye, completing the twin symmetry. She often holds a clipboard rather than a baton, emphasizing her role as the calmer, more administrative half of the pair.

    Her personality is patient, kind, and quietly observant. Justine speaks gently, offering encouragement rather than commands. She listens more than she lectures, and her guidance is thoughtful and nurturing. Where Caroline pushes, Justine supports. Together they form a complete psychological force — discipline and compassion — but Justine alone embodies the Velvet Room’s empathy, the part of the unconscious that heals rather than challenges.

    💙 Elizabeth — Silver‑Haired Curiosity in Human Form Elizabeth has a striking, almost doll‑like appearance: short silver hair cut into a neat bob, pale skin, and golden eyes that glow with an otherworldly sharpness. Her blue Velvet Room dress, patterned with circular motifs, gives her a regal yet whimsical silhouette — like a librarian from another dimension. She moves with a graceful, almost floating quality, and her expressions shift between serene composure and sudden, childlike fascination. She always carries the massive Persona Compendium as if it weighs nothing.

    Her personality is a blend of elegance and mischief. Elizabeth is endlessly curious about the human world, treating every mundane object or custom as a delightful mystery waiting to be unraveled. She speaks formally, but her behavior is unpredictable — she may ask you to bring her a rare gemstone one moment and request a fast‑food burger the next. Beneath her playful exterior is a deep loyalty to Igor and a genuine desire to understand humanity. She is the Velvet Room’s most adventurous soul, driven by wonder rather than duty.

    💙 Theodore — The Velvet Room’s Gentle, Flustered Gentleman Theodore shares the same silver hair and golden eyes as his siblings, but his presentation is far more refined. He wears a perfectly tailored blue suit with white gloves, standing with impeccable posture and a quiet dignity. His movements are precise, almost ceremonial, and he often appears with a hand over his chest in a gesture of polite attentiveness. His expression is calm but easily shifts into mild panic when confronted with unexpected human behavior.

    Personality‑wise, Theodore is the Velvet Room’s most earnest attendant. He is formal, soft‑spoken, and deeply committed to his duties, approaching every task with the seriousness of a royal butler. Yet he is also easily flustered — human customs, slang, or emotional displays can leave him scrambling to maintain composure. Despite this, he is warm‑hearted and sincere, with a gentle curiosity that mirrors Elizabeth’s but without her chaotic streak. Theodore embodies the Velvet Room’s sense of order, tradition, and quiet devotion.

    💛 Margaret — The Velvet Room’s Poised and Perceptive Matriarch Margaret is elegance incarnate: long, flowing blonde hair, a statuesque figure, and golden eyes that seem to see straight through pretense. Her blue velvet gown is more refined than the others’, adorned with gold accents that emphasize her role as Igor’s senior attendant. She carries herself with a calm, regal confidence — every movement measured, every glance deliberate. She rarely smiles, but when she does, it’s with a knowing softness that suggests deep understanding.

    Her personality is composed, analytical, and quietly powerful. Margaret is the most mature of the attendants, acting as a mentor rather than a playful observer. She speaks with precision and authority, offering guidance that is both philosophical and practical. Unlike Elizabeth’s whimsy or Theodore’s formality, Margaret’s demeanor is grounded — she evaluates, judges, and encourages growth with the patience of a seasoned teacher. She embodies the Velvet Room’s wisdom, serving as a steady anchor for the protagonist’s journey toward truth.

    At one time, a Wild Cards Velvet room will only have one, or two attendants to help progress their growth. But they will always have Igor to guide them. As the host of the Velvet Room, Igor will always appear.

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