Akechi’s Confidant must reach rank eight by November 17 if you want the true ending. There’s a period until November when you’re stuck at rank six, so once the penultimate month of the year rolls around, don’t drag your feet. Make sure to give Akechi his favorite gifts to shorten the time between ranking up as well. As with all Confidants in Persona 5 Royal, you can, and should, boost your relationship with Akechi faster if you include a Persona of the matching Arcana during rank up events – which is Justice for Akechi. This guide uses point values for answers with a matching Persona in your roster, so adjust the point value down by 1 if you don’t have one on hand. Given how important it is to max out Akechi’s Confidant and how easy it is to find a Justice Persona, we recommend making room in your roster for one during every Confidant event. You run into Justice Personas as early as Kamoshida’s palace. Angel and Archangel are two of the earliest you can recruit or fuse, followed by Principality. There’s a 13-level gap between Principality and the next one, Power, so you may want to just fuse Angel (Succubus and Obariyon or Onmoraki and Arsene) before hading out with Akechi. That way, you don’t enter combat at a disadvantage with a weak Principality.
Akechi Confidant unlocks
Rank 2: Sleuthing Instinct
May reveal an enemy weakness at the start of battle
Rank 4: Sleuthing Mastery
May reveal all of one enemy’s weaknesses at the start of battle
Rank 7: Harisen Recovery
Akechi may instantly recover from a status ailment
Rank 10: Protect and Endure
Akechi may protect Joker from a fatal attack Akechi may survive an attack with 1 HP left
Persona 5 Royal Akechi Confidant choices and availability
Akechi’s Confidant unlocks automatically in early June as the story progresses, so you won’t have to hunt him down to begin. You will, however, want to spend some time beforehand working on Joker’s charm and knowledge. You need to hit rank three in both early in your relationship with Akechi, unlike Ryuji’s Confidant and Ann’s Confidant, both of which have more lenient requirements. Rank six is locked until September and then rank seven remains unattainable until November. After the first Confidant rank, you can find Akechi in Kichijoji every night of the week except Sunday.
Akechi Confidant rank 1
No choice matters
Akechi Confidant rank 2 choices
I found myself with some free time, so I was hoping to find someone to play against.
You always seem so busy (+2)
Not bad. Everything’s riding on your next shot, though. How will you handle this?
Both give +2
I’m rather dextrous with my right hand. I can even use chopsticks with it. Frankly, I didn’t expect you to see through it
I see a lot of things
I think you’d be an interesting influence on me. If you’re so inclined, we could go out again sometime.
As rivals? (+2)
Akechi Confidant rank 3 choices
You can only initiate this next rank once Joker raises his charm and knowledge to level three. Uh-oh. Looks like I’ve been spotted
Should’ve figured
No other choice matters until the end I saw firsthand what happens when I’m too careless with my words around you.
Wasn’t it fun?
Akechi Confidant rank 4 choices
It’s just a jazz club. You get to hear some great performers here
Now this is my kind of club
Well then, why don’t we get some drinks?
Any recommendations?
Whew… How relaxing. I really do like coming here
It’s a great place
That reminds me, do you cook?
Pretty frequently I can use a microwave
There’s something about that strange, erratic synchronicity… It’s a euphoria like when I manage to solve a case
I kinda get it
Akechi Confidant rank 5 choices
Phew! My fingers are going to be sore tomorrow. What a realistic game.
Are you used to gunplay? (+2)
All this reminded me of running around the house with it, playing hero…
You wanted to be a hero?
Hopefully I didn’t come off as too much of a novice. I wish I’d played better
All give +2
Akechi Confidant rank 6 choices and unlock
Rank 6 unlocks after September 2. Akechi will hang out in Cafe Leblanc until you initiate the Confidant event. Ahh, this feels wonderful… It’s been a while.
A while, huh?
My mother worked at a nightclub. Whenever she had to bring a man home, she’d send me off to the local bathhouse
You’ve been through a lot (+2)
Actually, are you all right? I know the hot water can make people dizzy…
This is nothing I’ll stay until you’re ready
Oof… I think I feel a little lightheaded.
Same
I’ve never told anyone else about my family situation, either. I wonder why I told you? Curious indeed
Both give +2
We’re both victims of the adults who unfairly impacted our lives
I think you’re right
If they saw how I was acting today, perhaps they’d say I wasn’t acting like the Detective Prince
My bad, I guess (+2)
Akechi Confidant rank 7 choices and unlock
Rank 7 only becomes available after November 2 and you must have level four knowledge. Pursue it as soon as you can, since you only have two more weeks before you need to reach rank eight. You can’t simply strike the ball you’re aiming for. You have to be indirect, but precise, to land it in the pocket…
That’s why it’s so fun
The next two choices don’t matter Even if it was with my self-imposed handicap, I’m impressed that you beat me. You’ve become quite skilled.
I couldn’t let myself lose
Akechi will also ask you this question. Why not join me instead? All you’d have to do is abandon the teammates you have now. How about it? Akechi’s eyes are deadly serious. I need to give him a real answer Choose “You’re my rival”. No response gives you Confidant points, but you can only unlock Akechi’s Persona transformation if you pick this answer. I have to ask, why do you get so competitive against me?
We’re rivals, aren’t we? (+2)
Akechi Confidant rank 8 fight and choices
Rank 8 is completely different. You must fight Akechi in Mementos and win to move forward with the Confidant and unlock Akechi’s Persona transformation. Akechi uses Bless and Curse skills, so equip Madarame’s Ring of Vanity on your strongest Persona and bring others with resistances to Curse and Bless. Stock up on HP recovery items, and start the battle by buffing your evasion and either buffing your attack or debuffing Akechi’s defense (or both). You won’t have any allies to back you up for this fight. After the fight, choose “I accept.” Then, you have a few dialogue choices By the way, about that duel—if we had fought to the end, do you see yourself winning?
I definitely wouldn’t lose (+2)
…You’re the one person I refuse to lose to
Really hate losing don’t you (+2)
Akechi Confidant rank 9 and 10
These happen automatically, but whether you get the true ending depends on which choices you make. After securing the route to Shido’s treasure, tell Akechi:
I want to keep our promise
Two more responses in February affect the ending you get as well, which we cover in our Persona 5 Royal true ending guide. No amount of rivalry drama keeps you from having to do well in school. Check out our Persona 5 Royal classroom answers guide so you don’t actually have to think about the questions.
