Goro Akechi is Joker’s rival inPersona 5 Royal, and to say the least their relationship is complicated. In the original version of the game, Akechi’s Justice ranks happened automatically, but inPersona 5 Royalplayers will need to earn most of his ranks by spending time with him.
As a reworked confidant, players may expect that they have to max out the Justice Arcana in order to unlock the third semester. This isn’t the case, and playersonly need to max out the Councilor Arcanato do so. However, spending time with Akechi has other gameplay and story rewards players can discover.
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General Information
In the Tarot Major Arcana, Justice is typically depicted asa person holding scales and the Sword of Retribution. Interpretations include equality, morality, and just desserts, while the reversed Justice can indicate bias, intolerance, and abuse. When he joins the party, Akechi’s Persona is Robin Hood, the famous but largely fictional English bandit and folk hero.
After reaching rank 1, players will find Akechi in Kichijoji standing bythe entrance to Penguin Sniper at night. He’s usually available onWednesdayandSaturday, but his evolving relationship with Joker means that several ranks won’t unlock until later. This guide will indicate the earliest date players can unlock each rank below.
Joker can also spend time with Akechi outside of ranking events. On 7/29 Akechi will suggest spending time in Shinagawa, and like other confidants Joker can suggest places to visit if players don’t have enough relationship points to see the rank event. Joker can also give Akechi gifts while hanging out, and his favorite gifts are theSilver Bangle,Omni-Vitamin,Luxury Aroma Set,Robot Vacuum,Face Beautifier, andElectric Toothbrush.
Rank 2
For the first real ranking event, Akechi will invite Joker to play billiards in Penguin Sniper. Joker’s current Technical rank has no impact on this event.
For completing this rank,Joker will getSleuthing Instinct. At the start of a battle, if Joker doesn’t know a regular Shadow’s affinities, there’s a chance that he’ll discover one of them immediately. Note that the point values listed are for players who have a Justice Persona in stock during these events.
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Rank 3
For this event, Akechi asks Joker to visit a new café with him. However,Joker will need bothCharm 3 (Suave)andKnowledge 3 (Scholarly)to be seen in public with Akechi.
Rank 4
This time Akechi will invite Joker to a jazz bar. This unlocksthe jazz bar location in Kichijoji, and in the future Joker can invite his fellow Phantom Thieves to the jazz bar at night to give them stat bonuses and possibly new skills.
The reward at this level isSleuthing Mastery. At the start of a combat, Joker has a (smaller) chance to discover all of a Shadow’s affinities instead of just one.
Rank 5
The next hangout spot is an arcade. Like with rank 2, Joker’s relationship with the Tower confidant has no effect on this event.
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Rank 6
This event is locked until9/3. Players will know when it becomes available because Akechi will hang out in Leblanc at night instead of in Kichijoji. Akechi is feeling down because of some negative comments, so this time it’s Joker’s turn to invite him to a local spot.
Rank 7
Once again, the new ranking event is locked until11/2. In addition, while players don’t need any Technical rank,Joker will needKnowledge 4 (Encyclopedic)to challenge Akechi to a rematch at billiards.
The game will suggest that Akechi is very serious about this choice, but there doesn’t appear to be any story changes based on what players choose.
The bonus at this rank is Akechi’sHarisen Recovery. At the start of his turn, Akechi has a chance to end a status ailment for an ally.
Rank 8
The last chance to reach rank 8 is on11/17. After that, the Justice confidant will become unavailable. Akechi is ready for a real challenge, and that means a trip to Mementos.
At this point, Joker will enter a one-on-one duel against Akechi. Much like when he’s in the party, Akechi has access to a Bless, Curse, Physical, and Almighty attack. Players should get a Persona that’s strong against these elements before starting this event. Akechi has a lot more health as a foe than as a party member, but at the same time Joker can use items to heal and deal damage while Akechi can’t. The fight will end once Akechi drops to around one-third of his HP.
Joker’s response to Akechi’s glove isn’t important, but the fact that Joker now has the glove is.
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Rank 9 And 10
If players have reached rank 8 of the Justice confidant, they’ll automatically get ranks 9 and 10near the end of Shido’s Palace. To say anything more would spoil the encounter, and the dialog choices don’t seem to matter, so this guide will say no more. Reaching Justice 10 unlocksMetatron, the ultimate Persona of Justice.
Rank 11
If players reach rank 10 during the normal game and unlock the third semester, this event will happen automatically on2/2, assuming playersstay on track for the true ending. Like the Phantom Thieves, Akechi goes through aThird Awakeningthat transforms his Persona into Hereward, an Anglo-Saxon rebel who fought against the Norman conquest and who may have contributed to the legend of Robin Hood.
With Hereward, Akechi’s Tactical Spirit becomes Ingenious Spirit, which applies the potential SP discount to Almighty skills along with support skills. He also gets the skill Rebellion Blade, which deals colossal Almighty damage to one foe and can do more damage to a downed foe.
Players won’t find Akechi on 3/19, but those who maxed out the Justice confidantmay get a glimpse of him during the ending cinematic.
Persona 5 Royalis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
