Give a man his mask... and he will become his true self.

Who's this guy?

Ren Amamiya, also known as Joker, is the protagonist of Persona 5 and its spin-offs, Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5 Strikers. He's a second-year transfer student at Shujin Academy, being placed there to continue his academics due to his ongoing probation resulting from being falsely framed for assault.

Outwardly, Ren is a quiet, polite, and seemingly unassuming young man. However, beneath his mild-mannered facade lies a rebellious and fiercely independent trickster with a sharp wit, a mischievous streak, and a rather dramatic flair for the theatrical.

When he dons his mask and becomes Joker, that hidden side of him comes roaring to the surface. As the leader of the Phantom Thieves, Joker is confident, clever, stylish, and more than willing to make a dramatic entrance whenever the opportunity presents itself. In other words, he's the same guy... just with considerably more flair.

What's his story?

Think Super Mario Sunshine, but instead of a plumber going to jail for being falsely blamed by a lizard king's motherless son (who, btw, Miyamoto is Junior's mother), it's a Japanese boy who gets falsely accused of assaulting a corrupt politician and winds up being shipped off to Tokyo on probation.

After transferring to Shujin Academy, Ren discovers the mysterious Metaverse, awakens to his Persona, Arsène, and eventually forms the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. Their goal is simple: steal the hearts of corrupt individuals by infiltrating their distorted Palaces and force them to acknowledge the consequences of their actions.

Naturally, this also involves attending school, making friends, drinking coffee, cooking curry, dealing with Morgana, and somehow maintaining a semblance of a normal life while simultaneously fighting supernatural manifestations of humanity's collective unconscious.

Should you max out the Confidant Skills?

Of course! JUST MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MAX OUT THE ONE WITH SADAYO KAWAKAMI. Seriously, we all know how that went.

The Confidants aren't just there for story purposes, either. Building relationships with them can unlock some pretty useful skills and make Ren's already hectic life a little easier. Whether it's helping him in battle, making better use of his time, or giving him new ways to handle his daily routine, there's usually a good reason to invest in them.

So yes, go ahead and max them out. Make friends. Get the benefits. Strengthen those bonds.

Just maybe think twice before maxing out that particular one. Because while the Temperance Confidant has some genuinely useful perks, the romance option at the end is... a decision.

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

Persona © ATLUS + SEGA, 1996-present. All rights reserved to their respective owners.