Ryuji Sakamoto is one of the founding members of the Phantom Thieves, and so his story is one of the first that players can experience inPersona 5 Royal. Players should focus on getting his rank up quickly, too, because he has one ofthe best abilities Joker can get for gaining EXP.
However, to avoid wasting too much time, players should know which responses during ranking events will provide the most relationship points. ThisPersona 5 Royalguide will point out what to say during each event, and what players can expect from reaching each rank.
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General Information
The Chariot Arcana in the Tarot deck depicts two horses (or other animals) of different colors harnessed to the same chariot.The card’s meanings include motion and energy, but they also include conflicting viewpoints and competition, and one reverse meaning is “failure at the last hurdle.” All of these are reasons why the former track star Ryuji is the Chariot confidant. Ryuji’s Persona is Captain Kidd, a 17th century privateer whose legend far outgrew his real-world exploits.
Ryuji is available for hangouts and rank events onTuesday,Wednesday,Friday, andSaturday. On school days he hangs out in the hall just outside of Joker’s classroom, and on days off (or when Joker can’t go to school) Ryujispends his time at the Shibuya arcade. Most of Ryuji’s events take place during the day, but half of them are outdoors, and so Ryuji often won’t be available when it’s raining.
Ryuji isn’t very good at studying, and so he asks for Joker’s help on the evenings of 5/10, 7/12, and 10/16. Ryuji will also ask Joker to hang out during days off, going to Harajuku on 5/29 and Ichigaya on 7/3. During summer vacation Ryuji will show up at Leblanc on 7/28, 8/3, and 8/13, and he’ll ask Joker to go see a movie together on 5/29.
Joker can also ask Ryuji to hang out, but only if Joker needs more relationship points to reach a new rank or after Ryuji has hit rank 10. Going together to Ogikubo will give playerstheRamen Bowlroom decoration, and going to Nakano will give players theFeatherman Dolls. Ryuji’s favorite gifts are theSilver Bangle,Snack Pack,Cup Noodle Set,Wrist Weights,Sports Sunglasses,Robot Vacuum, andKatana Keychain.
Ryujihas no romance route, but players can still hang out with him during the Hawaii free time event and the post-festival party on 10/26. The first event has no item, but spending time with Ryuji at the festival will give players aRyuji Dog, a consumable that gives 100 SP to an ally. Players can also spend time with Ryuji on Valentine’s Day to getRyuji’s Chocolate, but the item only restores 10 SP.
Chariot rank 1 happens automatically on 4/12, but after that players will have to seek Ryuji out when he’s available. Players can improve Ryuji’s rank as early as April,but only after defeating Kamoshida.
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Rank 2
For the rank 2 event, Ryuji will drag Joker into the school courtyard for some physical training. At the same time, he’ll explain how things ended for him with the track team. Courtyard events can’t take place on rainy days, but they can take place on days off.
All the numbers listed assume that players have a Chariot Persona in their stock during the event. The rank 2 reward isPunk Talk, which lets Ryuji give Joker another chance to convince an Upbeat Shadow to join him.
Rank 3
The training continues during rank 3, but the former track team shows up to chase Ryuji and Joker off. This event also won’t trigger on rainy days.
This rank gives RyujiFollow Up. After Joker’s turn, Ryuji has a chance to ask for a follow-up attackthat will deal an automatic criticalto one foe.
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Rank 4
After a hard day of training, Ryuji and Joker have a deep conversation over ramen. This event canunlock the Tokyo destination of Ogikubo.
This rank gives JokerStealth Dash. When Joker is dashing, he’s harder for Shadows to see than when he’s running normally.
Rank 5
This rank isn’t available until 5/6. Ryuji takes Joker to the gym in Shibuya, and after this event Joker canvisit the gym on his ownto improve his HP.
Rank 6
This is another courtyard event, so it can’t take place on rainy days. The track team is back together, but they’re turning against each other thanks to Yamauchi, their shady new coach.
Ryuji’s reward for this rank isHarisen Recovery. When his turn starts, Ryuji has a chance to end a status ailment affecting an ally.
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Rank 7
This is a special rank event that will only take place at night, and only onWednesdaysandFridays. Ryuji will ask Joker to snoop on Yamauchi, and since he doesn’t hang out anywhere at night the only way to start this event is to respond to Ryuji’s text message. On the bright side, this event can take place when it’s raining and can unlock the location Tsukishima.
The reward for this rank isone of the best confidant abilities in the game:Insta-kill. If Joker is ten levels higher than a Shadow (the Shadow will glow green using Third Eye), then dashing into it will defeat the Shadow instantly, giving the player all the yen, items, and EXP that a real battle would deliver. On top of that, one of the Shadows will enter Joker’s stock if he has an open space. This makes grinding much, much faster, and there’s no cost in HP or SP.
Rank 8
Armed with a recording of Yamauchi, Ryuji warns the track team about their new coach. Once again, the event takes place in the courtyard, so it can’t be raining.
Rank 8 gives Ryuji theEndureability. If he would take a lethal blow, he will instead survive with 1 HP.
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Rank 9
Ryuji must have liked the monja in Tsukishima, because he heads back with Joker to discuss the track team.
Ryuji’s rank 9 skill isProtect. If Joker would take a lethal blow from a single-target attack, Ryuji has a chance to jump in the way and take the hit instead.
Rank 10
The last event returns to the ramen shop in Ogikubo. Relationship points don’t matter when this event begins, but curious players should know that Ryuji prefers the response “We can’t lose either.”
By maxing out the Chariot confidant, Ryuji gets aSecond Awakening. Captain Kidd becomes Seiten Taisei, better known to English speakers as the Monkey King, the godlike protagonist of the storyJourney to the West. Seiten Taisei nulls Electricity damage and is strong to Fire, and he gets the skill Evade Wind. At the same time, Joker gets access to Chi You, the ultimate Chariot Persona.
Rank 11
If players reach Chariot 10 andunlock the third semester, Ryuji will ask Joker to talk in his room. This discussion doesn’t count as a new rank, but it does give Ryuji aThird Awakening. His Persona evolves into William, which is the first name of Captain Kidd. His trait becomes Eccentric Temper, which occasionally boosts Physical skills by 80 percent instead of 40 percent, and he gets the skill Fighting Spirit. This skill will give every ally the effects of Charge.
Even without the third semester, players who max out Ryuji’s confidant rank can get aSports Watchon 3/19.During a New Game Plus run, players with this item will get Ryuji’s Stealth Dash and Harisen Recovery abilities once the Chariot confidant is reestablished.
Persona 5 Royalis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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