Persona 4 Golden Beginner Guide

Persona 4 Golden, as a JRPG where the player has limited time to complete all of the different side objectives, can be daunting to go into. Even if there's something you miss partway through the game, depending on how tightly packed your schedule, is you might not be able to get everything. This guide will go over some of the basic tips you should know before diving into Persona 4 Golden, as well as some things that you might want to know to ensure you're able to access the Golden Exclusive dungeon, get the True Ending of the game, and watch the post-credit epilogue.

1. Character Stats and how to level them
2. Job Requirements and Information
3. After School Activities
4. Secret Unlock Requirements

Persona 4 Golden Character Stats and how to level them

The Protagonist has five stats that he can work towards improving over the course of the game. These stats are Knowledge, Courage, Diligence, Understanding, and Expression. As you progress through the game working part-time jobs and interacting with the world, we've collected a list below of the different stats, how many points for each level is required, and what you can unlock at each of the levels.

Knowledge

1. Aware - Under 29 points 
2. Informed - 30-79 points
3. Expert - 80-149 points (Can now begin Social Link with Margeret)
4. Professor - 150-239 points
5. Sage - 240+ points

How to gain Knowledge:

• Answer correctly in class
• Study at your desk, in the school library, or with friends
• Eat lunch at the restaurant on days it is raining

Courage

1. Average - Under 15 points
2. Reliable - 16-39 points
3. Brave - 40-79 points
4. Daring - 80-139 points
5. Heroic - 140+ points

How to gain Courage:

• Work as a Hospital Janitor
• Ride your scooter around
• Re-enter completed dungeons and fight the optional bosses
• Check the Fridge on the following dates
  • April 25, May 2, May 14, May 20, June 20, July 4, July 18, Aug. 29, Sept. 13, Oct. 24

Diligence

1. Callow - Under 15 points
2. Persistent - 16-39 points
3. Strong - 40-79 points
4. Persuasive - 80-139 points
5. Rock Solid - 140+ points

How to gain Diligence:

• Attend the Basketball or Soccer team regularly
• Work as an envelope maker
• Eat lunch at the restaurant on Wednesdays and Thursdays

Understanding

1. Basic - Under 15 points
2. Kindly - 16-39 points
3. Generous - 40-79 points
4. Motherly - 80-139 points
5. Saintly - 140+ points

How to gain Understanding:

• Work as a Babysitter or Origami Folder
• Eat Special Ramen at restaurant
• Clean up after soccer practice

Expression

1. Rough - Below 12 points
2. Eloquent - 13-32 points
3. Persuasive - 33-52 points
4. Touching - 53-84 points
5. Enthralling - 85+ points

How to gain Expression: 

• Work as a Tutor or Translator
• Certain questions in class will give expression
• Attend the Drama Club regularly

Job Requirements and Information

You won't always have someone to meet or a dungeon to go rampage through in Persona 4 Golden. It's during this down time that you can work a job for some extra money and to develop social skills. You can start these jobs by applying for them at the Job Board in the North Shopping District. Just as you transition from South to North, it will be on your left past the Restaurant.

Envelope Constructor

Requirements: April 23 - The Protagonist can accept this job at the start of the game.

When/where you can work: In the evening at your bedroom table.

Benefits of Job: Increases your Diligence

Origami Crane Folder

Requirements: April 23 - Diligence needs to be at Level 2: Persistent.

When/where you can work: In the evening at your bedroom table.

Benefits of Job: Increases your Understanding

Translator

Requirements: April 23 - Knowledge needs to be at Level 2: Informed.

When/where you can work: In the evening at your bedroom table.

Benefits of Job: Increases your Expression

Assistant Day Care Caretaker

Requirements: April 23 - Yu can accept this job at the start of the game.

When/where you can work: Monday/Friday/Saturday at the Bus Stop in the South Shopping District.

Benefits of Job: Increases your Understanding and gives you access to the Temperance Social Link

Hospital Janitor

Requirements: May 25 - Diligence needs to be at Level 3: Strong.

When/where you can work: Wednesday/Thursday/Friday at the Bus Stop in the South Shopping District.

Benefits of Job: Increases your Courage and gives you access to the Devil Social Link and by extension the Death Social Link

Tutor

Requirements: May 25 - Understanding needs to be at Level 5: Saintly.

When/where you can work: Tuesday/Thursday/Friday at the Bus Stop in the South Shopping District.

Benefits of Job: Increases your Expression and Knowledge and gives you access to the Tower Social Link

Dishwasher

Requirements: May 25 - Diligence needs to be at Level 3: Strong.

When/where you can work: Any night.

Benefits of Job: Increases your Diligence

After School Activities

Sports Club

Club Names: Basketball Club or Soccer Club

Location: School Learning Building F1

Accessible Times: Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday - They do not meet when it's raining

Benefits of joining Club: Increases your Diligence if you attend frequently and gives you access to the Strength Social Link

Cultural Club

Club Names: Drama Club or Band Club

Location: School Practice Building F1

Accessible Times: Monday/Tuesday/Thursday

Benefits of joining Club: Increases your Expression if you attend frequently and gives you access to the Sun Social Link

Persona 4 Golden Secret Unlock Requirements

What carries over to New Game+?

After completing Persona 4 Golden for the first time, the game will prompt you to create a new save file for New Game+. This will restart you at the beginning of the game but will carry over some of your skills and abilities. Here is the complete list of what you retain in Persona 4 Golden's New Game+:

• Earned Money
• The Protagonist's Character Stats
• Key Items from completed Social Links, this will allow you to continue creating the top Persona or each Arcana
• Persona Compendium, allowing you to summon any you've previously unlocked
• Discounts for summoning Persona
• The Protagonist will retain the ability to keep 12 Persona at a time
• Skill Cards unlocked will be purchasable from the Velvet Room
• Weapons and Equipment unlocked will be purchasable at the Metalworks

How to access the secret dungeon?

The new Social Link Marie is the key to getting access to the new dungeon, the Hollow Forest. To be able to reach the Hollow Forest, you need to make sure to have maxed out your Social Link with Marie before the end of December in-game. You can encounter Marie outside the Velvet Room door that appears in the South Shopping District. While you can talk with her inside the Velvet Room, it's only on days that she's standing outside that you'll be able to work on her Social Link.

You can begin the Aeon Social Link on April 18, but you need to wait until past July 24 before you can get to Rank 4. Until July 24, you can hold off on interacting with her.

The days you can interact with Marie are Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, and on Holidays. If it is raining, you will not be able to meet her.

After you have maxed out the Aeon Social Link, you'll need to wait until February when you are taken to the Hollow Forest.

NOTE: This dungeon is only available for a day, so make sure that you don't leave or refuse at any point. 

How to unlock the True Ending?

There are three requirements for obtaining the True Ending for Persona 4 Golden.

1. On 12/3, there will be a time that the party is about to take part in some vigilante justice of their own. During this, you have the opportunity to de-escalate the situation. If you pick the correct options you'll be able to calm down the party and continue on the path for the True Ending.
   
   The options you should pick during this situation are 1, 3, 1, 3, 2, 3, 2, and 2.
    
2. On 12/5, there will be a time that you can pick who you believe is the killer while the Protagonist and Naoto stand outside in the snow. When the option comes up to pick who you think is the most likely culprit select the following:
   
   Someone Else > Someone Else > 3rd Option (It should be the one underneath Nanoko Dojima)
    
3. On 3/20 after you've said goodbye to all of the people you've managed to max Social Links with, you'll be prompted to return home. Say "No."
   Return to Junes and go to the Food Court for another scene with the main party. You will again be prompted to return home. Select "No," "I'm not finished yet," and "Yes."
   Travel to the Velvet Room and receive an item from Igor and you should know where to head next to begin the True Ending Dungeon.

How to watch the epilogue?

To watch the secret epilogue at the end of the game you need to have completed the following requirements:

• Complete the Hollow Forest dungeon
• Complete the True Ending for Persona 4 Golden

If the above has been fulfilled, then after the end of the game you will see an epilogue set a few months after the Protagonist leaves Inaba.

How to fight the secret boss?

Just when you thought there couldn't be enough secrets at the end of Persona 4 Golden... You were correct. There is a secret boss fight, but you need to be on a New Game+ playthrough to access it.

After clearing New Game+ and heading towards the True Ending again after getting the first item from Igor, you should immediately head back into the Velvet Room. This time, speaking with Margaret gets you a second item.

Once you're outside the Velvet Room again you should see how to start the Secret Boss fight.

Did that answer all of your questions for Persona 4 Golden? Is there anything that you're still wanting the answer to?