September: Walkthrough
Welcome to September, Inaba residents! This month brings new challenges, social opportunities, and the looming threat of another victim. Stay sharp, manage your time wisely, and prepare for the next dungeon delve. This guide will help you navigate the month efficiently, ensuring you don't miss any crucial events or Social Link advancements. Remember, the key to success in Persona 4 is balancing your social life with your investigative duties!
September Overview: This month focuses on the investigation into the latest murder and the eventual rescue of the next victim from the TV World. The primary dungeon for September is the Secret Laboratory. Prioritize completing this dungeon as early as possible to free up time for Social Links and stat building. Keep an eye on the weather, as rainy days offer unique opportunities for stat gains and specific Social Link events.
September 1st (Monday)
- Morning: School. Pop Quiz: "What is the name of the tool used to remove a foreign object from an eye?" Answer: Scleral depressor (+Knowledge).
- Afternoon: Story Event: The group discusses the latest murder and the new victim, Naoto Shirogane. You'll receive a call from Dojima later in the day, asking about the case.
- Evening: Free time.
- Work: Consider working at the Hospital Janitor job for 5000 Yen and a +2 boost to Diligence. This job is available on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday evenings.
- Study: Study at your desk to increase Knowledge.
- Read: If you have any unread books, now is a good time to make progress.
September 2nd (Tuesday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon: After school, you'll have a mandatory story event where you discuss the new victim with your friends.
- Social Link: If you have time afterwards, head to the Practice Building to spend time with either the Drama Club (Ayane Matsunaga - Temperance) or Basketball Club (Kou Ichijo - Strength). Aim to reach Rank 5 or higher with your chosen club. Remember to bring a matching Persona for bonus affinity points!
- Evening: Check the TV Listings for Tanaka's Amazing Commodities.
Tanaka's Amazing Commodities (September 2nd) Item Set Price Benefits Diet Food x3 2980 Yen Restores 50 HP to one ally. Useful early-game healing. Value Set x1 4980 Yen Contains a mix of healing items and attack items. Specific contents vary but usually include a few Soul Drops and elemental attack items. Recommendation: The Diet Food can be a cost-effective healing option, especially if you're low on funds. The Value Set is good for general dungeon preparation.
September 3rd (Wednesday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon:
- Social Link: Spend time with Yosuke Hanamura (Magician Social Link). He's usually available at the Junes Department Store entrance on Wednesdays. If you're aiming to max his Social Link, prioritize spending time with him.
- Dialogue Choice (Rank 6+): If you're at Rank 6 or higher, he might ask about his feelings for Saki. Choosing "She was important to you" or "You liked her, didn't you?" will grant bonus points.
- Social Link: Alternatively, Rise Kujikawa (Lovers Social Link) is often available in the Shopping District, South.
- Social Link: Spend time with Yosuke Hanamura (Magician Social Link). He's usually available at the Junes Department Store entrance on Wednesdays. If you're aiming to max his Social Link, prioritize spending time with him.
- Evening: Free time.
- Read: Reading a book like "The Gentle Way" can increase your Courage. Each book takes 2-3 sessions to complete.
- Study: Study at your desk to increase Knowledge.
September 4th (Thursday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon:
- Social Link: Visit the Classroom Building 1F to spend time with Chie Satonaka (Chariot Social Link). Strengthening her bond is crucial for her combat abilities and Persona evolution.
- Dialogue Choice (Rank 6+): If you're at Rank 6 or higher, she might talk about her training. Choosing "Keep at it" or "You'll get stronger" will provide bonus points.
- Social Link: Naoki Konishi (Hanged Man Social Link) is also often available in the Shopping District, North.
- Social Link: Visit the Classroom Building 1F to spend time with Chie Satonaka (Chariot Social Link). Strengthening her bond is crucial for her combat abilities and Persona evolution.
- Evening: Free time.
- Fishing: Consider fishing at the Samegawa Flood Plain. You can catch valuable fish like the Red Goldfish, which can be exchanged for prizes at the Shiroku Store. Catching the Guardian can unlock a quest later.
- Work: Work at the Tutoring job for 4000 Yen and a +2 boost to Expression.
September 5th (Friday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon:
- Social Link: Head to the Shopping District, South to meet up with Yukiko Amagi (Priestess Social Link). She's a powerful healer and magic user, so advancing her Social Link is highly beneficial.
- Dialogue Choice (Rank 7+): If you're at Rank 7 or higher, she might discuss her future. Choosing "Follow your heart" or "It's your decision" will yield bonus points.
- Social Link: Daisuke Nagase (Strength Social Link) from the Soccer Club is also often available in the Practice Building.
- Social Link: Head to the Shopping District, South to meet up with Yukiko Amagi (Priestess Social Link). She's a powerful healer and magic user, so advancing her Social Link is highly beneficial.
- Evening: Free time.
- Work: Work at the Tutoring job to earn some Yen and boost your Expression.
- Read: Continue reading a book or start a new one.
September 6th (Saturday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon: This is an ideal day to prepare for the upcoming dungeon, the Secret Laboratory.
- Dungeon Prep: Head to the TV World entrance at Junes. Ensure your party is well-equipped with the latest gear from the Shiroku Store and stocked up on healing items like Medical Kits, Soul Drops, and Goho-M.
- Recommended Gear: Check the Shiroku Store for new weapons and armor for your active party members. Prioritize defense for your front-line fighters and magic attack for your spellcasters.
- Items to Stock: Aim for at least 10-15 healing items (e.g., Medical Kits, Ointments), 5-10 SP recovery items (e.g., Soul Drops, Snuff Souls), and 2-3 Goho-M for emergency exits.
- Social Link: If you're not going to the TV World, Kanji Tatsumi (Emperor Social Link) is often available in the Shopping District, North.
- Dungeon Prep: Head to the TV World entrance at Junes. Ensure your party is well-equipped with the latest gear from the Shiroku Store and stocked up on healing items like Medical Kits, Soul Drops, and Goho-M.
- Evening: Free time.
- Family Time: If you're not going to the TV World, consider cooking with your family to improve your relationship with Dojima or Nanako, and potentially gain a stat boost (e.g., +Courage for cooking a spicy dish).
- Work: Work at the Hospital Janitor job.
September 7th (Sunday)
- Morning: Free day. Check the TV for any special events or shopping opportunities.
Tanaka's Amazing Commodities (September 7th) Item Set Price Benefits Chest Key x5 4980 Yen Opens locked chests in dungeons. Essential for collecting rare items and equipment. Power Incense x1, Magic Incense x1 9800 Yen Increases a Persona's Strength or Magic stat permanently. Use on Personas you plan to keep long-term. Recommendation: The Chest Key set is highly recommended, as locked chests often contain valuable gear or rare items. The Incense items are excellent for boosting your favorite Personas.
- Afternoon: Free time.
- Shrine: Visit the Shrine to draw a fortune for a Social Link, which grants bonus affinity points without spending time. This is particularly useful for Social Links that are close to ranking up.
- Social Link: A friend might call you to hang out. Prioritize these calls if you want to advance a specific Social Link.
- Dungeon Dive: If you haven't already, visit the Secret Laboratory in the TV World. It's always best to clear dungeons early to maximize your free time for Social Links and stat building.
- Evening: Free time.
- Aiya Chinese Restaurant: If it's raining, head to Aiya for the Special Mega Beef Bowl Challenge (+3 to all stats for 3000 Yen, if you pass the challenge). Otherwise, you can still eat there for individual stat boosts.
- Study: Study at your desk.
September 8th (Monday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon: Story Event: You'll discuss Naoto's disappearance.
- Investigation: Head to the Police Station and speak with the officer about Naoto.
- Investigation: Visit the Central Shopping District and talk to people about Naoto.
- Evening: Free time.
- Work: Work at the Hospital Janitor job.
- Read: Continue reading.
September 9th (Tuesday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon: Story Event: You'll continue investigating Naoto's disappearance.
- Investigation: Speak with the students in the Classroom Building 1F and Practice Building.
- Investigation: Return to the Shopping District, South and speak with the people there.
- Evening: Free time.
- Tanaka's Amazing Commodities: Check the TV for new items.
- Study: Study at your desk.
September 10th (Wednesday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon: Story Event: You'll gather more information about Naoto.
- Investigation: You'll learn about Naoto's family and their history.
- Social Link: If you've completed your investigation for the day, Yosuke Hanamura (Magician) is often available at Junes.
- Evening: Free time.
- Social Link: Adachi (Jester) is often available at the Central Shopping District. Spending time with him is important for the true ending path.
- Read: Read a book.
September 11th (Thursday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon: Story Event: The group will decide to enter the TV World to find Naoto. This officially opens the Secret Laboratory dungeon.
- Dungeon Dive: Head to the TV World entrance at Junes. It is highly recommended to start clearing the Secret Laboratory today.
- Evening: Free time.
- Work: Work at the Tutoring job.
- Study: Study at your desk.
September 12th - September 26th: The Secret Laboratory
This period is your window to rescue Naoto from the Secret Laboratory. You have until September 26th to complete this dungeon. Failure to do so will result in a bad ending. It is highly recommended to clear the dungeon as early as possible to maximize your remaining free time for Social Links and stat building.
Dungeon: Secret Laboratory
- Location: TV World, accessible via Junes.
- Shadows: Expect Shadows weak to Electric, Wind, and Light attacks. Bring Personas with these affinities.
- Recommended Level: Aim for your party to be around Level 45-50 before facing the boss.
- Party Setup: A balanced party with strong physical attackers (Chie, Kanji), magic users (Yukiko, Yosuke), and a healer (Yukiko) is ideal. Rise will provide support.
- Key Items: Look out for Chest Keys and Goho-M.
Secret Laboratory - General Strategy
- Exploration: The Secret Laboratory is a multi-floor dungeon with several puzzles involving colored doors and switches. Pay attention to the colors and numbers on the doors to navigate.
- Shadow Weaknesses:
- Lab Rat: Weak to Wind.
- Power Castle: Weak to Electric.
- Mad Cyclops: Weak to Ice.
- Gigantes: Weak to Wind.
- Creation Relic: Weak to Electric.
- Elegant Mother: Weak to Fire.
- SP Management: This dungeon can be long. Conserve SP by exploiting weaknesses for All-Out Attacks. Use SP recovery items strategically.
- Mid-Bosses: Be prepared for stronger Shadows on certain floors. Ensure your party is healed before engaging.
Boss: Shadow Naoto
- Location: Top floor of the Secret Laboratory.
- Weaknesses: None.
- Resistances: Absorbs Fire, Ice, Electric, Wind.
- Strategy:
- Shadow Naoto primarily uses elemental attacks and status ailments. She will also use "Element Zero" to remove your party's buffs and "Heat Riser" to buff herself.
- Focus on physical attacks. Chie and Kanji will be your main damage dealers.
- Yukiko should focus on healing (Mediarama/Mediarahan) and supporting with buffs/debuffs if possible.
- Yosuke can provide support with Garudyne and healing/buffs.
- Rise's analysis will be crucial for tracking her HP and status.
- Consider using defensive Personas for the Protagonist, or Personas with high Endurance.
- Bring items to cure status ailments, especially Fear and Silence.
- When Shadow Naoto uses "Element Zero," immediately reapply your party's buffs (Tarukaja, Rakukaja, Sukukaja).
- The fight can be a war of attrition. Keep your HP high and grind her down with physical attacks.
Post-Dungeon
- After defeating Shadow Naoto, Naoto Shirogane will join your party as a playable character! This also unlocks the Fortune Social Link (Naoto Shirogane).
- You will have several days of free time until the next major story event. Use this time to advance Social Links, raise stats, and complete quests.
September 27th (Saturday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon: Story Event: Naoto will formally join the Investigation Team.
- Evening: Free time.
September 28th (Sunday)
- Morning: Free day.
- Afternoon: Free time.
- Evening: Free time.
September 29th (Monday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon: Free time.
- Evening: Free time.
September 30th (Tuesday)
- Morning: School.
- Afternoon: Free time.
- Evening: Free time.
Important Note: The specific events and availability of Social Links can vary based on your choices and current Social Link ranks. Always prioritize maxing out your party members' Social Links for their powerful combat abilities and Persona evolutions. Keep an eye on the weather forecast; rainy days are excellent for increasing stats at the Aiya Chinese Restaurant or for certain Social Link events.