In the early stages of Persona 5 Royal, prioritizing certain Confidants can sificantly ease your journey and set you up for success in achieving a 100% playthrough. The key is to balance story progression with building relationships that offer the most immediate and long-term benefits.
Ryuji Sakamoto (The Chariot)
Ryuji is your first Confidant and should be a top priority. His abilities, particularly "Fast-Acting Escalation" (Rank 1) which grants a chance to Shock on critical hits, and "Hit-and-Run" (Rank 5) which allows for automatic escapes from battles with a level advantage, are invaluable for grinding experience and money in the early Palaces. Maxing his Confidant also boosts your All-Out Attack damage.
Morgana (The Magician)
Morgana is another early Confidant who offers crucial combat support. His "Lucky Punch" (Rank 1) ability provides a chance to inflict Sleep on enemies with critical physical hits, which can incapacitate dangerous foes. His later abilities also enhance his magical prowess and contribute to All-Out Attack effectiveness. Given his constant presence, progressing his Confidant is natural and beneficial.
Ann Takamaki (The Lovers)
Ann's Confidant provides useful combat buffs, especially her "Charm-Charming Attack" (Rank 1) which can inflict Burn on critical magical hits. Her later abilities offer defensive utility, allowing her to take hits for Joker. While not as immediately impactful for grinding as Ryuji's, her Confidant is essential for a well-rounded party and contributes to All-Out Attack damage.
Munehisa Iwai (The Hanged Man)
While not available immediately, Iwai becomes accessible relatively early. His Confidant is crucial for obtaining better firearms and ammunition. The ability to buy higher-tier guns and customize them with special ammo can drastically increase your damage output, especially against bosses. Prioritize his Confidant once it becomes available to ensure you have the best equipment.
By focusing on these Confidants in the early game, you'll gain sificant advantages in combat, improve your survivability, and enhance your overall efficiency, making it easier to tackle the challenges ahead and stay on track for a perfect playthrough.