Save System & Checkpoints — Persona 5 Strikers Guide

Save System & Checkpoints

Unlike the turn-based combat of Persona 5 Royal, Persona 5 Strikers features real-time action RPG combat, making strategic saving and understanding checkpoints even more crucial. Losing progress due to an unexpected ambush or a tough boss fight can be frustrating, so mastering the save system is key to a smooth journey through the Jails.

Manual Saves: The Safest Bet

Persona 5 Strikers offers a robust manual save system, allowing you to record your progress at almost any point outside of active combat or cutscenes. It's highly recommended to use this frequently, especially before entering new areas or engaging with powerful enemies.

• Accessing the Save Menu: To manually save, open your in-game menu by pressing the Options button (PlayStation) or + button (Switch). Navigate to the "System" tab and select "Save."
• Save Slots: You have multiple save slots available. It's a good practice to use different slots for important milestones, such as before a major boss battle or at the start of a new Jail. This provides a fallback if you make a critical mistake or want to revisit a specific part of the story.
• Recommended Save Points:
  • Before entering any new Jail for the first time.
  • After clearing a major section of a Jail and before facing a mini-boss or a powerful Shadow.
  • Before initiating any major story event or dialogue choices that might have consequences.
  • After acquiring significant loot, new Personas, or completing a challenging Request.
  • Before exiting a Jail back to the real world, especially if you've made significant progress.

Checkpoints: Automatic Progress Markers

While manual saves are your primary tool, Persona 5 Strikers also features automatic checkpoints that trigger at specific moments. These are invaluable for preventing complete loss of progress, but they are not a substitute for manual saving.

• Checkpoint Triggers:
  • Entering a New Area: The game often auto-saves when you transition between distinct areas within a Jail or when you enter a completely new location in the real world.
  • Major Story Events: After significant cutscenes or plot developments, an auto-save will typically occur.
  • Boss Battles: Before and after major boss encounters, the game will usually create an auto-save. This is particularly helpful if you struggle with a boss and need to retry without replaying a long section.
  • Exiting Jails: When you successfully escape a Jail, the game will auto-save your progress, including any loot acquired and experience gained.
• Identifying Checkpoints: While there isn't always a clear on-screen indicator, you'll often see a small "Saving..." icon appear briefly in the corner of the screen when an auto-save occurs. Pay attention to these moments.
• Limitations of Auto-Saves: Auto-saves generally overwrite the most recent auto-save slot. This means if you rely solely on them, you might find yourself in a difficult situation (e.g., low HP/SP, bad party composition) with no easy way to revert to an earlier, more favorable state. Always supplement auto-saves with manual saves.

The Importance of Preparation

Beyond just saving, proper preparation can mitigate the need to reload. Always ensure your party is well-equipped, healed, and has sufficient SP before delving deep into a Jail or confronting a boss. Stock up on items like Soul Food for SP recovery and Medical Kits for HP. Remember, a well-prepared Phantom Thief is a successful Phantom Thief!