Social Links and Confidants return in Persona 5: The Phantom X, but they go by a new name: Synergy Bonds.
Synergy Bonds are The Phantom X’s take on social stats tied to NPCs that you can unlock once specific criteria are met. While the name is different than elsewhere in the series, long-time fans will recognize that these bonds behave in a very similar way to the previous iterations of this mechanic. These unlockable bonds grant you new abilities and other rewards, so it’s essential to make sure you’re putting in the time to raise your bond levels.
Don’t miss out on this mechanic; we’ve compiled a list of all available Synergy Bonds in Persona 5: The Phantom X.
How Synergy Bonds work in Persona 5: The Phantom X
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Persona 5 The Phantom X’s Synergy bonds aren’t as hidden as some of the confidants and social links from previous Persona titles, but while they may be easier to find, some rewards might be better than others depending on your playstyle. Every Synergy Bond can be improved by meeting each character in the city and providing gifts to your bonds increases Synergy as well. It’s essential to keep an eye on your Action Points and what City Life activities you can participate in.
Romanceable characters in Persona 5: The Phantom X
Below we list the three currently available romance candidates in Persona 5 X. Note that you do need to get them to Synergy Rank 15 to romance them.
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You can unlock her Synergy Bond by completing the “The Day the Pearl Flies” side mission. Improving your relationship with Motoha will unlock higher difficulty levels in Batting Practice and provide you with bonus effects in Palace and Mementos.
Motoha is the first human to join the protagonist as a Phantom Thief. She’s a cheerful girl who is also a baseball prodigy. After quitting the sport for a few years, she’s trying to get back into it with your help.
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You can unlock Yaoling’s Synergy Bond by completing the “Foreign Exchange” side mission. Increasing Yaoling’s bond provides cooking and crafting upgrades for use in and out of battle.
Yaoling is an outgoing and carefree person who has some childish tendencies. She’s a first-year university student from Sichuan, China, studying abroad in Japan. Yaoling is trying to find herself while abroad, but isn’t quite sure of where life will take her.
Tomoko’s Synergy Bond is unlocked by completing the “Part-Time Dreamer” side mission. Increasing Tomoko’s bond provides part-time job upgrades, such as a boost to your social stats.
Tomoko is a second-year student at Kokatsu Academy and is one of the first NPCs you meet in The Phantom X. She tries to deny her feelings for the protagonist, but it’s pretty obvious how she feels. Tomoko wants to gain experience in life and decides to take on multiple part-time jobs to achieve this goal.
Other Synergy Bonds in Persona 5: The Phantom X
The characters below are not romanceable, but you can still spend your time with them to earn some good perks.
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Lufel’s Synergy Bond is unlocked through story progression. Specifically, after you complete the “Awakening of Desire” mission. Increasing Lufel’s bond provides infiltration and crafting upgrades, such as making more tools with fewer materials.
Lufel is the mascot character one can expect from a Persona entry. He’s reliable and possesses intense knowledge of the Metaverse. He fills the same role as Morgana did in Persona 5, as he accompanies the protagonist in his day-to-day life.
Image: Black Wings Game Studio/Sega via Polygon
Merope’s Synergy Bond is also unlocked through story progression. Once you complete the “Traces of Dreams” mission, you can spend time with her to increase her bond rank. Increasing her bond allows for new Personas to be fused for Wonder.
Merope plays the role of the velvet room attendant like Caroline, Justine, Margaret, Elizabeth, and Theodore before her. She is professional and polite and has a decent understanding of human desire.
Image: Black Wings Game Studio/Sega via Polygon
Kayo’s Synergy Bond is unlocked through completing the “Generations Apart” side mission. As you increase her bond, she’ll provide you with new outfits for Wonder.
Kayo is the protagonist’s neighbor who wants to connect more with the younger generation. In combat, she acts as a Navigator and is one of the more unique characters in a Persona title. She’s the first whose appearance is entirely different in the Metaverse.
Yui’s Synergy Bond is unlocked by completing the “Virtual Encounter” side mission. Increasing Yui’s bond provides plant growth upgrades, allowing you to plant more flowers.
Yui’s most prominent personality trait is her affection for farming. Her passion is rooted in the late stages of her Synergy bond ranks, but she’s friendly and another one of Phantom X’s uniquely designed characters. Since her Synergy Bond takes place primarily in the in-game MMO Harvest World Online, her Phantom Thief appearance is based on her virtual avatar instead of her authentic self.
Whether you’re a Phantom thief veteran or a recruit, our guides will help you get the most out of your tenure. If you’re looking for more Persona 5 The Phantom X guides, here are our guides explaining the gacha banners, the classroom answers, and even the protagonist’s canon name.
