Persona 5 Royal is Atlus's definitive edition of their acclaimed JRPG, adding a new third semester, a new party member in Kasumi Yoshizawa, a new confidant in Takuto Maruki, and the Thieves' Den. The game blends dungeon-crawling turn-based combat with a social simulation where you manage your time between school, part-time jobs, building relationships, and infiltrating the cognitive Palaces of corrupt adults. With over 100 hours of content, the fusion system's depth lets you create Personas with custom skill loadouts. Royal's quality-of-life improvements including grappling hooks in Palaces and the revamped Baton Pass system make it the definitive way to experience the Phantom Thieves' story.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise Lost (Joker) | S | Joker endgame, all builds | Joker's ultimate melee weapon obtained by itemizing Satanael during a fusion alarm. |
| Mjolnir (Ryuji) | A | Ryuji physical DPS builds | Ryuji's ultimate weapon with massive attack power and a chance to inflict Shock on hit. |
| Naraka Whip (Ann) | A | Ann magic DPS builds | Ann's strongest weapon boosting Magic stat significantly. |
| Governor of Egeria (Makoto) | B | Makoto support/DPS hybrid | Makoto's ultimate weapon with balanced stats boosting both offense and defense. |
| Tyrant Pistol (Akechi) | B | Akechi third semester DPS | Akechi's signature ranged weapon in his true form. |
S-Tier: Paradise Lost (Joker)
Joker's ultimate melee weapon obtained by itemizing Satanael during a fusion alarm. Boosts all stats and gives innate Curse resistance. Combined with his Wild Card flexibility, it makes Joker's physical attacks relevant even in magic-focused builds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Joker endgame, all builds |
| Key Mechanic | calendar system |
| Recommended Build | Joker (Wild Card) |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Paradise Lost (Joker): Pairs naturally with Joker (Wild Card) thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Mjolnir (Ryuji)
Ryuji's ultimate weapon with massive attack power and a chance to inflict Shock on hit. Obtained from itemizing Thor. Pairs perfectly with his Charge + God's Hand combo for the highest physical damage in one turn.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Ryuji physical DPS builds |
| Key Mechanic | persona fusion |
| Recommended Build | Ryuji (Chariot) |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Mjolnir (Ryuji): Pairs naturally with Ryuji (Chariot) thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Naraka Whip (Ann)
Ann's strongest weapon boosting Magic stat significantly. Obtained from itemizing specific Personas during fusion alarms. Enhances her Blazing Hell and Concentrate combos.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Ann magic DPS builds |
| Key Mechanic | palace infiltration |
| Recommended Build | Ann (Lovers) |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Naraka Whip (Ann): Pairs naturally with Ann (Lovers) thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Governor of Egeria (Makoto)
Makoto's ultimate weapon with balanced stats boosting both offense and defense. Makes her already versatile kit even more effective as she can switch between healing and Nuclear damage seamlessly.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Makoto support/DPS hybrid |
| Key Mechanic | social links (confidants) |
| Recommended Build | Makoto (Priestess) |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Governor of Egeria (Makoto): Pairs naturally with Makoto (Priestess) thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Tyrant Pistol (Akechi)
Akechi's signature ranged weapon in his true form. High damage with Almighty affinity bonus. Available only during Royal's third semester when Akechi fights with his Black Mask abilities.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Akechi third semester DPS |
| Key Mechanic | baton pass |
| Recommended Build | Akechi (Justice) |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Tyrant Pistol (Akechi): Pairs naturally with Akechi (Justice) thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Kamoshida's Palace
- Mjolnir (Ryuji) → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Naraka Whip (Ann) → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Paradise Lost (Joker) → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Max Kawakami (Temperance) ASAP — her rank 10 ability lets you go out at night even after infiltrating a Palace, effectively doubling your free time
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Persona 5 Royal Guides
- Persona 5 Royal Persona 5 Royal Overview
- Persona 5 Royal Best Builds
- Persona 5 Royal Tier List
- Persona 5 Royal Walkthrough
- Persona 5 Royal Beginner's Guide
- Persona 5 Royal Tips & Tricks
- Persona 5 Royal Combat Guide
- Persona 5 Royal Boss Guide
- Persona 5 Royal Maps & Locations
- Persona 5 Royal Crafting Guide
- Persona 5 Royal Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Persona 5 Royal, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
