Persona 3 Reload: 6 Beginner Mistakes To Avoid When Exploring Tartarus

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Persona 3 was the game that introduced the idea of Social Links and leveling up Social Stats. It was like a soft reboot that carried over into the sequels. Players could go out with friends to expand their relationships, which would in turn help with combat and other situations.

Most of the game revolves around a group of students attending a school, Gekkoukan High School, which transformed at night into a dungeon called Tartarus. It was seemingly an endless, randomized dungeon, and the same is true on all fronts for the remake, Persona 3 Reload. There’s a lot to learn about Tartarus that players may not get at first, so here are a few tips and tricks.

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6 Worrying About Fatigue

But There Is Medicine

Talking to Mr. Edogawa in Persona 3 Reload

One of the biggest changes made to this remake is the removal of fatigue, which has completely left the Persona series. In the original version of Persona 3, players could only spend so much time in Tartarus before they got sick and had to rest in their off hours from school. While the mechanic has been removed, there is a lingering note of it in the remake.

The doctor at school, Mr. Edogawa, will notice that players are worn out if they visit him after a romp in Tartarus. He will then give players experimental medication, similar to Tae giving the hero of Persona 5 experimental drugs. In Persona 3 Reload, this medicine will increase the Courage Social Stat, so players would be wise to visit Mr. Edogawa after every exploration mission in Tartarus. It will lead to further rewards down the line, but it takes a while.

5 Early Party Members

3/4 Full For A Month

Fighting Steel Gigas in Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload is a long game, and it takes a while for a lot of the mechanics to unlock. The Persona series is infamous for being a bit long in the tooth in general. In Persona 3 Reload, it takes a while to unlock more party members besides Junpei and Yukari. For the first eight hours of the game, that’s all they will have until Akihiko gets better on May 23.

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After this point, the next tier of Tartarus will be unlocked, as Akihiko becomes a permanent party member. The battle roster maxes out at four, but many more companions will join after Akihiko. It’s good to remember the date May 23, so players have some idea when they will get their fourth party member. Don’t worry about leveling up, though. Akihiko will join within the range of the party’s current level instead of at level one.

4 Using Spell Attacks Instead Of Physical

Save SP For Healing

Fighting Trance Twins in Persona 3 Reload

As is tradition in an RPG, players can attack physically with weapons or use spells against monsters in Persona 3 Reload. The unique thing about this game is that weapons carry corresponding attack types. For example, an attack from Yukari’s bow will strike enemies differently than a hit from Junpei’s sword. Monsters may even be weak to one of the three physical attack types. Normal physical attacks are free to use, while spells take SP. This means that the SP meter can drain fast if players rely on it heavily to get extra turns in battle.

Except for boss battles in Tartarus, players should rely on physical attacks during normal encounters. SP should be saved for healing and those aforementioned tough situations. Items can only go so far. The point of Tartarus is to remain there as long as possible in one go to save on precious nights. Without fatigue, there’s no reason players can’t spend hours there in one night, grinding for EXP or gathering items to sell to get some sweet RPG cash.

3 Not Taking Advantage Of Shuffle Time

Get Those Stat Boosts

EXP Shuffle Time Card in Persona 3 Reload

After a battle, there is a chance players can get rewards through a mechanic called Shuffle Time. Players will typically get three card choices and the rewards can grant money, EXP, skill cards, new Persona, and so much more. In the original version of the game, Shuffle Time existed, but it was more cryptic as cards were facedown. So, it’s nice that the remake allows players to see what they are going to get.

The EXP boosters are some of the best cards to focus on, because EXP distribution overall is different from most RPGs. For example, let’s say players get 500 EXP after a battle. That 500 EXP is going to be split between all party members and Persona too, which will drastically cut down the allotment for everyone. Even for an RPG, Persona 3 Reload can be quite the grind, and it’s an easy mistake to make.

2 Wasting Twilight Fragments

Hoard Them For Rare Chests

One of the new features in the remake is an item called the Twilight Fragment. They are used primarily for two things, and can be acquired in two ways. For building bonds within Social Links, Elizabeth from the Velvet Room will occasionally grant players Twilight Fragments. They can also be found on the ground in the real world or in the Tartarus dungeon. Their usage is exclusive to Tartarus though, as they will unlock sealed chests ranked from one to three.

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A level one chest will require one Twilight Fragment to unlock, and it goes up from there. The first two tiers may contain rarer healing items, but that’s it. The three-tier chests are the ones to look out for as they typically contain rare gear like Junpei’s Juzumaru sword. They can also be used to heal at special clocks, but it costs seven Twilight Fragments to activate them, and it’s only good for one use in the dungeon. Since Twilight Fragments are hard to come by, players should save them for the three-tier chests and nothing else.

1 Thinking There Is Autosave

Be Sure To Take Breaks

In the original version of the game, there were teleporters to take players back to the entrance where they could do a myriad of things, from saving to switching party members out. They were hard to come by though, and the remake added more teleporters. The opening area is the only way to save the game in Tartarus so this was a great change.

Players may not realize it, but Persona 3 Reload does not have an autosave feature. So, once they find a teleporter in a dungeon, players should take a break and head back to ground zero. There’s nothing worse in an RPG than to lose progress through time, especially in a grind-heavy series like this. Players should carry this save mentality throughout the entire game, even outside of Tartarus.