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There are a total of nine playable characters in Persona 5 Royal, but only four can be controlled at a time during combat. For the first Palace, players will have Joker, Skull, Mona, and Panther. The fifth member to join the Phantom Thieves is Yusuke Kitagawa (Fox). While players are free to bench Fox, it may be worth using him for the earlier Palaces.
In Persona 5 Royal, Fox's strengths are his Strength, Endurance, and Agility. His Persona, Goemon, learns Bufu/Ice and Physical skills. Players needing a fast, heavy-hitter on the team should consider equipping Fox with his best weapons and armor to help give him that edge in battle.
Best Melee Weapons for Fox
For melee weapons, Fox uses various katanas. Like his fellow Phantom Thieves, some of these weapons have special effects, such as inflicting status ailments or increasing one of his stats while equipped. Fox's starting weapon is a regular katana with an attack of 78 and an accuracy of 94. Like the other "starting weapons", the katana isn't very strong and doesn't have any bonuses to it, meaning P5R players will want to replace it as soon as they can. Each time a Palace is cleared, the Untouchable store in Shibuya receives new merchandise. Players should get in the habit of visiting the store to buy stronger weapons as they progress through Persona 5 Royal.
Yubitachi
Once Yusuke joins the team, Untouchable will have the Murasame and Gunto katana for 9200 and 10100 yen respectively. As tempting as it may be to purchase them, players may want to hold off on spending money - especially if this is their first playthrough. Instead, return to Madarame's Palace and go to the Treasure Hall Lounge. Players can get the Yubitachi weapon from a locked chest in the right wing of the control room. Players will have to fight a security guard before they can reach the weapon. After defeating him, go right to find the chest. Players will need a lockpick if they want to open it, so be sure to have some on hand.
The Yubitachi is far from Fox's best weapon. However, for his first Palace, an Attack of 102 with an Accuracy of 96 isn't a bad deal. It can easily be replaced with a better katana in the next arc.
Senryou Yakusha R
Once players have secured a treasure route in Kaneshiro's Palace, they'll be introduced to a new gameplay mechanic called Fusion Alarms. During this, Persona that are fused/itemized/trained will receive bonuses. Actions taken during the alarm have a high success rate on their first try. If players attempt to fuse/itemize a Persona a second time during an active alarm, then the results are 50/50. Some Personas that are itemized via the Electric Chair will turn into a weapon or an accessory.
The Senryou Yakusha R has 140 Attack and will give Fox an extra +6 towards his Strength. To get it, players will need to use the Fusion Alarm and the Electric Chair in the Velvet Room. They'll need the Persona Ame no Uzume and a Black Kogatana. Ame no Uzume is a level 13 Persona of the Lovers arcana, meaning players should be a high enough level to fuse or recruit it during an interrogation. If players desperately need a new weapon and are okay with a weaker Senryou Yakusha (+5 Strength, 130 Attack), they can simply itemize Ame no Uzume when there isn't an alarm.
Iai Katana or Orochito
The Iai Katana can be bought at Untouchbale for 33500 yen during the Nijima arc. It doesn't offer any effects, but it's a strong weapon with an Attack of 210 and an Accuracy of 96.
If players prefer a weapon with an effect, they can buy the Orochito for 30500 yen instead. This weapon has 190 Attack and 94 Accuracy, but it has a low chance of inflicting Dizzy on regular Shadows.
Kaito Ranma or Red Demon Blade
The Kaito Ranma is a weapon with 252 Attack and 96 Accuracy. In addition, this will give +3 Agility to Fox. This katana is hidden inside a locked chest in Shido's Palace in the Upper Starboard Hallway. It's a sturdy enough weapon to hold players over up until the third semester.
Alternatively, they can replace the Kaito Ranma with the Red Demon Blade, which can be purchased at Untouchable for 53400 yen on 12/22. Unlike the Kaito Ranma, the Red Demon Blade has a medium chance of inflicting Despair. Red Demon Blade is also a useful weapon in the later Palaces and Mementos.
Usumidori R
Fox's best melee weapon in the game is the Usumidori R. This weapon has an Attack of 340 at the cost of an Accuracy of 88. It has a high chance of inflicting Fear on regular enemies.
To get the Usimodori R, players will need to execute/itemize Yoshitsune (Tower) during a Fusion Alarm. Yoshitsune is a level 87 Persona, meaning this won't be a weapon players get until very late-game. Players can get Yoshitsune by fusing the Ultimate Personas of the Lovers, Chariot, Hanged Man, and Hermit Arcana. Make sure to have a Black Kogatana as well. If players itemize Yoshitsune without the alarm, they'll get the regular Usumidori, which shares the same stats and effects as the Usumidori R, but with an attack of 324.
Best Ranged Weapons for Fox
Fox uses Assault Rifles for his Ranged Weapon. These all have 10 rounds and 75 Accuracy. However, players can customize the assault rifles to give them better accuracy or more rounds at the sacrifice of Attack. All of his Ranged Weapons can be obtained from Untouchable at different points in Persona 5 Royal with some of them only accessible through Persona Executions.
Black Assault and Rebel Rifle
Players in a hurry to get Yusuke a better Ranged Weapon can buy the Black Assault at Untouchable for 10,600 yen. This has 101 Attack, so it's better than his starting Ranged Weapon. However, players will want to replace it once they've gained more money. The Rebel Rifle is available for 21,400 yen at Untouchable during Futaba's arc. With an Attack of 155, it should be strong enough for a few extra Palaces.
Hizutsu
Players can get a rifle with 245 Attack from Untouchable for 43,800. This becomes available during the Shido arc. Unfortunately, it doesn't have any effects, but it's useful if Fox needs more firepower.
K. Gouhou EX
Players will need a Model Gun if they want the K. Gouhou or the K. Gouhou EX. The K. Gouhou EX. has an Attack of 320 and +7 Strength. The regular K. Gouhou has 300 Attack and +5 Strength instead. Players can get this weapon by executing the Vasuki (Star) Persona during (K. Gouhou Ex.) or without (K. Gouhou) a Fusion Alarm.
Providence
Fox's strongest Ranged Weapon is Providence, which has an Attack of 350 and a +13 Agility effect. This can be retrieved by executing Uriel (Justice) during a Fusion Alarm. Without the Fusion Alarm, Uriel will instead itemize into Heaven's Gate, which has 330 Attack and +10 Agility. Uriel isn't the Justice Arcana's Ultimate Persona, but players will need to be level 81+ if they want to fuse him.
Best Protectors for Fox
Equipping Fox with strong Protectors will ensure he doesn't get knocked out immediately in battle. He can only wear protectors for Males or Unisex. His better armor can be gained through washing Sooty Clothing, or looted from a chest in the third semester's Palace. Since he shares armor with Joker, Skull, and Crow, players may want to reserve the better armor for them instead. Meaning it's good to have a few options for Fox, just in case.
Zen Outfit
This has a Defense of 86 and an Evasion of 12. It can be found in a locked chest in the Main Treasure Hall of Madarame's Palace. It's good to equip to Fox because of its +3 Agility effect. Keep in mind that Agility is one of Fox's best assets.
Bloodied Capote
Players that have the Matador (Death) Persona can itemize it during a fusion alarm to get the Bloodied Capote. Like the Zen Outfit, this has +3 Agility. However, it has a 120 Defense and 20 Evasion, making it a perfect replacement for the Zen Outfit.
Egoist Shirt
If players have some money to burn, they can buy the Egoist Shirt for 35000 yen at Untouchable during the Niijima arc. It has a 183 Defense and 9 Evasion. Despite the low Evasion, this protector will completely Resist Brainwash, making it perfect for fighting Shadows that like to spam Marin Karin.
Leopard Print Vest
The Leopard Print Vest has a St+6 bonus and 243 Defense, 12 Evasion. While it's ideal for Fox in the latter half of the game, it can't be bought or gained from enemies. Players will need to get Sooty Spotted Fur from the chests in the Path of Sheriruth (Mementos), and then wash it at the laundry machines across from Leblanc. Unfortunately, the Sooty Spotted Fur may reveal an Old Vest instead of the Leopard Print Vest, so it's up to chance.
Lucky Underwear
If players get Sooty Bolt Armor, they can wash it and may have a chance of getting the Lucky Underwear armor. This has 330 Defense and 15 Evasion. Like the Leopard Print Vest, the Sooty Bolt Armor may be another type of armor, so it's not determined. However, Lucky Underwear adds +50 to HP, and since Fox is mostly a physical attacker, he'll need HP in order to use his Persona's Physical Skills.
Tantric Oath R
The sturdiest armor for male characters in Persona 5 Royal is the Tantric Oath R. It has 350 Defense, 18 Evasion, and highly reduces Magic Damage. Players will need a Black Robe and need to itemize Satan (Judgement) during a Fusion Alarm. It's important to have the Black Robe transmutation item, or else this fusion will not work. Black Robes can be bought at Shady Commodities, or from Jose in Mementos.
Best Accessories for Fox
Accessories can always be changed at any time. The types of Accessories that Fox will want to use will increase his overall stats, Strength, Agility, Endurance, or regenerate Health. If players use Fox for Bufu spells, they'll want an Accessory that improves his Magic damage or regenerates SP.
Regen Patch 3
There are three different types of Regen Patches, and they can all be bought at Takemi's Clinic. The Regen Patch 3 restores 6% of Fox's health each turn. It becomes available at the Clinic for 100,000 yen once players reach Rank 5 of Takemi's Confidant. If players have the half-discount (achieved by advancing her Confidant), it'll be 50,000 yen instead.
Cooling Pack
This can be bought at Untouchable during the Madarame arc. It increases the chance of inflicting Freeze when equipped. It's a good starting Accessory for Yusuke if players don't have EXP-enhancing items (such as the Team Glasses). Combine this with a melee weapon that has a low chance of inflicting Freeze to bring out its full potential.
Grand Slam Charm
Players will want to get a Homerun on Advanced Difficulty at the Batting Cages if they want this Accessory. The Grand Slam Charm gives the Apt Pupil ability, which greatly increases its user's Critical Hit rate. Fox having high Agility and Strength means he's most likely going to attack first when on the front lines. Giving him an Accessory that increases his Critical Hit means a better chance of getting a Baton Pass.
Persona 5 Royal is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.