Persona 3 Reload: Troubleshooting Stagnant Social Link Bonds

Social Links in Persona 3 Reload are a crucial component of the game. Although they may not grant you special abilities like in other Persona games, they do allow you to obtain more powerful Personas. Additionally, these social links play a significant role in about half of the game's storyline.

In Persona 3 Reload, only a few Social Links will rank up automatically. For the majority of them, you must accumulate relationship points with the respective character. If you fail to earn enough points, you may receive a message stating, "I don't think our bond will grow any stronger even if I spend more time with them." This message can be a bit misleading, but encountering it is a normal part of playing Persona 3 Reload.

Why Won't a Bond Grow Stronger?

persona 3 reload chariot 2 - Why Won't a Bond Grow Stronger?

When you receive the message "I don't think our bond will grow any stronger," it simply means that you don't have enough relationship points to move forward in the Social Link. There is no need for any special requirements like a key item or a specific social stat to progress.

In Persona 3 Reload, relationship points are a hidden stat that determines the strength of your bond with a character. You can earn these points by making choices during ranking events and hangouts. Pay attention to the number of notes that fly out of the Social Link character's head after a dialog choice, as this indicates how many points you have gained. Additionally, spending time with them and having a Persona that matches their Arcana can also help you earn relationship points.

When you accumulate enough points with a specific character, you will activate their next ranking event the next time you spend time with them on a regular day. It's important to note that ranking events cannot be triggered when you hang out with them on a Sunday or a day off. Relationship points are a set number, but the required points for each rank can vary among different ranks and characters.

For example, let's say you reach rank 5 in Bebe's Temperance Social Link. After that, you stop meeting him at school but continue to see him on Sundays, improve your relationship at the shrine, and use Dating Site Notes to bond with him at night. When you resume hanging out with Bebe, you will swiftly progress through the following Social Link events, even if you make a few mistakes in your interactions. This is because you will have accumulated enough relationship points to unlock each rank.

How to Strengthen a Bond (Aside from Regular Hangouts)

Persona 3 Reload Relationship Fortune - How to Strengthen a Bond (Aside from Regular Hangouts)

The best way to earn relationship points is by hanging out with a Social Link character during their designated hangout times. You can easily spot these times when a Tarot card hovers over their head or points to the room they're in. Even if there's no specific ranking event, you'll still accumulate plenty of relationship points just by spending time with them.

However, this method of spending time may not be the most efficient. With a limited number of days in the school year to max out all Social Links, it's important to consider other ways to boost relationships that allow you to fast-track to ranking events. To achieve a complete set of maxed out relationships, it's advisable to dedicate school days to school Social Link events and save evenings and days off for other relationship-building activities.

Spending Time Together on Days Off

On days like Sundays, holidays, or school breaks, a few school Social Link characters may ask the protagonist to hang out with them. The topics of conversation and whether they extend the invitation depends on their current rank. During these hangouts, you can expect to have dialog options to choose from. Usually, two options will earn you three relationship points each, while one option won't earn you any points.

Relationship Fortunes

If the character has potential for romance, you can boost your relationship points by giving them a gift. But if you already have enough points to unlock the next ranking event, this option may not be available.

At the shrine, you have the opportunity to duplicate skill cards, enhance your Academics, and increase your relationship points with an active Social Link. The relationship fortunes can be found in the rows of boxes on the right side of the main shrine.

When you choose a relationship fortune, you will receive two points in the Social Link you select, but it will cost you 100 yen and some time will pass. Additionally, the random fortune result can lead to either gaining or losing extra yen. It is recommended to prioritize spending your school days on Social Link hangouts as they provide more relationship points compared to the shrine fortunes. Therefore, it is best to visit the shrine on days off when you have no other activities planned.

Dating Site Notes

Dating Site Notes can be obtained from the Suspicious Man in Club Escapade. Each note is priced at 3,000 yen, and there is no limit to how many you can purchase. By using these notes on the Shared Computer in the dorm, you can increase any Social Link by two points. However, please note that using these notes will also cause time to pass.

Dorm Hangouts

One great thing about Dating Site Notes is that they can be used in the evenings. In Persona 3 Reload, there are only two evening Social Links available, and the shrine is off-limits after sunset. However, a drawback is that the Suspicious Man doesn't start selling these notes until 11/10, so they can only be used in the final three months of the ten-month game.

Four Social Link characters are also members of SEES. When you start their Social Links, hanging out with them in the dorm will earn you one relationship point each time. You'll still receive items and improve your social stats during these hangouts, but using Dating Site Notes is a more effective way to increase your points with them once they are unlocked.

It's important to remember that, unlike in other Persona games, relationship points are not earned through main story cutscenes or exam results. Doing well on midterms and finals will increase your Charm, and nothing said during the main story will earn you a relationship point. To maximize your Social Links, spend your days off using relationship fortunes and select the best responses during ranking events.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding Social Links in Persona 3 Reload. It effectively explains the concept of relationship points and how they determine the strength of bonds with characters. The article also highlights the significance of these bonds in the game's storyline.

However, one aspect that could be further elaborated upon is the impact of time management on Social Link progression. The article briefly mentions that there is a limited number of days in the school year to max out all Social Links, but it would be beneficial to provide more specific strategies for optimizing time and prioritizing Social Link events. This would help players make informed decisions about which Social Links to focus on and how to allocate their time effectively.