All free characters in Persona 5 The Phantom X and how to unlock them

There are a lot of free characters to unlock in Persona 5: The Phantom X, and some are earned by just playing the game.

In Persona 5: The Phantom X, you’ll start off as the main character, Nagisa Kamisiro, and you’ll typically unlock more characters as you draw contracts. You’ll gain free tickets to draw contracts, but when you run out of tickets, you’ll need to pay with real money. However, as you play through the game, you’ll gain free characters after you complete certain quests and challenges. These characters can be earned through contract banners as well, but you’ll get some characters for free to help you get you on your feet.

Below, we’ve listed how to unlock the free characters in Persona 5: The Phantom X so far. More characters will be added in future updates, but these are who’s available at launch.

Nagisa Kamisiro, nicknamed Wonder, is the main character of Persona 5: The Phantom X and is unlocked automatically at the start of the game.

Nagisa is fairly different from the other characters in the game as he can use a variety of Personas, so his role and attribute are interchangeable. He starts with Jánošík, who is his signature Persona. Jánošík is a gun-type assassin, though you do not have to use it throughout the whole game (in fact, you shouldn’t).

Lufel, nicknamed Cattle, is the first free character you’ll unlock in Persona 5: The Phantom X. Lufel will join your party after you enter Mementos for the second time.

Cattle servers as your Metaverse expert and navigator, the same way Morgana was in Persona 5. His Persona is Robroy.

Kotone Montagne, nicknamed Mont, is unlocked almost immediately after Lufel. After the battle, you’ll encounter Merope, who will provide you with a tutorial ticket. The ticket will automatically be used on the tutorial contract — unlocking Kotone in the process.

Kotone is a Phantom Idol, meaning she isn’t a real Persona-user, but her Phantom Thief-version is part of Nagisa’s perception of her. She’s a former figure skater trying to get out of her slump. Her Persona Duo is Terpsichore.

Motoha Arai, nicknamed Closer, is unlocked as you’re progressing through Kiuichi’s Palace, which is the baseball stadium in the Metaverse. She will join your party for a battle, and become permanently unlocked once the battle is over.

Motoha is the first person (not including Cattle) who joins Nagisa’s Phantom Thieves. She’s one of his classmates who likes baseball. Her Persona is Awilda.

Kayo Okyann, nicknamed Okyann, is unlocked after you clear Technician stage 1 of the Velvet Trials. She’s a navigator, meaning she doesn’t participate in active combat, but she buffs and supports your team through other means.

Kayo is another Phantom Idol, based around the kind former-gyaru housewife who lives in Nagisa’s neighborhood. Her Persona Duo is Cleodora.

Tomoko Noge, nicknamed Mako, is unlocked after you clear Technician stage 6 of the Velvet Trials.

Tomoko is another classmate and one of Motoha’s close friends. Her Persona Duo is Prosymna.

Shun Kano, nicknamed Soy, is unlocked during the “Outcome of Pride” main mission. Shun will fight alongside your party as you explore Miyazawa’s Palace, but you won’t unlock him until you interact with him on the school’s rooftop.

Shun is another one of Nagisa’s classmates and is a member of the Phantom Thieves. He works at a ramen shop and wants to become a master ramen chef. His Persona is Mandrin.

After you complete all seven steps of Plan One, you can choose to permanently unlock either Ryuji Sakamoto, Morgana, or Ann Takamaki. (These characters are also available in the Newcomer contract banner, but, as you need to draw 50 contracts to obtain one of them, they’re technically not free that way.)

Ryuji Sakamoto, nicknamed Skull, is the Persona 5 protagonist’s right-hand man and best friend. His Persona is Captain Kidd.

Morgana, or Mona, is the Metaverse expect for the Phantom Thieves of Hearts in Persona 5. This cute little kitty’s Persona is Zorro.

Ann Takamaki (a.k.a Panther) is one of the early Phantom Thieves of Hearts in Persona 5. Her Persona is Carmen.