Ready to lead your own band of Phantom Thieves without spending a dime? Discover which characters you can unlock absolutely free in Persona 5: The Phantom X-and just what it takes to recruit them to your rebellious cause on mobile and PC.
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/Wonder
Nagisa Kamisiro, also known by the codename Wonder, is the protagonist and first free character in Persona 5: The Phantom X, unlocked automatically at the start of the game. As a second-year student at Kokatsu Academy, Wonder stands out with his short red hair and reserved demeanor, leading a new cast of Phantom Thieves in a Tokyo where people’s desires are mysteriously stolen. Unlike other members, Wonder possesses the unique “Wild Card” ability, allowing him to wield and fuse multiple Personas in battle-a key mechanic for tackling varied enemy weaknesses. True to Persona tradition, he serves as a mostly silent protagonist, but is characterized as distant and apathetic at the outset, gradually revealing a strong sense of justice and desire to protect others throughout the game’s narrative.
Nagisa Kamisiro, nicknamed Wonder, is the main character of Persona 5: The Phantom X and is unlocked automatically at the start of the game.
- Role – Dependent on Persona
- Attribute – Dependent on Persona
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/Cattle
Lufel, also known by his codename Cattle, is the first free character you unlock in Persona 5: The Phantom X. He is a unique, owl-like creature who joins the protagonist early in the game and acts as a crucial support member for your team. As a 4-star Fire-element Medic, Lufel excels at keeping the party alive with various healing abilities, and he has the added benefit of buffing allies’ attacks via his signature Starfire effect. Players receive Lufel automatically upon starting the game, making him essential for progressing through the early stages and for any team needing a reliable healer and support unit.
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.
- Role – Medic (Healer)
- Attribute – Fire
Cattle servers as your Metaverse expert and navigator, the same way Morgana was in Persona 5. His Persona is Robroy.
Kotone Montagne/Mont
Kotone Montagne, known as Mont, is a 4-star Ice Assassin character and one of the free unlockable allies in Persona 5: The Phantom X. She is a half-French former figure skater and a second-year student whose codename, Mont, means “mountain”. Players receive Mont for free immediately after completing the game’s tutorial on Contracts or the gacha system. In combat, Mont stands out for her ability to stack Ice Crystals through actions and skills, dramatically increasing her damage potential with follow-up attacks, especially when executing her signature move “Durandal of Ice” at high Ice Crystal counts. Her initial Persona is Terpsichore, which she uses to provide multi-target and single-target Ice attacks, making her highly effective as a secondary damage dealer for free-to-play teams.
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.
- Role – Assassin (Single target damage dealer)
- Attribute – Ice
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/Closer
Motoha Arai, known by her codename Closer, is one of the earliest free characters you unlock in Persona 5: The Phantom X as you progress through Kiuichi’s Palace, the baseball stadium area in the Metaverse. A second-year student and former baseball player, Motoha brings fast-paced offense as an Electric-aligned Sweeper Phantom Thief. Her Persona, Awilda, specializes in inflicting shock status and boosting electric attacks, making her extremely effective against enemies vulnerable to electric damage, especially early in the game. Unlocking Motoha is straightforward-simply advance through the main story and clear the relevant palace to add her to your party.
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.
- Role – Sweeper (AOE damage dealer)
- Attribute – Electric
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 Tomiyama/Okyann
Kayo Tomiyama, also known by her code name Okyann, is a 4-star Navigator character in Persona 5: The Phantom X. Although she lacks elemental attacks and cannot directly damage enemies, she excels at supporting the team by providing valuable buffs such as restoring SP, increasing the party’s Attack, and boosting damage against enemies with elemental weaknesses. She gains Beat stacks that enhance her party’s overall performance and can apply random elemental ailments to foes, making her a versatile and useful character early in the game. Okyann is available for free as a reward from the Trials of Deep beginner’s event, and her skill set makes her especially effective when paired with damage dealers who can inflict elemental status effects on enemies.
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.
- Role – Elucidator (Off-field support)
- Attribute – Support
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/Mako
Tomoko Noge, known as Moko in the Metaverse, is a free 4-star Psychic Strategist support character in Persona 5: The Phantom X. She assists the protagonist as a crucial buffer, boosting allies’ attack, debuffing enemies, and inflicting the Sleep ailment with her Persona, Prosymna. To unlock Moko, you must clear Technician Stage 6 of the Velvet Trials, after which she joins your roster as a generalist support, well-suited for most team compositions.
Tomoko Noge, nicknamed Mako, is unlocked after you clear Technician stage 6 of the Velvet Trials.
- Role – Strategist (Buff support)
- Attribute – Psychokinesis
Tomoko is another classmate and one of Motoha’s close friends. Her Persona Duo is Prosymna.
Shun Kano/Soy
Shun Kano, also known by his codename Soy, is a playable Ice-element Guardian character in Persona 5: The Phantom X. He serves as a defender and secondary healer, able to consistently apply defense debuffs to enemies and provide significant healing and HP boosts to his party. Soy’s unique skills like “Icicle Hatchet” can freeze foes, while “Icy Defense” increases the party’s max HP and draws enemy attacks toward him. His Hidden Ability, “Daunting Firepower,” boosts ranged attack ammo and effectiveness, making him an excellent counter against enemies weak to Gun attacks. Soy is unlocked during the “Outcome of Pride” main mission and is a loyal, resilient team member with strong tanking capabilities, fitting for players who want a mix of offense, defense, and support in battle.
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.
- Role – Guardian (Defensive support)
- Attribute – Ice
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.
Plan One characters
Plan One characters in Persona 5: The Phantom X refer to the initial set of free characters that players unlock naturally through progressing the early story and tutorials. These include key Phantom Thieves such as Cattle, a healer with fire and burn support obtained in the prologue; Mont, a single-target DPS acquired during the contract tutorial; and Closer, an AoE electric damage dealer unlocked in Chapter 1. These characters form the foundation of your team without needing any gacha pulls, allowing new players to build and experience the game effectively from the start. Additional free characters become available later through specific challenges and story events, but the Plan One group sets players up with essential roles early on.
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/Skull
- Role – Assassin (Single target damage dealer)
- Attribute – Physical
Ryuji Sakamoto, nicknamed Skull, is the Persona 5 protagonist’s right-hand man and best friend. His Persona is Captain Kidd.
Morgana/Mona
- Role – Medic (Healer)
- Attribute – Wind
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/Panther
- Role – Sweeper (AOE damage dealer)
- Attribute – Fire
Which free characters in Persona 5: The Phantom X are easiest to unlock on mobile and PC
The easiest free characters to unlock in Persona 5: The Phantom X on both mobile and PC are those acquired directly through story progression and tutorials:
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Cattle: The first free character, a healer, is unlocked automatically by completing the prologue. No extra effort is required beyond starting the game.
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Mont: Given during the Contract Tutorial, also requires no special tasks; simply playing the introduction gets you Mont, a single-target DPS.
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Closer: Unlocked very early as the second main story Phantom Thief, obtained for free by progressing through Chapter 1 of the main story.
These three are guaranteed and require no missions, difficult achievements, or choices-they’re given as part of the game’s initial playthrough.
Later, you can select one of Morgana (Mona), Ryuji (Skull), or Ann (Panther) for free via the Phantom Thieves of Hearts Contract and Lufel’s Business Plans after completing seven “Plan One” steps, but this requires a bit more story progress and a specific choice between the three. Various challenge or event characters like Okyann and Moko are free but require completing Velvet Trials, which involves more active effort and may take longer.
For mobile and PC versions, these unlock methods are the same. Players looking for the quickest and least complicated free character acquisitions should focus on Cattle, Mont, and Closer, as they are built into the game’s natural progression and do not rely on event timing, player choices, or challenge completions.
Which free characters are easiest to unlock early in Persona 5: The Phantom X
The easiest free characters to unlock early in Persona 5: The Phantom X are:
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Cattle: The first story Phantom Thief, unlocked automatically during the prologue. Cattle is a healer and is added to your roster through basic gameplay initiation without needing to complete any extra requirements.
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Mont: Obtained for free in the Contract Tutorial. Mont is a single-target damage dealer given to all players as part of the guided setup process at the beginning of the game.
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Closer: The second story Phantom Thief, unlocked for free by simply progressing through Chapter 1 of the main story. Closer is an AoE damage dealer with Electric-based attacks.
These three are acquired just by following the game’s main progression, with no special events, achievements, or conditions, making them the most accessible for all players early on.
Characters like Okyann and Moko can also be earned for free but require completing Velvet Trials, which takes more player effort and thus are not as immediately accessible as the three above.
The process is identical on both mobile and PC versions.
