Persona 3 Portable: Your New Game Plus Guide

Nov 3, 2025 by SLV Team 45 views

So, you've finished Persona 3 Portable? Congratulations! But wait, the journey doesn't have to end there, guys. New Game Plus (NG+) is here to give you another shot at reliving the experience with some sweet advantages. Let's dive into what carries over, what doesn't, and how to make the most of your second playthrough.

What Carries Over in New Game Plus?

One of the biggest draws of New Game Plus is seeing what goodies you get to keep from your previous adventure. Here’s a comprehensive list of what you can bring with you into your new game:

Character Level and Stats: Your protagonist retains their level, Strength, Magic, Endurance, Agility, and Luck stats. This head start can make early battles significantly easier, allowing you to focus on other aspects of the game.
Social Stats: All your hard-earned social stats – Academics, Charm, and Courage – remain intact. This is huge because it allows you to access social links much earlier and with less effort.
Persona Compendium: This is probably the most significant carryover. All the Personas you’ve registered in your Compendium are available for summoning right from the start, provided you have the money. This gives you incredible flexibility in combat and allows you to experiment with different Persona builds.
Equipment: Weapons, armor, and accessories that your characters had equipped or in their inventory will transfer over. This can give you a considerable edge in the early game.
Money: All the money (Yen) you accumulated in your previous playthrough carries over. This is incredibly useful for summoning Personas from the Compendium, buying equipment, and generally making life easier.
Skill Cards: Any skill cards you've obtained are carried over, letting you customize your Personas right from the start.
Social Links Progress (with limitations): While your actual Social Link ranks reset, having maxed out certain Social Links in your previous game grants you special items. These items allow you to fuse the ultimate Persona of that arcana right from the beginning, provided you meet the level requirements.
Playtime: Your total playtime is recorded and carries over, allowing you to track how much time you've sunk into the game across multiple playthroughs. For completionists, this is a nice way to see your overall progress.
Key Items from Quests: Some key items obtained from specific quests will carry over, potentially unlocking new options or dialogue choices early on.

Having these advantages makes the second playthrough a vastly different experience, allowing you to focus on different aspects of the game, such as maxing out all Social Links or experimenting with different combat strategies. It's all about enjoying the game in a new light, guys.

What Doesn't Carry Over?

Okay, so you get to keep a lot of cool stuff. But what doesn't come along for the ride in New Game Plus? Knowing this is crucial for planning your next playthrough. Here’s what gets reset:

Story Progression: Obviously, the story resets. You'll be starting from April 2009, experiencing all the major plot events again. This is the core of the New Game Plus experience – reliving the narrative with your boosted stats and resources.
Social Link Ranks: While having maxed Social Links gives you special items, your actual Social Link ranks are reset. This means you'll need to re-establish and advance each Social Link again. However, with your social stats intact, this process is much easier.
Tartarus Progress: Your progress in Tartarus is reset. You’ll start from the bottom again, with all the floors needing to be re-explored. However, your high level and powerful Personas will make the climb much faster.
Items Consumed: Consumable items like healing potions, stat boosters, and other single-use items do not carry over. You'll start with an empty inventory in terms of consumables.
Quest Progression: While some key items from quests may carry over, your overall quest progress is reset. You’ll need to accept and complete quests again.
Elizabeth/Theodore's Requests: The requests from Elizabeth (or Theodore, depending on your chosen gender) are reset. You'll need to complete them again if you want the rewards they offer. Some of these requests can be quite challenging, so this gives you something to aim for.

Understanding what doesn't carry over helps you set realistic goals for your second playthrough. For example, knowing that Social Links reset means you can plan your days more efficiently to max them all out. Plan smart, guys, plan smart.

How to Maximize Your New Game Plus Experience

So, you're ready to jump back in. How do you make the most of it? Here are some tips and strategies to elevate your New Game Plus experience:

Focus on Maxing Social Links: With your social stats carrying over, this is the perfect opportunity to max out all Social Links. Use a guide if necessary to optimize your schedule. Maxing all Social Links not only unlocks powerful Personas but also enriches the story experience.
Experiment with Different Personas: With your Persona Compendium fully stocked, now’s the time to try out different Persona builds and strategies. Mix and match skills, exploit enemy weaknesses, and create the ultimate Persona team. Don't be afraid to experiment!
Tackle Elizabeth/Theodore's Requests: These requests offer unique challenges and rewards. Some of them require specific Personas or items, so use your knowledge from your previous playthrough to tackle them efficiently.
Try a Different Protagonist: If you played as the male protagonist in your first playthrough, try playing as the female protagonist this time. The story and social links are different, offering a fresh perspective on the game.
Increase the Difficulty: If you found the game too easy the first time, consider increasing the difficulty. With your carried-over stats and equipment, you’ll be well-equipped to handle the challenge.
Optimize Your Daily Routine: Use your knowledge of the game’s events and character schedules to optimize your daily routine. Plan when to study, when to socialize, and when to explore Tartarus. Efficiency is key!
Enjoy the Story: Now that you're not struggling with low stats or limited resources, take the time to savor the story and character interactions. Appreciate the nuances you might have missed the first time around.

By following these tips, you can transform your New Game Plus playthrough into an even more rewarding and enjoyable experience. It's all about making the most of your second chance, and discovering new facets of the game you love.

Persona Fusion in New Game Plus

Persona fusion is a cornerstone of the Persona 3 Portable gameplay experience, and in New Game Plus, it becomes even more strategic and rewarding. Given that you carry over your Persona Compendium and retain your level, you have immediate access to a wide array of Personas that were previously unavailable or too high-level to fuse. This opens up new avenues for team composition and combat tactics right from the get-go. Let's delve into how you can maximize Persona fusion in New Game Plus.

One of the primary advantages is the ability to fuse powerful Personas early in the game. Because your level is retained, you can immediately summon high-level Personas from your Compendium, provided you have the funds. This gives you a significant edge in early battles and allows you to tackle Tartarus with a much stronger team. Additionally, if you maxed out certain Social Links in your previous playthrough, you'll receive special items that allow you to fuse the ultimate Persona of those Arcana, provided you meet the level requirements. This further enhances your fusion capabilities and gives you access to some of the most powerful Personas in the game very early on.

Another strategy to consider is experimenting with different skill inheritance setups. In New Game Plus, you're not just limited to using the Personas you leveled up in your first playthrough. Instead, you can strategically fuse Personas to create unique skill sets that exploit enemy weaknesses or provide buffs to your party. For example, you might fuse a Persona with powerful elemental magic skills and then pass on support skills like healing or stat boosts. This allows you to create versatile Personas that can handle a variety of combat situations, making your team much more adaptable and effective.

Moreover, don't underestimate the power of skill cards in New Game Plus. Skill cards allow you to transfer specific skills from one Persona to another, giving you even more control over your Persona's abilities. By combining skill cards with strategic fusion, you can create truly customized Personas that cater to your specific playstyle and preferences. For instance, if you have a Persona with high magic stats but lacks a particular skill, you can use a skill card to teach it that skill, effectively creating the ultimate mage Persona. Skill cards are especially useful for filling in gaps in your Persona's skillset or for creating hybrid Personas that excel in both offense and support.

Finally, remember to continually update your Persona Compendium as you progress through New Game Plus. As you fuse new Personas and experiment with different skill combinations, be sure to register them in the Compendium so that you can summon them again in the future. This allows you to build up a comprehensive library of Personas that you can draw upon whenever you need them. Additionally, registering your Personas in the Compendium allows you to take advantage of Persona mutations, which can result in rare and powerful Personas with unique skills. By continually updating your Compendium, you'll always have access to the best Personas for any situation, giving you a significant advantage in combat.

Social Links in New Game Plus: A Fresh Perspective

One of the most compelling aspects of Persona 3 Portable is the intricate web of Social Links you can forge with various characters throughout the game. In New Game Plus, these Social Links take on a new dimension, offering both familiar comforts and fresh opportunities for growth. While your Social Link ranks reset, the experience is far from starting from scratch. Your diligently cultivated social stats—Academics, Charm, and Courage—carry over, making it significantly easier to initiate and advance these crucial relationships.

With your boosted social stats, you'll find that characters are more receptive to your advances from the outset. Dialogue options that were once locked behind stat requirements become readily available, allowing you to delve deeper into characters' stories and unlock their unique perks more efficiently. This newfound ease allows you to focus on maximizing your time and strategically planning your interactions to achieve your Social Link goals. You can afford to be more selective in your choices, prioritizing characters whose stories resonate with you or whose abilities complement your combat style.

Furthermore, New Game Plus provides an excellent opportunity to revisit Social Links you may have missed or neglected in your initial playthrough. Whether due to time constraints, conflicting schedules, or simply overlooking a character, you now have the chance to rectify those oversights and experience the full richness of the game's social landscape. By methodically working your way through these previously unexplored relationships, you can gain valuable insights into the characters' lives, unlock new Personas for fusion, and deepen your understanding of the game's overarching themes.

Moreover, don't underestimate the value of the special items you receive for maxing out Social Links in your previous playthrough. These items, typically given by characters as a sign of their enduring bond with the protagonist, allow you to fuse the ultimate Persona of that particular Arcana right from the start, provided you meet the level requirements. This not only gives you access to powerful Personas early in the game but also serves as a tangible reminder of the connections you forged in your previous journey, adding an extra layer of sentimentality to your New Game Plus experience.

Finally, consider experimenting with different dialogue choices and responses in your Social Link interactions. While your ultimate goal may remain the same—to max out each relationship—exploring alternative conversational paths can reveal hidden nuances in characters' personalities and shed new light on their motivations. You may discover surprising facets of their stories or uncover previously unnoticed connections between different characters, enriching your understanding of the game's social dynamics. By approaching Social Links with a sense of curiosity and openness, you can unlock new layers of depth and complexity, making your New Game Plus playthrough a truly unique and rewarding experience.

Mastering Tartarus in New Game Plus

In the realm of Persona 3 Portable, Tartarus stands as the towering, enigmatic dungeon that players must conquer to unravel the mysteries surrounding the Dark Hour. Venturing back into its depths in New Game Plus presents a unique blend of familiarity and challenge, offering seasoned adventurers the opportunity to refine their strategies and delve even deeper into its perilous floors. While your Tartarus progress resets, the advantages gained from your previous playthrough—such as retained character level, social stats, and Persona Compendium—provide a significant head start, allowing you to tackle its challenges with newfound confidence and efficiency.

One of the most immediate benefits of New Game Plus is the ability to access powerful Personas early in the game. With your Persona Compendium intact, you can summon high-level Personas that were previously unavailable, giving you a considerable edge in early battles. This allows you to breeze through the lower floors of Tartarus with relative ease, focusing on optimizing your team composition and conserving resources for the more challenging encounters that lie ahead. Additionally, your retained character level ensures that you can withstand enemy attacks more effectively, reducing the need for constant healing and allowing you to maintain a steady pace of exploration.

Moreover, your boosted social stats play a crucial role in your Tartarus expeditions. High Academics increase your ability to analyze enemy weaknesses, allowing you to exploit their vulnerabilities and deal maximum damage. Increased Charm enhances your ability to negotiate with Shadows, potentially earning valuable items and avoiding unnecessary battles. And improved Courage allows you to withstand fear and other status ailments, ensuring that you remain in peak condition throughout your dungeon crawls. By leveraging these social stats, you can navigate Tartarus with greater efficiency and minimize the risks associated with prolonged exploration.

Furthermore, New Game Plus provides an excellent opportunity to experiment with different team compositions and combat strategies in Tartarus. With a wide array of Personas at your disposal, you can tailor your team to suit specific enemy types or dungeon layouts, maximizing your effectiveness in battle. You can also experiment with different skill combinations and tactical maneuvers, discovering new ways to exploit enemy weaknesses and dominate the battlefield. By embracing a spirit of experimentation and innovation, you can unlock new strategies that allow you to conquer even the most challenging floors of Tartarus with ease.

Finally, don't underestimate the value of exploring every nook and cranny of Tartarus in New Game Plus. While your primary objective may be to reach the upper floors as quickly as possible, taking the time to thoroughly explore each floor can yield valuable rewards, such as rare items, powerful equipment, and hidden passageways. You may also encounter unique mini-bosses or optional challenges that offer additional rewards for those who dare to tackle them. By approaching Tartarus with a sense of curiosity and thoroughness, you can uncover hidden treasures and unlock new opportunities for growth, making your New Game Plus experience even more rewarding.