Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era with cutting-edge graphics and gameplay. One of the features that makes this game so engaging is the social link system, which allows you to form meaningful relationships with various characters and unlock new abilities and bonuses. One of the social links you can pursue is the Moon social link, which involves befriending a mysterious and eccentric student who calls himself the Gourmet King. But how do you start the Gourmet King social link in Persona 3 Reload? Here are some tips and tricks to help you out.
What is the Gourmet King and why do you need the Moon social link?
The Gourmet King is the nickname of Nozomi Suemitsu, a chubby student who is obsessed with food and claims to have a refined palate. He is often found at Paulownia Mall, sitting by the fountain and eating various dishes. He is also the leader of a cult-like group called the Gourmet Club, which worships food as a divine entity.
The Gourmet King is the representative of the Moon arcana, which symbolizes dreams, illusions, and madness. By forming a bond with him, you can unlock the Moon social link, which will grant you access to new Personas of the Moon arcana, such as Andras, Girimehkala, and Seth. You can also learn more about Nozomi’s personality, his motivations, and his secrets.
How to start the Gourmet King social link in Persona 3 Reload?
To start the Gourmet King social link, you need to meet two requirements:
- You need to have at least level 2 Charm. Charm is one of the three social stats that you can improve by doing various activities, such as studying, going to the movies, or drinking coffee. Having a high Charm will make you more attractive and persuasive to others, and will also unlock new dialogue options and events. You can check your Charm level by looking at the mirror in your room or by talking to the attendant at the Velvet Room.
- You need to have reached rank 3 in the Magician social link. The Magician social link is the first one you can start in the game, and it involves hanging out with Kenji Tomochika, a friendly and energetic classmate who has a crush on a teacher. You can find Kenji at the school library on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons. By advancing the Magician social link, you will not only unlock new Personas of the Magician arcana, such as Jack Frost, Pyro Jack, and Surt, but also learn about the Gourmet King from Kenji, who will mention him in passing.
Once you have met these two requirements, you can find the Gourmet King at Paulownia Mall, sitting by the fountain. He will have a blue card icon above his head, indicating that he is available for a social link. However, before you can start the social link, you need to pass a quiz that he will give you. He will ask you three questions about the mall and its surroundings, and you need to answer them correctly. Here are the questions and the answers:
- What is the most popular drink at the café over there? Answer: Pheromone Coffee
- What color skirt does Azuki Arai’s mascot, Azuki-chan, wear? Answer: Red
- What item is on the secret menu at Hagakure? Answer: Hagakure Bowl
If you answer all the questions correctly, the Gourmet King will be impressed by your knowledge and will ask you for a favor. He will ask you to bring him a food item that he has never eaten before. The item he is looking for is an Odd Morsel, which you can obtain from a chest in Tartarus, the mysterious tower that appears during the Dark Hour. The Odd Morsel is a rare item, so you may need to explore the lower floors of Tartarus to find it.
How to advance the Gourmet King social link in Persona 3 Reload?
Once you have given the Odd Morsel to the Gourmet King, you will officially start the Moon social link with him. To advance the social link, you need to hang out with him whenever he is available, which is usually on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. You also need to have a Persona of the Moon arcana in your stock, which will increase the points you earn with him. You can check the points you need for each rank and the best answers to his dialogue options in this guide.
As you progress through the social link, you will discover more about the Gourmet King’s life, his passion for food, his relationship with his family, and his involvement with the Gourmet Club. You will also have to deal with some challenges and conflicts that arise from his actions and choices. Depending on how you handle these situations, you will either strengthen or weaken your bond with him.
What are the benefits of the Gourmet King social link in Persona 3 Reload?
The main benefit of the Gourmet King social link is that you can fuse new and powerful Personas of the Moon arcana, which have high magic and endurance stats and can use various elemental spells. Some of the Personas you can fuse are:
- Andras (level 10): A demon with the head of an owl and the body of a man. He can use Garu and Sukunda skills.
- Girimehkala (level 44): A giant elephant-like creature with a skull face. He can use Mudoon and Counterstrike skills.
- Seth (level 51): A mythical serpent with wings and a human head. He can use Agidyne and Maragidyne skills.
Another benefit of the Gourmet King social link is that you can get some useful items from him as rewards for advancing the social link. Some of the items you can get are:
- Rank 2: Odd Morsel x3
- Rank 4: Super Cat Food x1
- Rank 6: Odd Morsel x5
- Rank 8: Super Cat Food x3
- Rank 10: Moonlight Robe x1
The Moonlight Robe is a special armor that can only be obtained from the Gourmet King. It has high defense and evasion, and it also reduces the damage from all elements by 50%.
The Gourmet King social link is one of the most unique and quirky social links in Persona 3 Reload, as it involves a character who has a very different perspective and lifestyle from the others. By befriending him, you can unlock new Personas, items, and insights into his world. Persona 3 Reload is a game that offers many possibilities and challenges for the players, and creating your own Personas and social links is one of the most rewarding aspects of it.
