Akihiko Sanada is an essential character in Persona 3 Reload, and once he enters your group, he delivers a formidable combination of Strike damage, Electric damage, and healing. But after venturing out alone during the Dark Hour, he’s hurt, and won’t be accessible until he’s completely healed.
Akihiko’s Persona is Polydeuces, an Emperor Persona. Its most essential attribute is that it can deliver Electric damage, which is especially useful in Arqa, the second block of Tartarus. That’s where you’ll find several strong shadows that are vulnerable to Electric damage, such the Swift Axle and Steel Gigas.
Right at the beginning of the game, you find that the over-eager Akihiko had gone out on the streets alone during Dark Hour, and got himself beaten up. For weeks thereafter, all everyone seems to speak about is what a badass he is, and how awesome it’ll be when he’s ready to fight again. But although they make it seem like this will be any day now, the day never, ever seems to arrive. It will arrive, albeit there’s an overwhelming amount of teasing and forewarning in the interim.
When do you obtain Akihiko in Persona 3 Reload?
To recruit Akihiko join your party in Persona 3 Reload, there’s nothing in particular you have to accomplish, or any prerequisites you need to satisfy. Him joining your party is merely a programmed occurrence that occurs on a specified day, May 23 (5/23). That’s the same day as your final midterm test, and you may travel to Tartarus with Akihiko that same evening. So, Akihiko joins the party on May 23.
Frustratingly for me, May 23 was also the same day I found I’d struck another dead end in Tartarus. I was at Floor 42, and the second half of the Arqa block would be blocked by a closed route until the following full moon. So, while Akihiko was allowed to join my party, I couldn’t truly put him to the test for another several weeks.
He proved a good addition to the party in the end, however. Mainly because of his Electric damage abilities, but also because his basic strikes have a fair probability of causing critical hits, and because his healing skills are helpful, especially when Yukari isn’t accessible or when you just haven’t picked her.
