The Strength Social Link is one of the many Social Links in Persona 4 Golden. While not necessary to complete the game, getting Strength to Rank 10 can greatly aid P4G players - especially on a first playthrough. Unlike most Social Links, the Strength Social Link is shared between two characters instead of one.
Kou Ichijo and Daisuke Nagase are the optional characters for Strength in Persona 4 Golden. Depending on the protagonist's choice, either Kou or Daisuke will be the "main focus" of the Social Link. The rewards are still the same, so it doesn't matter who's chosen. However, as one might expect, the "story" of the Strength Social Link is influenced by the player's decision.
Where to Find Kou/Daisuke
On April 19th, the protagonist can join the Basketball Team or the Soccer Team by speaking to Morooka on the first floor of the Classroom Building. Choosing the Basketball Team will have Kou; the Soccer Team will have Daisuke. Both characters appear in one another's Social Link. In fact, Strength is labeled "Fellow Athletes" rather than "Kou Ichijo/Daisuke Nagase" in the Social Links menu.
They're available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. They're not available on rainy days or during exams. Since they're one of the few Social Links that are available practically every day, it's possible for players to have Strength leveled to Rank 10 before the midway point of P4G. Furthermore, Kou or Daisuke will call during holidays to spend the day together, which is a way to get free Social Link points.
Players should consider bringing a Persona of the Strength Arcana before they spend time with Kou/Daisuke. Doing so will add one extra point towards the "best" answers during the Social Link. The following Personas are Strength:
- Hanuman
- Kali
- Kusi Mitama
- Oni
- Rakshasa
- Sandman
- Siegfried
- Valkyrie
- Titan
Kou & Daisuke Social Link Guide
Rank 1
Both versions of Rank 1 for Strength are automatic. If players choose Kou/Basketball, they'll learn about Kou's backstory and his adoption. Choosing Daisuke/Soccer is lighthearted and more about learning why he won't date anyone. Between the two of them, Daisuke has an automatic Rank, but fewer dialogue options to earn Social Link points. Kou has no automatic Rank and more dialogue options. Regardless, the protagonist is going to have to spend Free Time with the Strength Social Link to earn enough points to advance to the next Rank. They can do this by spending the day with them or drawing a fortune from Tatsuhime Shrine (available after May 5th).
Rank 2
These are the best dialogue choices (with a matching Persona) for Rank 2:
|
Kou Ichijo |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"Hey [protag], Aiya or Junes? You decide." |
Aiya |
3 |
N/A |
|
Junes |
|||
|
"Well, I do like me some sweets..." |
I'm jealous. |
2 |
N/A |
|
"You like sweets, [protag]? Want me to get you some, too?" |
[Any Answer.] |
2 |
N/A |
|
Daisuke Nagase |
|||
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"Hey, [protag]. Tear down the goals and clean up before you leave, alright?" |
Got it. |
0 |
Adds a point towards Understanding. |
|
"Still, it went pretty fast with three people." |
Thanks for the help. |
3 |
N/A |
Rank 3
These are the best dialogue choices (with a matching Persona) for Kou's Rank 3:
|
Kou Ichijo |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"...I want to help him out." |
Just tell me how. |
3 |
N/A |
|
"She calls it 'barbaric'." |
But it's just a sport... |
2 |
N/A |
|
I can see that. |
|||
|
"So... I want you to help him out." |
3 |
N/A |
|
|
Daisuke Nagase |
|||
|
Daisuke's Rank 3 is Automatic. |
|||
Rank 4
These are the best dialogue choices (with a matching Persona) for Rank 4:
|
Kou Ichijo |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"Just the other day I was greeting people at one of those high society gatherings. Can you imagine? Me, at one of those things?" |
[Any Answer.] |
2 |
N/A |
|
"> Kou tries to sound cheerful..." |
That's good for you. |
2 |
N/A |
|
Cheer up, man. |
|||
|
Daisuke Nagase |
|||
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"Whatever... Girls are a pain in the ass, right, [protag]?" |
Right on. |
3 |
N/A |
Rank 5
These are the best dialogue choices (with a matching Persona) for Rank 5:
|
Kou Ichijo |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"Hey. Practice over already?" |
You've got some nerve... |
3 |
N/A |
|
"But me, I'm feeling like I've sunk to the bottom of the ocean" |
Let's go do something fun. |
3 |
N/A |
|
Daisuke Nagase |
|||
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"> Kou is also beaming like it's all thanks to him..." |
[Any Answer.] |
3 |
N/A |
Rank 6
These are the best dialogue choices (with a matching Persona) for Rank 6:
|
Kou Ichijo |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"Hey, [protag], what's his problem? Is he sick or something?" |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
"Right?" |
You're right. |
3 |
N/A |
|
A real game? Impossible... |
|||
|
"I got some dirt on a bunch of other guys too, so we should have no problem getting together a full team." |
[Any Answer.] |
2 |
N/A |
|
Daisuke Nagase |
|||
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"I have to do some family stuff today, though. Would next time be okay?" |
Anything for you guys. |
3 |
Requires Level 4 Understanding. |
|
No problem. |
2 |
N/A |
|
Rank 7
These are the best dialogue choices (with a matching Persona) for Rank 7:
|
Kou Ichijo |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"Should I just leave?" |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
"Yeah, the orphanage." |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
"I was thinking maybe I'd ask about my real parents." |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
Daisuke Nagase |
|||
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"I have to do the class record today, so don't wait up for me." |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
"Tell you what, we'll talk over mapo rice. My treat!" |
Sounds good. |
3 |
N/A |
|
"You think it could be related...?" |
Could be... |
3 |
N/A |
|
"What do you think?" |
We've got a problem. |
3 |
N/A |
|
">Kou is looking at you expectantly..." |
Count me in. |
3 |
N/A |
Rank 8
These are the best dialogue choices (with a matching Persona) for Rank 8:
|
Kou Ichijo |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"I'm kinda worried..." |
Let's catch up to him. |
3 |
N/A |
|
"What are you two doing here?" |
[Any Answer.] |
3 |
N/A |
|
"I have no one..." |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
Daisuke Nagase |
|||
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"> Their quarrel starts to escalate..." |
Stop them. |
3 |
N/A |
|
"You got that!? It's MY life! You guys have nothing to do with it!" |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
"You can be pretty sincere when you want to, Daisuke." |
That's his charm. |
3 |
N/A |
Rank 9
These are the best dialogue choices (with a matching Persona) for Rank 9:
|
Kou Ichijo |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"And now that I don't have to wear that mask anymore... I guess it's time to step off the stage." |
Don't jump to conclusions. |
3 |
N/A |
|
"...What do you think?" |
It was written recently. |
3 |
N/A |
|
"How 'bout you? Wanna go for a dip?" |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
Daisuke Nagase |
|||
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"I wonder if she's as stuck in the past as I am." |
Could be. |
3 |
N/A |
|
I don't know. |
|||
Rank 10
Like every other Rank 10 in P4G, Strength Rank 10 is automatic. Any dialogue option can be chosen here and will not affect the Social Link. Once this is completed, the protagonist has no need to keep spending time with them and can focus on other Social Links.
Social Link Completion Reward
As a reward, Kou will give the protagonist the Letter to Kou Key Item. If Daisuke was chosen, then he'll give the Spike Brush Key Item instead. These allow the protagonist to fuse the ultimate form of the Strength Aracna: Zaou-Gongen. Since these are Key Items, they'll carry over into NG+, allowing the protagonist to fuse Zaou-Gongen without having to do the Social Link.
Zaou-Gongen is a level 90 Persona. He doesn't require Special Fusions and only needs two Personas (ex: Surt + Uriel). However, if the protagonist isn't level 90, then Margaret will tell him he's not strong enough to control Zaou-Gongen, and the Fusion will be locked off until he reaches level 90 or higher. If Zaou-Gongen's already been fused, then he can be bought from the Compendium for 78,000+ yen on NG+.
Zaou-Gongen is not a good magic attacker, and he's not very swift either. His best stats are his Strength and Endurance. His level up Abilities consist mostly of Passive Skills and one Physical Ability (ie: Vorpal Blade). Noteworthy Abilities are his Evade Physical (triples evasion against Physical attacks) and Enduring Soul (withstand a lethal attack when at 100% HP). Zaou-Gongen also has Maragidyne and Fire Amp, but since his Magic is generally poor (unless players choose to level up his Magic), it's best to leave the Agi-based attacks to another Persona or Yukiko.
Persona 4 Golden is available on PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.