Persona 3 Portable: Tanaka (Devil) social link choices & unlock guide
The storylines of Persona 3 Portable will have you befriend a huge range of characters, but one of the most iconic is the Tanaka social link - which sees you get to know a middle-aged businessman with… well, let’s just say he doesn’t exactly have a heart of gold. He is on TV, though!
There’s two advantages to ranking up the Tanaka S-Link in Persona 3 - first, you’ll get to see Tanaka’s story more closely, and second it’ll help you out whenever you move to do any Persona Fusion to get Devil Arcana Persona. This guide will help you to tank up so fast that you can enjoy both benefits without it taking up too many in-game days.
President Tanaka S-Link Guide - Devil
The President Tanaka social link in Persona 3 Portable features a face that’ll be familiar to fans that have played Persona 3’s sequel - and this cut-throat businessman is appropriately here to represent the Devil arcana. Social Link ranks are determined by a hidden stat that rises when you spend time with each S-Link character, but you can speed up how quickly you rank up by saying the right things, which grants bonus social link experience.
On this page, we list all of the choices that offer that extra experience that’ll help you to rank up the Tanaka social link more quickly. Any choices not listed don’t offer bonuses, which means you can speak freely and say whatever you like. We list all of the choices for both the male and female protagonist, as their dialogues differ slightly.
- You can hang out with Tanaka at Paulownia Mall at night, though the days of the week he’s there vary.
Once you've tangled with the devil that is Tanaka, head back to our Persona 3 Portable Social Link guide to find help with every other S-Link.
Unlock & Rank 1:
The Tanaka social link is available from late June, but to actually start the S-Link relationship with this erstwhile representative of the Devil, you’ll need to fulfill certain specific requirements:
For the Male Protagonist to unlock Tanaka:
- You’ll need Rank 4 in your Charm Social Stat
- You must reach Rank 4 of the Hermit Social Link with Maya.
- You then must find Tanaka in Paulownia Mall on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights, then hand Tanaka 20,000 Yen, then two sets of 10,000 Yen.
For the Female Protagonist to unlock Tanaka:
- You’ll need Rank 2 in your Charm Social Stat
- You must reach Rank 2 of the Hermit Social Link with Saori.
- You then must find Tanaka in Paulownia Mall on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights, then hand Tanaka 20,000 Yen, then two sets of 10,000 Yen.
Once unlocked, the following choices can impact your relationship with this rank.
- The first rank of the Tanaka S-Link is automatic - the dialogue choices don’t matter. Say whatever you like!
Rank 1 > 2:
The following choices can impact your relationship with this rank.
Male Protagonist:
- ‘Placebo!’ The stress is on the middle syllable.
- “Placebo.” +3
- “......” +2
- These are part of our unique line of products.
- “Wow!” +2
- “Is that legal?” +23
Female Protagonist:
- ‘Placebo!’ The stress is on the middle syllable.
- “Placebo!” +3
- “......” +2
- These are part of our unique line of products.
- “Wow!” +3
- “Is that legal?” +3
Rank 2 > 3:
The following choices can impact your relationship with this rank.
Male Protagonist:
- How about you? Are you interested in stock trading?
- “Maybe a little.” +3
Female Protagonist:
- How about you? Are you interested in stock trading?
- “I am.” +3
Rank 3 > 4:
The following choices can impact your relationship with this rank.
Male Protagonist:
- Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be able to see through people’s bathing suits at the beach?
- “I sure have!” +3
Female Protagonist:
- Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be able to see through people’s bathing suits at the beach?
- “I have.” +3
Rank 4 > 5:
The following choices can impact your relationship with this rank.
Male Protagonist:
- Oh dear me… I just can’t concentrate. I get so worked up when I picture his face!
- “Who’re you talking about?” +2
- It makes me sick just thinking about it… Uh…
- “Is it always about money?” +2
Female Protagonist:
- Oh dear me… I just can’t concentrate. I get so worked up when I picture his face!
- “Who?” +3
- It makes me sick just thinking about it… Uh…
- “It’s all about money…” +3
Rank 5 > 6:
The following choices can impact your relationship with this rank.
Male Protagonist:
- Recently, my alumni association organized a class reunion.
- “Sounds fun.” +3
Female Protagonist:
- Recently, my alumni association organized a class reunion.
- “Sounds like fun!” +3
Rank 6 > 7:
The following choices can impact your relationship with this rank.
Male Protagonist:
- Do you notice anything different about me?
- “Sort of…” +3
- Which one do you think the supermarket would stock?
- “The organic one.” +3
- “The one that looks good.” +2
Female Protagonist:
- Do you notice anything different about me?
- “Kind of…” +3
- Which one do you think the supermarket would stock?
- “The organic one.” +3
- “The one that looks good.” +2
Rank 7 > 8:
The following choices can impact your relationship with this rank.
Male Protagonist:
- He said, ‘Thank you.’
- “Oh, really?” +3
Female Protagonist:
- He said, ‘Thank you.’
- “Good for you.” +3
Rank 8 > 9:
The following choices can impact your relationship with this rank.
Male Protagonist:
- No matter how attractive she was, I was repulsed by her dedication to charity work.
- “Are you going to donate?” +3
- “You’re not gonna donate?” +3
Female Protagonist:
- No matter how attractive she was, I was repulsed by her dedication to charity work.
- “Are you going to donate?” +3
- “Did you refuse?” +3
Rank 9 > 10:
The following choices can impact your relationship with this rank.
Male Protagonist:
- See? Isn’t she gorgeous?
- “Absolutely…” +3
Female Protagonist:
- No impactful dialogue choices appear in this rank - you’ll just advance right to maximum rank for the Tanaka social link.