So, you’re playing Persona 4 Golden. You just met the girl in the velvet hat who writes aggressive, cringey poetry and yells at you for looking at her. You’re probably wondering: do I actually need to deal with this?
The short answer is yes.
Honestly, if you want the "Golden" version of the ending, the Marie social link Persona 4 requirement is the most important thing on your to-do list. It’s not just about getting a cool new Persona or seeing some extra cutscenes. If you ignore her, you’re basically locking yourself out of a massive chunk of the game's true conclusion. You'll miss an entire dungeon, a major lore reveal about the origins of the fog, and the emotional epilogue that makes Golden feel different from the original PS2 version.
How the Marie Social Link Actually Works
Starting things off is easy enough. After April 18th, you just walk into the Velvet Room and pick "Check on Dwellers." Margaret will basically force you to take Marie out.
From there, she usually hangs out outside the Velvet Room in the Shopping District (South). She’s available on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. But here’s the catch: she won’t hang out with you if it’s raining. She also won't be available if you haven't finished the current dungeon’s "missing person" investigation.
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The pacing of her link is weird. You’ll hit a brick wall at Rank 4. You literally cannot go past Rank 4 until July 24th. This is because her scenes involve the rest of the Investigation Team, and the game needs to make sure Rise has joined the squad before things move forward.
Key Deadlines You Can't Miss
The big date to circle in red is December 23rd. That is the absolute last day to hit Rank 10.
If you haven't maxed her out by the time you finish the December dungeon (Magatsu Inaba), you’re done. The game will fast-forward, and the extra February content simply won't trigger. Most people panic in December, but the game actually does you a favor here: Marie becomes available almost every single day in December.
The Best Dialogue Choices for Marie
Most of the time, your choices don't matter as much as they do with characters like Dojima or Nanako. A lot of Marie’s responses give the same amount of points regardless of what you say. Still, having an Aeon Arcana Persona in your inventory is non-negotiable. It boosts the points you get and prevents those annoying "I spent time but didn't rank up" days.
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- Rank 3: When she asks about the city, say "People-watch" or "Play around." Both give +3.
- Rank 4: She’ll ask if you get tired of the city. Tell her "It's fun" for the max boost.
- Rank 9: This is the big one. If you want to romance her, you have to choose "Because I love you." Then you have to hug her. If you just want to be friends, pick "Because you're my friend."
Funny thing about the romance? It doesn't trigger the "cheating" drama during the Valentine's Day event like the other girls do. Because she lives in the Velvet Room, she's sort of... separate from the social consequences of your bad behavior. Take that how you will.
Why Everyone Talks About the Hollow Forest
Maxing the Marie social link Persona 4 unlocks the Hollow Forest dungeon in February.
It is, quite frankly, a pain in the neck. You lose all your items. Your SP gets cut in half after every single battle. It’s a survival-style gauntlet that tests how well you actually understand the game's mechanics rather than just how much you grinded.
If you don't finish this dungeon on February 13th, Marie is essentially gone. To even get into the dungeon, you have to talk to Margaret on New Year’s Day (January 2nd) and tell her you want to find Marie. If you don't ask Margaret to search for her, the game just moves on to the end.
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The Lore Bomb Most People Miss
Why is she even in the game?
Without spoiling too much, Marie is the missing piece of the mythological puzzle. While the original game focuses on Izanami, Marie represents a specific part of that deity—the part that actually cared about humanity before things went sideways. Completing her link turns the final boss fight from a "kill the god" moment into a "save the world and your friend" moment.
It changes the tone of the ending significantly. Instead of just leaving Inaba, you get an epilogue set months later where you see how everyone has grown.
Actionable Tips for Your Playthrough
- Don't Rush Early: You're capped at Rank 4 for months. Spend that time on school friends or the Fox.
- December is Your Safety Net: If you're at Rank 5 in November, don't sweat it. You can blitz the rest in the first two weeks of December.
- The "Special" Requirement: Between Rank 5 and 6, and again between Rank 9 and 10, you might need to spend one "extra" day with her even if the game says you're ready to rank up. It’s a known quirk.
- Always Bring an Aeon Persona: It saves you at least 3-4 calendar days over the course of the game.
If you’re aiming for the 100% completion or just want the most emotional version of the story, treat Marie as a priority. She might be "extra" content, but by the time the credits roll in the Golden ending, she feels like the heart of the whole mystery.
To make sure you don't miss the January events, you should verify your current rank immediately. If you're past July and still at Rank 1, start visiting the Shopping District South on your next free Saturday.