So, you’re stuck in the subway. Not the real one—the deep, pulsing, red-veined tunnels of Mementos. It’s easy to treat the "Prison of Sloth" as a chore, a place you only visit when Morgana yells at you or when you need to grind out a few levels for the next Palace boss. But honestly, if you’re ignoring Persona 5 Mementos requests, you’re basically playing half a game. These isn't just side fluff. It’s where the actual world-building happens.
Mementos is the "bottomless" dungeon that reflects the collective psyche of Tokyo. While Palaces are the distorted desires of the powerful, requests represent the everyday rot. The bully at school. The abusive boss. The scam artist. Dealing with these targets isn't just about getting rewards; it’s the only way to max out your Confidants and see the true ending of the game. If you don't clear enough of them, you’ll hit a literal wall later on. It’s annoying, sure, but it’s also the heart of the Phantom Thieves’ mission.
How Persona 5 Mementos Requests Actually Work
Most people think you just get a text and go. Wrong. It’s more reactive than that. You usually get requests from Mishima via the Phan-Site, but some are tied directly to your Confidant ranks. For example, once you hit Rank 7 or 8 with most characters, they’ll stop progressing. They’ll mention a "problem" in the real world. That’s your cue. You can’t just talk your way out of it; you have to go into the Metaverse and change a heart.
The structure is pretty loose. You enter Mementos, find the floor where the target is hiding (Mishima usually gives you a general area like the Path of Qimranut or Akzeriyyuth), and look for a distorted shadow. They look like mini-bosses. Some are pushovers. Others? They will absolutely wipe your party if you aren't prepared for specific elemental weaknesses.
Timing is everything
Don't go to Mementos for a single request. That’s a rookie mistake. It wastes a day. In a game where time is your most precious resource, you should wait until you have at least three or four requests piled up. The sweet spot is usually right after you've secured the "Route to the Treasure" in a main Palace but before you send the calling card. That way, you're high-level, you have the gear, and you can clear an entire section of the tracks in one go.
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The Mishima Factor
Yuuki Mishima is basically your quest log. If you ignore his texts, you miss the requests. Some of these are time-sensitive or require you to work a specific part-time job to "identify" the target. For "One Who Bullies Bullies," you have to actually listen to gossip outside the school gate. If you aren't paying attention to the NPC dialogue, these requests stay "unidentified" in your menu, and you can't fight the shadow. It’s a bit of a hunt. It’s not just a menu check-box.
The Rank Blocks You Didn't See Coming
You’re hanging out with Sojiro, trying to be a good "daughter" or "son" figure, and suddenly he shuts down. Or maybe Kawakami won't take your calls. This is the "Confidant Wall."
Specifically, the "A Teacher Maid to Suffer" request is a big one. You can't reach the max rank with Kawakami (which is arguably the best perk in the game because it lets you go out at night after a Palace) without finishing her Mementos request. Same goes for Chihaya, the fortune teller. You have to take down her former cult leader in the "Ending the Boyfriend's Tyranny" request.
Why the rewards matter more than the money
Sure, you get some Yen. Maybe a "Soma" or a high-end accessory. But the real "reward" is the unlocked Persona fusion. By completing these requests, you allow these characters to reach Rank 10. That unlocks the ultimate Persona of that Arcana. If you want to fuse Beelzebub or Chi You, you better start checking those Mementos texts.
Also, let’s talk about the "Shadow" designs. Unlike Palace bosses which are unique models, Mementos targets are usually palette swaps of standard Personas, but they have massively inflated HP pools and unique move sets. The "Killer Who Cleans the Trash" is a notorious difficulty spike if you go in underleveled. It's a test of your tactical depth, not just your level.
Finding the Unidentified Targets
This is where most players get frustrated. You see a request in your log, but the name is "???" and the location is "Unknown."
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To identify a target, you usually have to do one of three things:
- Work a job: Some targets only reveal themselves if you work at the Triple Seven convenience store or the Rafflesia flower shop a few times.
- Eavesdrop: Listen to the people talking in the Underground Walkway or at Shujin Academy. The game doesn't highlight them with big icons. You have to actually walk past them and wait for the "..." bubbles to appear.
- Wait for Mishima: Sometimes he just needs a few days to get more info from the Phan-Site.
The "A-ha!" moments
There’s a specific request called "The Bark and Bite of a Bully." You get it early, but you can’t finish it until you find the bully’s name. You find it by talking to a kid outside the school. It’s a small touch, but it makes the world feel lived-in. You’re a detective as much as a thief.
Strategy for the Deep Tracks
As you get deeper—into the Path of Sheriruth or Iwarzatsu—the requests get nasty. We’re talking about shadows that reflect physical damage or spam "Megidolaon."
Status ailments are your best friend. Most Mementos bosses aren't immune to everything. If you can land a "Dizzy" or "Confuse" on a target, you can trigger Technical hits. In Persona 5 Royal, Technical damage is broken. Use it. Also, don't forget that Ryuji’s Rank 7 ability "Instant Kill" works in Mementos. If you're overleveled, you can literally dash through shadows and get the rewards/experience without entering a battle. It makes clearing the floors to get to your request target ten times faster.
The Reaper: A Word of Caution
While you’re hunting for your request target, do not stay on one floor for too long. If you hear the sound of chains, run. The Reaper is a level 99 superboss that will hunt you down. In the original P5, you could cheese him during "Flu Season," but in Persona 5 Royal, that’s been patched out. He’s there to make sure you don't dawdle while looking for your targets.
Crucial Mementos Requests You Can’t Ignore
If you're aiming for 100% completion or just want the best experience, keep an eye out for these specific missions. They usually trigger around the mid-to-late game and have significant narrative weight.
- "The Cheat Who Sweeps the Game": This one is mandatory to progress Shinya Oda’s (The King) Confidant. You actually can't win this fight the first time. The shadow cheats. You have to leave, talk to Shinya in the real world to learn a "special move," and then go back. It's one of the few times the game forces a two-trip narrative in Mementos.
- "Daughter's Just a Meal Ticket": This is tied to Hifumi Togo. It’s a tragic look at stage parents and the pressure of the professional Shogi world.
- "Upcycling a Swindler": This is for the politician, Yoshida. It’s one of the easier ones, but it’s essential if you want the best negotiation skills in the game.
The Persona 5 Royal Changes
If you’re playing the Royal version, Mementos is a different beast. You have Jose. He’s a weird egg-shaped boy who lets you trade "Flowers" and "Star Stamps" to change the cognition of Mementos. You can actually buff the amount of EXP, money, or items you get from the dungeon. If you’re going down there to clear requests, always talk to Jose first. Maxing out the EXP gain makes those Mementos trips significantly more efficient.
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Managing Your Resources
Going into the Metaverse is a drain on your SP. If you run out of SP halfway to a request target, you’re in trouble.
- Stock up on coffee and curry: Use your nights at Leblanc.
- Adhesive 3 accessories: Buy these from Takemi (Death Confidant) as soon as possible. They regenerate SP every turn. They are expensive but life-changing.
- Check the weather: On rainy days, more rare items drop in Mementos, and the "Treasure Demons" appear more often. It’s the best time to go hunting for requests.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
To stay ahead of the curve and avoid the end-game grind, follow this workflow:
- Check your phone daily. Don't let Mishima’s messages sit there. Read them to "accept" the request, even if you don't plan on doing it yet.
- Stack your requests. Never enter Mementos for just one shadow. Wait until you have at least three, or a Confidant is blocked.
- Use the "Goho-M" or "Traesto" skill. Don't walk all the way back up. Use items to warp to the entrance and save your progress.
- Prioritize Kawakami and Chihaya. Their requests unlock the most powerful time-saving and stat-boosting mechanics in the game.
- Talk to NPCs. If a request says "Unidentified," go to the location mentioned in the description and look for the chat bubbles.
Mementos isn't just a subway—it's the connective tissue of Persona 5's story. Treating these requests as more than just a checklist will give you a much deeper appreciation for what the Phantom Thieves are actually trying to change. It's about the small injustices, the ones that don't get a Palace, but still hurt people every day. Go down there, find the shadows, and take their hearts. Your Confidants will thank you for it.