President Tanaka Persona 3 Reload Social Link: Why You Should Pay Up

So, you’re hanging out at Paulownia Mall at night, probably trying to boost your stats or just killing time before the next Tartarus run, and you see him. The man, the myth, the corporate shark: President Tanaka. He’s standing by the fountain, looking like he’s about to sell you a bridge or a very expensive blender.

Honestly, the persona 3 reload tanaka social link is one of the weirdest yet most rewarding bonds in the entire game. Unlike the school kids or the grieving elderly couple at the bookstore, Tanaka doesn't want your friendship. He wants your money. Specifically, he wants a lot of it.

How to actually get Tanaka to talk to you

Getting this link started is a bit of a process. You can't just walk up and say hi. First off, you’ve got to hit Rank 4 of the Hermit Social Link (that's Maya, the girl you talk to on the MMO). She’ll mention a shady businessman at the mall.

Once you have that lead, you need to check your stats. If your Charm isn't at Rank 4 (Smooth), Tanaka won't even give you the time of day. He’s got standards, even if they're mostly based on how well you can pull off a blazer.

Then comes the "investment."
On three separate nights, you have to fork over cash.

• First night: 20,000 yen.
• Second night: 10,000 yen.
• Third night: 10,000 yen.

That is 40,000 yen total. For a high schooler in 2009, that’s basically a small fortune. You might be tempted to keep your cash for new gear or those expensive arcade games, but trust me, pay the man.

Why the Devil Arcana is basically a freebie

Here is the thing about the persona 3 reload tanaka social link: it is almost impossible to mess up. In most Social Links, you have to carefully choose your words to maximize points. If you say the wrong thing to Yukari or Junpei, you might waste a whole afternoon without ranking up.

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Tanaka is different. He is the Devil Arcana, and in this game, that means he’s incredibly easy to level. Most of the time, you will rank up every single time you see him, regardless of what you say. You don't even need to carry a Devil persona in your inventory to speed things up, though having one (like Lilim or Mokoi) certainly doesn't hurt if you’re paranoid.

He’s available on Tuesday and Saturday nights. Since most Social Links happen during the day, Tanaka is the perfect way to spend your evenings once you’ve maxed out your social stats at the diner or the arcade.

The best answers for every rank

Even though he ranks up quickly, if you want to feel like a true corporate apprentice, here are the choices that usually net the most "points."

Rank 2

• "Placebo."
• "Wow."
• "Can you even sell those?"

Rank 3

• "Maybe a little."

Rank 4

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• "Sure have!"

Rank 5

• "Whose face?"
• "It’s all about the money..."

Rank 6

• "Sounds fun."

Rank 7

• "Sort of..."
• "The organic one."

Rank 8

• "You must’ve misheard."
• "Why would he say that?"

Rank 9

• "Are you going to donate?"

What do you get for maxing him out?

By the time you hit Rank 10, you’ll realize Tanaka is... well, he’s still a shark, but a shark with a tiny bit of a soul. Maxing out the persona 3 reload tanaka social link gives you the Thank-You Letter.

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This key item is the only way to fuse Beelzebub, the ultimate Persona of the Devil Arcana. Beelzebub is a powerhouse for late-game builds, especially if you’re looking for heavy-hitting dark or status-ailment spells.

Plus, there’s just something satisfying about seeing Tanaka’s story through. He’s a recurring character in the Persona universe (you’ll see his home shopping program in Persona 4 and Persona 5), and this link gives you the origin story of how he became the "Amazing Tanaka."

Don't wait too long

While Tanaka is available late into the game, don't ignore him until January. Nighttime slots are valuable for other activities, like the Tower Social Link (Mutatsu the monk) or hanging out with your teammates in the dorm to unlock their unique combat characteristics.

If you’re short on cash, spend a few extra floors in Tartarus hunting down Gold Shadows. They drop medals you can sell at the police station for a killing. Once you have that 40k yen, head straight to the mall.

Actionable Next Steps:

1. Focus on the Hermit (Maya) link on Sundays to hit Rank 4 as soon as possible.
2. Spend your nights at the Hagakure Ramen shop or the Arcade to boost your Charm to Rank 4.
3. Save 40,000 yen by selling loot from Tartarus; do not spend it on weapons you’ll outgrow in two weeks.
4. Visit Tanaka on Tuesday or Saturday nights to start the three-step payment process.