You’re staring at the screen, and the red security lasers are basically mocking you. We've all been there. If you are playing Persona 5 Royal, or perhaps digging back into the original, the fourth Palace—belonging to Futaba Sakura—is a massive shift in tone. But it’s the Katayama Palace power plant map (or more accurately, the layout of the underground facility within the Pyramid of Wrath) that tends to drive people absolutely wild. It is a maze. It’s hot. It’s dusty. Honestly, it is one of the most mechanically dense sections of the entire game because it forces you to stop thinking like a thief and start thinking like an electrician.
Most people call it the Katayama Palace because of the specific shadow encounters and the oppressive atmosphere that feels like a factory, even though it’s technically buried under a desert tomb. It's a grind.
The map isn't just about getting from point A to point B. It’s a puzzle of verticality and logic gates. You aren't just looking for a door; you’re looking for a way to manipulate the flow of power to open walls that haven't seen the light of day in centuries. This specific section of the Metaverse represents the "clutter" and the "blockages" in Futaba’s heart. If you don't understand the map, you’re going to burn through your SP (Spirit Points) just fighting respawning shadows while you wander in circles. That's the trap.
Navigating the Power Plant: It’s All About the Orbs
When you first look at the Katayama Palace power plant map layout, you’ll notice it’s split into several distinct chambers. These aren't just rooms. They are nodes. The primary mechanic here involves the blue and red power orbs. If you’ve played JRPGs before, you know the drill: toggle a switch, a door opens, but another one closes.
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It sounds simple. It isn't.
The game designers at Atlus really leaned into the "broken circuit" metaphor here. You’ll find yourself in the Chamber of Sanctuary, and suddenly, the path forward is blocked by a literal wall of light. To bypass this, you have to backtrack. Most players hate backtracking. But in the power plant section, backtracking is the only way to progress. You have to find the pedestal, grab the orb, and then find the other pedestal that actually powers the door you need.
Here is the thing: the map often lies to you. Or rather, it shows you the 2D layout of a 3D problem. You might see a corridor on your mini-map that looks accessible, but because the power is routed to the wrong floor, that "corridor" is currently a solid wall of cognitive static.
The Chamber of Rejection vs. The Power Corridors
In the Chamber of Rejection, the stakes get higher. This is where the power plant map becomes a test of patience. You’ll encounter the "Searchlight" puzzles. If you trip these, shadows spawn instantly. It’s annoying. It’s meant to be.
To clear this area effectively, you need to focus on the consoles. There is a specific console near the middle of the plant that allows you to "Override" certain security protocols. If you missed this because you were too busy trying to sneak past a level 35 Anubis, go back. You need that override. Without it, the map remains a series of dead ends.
Shadows in this area, like the Mot (the floating coffin) or the various Naga variants, are notoriously aggressive. If you are lost in the power plant, you are vulnerable. The best strategy is to clear a room, then immediately check the map for the "dashed lines." Those dashed lines indicate where a wall can be moved if the power is routed correctly. If you see a solid line where there should be a path, you haven't found the right switch in the previous room yet.
Why Everyone Gets Lost Near the Abyss
The "Abyss" section of the power plant is where the map really breaks people. It’s dark. The music—The Days When My Mother Was There—is incredible, but after four hours of hearing that loop while staring at a locked door, even the best soundtrack starts to feel heavy.
In this lower level, the map reveals a series of hidden crawlspaces. Pro tip: stop looking at the doors. Start looking at the floorboards and the statues. There are several points in the Katayama/Futaba power plant where the "map" shows a wall, but your Third Eye (the L1/LB button) will highlight a vent. These vents are the "true" map. They bypass the power requirements entirely.
Hidden Chests and the "Will Seeds" Problem
If you are playing the Royal version, the Katayama Palace power plant map has been slightly tweaked to include Will Seeds. These are essential. The "Green Seed of Wrath" is hidden behind a series of moving platforms in the power plant area.
To get it, you have to purposely "break" the logic of the power plant. You have to route power to a section that seems like a dead end. Most players ignore the dead ends because they want to finish the Palace and get back to the social links in Tokyo. Don't do that. The accessory you get from collecting all three seeds in this Palace is one of the best mid-game items you can find. It grants a massive boost to agility and luck, which you’ll need for the boss fight against the Sphinx.
Logistics of the "Dark Room" Puzzles
The power plant eventually leads into the "Dark Rooms." This is where the map becomes useless. Literally. When you enter a dark room, your mini-map goes fuzzy or disappears entirely. You have to rely on the glowing lines on the floor.
These lines are the physical manifestation of the power plant's map. Follow the blue lines for safety; red lines usually lead to a trap or a high-level encounter. Honestly, the dark rooms are more about spatial awareness than map reading. If you find yourself spinning the camera around, stop. Take a breath. Look at the floor. The "map" is under your feet.
Common Mistakes When Clearing the Plant
- Ignoring the Safe Rooms: There are two safe rooms within the power plant vicinity. If you find one, use it. Not just to save, but to fast travel. If you realize you left a power orb in a pedestal three rooms back, don't walk. Fast travel to the nearest safe room and walk from there. It saves your SP and your sanity.
- Not Using Third Eye: I cannot stress this enough. The Third Eye reveals the "cables" running through the walls. If you’re stuck at a locked door, turn on Third Eye and follow the glowing yellow wires. They lead directly to the switch you missed.
- Running Out of Supplies: This Palace is long. The power plant section alone can take an hour if you're exploring every nook. If your SP is low, leave. The map will save your progress. There is no shame in a two-day infiltration.
Actionable Steps for Mastering the Map
To get through the Katayama Palace power plant without losing your mind, follow this specific order of operations. First, always locate the Map Chest immediately upon entering a new floor. It’s usually tucked away in a side room near the entrance. Without the physical map item, your mini-map won't show the "hidden" rooms, and you’ll miss about 30% of the loot.
Second, prioritize the "Chief" shadows. These are the ones guarding the consoles. Killing them often unlocks a shortcut that bypasses the orb puzzles entirely for future trips. Look for the shadows with a red aura; they usually hold the "key" (metaphorically or literally) to the next sector of the map.
Third, when you reach the final large chamber before the Treasure Room, check the map for a "U-turn" shaped corridor. This is a secret passage that leads to a high-end treasure chest containing armor that nullifies Curse damage—absolutely vital for the upcoming boss fights.
The power plant isn't just a hurdle; it’s a lesson in how the game wants you to perceive the world. It’s about seeing the connections between things. Once you stop fighting the map and start reading the "flow" of the power, the whole Palace opens up.
Stop sprinting. Start looking at the wires. The exit is closer than you think, but you won't find it by running in circles. Check the consoles, grab the orbs, and remember that in the Metaverse, a wall is only a wall if you believe the power is off. Use the Third Eye to find the "invisible" paths, and you'll clear the plant in half the time it took on your first run. Move with purpose, keep your SP items ready, and don't let the red lasers win.