Honestly, the first time you see Makoto Niijima’s Awakening in Persona 5, it hits different. Most characters get a mythical figure or a legendary hero standing behind them. Makoto? She gets a massive, chrome-plated nuclear motorcycle named Johanna. It’s loud. It’s aggressive. It’s exactly what a student council president nicknamed "Miss Post-it" needed to break her shell.
But if you look past the cool factor of riding a bike through the Metaverse, the Persona 5 Makoto Persona lineage—from Johanna to Anat and eventually Agnes—tells a really specific story about female authority and the weight of history. It isn't just about high defense stats or those useful Mediarahan heals. It is about how Makoto views herself versus how the world tries to box her in.
Johanna: The Pope Who Never Was
Let’s talk about the bike. Johanna is based on Pope Joan, a legendary figure from the Middle Ages who supposedly reigned as Pope for a few years by disguising herself as a man. Most historians today, like those cited in Oxford’s religious studies journals, consider Joan a myth or a satirical fabrication. But in the world of Persona, facts matter less than the idea of the rebellion.
Makoto starts the game as a tool for the adults. She’s doing what Principal Kobayakawa says. She’s following her sister Sae’s rigid rules. She’s a "good girl" who is actually miserable.
When she finally snaps in Kaneshiro’s Palace, her Persona takes the form of a woman who deceived the highest patriarchal office in the world to exercise her own intelligence. It’s perfect. The motorcycle design specifically leans into that "rebel without a cause" aesthetic, but Makoto has a very clear cause: she’s tired of being a doormat.
The gameplay reflects this too. Johanna focuses on Nuclear (Frei) damage. In the Shin Megami Tensei universe, Nuclear is often associated with devastating, clinical force. It’s not messy like fire or erratic like wind. It is calculated.
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Why the Motorcycle Form Actually Matters
You might wonder why she’s the only one in the main cast (besides later DLC or specific Royal content) whose Persona is a literal vehicle. It’s about mobility. Makoto felt stuck. By becoming a rider, she gains the agency to move herself forward.
One thing players often overlook is the "eyes" of Johanna. If you look closely at the front of the bike, there's a face. It’s eerie. It reminds you that this isn't just a machine; it’s a soul. When Makoto sits on that seat, she isn't just driving; she’s in total command of her repressed rage.
Stepping Up to Anat in the Late Game
Once you max out Makoto’s Social Link (the Priestess Arcana), Johanna evolves into Anat. If you aren't familiar with Semitic mythology, Anat is a total powerhouse. She’s a war goddess. We’re talking about a figure who, in ancient Ugaritic texts, was known for being incredibly violent in defense of her family—specifically Baal.
The shift from a "hidden" Pope (Johanna) to an "overt" War Goddess (Anat) is a massive signal of Makoto’s growth. She’s no longer hiding her power behind a disguise or a mask of "the good student." She’s just a warrior now.
Anat’s design in Persona 5 is more humanoid, looking like a metallic transformer that still incorporates bike-like elements. She looks sturdy. She looks like she could take a hit from a god and keep walking, which, given Makoto’s role as the "Tank" of the Phantom Thieves, is exactly how most people play her.
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The Royal Addition: Agnes
If you’re playing Persona 5 Royal, you get a third evolution: Agnes. This design is a wild callback to the Johanna roots but dialed up to eleven. It’s a massive, ornate bike that looks like a rolling cathedral.
The name Agnes likely refers to Agnes Tyrell or perhaps links back to the "Lamb of God" (Agnus Dei) symbolism, keeping with the religious undertones of the Priestess Arcana. By this stage in the game, Makoto isn't just a rebel or a warrior. She is a leader. She’s the strategist who keeps the Phantom Thieves from spiraling into chaos.
Skill Synergy and Meta-Usage
If you want to actually win battles on Merciless difficulty, you can't just look at the lore. You need to know how the Persona 5 Makoto Persona kit actually functions.
- Atomic Flare: This is your bread and butter for late-game damage.
- Mediarahan: Full party heal. Essential.
- Marakukaja: Increasing the whole team’s defense.
- Checkmate (Agnes only): This is her unique skill in Royal that applies a Debilitate effect (lowering Attack, Defense, and Accuracy/Evasion) to all enemies. It is arguably one of the best support moves in the entire game.
Most high-level players replace her physical attacks early on. Makoto’s strength is her versatility. She’s the "Jack of all trades, master of most." She heals, she buffs, and she hits Technicals like a truck when enemies are Frozen or Shocked.
Common Misconceptions About Makoto’s Persona
People often argue that Makoto is "boring" because her Persona is "just a bike." That's a huge miss on the subtext.
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Every other Phantom Thief has a Persona that represents a famous outlaw or a literary rebel (Arsene Lupin, Captain Kidd, Zorro). Makoto’s "outlaw" is a woman who broke the ultimate glass ceiling of the Catholic Church. That is a very different kind of rebellion. It’s not about stealing gold; it’s about stealing authority back from people who don't deserve it.
Also, some players think Nuclear damage is weak because it doesn't have many natural "Weakness" triggers in the early game. The trick is the Technical system. Pair Makoto with Yusuke (Ice) or Ryuji (Electric). Once an enemy is frozen or shocked, Makoto’s Nuclear skills deal massive "Technical" damage. If you aren't using her this way, you're missing out on about 50% of her potential.
How to Optimize Makoto for the Third Semister
To get the most out of the final evolution, you need to be smart about your accessory slots and jazz club visits.
- The Jazz Club: Take Makoto on Sundays. You want to give her skills she wouldn't normally get, like Concentrate. If Makoto can Concentrate herself, her Atomic Flare becomes a nuke in the literal sense.
- The Judge of the Dead: This is her best weapon, obtained by itemizing the Persona Michael during a Fusion Alarm. It gives a +10 to all stats. This is non-negotiable for a min-max build.
- Shield of Justice: While this is a different mechanic, keeping Makoto in your active party during the final palace in Royal is almost mandatory because her defense buffs prevent the party from getting one-shot by the "Checkmate" style moves of the final boss.
Makoto Niijima’s journey from a pressurized student to a bike-riding goddess of war is the backbone of the Phantom Thieves' tactical success. Without her—and Johanna’s steady wheels—the team probably would have been caught by the police in the first month.
To master her character, focus on her Technical damage potential. Don't treat her as just a secondary healer. Equip the Judge of the Dead weapon as soon as you reach the level requirement (87 for Michael, or lower with the Strength Confidant perks). Prioritize building her SP pool through Leblanc coffee or specialized accessories, as her high-end Nuclear skills and Mediarahan will drain her quickly in long boss fights like the one against Shido or Maruki. Finally, ensure you complete her Confidant line early; the transition from Johanna to Anat provides the crucial "Evade Psy" skill, which covers her only major elemental weakness.