Quick Links
Persona 4 Golden players will need to make use of the protagonist's free time if they plan on unlocking and completing every Social Link. Of course, some Social Links aren't readily available and will take some time in-game to unlock. Some even require an additional step before the protagonist can officially begin spending time with them.
Ai Ebihara serves as the Moon Social Link in Persona 4 Golden, and meeting her can take a while if players don't know what to do. Ai has a unique Social Link in that it can split into two different "routes" depending on how the protagonist speaks to her. It's also one of the harder Social Links to Rank Up. One wrong answer can delay the Social Link or possibly break it entirely, which is something that P4G players will want to avoid - especially on a first playthrough.
Where to Find Ai
The protagonist can spend time with Ai on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday during the Afternoon. P4G players can find her by the shoe lockers in the Classroom Building (1st Floor). Much like the protagonist's other classmates, her Social Link isn't available on rainy days.
Ai doesn't have an exact in-game date when P4G players can start the Social Link. As long as they reach Rank 4 of the Strength Confidant, which becomes available on April 19th, the protagonist can speak to Ai. It doesn't matter which team the protagonist joins; Ai will show up regardless of whose chosen.
Reversing vs. Breaking Social Links
Along with Naoto Shirogane, Ai's Social Link can be Reversed. When a Social Link is Reversed, the Social Link points gained will be reset to 0. For example, if the protagonist gets 3 Social Link points during Rank 3, but then chooses an answer (during Rank 3) that Reverses the Social Link, P4G will treat it as though the protagonist received 0 points instead. To "fix" a Reversed Social Link, the protagonist will need to speak to Ai the following day (or whenever she's available). From there, P4G players will need to build up Social Link points either by spending time with Ai (when she asks) or drawing Fortunes at Tatsuhime Shrine
Players will want to avoid Reversing as they will be spending additional time to achieve the remaining Ranks. Since Persona 4 Golden can be unforgiving in terms of Free Time (especially on a first playthrough), a Reverse Social Link will be more of a hindrance than something fun to see in action. While it has its drawbacks, a Reversed Social Links are not irreversible.
On the other hand, breaking a Social Link is far more damaging and never recommended. A broken Social Link will be treated as if it never existed. Ai will not want to spend time with the protagonist. To make matters worse, a broken Social Link prevents the player from summoning Personas of the matching Arcana. In this scenario, Persona of the Moon Arcana will become unavailable if Ai's Social Link is broken.
Ai Ebihara Social Link Guide
Rank 1
P4G players can go a whole playthrough and not meet Ai if they're not building up the Strength Social Link. Again, the protagonist will need to reach Rank 4 of the Strength Social Link (Kou or Daisuke). Then, he will need to speak with her during the day. She's found on the first floor of the Classroom Building.
If players don't have Level 3 Courage, they won't be able to even start her Social Link, regardless if they've reached Rank 4 (Strength) or not. A good way to increase Courage is to work at the hospital or try various foods from the fridge at home.
Once Ai has been spoken to, she'll approach the protagonist during the next day of school. Select "Sure, why not?" to start Rank 1. Fortunately, since this takes place during school hours, the protagonist will still have Afternoon Time.
Players will need to be careful when talking to Ai for Ranks 3, 5, 6, and 9. Rank 9 alone can undo the entire Social Link depending on the protagonist's answer.
Rank 2
These are the best answers/choices for Rank 2 of the Moon Social Link:
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"Hmm, doesn't look like they've gotten anything new in. I already have all this..." |
We'll have to come back. |
3 |
N/A |
|
"Buy me an ice latte." |
Buy it yourself. |
3 |
N/A |
|
"They should get rid of all salespeople and put in vending machines. Press a button, and out come your clothes." |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
Rank 3
At the third dialogue tree, players will have the option to say "That was downright cruel..." in response to Ai's actions. Do not select that answer. Doing so will Reverse the Social Link. The free time in Persona 4 Golden can be limited as more Social Links become available, so it's best to avoid Reversing Social Links if at all possible.
These are the best answers/choices for Rank 3:
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"What should we do instead?" |
|
|
N/A |
|
"Looking at it from your perspective, I'd say you got pretty lucky." |
Not exactly... |
3 |
N/A |
|
"> Ai rejected him without a second thought..." |
|
|
Selecting "That was downright cruel..." will Reverse the Social Link. |
Rank 4
These are the best answers/choices for Rank 4:
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"> The conversation is getting more and more vulgar..." |
Stop them. |
3 |
These points will count towards the Strength Social Link instead of the Moon Social Link. |
|
"...." |
Let's go. |
3 |
N/A |
Rank 5
This is the second time when players can potentially Reverse the Social Link. Once again, at the third dialogue tree, the protagonist can give an answer that will upset Ai (ie: "Not gonna happen!"). Selecting this will cause Ai to storm off, and players will need to reconcile with her on the next free day (Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday). While some players may want to annoy Ai on purpose, they should do this on their NG+ instead of their first run.
These are the best answers/choices for Rank 5:
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"Th-Thank you for that, last time..." |
What are you talking about? |
3 |
N/A |
|
Do you think that maybe I'm his type? O-Or do you think he hates... people like me?" |
|
|
N/A |
|
"All I need you to do is... ask him what's his type. That's it." |
No problem. |
0 |
Choosing "Not gonna happen!" will Reverse the Social Link. |
Rank 6
During this Rank, players can potentially block off Ai's romance route/dating route. Though if they've struggled with Ai up until now, they may want to purposefully lock themselves out. When the option "I'll be your boyfriend" appears, players can select it or "....." to start the Fake Dating or Normal route respectively of the Social Link. Choosing to date Ai now will make her want to stay as friends.
For a first playthrough, it's recommended to choose "....." and forgo the Fake Dating. This is because it's very easy to give the wrong answer during Rank 9 (Fake Dating) and break the Social Link.
That aside, here are the best answers/choices for Rank 6:
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
"But if I can't be loved, then... Then what's the point?" |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
"It's not like I have any other redeeming qualities..." |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
"Haha, just kidding..." |
..... |
0 |
Selecting "I'll be your boyfriend" will start the "Fake Lovers" route of Ai's Social Link. |
|
* "Hey... Why don't you and I just go out?" |
Are you sure about that? |
0 |
* This only appears if "....." was chosen for the previous question. |
Rank 7
These are the best answers/choices for Rank 7:
|
Normal Route |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to keep making you hang out with me..." |
I don't mind. |
3 |
N/A |
|
"I wonder why..." |
[Any Answer.] |
3 |
N/A |
|
Fake Lovers Route |
|||
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"Hey, why don't you pick out some clothes for me? What do you think I'd look good in?" |
Sexy clothes. |
3 |
N/A |
|
"Isn't that right?" |
Yep. |
3 |
N/A |
|
"...Do you think I'm pretty?" |
Of course you are. |
3 |
N/A |
Rank 8
These are the best answers/choices for Rank 8:
|
Normal Route |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"He was just... a normal, good guy. I guess what I felt was kind of a fleeting thing." |
|
|
N/A |
|
Fake Lovers Route |
|||
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"...Do you love me?" |
Of course... |
3 |
N/A |
|
"You need me, right?" |
Naturally... |
3 |
N/A |
Rank 9
If players are on the Normal Route of Ai's Social Link, then they just need to select any of the recommended choices below. If they're on the Fake Dating Route, they'll want to avoid picking "We need time apart." This Breaks the Social Link, which again, unlike Reversing, is irreparable. P4G will say "maybe you should start from scratch" if the Link has been broken.
These are the best answers/choices for Rank 9:
|
Normal Route |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"> Things don't look good... You feel Ai is in danger." |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
"Uh... Sorry, was that unnecessary?" |
|
|
N/A |
|
Fake Lovers Route |
|||
|
Question |
Best Answer |
Points (with matching Persona) |
Misc. |
|
"I think we need to... break up." |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
"I'm so worthless..." |
[Any Answer.] |
3 |
N/A |
|
"I'm sure you'll eventually hate me... and then you'll leave me." |
[Any Answer.] |
0 |
N/A |
|
"Is there any way... that we could just be friends?" |
Sure. |
3 |
Choosing "We need time apart." will Break the Social Link. |
Rank 10
If players have taken the Fake Lovers route, they won't be able to date Ai. If they went the Normal Route, then they will have the option to accept or reject her. Regardless of the route taken, players will still Max Out the Social Link if they've made it this far.
Social Link Completion Reward
As a reward for all the hard work, Ai will give the protagonist the Compact Key Item. This allows players to Fuse the ultimate form of the Moon Arcana, Sandalphon. Like all Key Items, the Compact will carry over into NG+. Fortunately, Sandalphon is not part of a Special Fusion, meaning he can be Fused through a Regular Fusion as long as players have the right Ingredients/Personas in their "inventory."
Sandalphon is a level 84 Persona. Meaning he can't be Fused if the protagonist is lower than level 84. If the Moon Social Link is Maxed Out or not Reversed, then Sandalphon will gain a boost in experience upon creation. Stat-wise, Sandalphon has high Magic and useful Passive Skills such as Angelic Grace. He can Null Wind and Repel Light.
Persona 4 Golden is available on PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.