How Free-to-Play Friendly Is Persona 5: The Phantom X?

Persona 5: The Phantom X, or P5X, has been getting attention for its flashy combat, familiar aesthetics, and engaging gameplay. But for many gamers—especially in the gacha community—the big question is this: is P5X free-to-play friendly, or is it another pay-to-win trap? Based on the experience from the Korean (KR) and Chinese (CN) versions, here’s a detailed look at how generous the game truly is for players who don’t spend—or only spend minimally. Also check out our Ultimate Beginner Guide for Persona 5 The Phantom X!

The Current State of P5X in KR and CN Versions

While there’s no guarantee the global version will follow the same path, the KR and CN servers have been impressively generous so far. Players consistently receive a high amount of premium currency (gems), usable materials, and rewards simply by playing. With SEGA taking over for the global release, some changes might come—but as of now, here’s what free-to-play players can expect.

How to Get Gems in Persona 5 The Phantom X Guide

1. Exploration Rewards:

You can find gems in treasure chests throughout palaces, Mementos, and other exploration areas. While palace chests don’t refresh, they still give a hefty one-time supply of gems when you first go through them.

2. Regular Events and Patch Updates:

Every patch brings new events and gameplay modes that offer more gems. Patches now happen every three weeks (up from two), which gives more breathing room to collect and save.

3. Velvet Trials:

This game mode is both challenging and rewarding. Each section offers a substantial amount of gems upon first-time completion. Though tough, they’re manageable with good planning, even for free players using four-star characters.

4. Ranking Modes (SOS Mode):

Each week, you can earn gems by simply participating. Free-to-play players usually rank between tiers 6–7 without too much effort. Higher ranks give gold coins for persona exchanges, but gem rewards are nearly the same from rank 5 upwards.

5. Guild Boss Battles:

Whether you’re highly competitive or just contributing your share, guild boss fights reward players with nearly 1,000 gems per cycle, plus weapon currency that can be traded for strong gear.

6. Heartrail Mode:

Though it’s a slow grind, this mode offers both gems and vital upgrade materials. It’s time-consuming but worth the effort for any non-spending player looking to build up resources.

7. Daily Tasks and Login Rewards:

You’ll earn around 80–120 gems per day just by completing simple daily tasks. When paired with battle pass progression—even the free one—this daily income adds up quickly.

8. Confidant Leveling:

Each confidant, once leveled to 15, provides around 1,000 gems. That’s enough for nearly one full summon per character. With multiple confidants available, this adds up to a large bonus pool of premium currency.

9. Redeem Codes:

The developers frequently release codes that give out additional gems and materials. These act as regular top-ups for free-to-play users.

So Is P5X Free to Play and Enjoyable Without Spending?

If you’re consistent with your dailies, events, and rankings, you can easily earn enough gems for multiple pulls per patch. Between trials, guild fights, and exploration, the game doesn’t pressure you to spend just to keep up. High-end rankings may be competitive, but the core experience—including building teams and enjoying new content—is accessible without spending.

Based on the KR and CN experiences, P5X is one of the more free-to-play friendly gacha games out there. Generous gem distribution, rewarding game modes, and fair ranking systems mean that players who put in time can enjoy much of the content without needing to swipe their credit card. While we’ll have to wait and see how the global version handles its monetization, the signs so far are very promising. If SEGA keeps things similar, P5X could become a standout title for free-to-play fans looking for depth, style, and fairness in a gacha ecosystem.