Persona 5: The Phantom X Newcomer Banner Guide - Which Phantom Thief Should You Choose?

Hey there, fellow Phantom Thieves! I've been diving deep into Persona 5: The Phantom X, and I want to share my thoughts on that crucial decision we all face at the beginning - which 5-star character to pick from the Newcomer Banner. You know the one I'm talking about - that special banner that guarantees you a 5-star character after 50 pulls, letting you choose between Ann, Ryuji, and Morgana. It's a decision that can shape your entire playthrough, so let me break down each character based on my experience.

🔥 Ryuji Sakamoto: The High-Risk, High-Reward Powerhouse

Let me tell you about Ryuji - this guy is absolutely insane when it comes to single-target damage. I've been running him in my party, and his risk-reward gameplay is both thrilling and terrifying. His Persona Captain Kidd has this incredible ability called Wounded Glory that actually makes him stronger as he gets more injured. Think about that - when his HP drops below 75%, he gets this Rebound buff that increases his damage and critical rate by 30% on his next skill. And it gets even crazier when he's below 20% HP - his attack power increases by a massive 40%!

Here's what makes Ryuji so special in combat:

• Pirate Tactics: Deals physical damage 3 times to a single target, and if he doesn't have Rebound, he'll sacrifice 20% HP to boost damage and crit rate

• Thunderbolt: Lightning damage to all enemies with Shock chance that doubles when Rebound is active

• God Hand Burst: An absolutely devastating single-target attack that guarantees critical hits with Rebound

His hidden abilities are just as impressive. Adrenaline gives him 15% more attack when enemies have more HP than him, and Rebellious Spirit lets him heal when using skills with Rebound active. Ryuji truly shines when you're willing to dance on the edge of defeat.

🌬️ Morgana: The Versatile Support Specialist

Now, if you're more of a strategic player who values sustainability, Morgana might be your perfect match. What I love about Morgana is how he seamlessly blends healing with decent damage output. His Chivalry system is genius - by using different skills each turn, he builds stacks that automatically heal your party when allies drop below 70% HP. It's like having an insurance policy that lets you focus on offense.

Morgana's toolkit includes:

• Missile Whirlwind: Wind damage that inflicts Defense-down and can generate Chivalry stacks

• Healing Breeze: Party-wide healing that also cleanses elemental ailments

• Gentle Fist: A physical attack that trades accuracy for critical rate increases

His Highlight ability is literally a game-changer - it revives KO'd allies with 20% HP. I can't tell you how many battles this has turned around for me. With hidden abilities that boost critical rates and reduce healing costs for the whole party, Morgana makes your team incredibly durable.

💥 Ann Takamaki: The Ultimate Sweeper

Ann is, without exaggeration, one of the most satisfying characters to play in the entire game. If you love watching enemy health bars disappear in glorious flames, she's your girl. Her Passion ability builds stacks whenever she deals fire damage, and after 4 stacks, she enters La Vie en Rose mode with massive attack boosts up to 50% at higher levels.

Her fire-based arsenal includes:

• Crimson Rose: AoE fire damage that boosts her attack and can debuff enemies

• Trifire: Single-target burn specialist with execute damage against low-health targets

• Falling Sun: Another AoE that gets even deadlier during La Vie en Rose

What makes Ann truly special is her Hidden Ability Rising Tension, which activates Fire Technicals whenever she uses skills. When you combine this with burning targets, you get insane damage multipliers. She even provides some party support with Carrot and Stick, healing the lowest HP ally when La Vie en Rose ends.

🎯 My Personal Recommendation

After playing with all three characters extensively, here's my take on who you should choose:

If you're looking for raw power and don't mind potentially pulling Joker later, Ann is absolutely the way to go. Her ability to clear content quickly is unmatched. However, if you prefer a more balanced approach, Morgana's versatility is incredible. And if you love that adrenaline rush of managing HP thresholds, Ryuji will give you some of the most exciting moments in the game.

Remember, there's no truly "wrong" choice here - all three characters are fantastic in their own ways. Think about your preferred playstyle and what role you want to fill in your team. Whichever Phantom Thief you choose, you're getting a character that can carry you through the game's toughest challenges. Happy heisting!