Persona 5: The Phantom X Version 1.1: Bui, Marian, and the First Big Update

Hey, fellow Phantom Thief—or, uh, Phantom Idol fan? Let’s talk. I’ve been keeping an eye on Persona 5: The Phantom X ever since it hit the West in late June 2025, and wow, did it make a splash. It became a huge success on Steam, even surpassing Persona 5 Royal’s peak player count. It also crossed 1.5 million downloads and snagged the #1 spot in download rankings on the App Store. Not too shabby for a mobile-first spin-off, right? Now, looking back from 2026, Version 1.1 still stands out as the game’s first major update—and it brought two brand-new playable units that had folks absolutely losing their minds.

Bui and Marian Join the Roster

The headline news? Bui and Marian were confirmed as 5-Star units for Version 1.1. If you were around for Version 1.0, you might already know them by their real names. Bui’s real name is Yui, a girl who can already become a Confidant in Persona 5: The Phantom X and form a Synergy Bond with players. But Version 1.1 flipped the script and introduced her as Bui, an Assassin-type Phantom Idol with a Thunder Attribute. Her Persona is called Apseudes. Sounds cool, right? I mean, thunder assassin? That’s a whole vibe.

Marian’s real name is Minami Miyashita, another girl players met during the “Steel Your Heart” side quest in Version 1.0. Her Persona is named Thalia, and she is a Medic Phantom Idol with a Blessing Attribute. Unlike Yui, fans could not currently unlock a Synergy Bond with Minami at the time. So if you were hoping to get closer to Marian right away, you had to wait—or just appreciate her healing skills from a respectful distance.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet for both characters:

What Their Kits Mean for Combat

For her combat role in Persona 5: The Phantom X, Bui’s Assassin kit should focus on dealing heavy damage to single targets. Think of her as your go-to boss shredder—if you build her right, she can probably delete a priority target before they even get a turn. Marian, on the other hand, is a Medic character, which means she will serve as a healer in teams. Every squad needs a good healer, and a Blessing-attribute Medic sounds like a lifesaver in tougher fights. So, one is all about ending fights fast; the other is about keeping your team alive long enough to win. Classic offense-and-support duo.

Banners, Overlaps, and Free Pulls

Both characters were featured in Version 1.1’s limited banners, which kicked off on July 10 and did not have an end date yet at the time. Bui and Marian’s banners overlapped for a few days with Joker’s current one, since Joker’s banner was scheduled to end on July 23. That meant players had to make some tough choices—or open their wallets, no judgment here. 😅

Version 1.1 also released new main story content up until the end of Chapter 2, along with two new side missions. Players could unlock a Synergy Bond with Shun Kano for the first time, which was a nice treat for fans who like deepening those relationships. After the update went live, players could log into Persona 5: The Phantom X for seven days until July 24 to get seven free pulls on the Weapon banner. Free pulls are free pulls, my friend—never skip those.

Metro of Desires and the Grind

A new game mode called Metro of Desires also launched, featuring tougher battle challenges and level progression. If you’re the kind of player who enjoys pushing your team to the limit, this mode was basically catnip. It gave everyone a reason to keep grinding, optimizing teams, and testing out Bui and Marian in serious combat. And honestly, that’s the heart of Persona 5: The Phantom X—collecting Phantom Idols, building bonds, and then throwing them into the fire to see what works.

Why Version 1.1 Still Matters in 2026

Now that we’re in 2026, Version 1.1 is old news in the best way. It was the update that proved Persona 5: The Phantom X wasn’t just a flash in the pan. The game had already surpassed its predecessor’s Steam peak, hit 1.5 million downloads, and topped the App Store download rankings. Then it dropped a thunder assassin and a blessing medic on us like it was nothing. If you’re a new player jumping in now, you might have missed the original banner drama, but you can still appreciate what Bui and Marian brought to the table. They’re part of the game’s DNA now.

So yeah, if you ask me, Version 1.1 was a banger. It gave us new story, new side missions, a new game mode, a new Synergy Bond, and two 5-Star units who cover very different roles. Whether you’re a meta chaser, a waifu collector, or just someone who likes free weapon pulls, there was something here for you. And that’s the tea. ☕