Key Takeaway
The Strength Social Link is shared between Daisuke Nagase and Kou Ichijo. The character you’ll bond with depends on whether you join the Soccer Team or the Basketball Team during your playthrough. Choosing the Soccer Club will trigger a friendship with Daisuke.
You can begin the Strength Social Link as early as April 19 by approaching the exit on the first floor of the Classroom Building at Yasogami High School and selecting the Soccer Team when given the option.
Reaching Max Rank in the Strength Arcana enables you to fuse the Persona Zaou-Gongen.
You can join the Soccer Club or the Basketball Club at Yasogami High School. Hitting the soccer field in Person 4 Golden prompts you to spend time, and increase your Social Link, with Daisuke Nagase, and doing so boosts the Strength Arcana to help bolster your power on the battlefield.
Table Of Contents
About the Strength Social Link
To progress the Strength Social Link, you can spend time with either Daisuke Nagase or Kou Ichijo. To spend time with Daisuke, join the Soccer Team. To spend time with Kou instead, choose to join the Basketball Club.
![](/wp-content/themes/wikilogy-child/img/callout-warning.png)
While he seems like an absolute monster of an athlete on the soccer field, Daisuke is a quiet and somewhat insecure boy, plagued by an intense fear of failure. When pushed to express himself, he quickly becomes angry and closed off, and rarely gives his all for fear that it won’t be good enough in the end. As he spends more time with the protagonist, he learns to trust in himself more and accepts the parts of himself that he needs to change.
You can join a sports club as early as April 19. Approach the exit on the first floor of the Classroom Building and select the Soccer Team to progress.
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Strength Hangout Conversations
Each time you spend time with Daisuke (and Kou, as the basketball player loves to tag along), you’ll have the chance to choose specific dialogue options. Saying the right thing will improve your friendship with the soccer player more quickly. Additionally, equipping a Persona of the Strength Arcana before heading to a hangout will grant additional affinity.
![Daisuke, Kou, and the protagonist of Persona 4 Golden arguing at the Samegawa Flood Plain.](https://vgkami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-13-094608-1024x571.jpg.webp)
See all possible dialogue choices below, along with the points you’ll receive for choosing each.
Rank 1
Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
---|---|---|---|
P.E teacher: "Here, why don't you say something to the team?" | •Hi... •Nice to meet you. •I'm your new captain. | •0 •0 •0 | •0 •0 •0 |
Kou: "You played much soccer before, (protagonist)?" | •Plenty. •A little. •Not even once. | •0 •0 •0 | •0 •0 •0 |
Rank 2
Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
---|---|---|---|
Soccer player: "Hey, (protagonist). Tear down the goals and clean up before you leave, alright?" | •Got it. •Why should I? | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
"Still, it went pretty fast with three people." | •Thanks for the help. •I didn't ask you to do it. | •3 •0 | •2 •0 |
Rank 3
There are no dialogue options during the Rank 3 hangout.
Rank 4
Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
---|---|---|---|
"Whatever...Girls are a pain in the ass, right,(protagonist)?" | •Right on. •That's not true. •Quit showing off. | •2 •0 •0 | •1 •0 •0 |
Rank 5
Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
---|---|---|---|
>Kou is also beaming like it's all thanks to him... | •Thanks, guys... •I'm just getting warmed up. | •3 •3 | •2 •2 |
Rank 6
Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
---|---|---|---|
Kou: "I have to do some family stuff today, though. Would next time be okay?" | •No problem. •Anything for you guys. •Long as it's not a hassle... | •2 •3 •0 | •1 •3 •0 |
Rank 7
Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
---|---|---|---|
"I have to do the class record today, so don't wait up for me." | •If you say so. •It's okay, I'll wait. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
Kou: "Tell you what, we'll talk over mapo rice. My treat!" | •Sounds good. •You treated last time. | •3 •0 | •2 •0 |
Kou: "You think it could be related...?" | •Could be... •Maybe not... •What are we talking about? | •3 •0 •0 | •2 •0 •0 |
Kou: "What do you think?" | •We've got a problem. •It's Daisuke's problem. | •3 •0 | •2 •0 |
>Kou is looking at you expectantly... | •Count me in. •Count me out. | •3 •0 | •2 •0 |
Rank 8
Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
---|---|---|---|
>Their quarrel starts to escalate... | •Stop them •Stay quiet and watch •Provoke them | •3 •0 •0 | •2 •0 •0 |
"You got that!? It's MY life! You guys have nothing to do with it!" | •Yes we do! •...... | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
Kou: "You can be pretty sincere when you want to, Daisuke." | •That's his charm. •You think? | •3 •0 | •3 •0 |
Rank 9
![Daisuke, Kou, and the protagonist of Persona 4 Golden sitting near the river and chatting happily.,](https://vgkami.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-13-094641-1024x571.jpg.webp)
Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
---|---|---|---|
"I wonder if she's as stuck in the past as I am..." | •Could be. •Doubt it. •I don't know. | •3 •0 •3 | •3 •0 •3 |
Max Rank
![](/wp-content/themes/wikilogy-child/img/callout-note.png)
The are no dialogue options during the Max Rank hangout.
Spending time with your sports buddies Daisuke Nagase and Kou Ichijo—and increasing your Social Link with them—in Persona 4 Golden can increase your ability to fuse Personas of the Strength Arcana and can raise your Diligence skill. On top of that, Daisuke and Kou both have relatable backstories that are worth following until the game’s end.