Daisuke Nagase, a star soccer player at Yasogami High in Persona 4 Golden, telling his fangirls to get off the field while he practices.

Persona 4 Golden: Daisuke Nagase Complete Social Link Guide

Help this soccer star overcome his fear of failure and become stronger yourself.

Written by:
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Carley is a professional JP-EN translator and writer currently based in Des Moines, Iowa. She has written hundreds of articles for popular sites such as Siliconera, Gameranx, and Otaquest, and has been playing games nonstop since 1996.

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Reyadh is a writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction who loves to play video games full of monsters and magic. When he's not scribing unique and unrelenting speculative fiction or slaying demons in virtual worlds, he is writing strategy guides to help others reach their gaming goals.

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.

    Warning
    Keep in mind that you cannot join both clubs.

    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.

    Tip
    Attending soccer practice can increase your Diligence skill.

    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.

    See all possible dialogue choices below, along with the points you’ll receive for choosing each.

    Rank 1

    DialoguePossible ResponsesPoints WITH Matching PersonaPoints 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

    DialoguePossible ResponsesPoints WITH Matching PersonaPoints 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

    DialoguePossible ResponsesPoints WITH Matching PersonaPoints 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

    DialoguePossible ResponsesPoints WITH Matching PersonaPoints 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

    DialoguePossible ResponsesPoints WITH Matching PersonaPoints 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

    DialoguePossible ResponsesPoints WITH Matching PersonaPoints 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

    DialoguePossible ResponsesPoints WITH Matching PersonaPoints 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.,
    DialoguePossible ResponsesPoints WITH Matching PersonaPoints 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

    Note
    Upon reaching Max Rank with Daisuke, you’ll receive a Spike Brush as a gift. This makes it possible to fuse the Persona Zaou-Gongen.

    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.

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