If you’re diving into Persona 4 Golden, you’ve probably noticed the cranky, hat-wearing girl sitting in the Velvet Room. Her name is Marie. She writes terrible poetry. She’s also the single most important character if you want to see the actual ending of the game. Seriously. If you ignore the persona 4 golden marie social link, you’re basically playing half a game and calling it a day.
It’s easy to get frustrated with her. She’s the personification of "it’s not like I like you or anything, b-baka!" but her story is the bridge between the original PS2 plot and the "Golden" content that makes this version legendary. You can't just stumble into her final dungeon. You have to put in the work.
Why You Actually Need to Max Marie
Most social links give you better fusion XP or cool combat perks. Marie? She gives you a whole extra month of gameplay. If you don't reach Rank 10 with her Aeon Arcana by December 23, you lose the "Hollow Forest" dungeon in February.
You also miss the Golden Epilogue. This isn't just a small cutscene. It’s the definitive wrap-up for the Investigation Team.
The Deadline is Harder Than It Looks
You technically have until December 23. That sounds like a long time. It isn't. Because Marie is a "new" character added for the Golden release, her availability is a bit weird compared to Yosuke or Chie. She won't always be there when you want her to be.
Honestly, the best strategy is to clear her early. Don't be that player panicking on December 20 because you're still at Rank 6 and it’s raining. Rain ruins everything in Inaba, including your chances with Marie. She won't hang out when it's pouring.
How to Start the Aeon Social Link
Getting the ball rolling is simple but easy to miss if you stay out of the Velvet Room. On or after April 18, just walk into the Velvet Room. Margaret will give you a "request" to take Marie outside.
Basically, you’re her tour guide for the human world.
She usually hangs out in the South Shopping District right outside the Velvet Room entrance. She’s there on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Usually. If there’s a major story event or a holiday, she might go missing.
Early Rank Gating
Don't freak out if you hit a wall. You cannot progress the persona 4 golden marie social link past Rank 4 until after July 24. This is a hard gate. The game wants the rest of the Investigation Team to be established before Marie starts interacting with them.
Once you hit that date, the floodgates open. You can zoom through the rest of the ranks fairly quickly if you've been paying attention to her weird questions.
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The Best Dialogue Choices (No Spoilers)
Look, Marie doesn't care about your "courage" or "expression" stats like Nanako or Dojima do. She just wants to feel like a normal person. If you want to rank up fast, always bring an Aeon Arcana Persona. This is non-negotiable. It doubles your points.
Here is the "quick and dirty" on how to handle her social link ranks without boring you to death with a table:
- Rank 2: Tell her you're a friend and explain what a TV is. She’s clueless. Help her out.
- Rank 3: Tell her you don't mind playing around. When the "green" thing comes up, just be honest. It's green.
- Rank 4: This is the school visit. Tell her it's fun. When the other girls show up, say you're showing her around.
- Rank 5: This only happens after late July. You'll meet Kanji. Just stay supportive.
- Rank 6: You'll go to the textile shop. Mention it's made of bamboo.
- Rank 7: She’s frustrated about her memories. Just tell her they're like "works of art." It calms her down.
- Rank 9: This is the big one. The Romance Choice. If you want to date her, you have to hug her. If you don't, just stay friends. Both work for the Golden Ending, so don't feel forced into a relationship if you're already committed to Rise or Yukiko.
The "December Rush" Strategy
If you've ignored her all year, don't delete your save. In December, Marie becomes available every single day until the 23rd. This is Atlus's way of giving you a "get out of jail free" card.
But there is a massive trap here.
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If you finish the December dungeon (Magatsu Inaba) early, the game skips directly to Christmas Eve. You will lose every single day in between. If you haven't maxed Marie yet, and you finish the dungeon on December 8, you are locked out of the True Ending.
Wait until December 22 to finish the dungeon. Spend the first three weeks of December finishing Marie’s link. Use the Tatsuhime Shrine at night to get extra points if you aren't ready to rank up yet.
Rewards and Fusions
Maxing the link gives you the Old Bamboo Comb. This is the key item required to fuse Kaguya, one of the best Personas for mid-to-late game light and wind builds.
More importantly, it triggers a conversation with Margaret on January 2. When you go to the Velvet Room to give your New Year's greetings, Margaret will tell you Marie has disappeared.
Tell Margaret you want to find her. If you say "it's too dangerous" or "let her go," you just locked yourself out of the Hollow Forest. You have to be proactive. You have to care. It’s a bit of a test to see if you actually paid attention to the themes of the game—searching for the truth even when it's painful.
Actionable Tips for your Playthrough
- Check the Velvet Room daily. Even if you don't need to fuse, just check.
- Buy an Aeon Persona immediately. Grab a Succubus or a Paw-zooka. Keep it in your inventory whenever you talk to her.
- Save your nights. If Marie isn't ready to rank up, go to the Shrine at night and "Draw a Fortune." It’s better than wasting an afternoon just "hanging out."
- Watch the weather. If the forecast says "Rain" for three days, you aren't seeing Marie. Plan your social stats or other links accordingly.
The Marie social link is polarizing. Some people hate her poems (which you can read on the floor of the Velvet Room, by the way). Some people think she’s too "tsundere." But from a gameplay perspective, she is the key to the definitive Persona 4 experience. Don't leave her hanging in the Shopping District while you're busy eating steak skewers with Chie. You'll regret it when the credits roll too early.
To ensure you don't miss the January events, make sure you visit the Velvet Room on January 2nd specifically. This is the trigger point where Margaret will offer to search for Marie. If you skip this day or don't talk to Margaret, the game proceeds as the standard version, and you'll head straight to the original ending without the additional month of content or the final truth.