Emperor Arcana

The Emperor Arcana is a recurring Arcana in the Persona series.

Overview
In tarot readings, the Emperor symbolizes the desire to control one's surroundings, and its appearance could suggest that one is trying too hard to achieve this, possibly causing trouble for others; some elements in life are just not controllable.

Gameplay-wise, the Personas of the Emperor Arcana are Personas typically excelling in Electricity-based and Physical attacks (or to an extent, Ice-based attacks); these Personas are almost always kings or emperor figures, but may simply be important male figures and deities. Typically, the king of a mythological pantheon is of the Emperor Arcana.

Within the Persona universe, characters of the Emperor Arcana are often aspiring male leaders or strong male allies. They are socially awkward if not antisocial, their good intentions obscured by rude behavior. They have singular activities to which they dedicate their lives—e.g., fighting, student council, crocheting, painting—this often being linked to a personal conflict that the protagonist helps them to reconcile with their passions. Examples are Kanji Tatsumi and the conflict between his views of masculinity and his passion for crocheting, or Yusuke Kitagawa and the dichotomy between art as a passion over a source of income.

Appearance

 * Megami Ibunroku Persona
 * Persona 2: Innocent Sin
 * Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
 * Persona 3 / FES / Portable
 * Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight: Accessory
 * Persona 4 / Golden
 * Persona 4 Arena / Ultimax
 * Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
 * Persona 5 / Royal
 * Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight: Accessory & Social
 * Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
 * Persona 5 Strikers

List of Personas
In Megami Ibunroku Persona and Persona 2, this Arcana corresponds to the Deity race.

Megami Ibunroku Persona
The Emperor Arcana is represented by the protagonist.

Persona 3
The Emperor Arcana is represented by Hidetoshi Odagiri, from Gekkoukan High School's student council.

The social link for this Arcana can be started on April 27 when the protagonist talks to Ms. Toriumi about joining the student council. Council meetings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Upon completing the Social Link, the protagonist gains access to the ultimate form of the Emperor Arcana, Odin, the Storm God.

The Emperor Arcana is also the Persona Arcana of Akihiko Sanada, the member of SEES.

Persona 4
The Emperor Arcana is represented by Kanji Tatsumi, who goes to the same school as the protagonist. Kanji is introduced partway through the game as a first-year student who often gets into fights and into trouble with the local law enforcement. As the protagonist levels up the Social Link, Kanji reveals that he enjoys sewing and other crafts but has kept those interests hidden because of peer pressure. Kanji lost his father early in life and has since struggled to understand what it means to "be a man." Later in the Social Link, he meets a young boy whose whole family takes a liking to Kanji's hand-sewn dolls. This experience eventually gives him the confidence to accept his strengths and interests despite public opinion. Rather, instead of letting people say what they want, Kanji will work towards making sure he is properly understood.

Kanji's initial Persona is Take-Mikazuchi. At rank 10 of the Social Link, Take-Mikazuchi transforms into its ultimate form, Rokuten Maoh, and bestows the protagonist with the ultimate form of the Arcana, Odin, the God of Storms.

Leveling the Emperor Arcana up to Lv. 3 allows Kanji to learn his distinct follow-up move, Atomic Press. This attack strikes all enemies with a high percentage of dealing critical damage, which results in a Down status and the potential for an All-Out Attack. The follow-up move occurs at random and only after the protagonist has rendered a separate target Down first (and at least one other target is not currently Down).

In Persona 4 Golden, Kanji can unlock a third-tier Persona: Takeji Zaiten. This is done by initiating a Social Link meeting at any point after 1/10 if the Emperor Arcana is at Rank 10. ​​​​

Persona 4 Arena
The Emperor Arcana is represented by Kanji Tatsumi and Akihiko Sanada, and their Personas, Take-Mikazuchi and Caesar.

Persona 5
The Emperor Arcana is represented by the Confidant with Yusuke Kitagawa, which ranks up as the protagonist interacts with him. This Confidant unlocks Skill Card duplication and various team member skills for Yusuke as it ranks up. Yusuke's Confidant revolves around his struggles to overcome an artistic slump, having doubts about his ability to capture "true beauty" through his artwork as well as his fear of falling into the same corrupting vices as his former sensei Madarame. After his painting "Desire" is heavily panned by critics, Yusuke comes to the realization of the duality of the human heart and creates "Desire and Hope" to bring hope to people lost to their inner darkness.

As the Confidant reaches maximum Yusuke's Persona, Goemon, will transmogrify into Kamu Susano-o. Completing the Emperor Arcana Confidant will also bestow the ultimate form of the Arcana, Odin.

In Persona 5 Royal, if the Emperor Arcana confidant is maxed out and the protagonist chooses to reject the false reality during the events of the third semester, Yusuke Kitagawa will unlock his third tier Persona: Gorokichi, by fusing Goemon and Kamu Susano-O.

Royal
In Persona 5 Royal, Emperor Arcana's list has been altered with the transfer of Okuninushi to the Faith Arcana.