Stardust Shards are a new currency introduced in Persona 5: The Phantom X (P5X) with the Version 1.4 update. They play a key role in unlocking Mindscape upgrades, a system that lets you strengthen your Phantom Thieves beyond regular leveling. Since Mindscapes provide permanent stat boosts and skill enhancements, understanding how to earn Stardust Shards efficiently is essential for long-term progression.
What Are Stardust Shards?
Stardust Shards are a daily currency used exclusively in the Mindscape system. Each Phantom Thief has a Mindscape tree with nodes that unlock passive buffs like increased HP, Attack, and Defense, along with unique improvements to their existing abilities. To activate these nodes, players must spend Stardust Shards.
- Outer Ring Nodes: Provide stat boosts (HP, Attack, Defense). All characters share the same set of 12 nodes, though the exact values vary slightly.
- Inner Ring Nodes: Unlock special skill upgrades after certain Outer Ring milestones, specifically after reaching the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th stat upgrades.
Every Stardust Shard spent is permanent, and there is currently no way to reset or refund investments. Choosing which characters to prioritize is an important part of progression.
See also: Persona 5 Phantom X Solitary Gourmand Award Guide: All Locations & How to Unlock
How to Unlock Mindscapes
The Mindscape system becomes available once you reach Player Rank 55. After this milestone, you can access it by opening:
Thieves Menu → Select a Phantom Thief → Training → Mindscape
Mindscapes are exclusive to the Phantom Thieves, while the protagonist Wonder relies on the separate Schema system
How to Get Stardust Shards
Unlike other resources, Stardust Shards cannot be farmed through battles or grinding. They are tied to daily rewards linked to your Velvet Trials performance.
1. Daily Rewards from Velvet Trials
Each day, Stardust Shards are claimable after the daily reset. The number of Shards you receive depends on the total stars you’ve earned across all Velvet Trials. The more stars you collect, the higher your daily payout.
2. Claiming Your Shards
You have 24 hours to claim your Stardust Shards from the Velvet Room Trials. If you fail to collect them within this window, they are lost permanently. To avoid missing out, log in daily and claim them even on days you don’t have much time to play.
Stardust Shard Costs for Outer Ring
Here’s the cost breakdown for each Outer Ring node:
| Buff | Shard Cost |
|---|---|
| HP | 100 |
| Defense | 150 |
| Attack | 200 |
| HP | 300 |
| Defense | 400 |
| Attack | 500 |
| HP | 650 |
| Defense | 800 |
| Attack | 950 |
| HP | 1100 |
| Defense | 1250 |
| Attack | 1450 |
Unlocking all 12 Outer Ring nodes for a single character requires a total of 7,850 Stardust Shards.
How to Increase Your Stardust Shard Income
The only way to increase your daily Shard income is by earning more stars in the Velvet Trials:
- Clear as many trial stages as possible: Each stage completed with higher ratings adds stars.
- Replay for better results: Stronger builds may allow you to achieve higher scores and more stars.
- Challenge tougher stages: Trials scale in difficulty, but the rewards rise alongside the challenge.
Progressing through the Velvet Trials is the key to long-term Shard growth.
See also: Persona 5 Phantom X: How to Teach Personas New Skills
How to Use Stardust Shards in Persona 5 Phantom X Mindscape Upgrades
Since Stardust Shards are limited, plan your investments carefully:
- Prioritize Main Damage Dealers
Assassins and Sweepers benefit the most from Attack boosts, making them ideal first targets. - Enhance Your Strongest Units
If you have characters with best-in-slot gear or high Awareness levels, strengthening them further is highly efficient. - Focus on Favorites or Long-Term Picks
If you have a preferred Phantom Thief, there’s nothing wrong with investing in them, even if they aren’t the strongest option.
Quick Tips for Players
To make the most of Stardust Shards in Persona 5 Phantom X, follow these:
- Log in daily to ensure you never miss your Shards.
- Claim within 24 hours or lose them permanently.
- Plan ahead since upgrades cannot be undone.
- Balance stats by investing in both offensive and defensive nodes.
- Keep pushing Velvet Trials to steadily increase your daily shard flow.
See also: How to Get Konpaku Gems in Persona 5 Phantom X: Farming Guide and Best Tips
Mindscape and Stardust Shards, introduced in Version 1.4 (August 21, 2025), are a cornerstone of long-term progression in Persona 5 Phantom X. By consistently claiming your daily rewards and pushing further in the Velvet Trials, you’ll steadily accumulate Shards to invest in your team. Whether you choose to maximize your strongest damage dealers or build up your favorite Phantom Thief, Stardust Shards are the key to unlocking their full potential. Play Now!
