Top Pirate Coliseum Crew Setups in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Hawaii

In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, mastering the Pirate Coliseum involves not just skillful naval combat, but also strategic crew formations. Here’s a detailed look at the best crew formations to ensure your triumph in the Pirate Coliseum.

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When it comes to positioning your crew aboard the Goromaru, focus on the three pivotal roles that significantly impact your performance in naval battles:

First Mate: This position is crucial as Goro’s second-in-command. The right First Mate can provide either an offensive or defensive advantage during naval combat, enhancing your ship's capabilities.

Squad Leader: Acting as the head of a boarding party, the Squad Leader boosts your team's effectiveness in hand-to-hand combat. With upgrades, you can have up to four Squad Leaders, allowing up to 20 crew members to board and fight alongside Goro.

Support Squad: These crew members don’t engage in direct combat but offer crucial support by boosting stats or healing your team, which can turn the tide of battle.

The Best First Mates For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

Different battles may require different strategies, so here are the top First Mates to consider:

Daisaku Minami

Daisaku Minami, a lifelong friend and brother figure to Goro Majima, joins your crew at the end of Chapter 4. His "Sink King Kiwami" trait greatly increases damage to enemy sterns, making him ideal for tougher Coliseum matches where quickly eliminating the boss ship is key.

Nishida

Nishida, recruited alongside Minami, adds two additional repair uses to the Goromaru. This is vital in intense battles where maintaining your ship's health is crucial for survival.

Captain Beef

Early in the game, Captain Beef can be appointed as First Mate. His "Sink King Kiwami" trait enhances your naval combat damage, making him a strong choice early on.

Misaki

Misaki, driven by revenge, offers the "Master of Stealth Kiwami" trait, providing two extra smoke screen uses to hide the Goromaru and launch surprise attacks. This can be a game-changer in certain scenarios.

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The Best Squad Leaders For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

Squad Leaders are key to your success in hand-to-hand combat. Here are the top choices, with up to four possible positions when fully upgraded:

Kazuma Kiryu

Available as a pre-order bonus, Kazuma Kiryu’s "Dragon of Dojima" trait boosts attack and speeds up the voltage gauge, making him a formidable Squad Leader.

Jason

Recruited early in the game, Jason’s "Former Hunter’s Knowledge" trait enhances both attack and defense, perfect for early boarding party engagements.

Daigo Dojima

Daigo Dojima, a DLC character, offers "Wisdom King’s Divine Protection," which accelerates health recovery and heat gauge charging for your boarding party.

Ono Michio

Ono Michio, a mascot from previous Yakuza games, boosts attack and charges the madness gauge with his "The Idol of Onomichi" trait, available through DLC.

Masaru

Masaru, your first recruit, should be your second Squad Leader after Jason. His "Marine Cuisine" trait enhances the attack of his boarding party.

Taiga Saejima

Taiga Saejima, joining late in the story, has the "Veteran" trait that boosts both attack and defense, making him a strong choice for Squad Leader.

The Support Squad Members For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

Support Squad members don't fight but can significantly influence the battle with their skills. Here are the best options:

Noah

Noah, your first Support Squad member, offers "Rallying Cry," which provides medium health recovery. Keeping him in your formation and leveling his skill will enhance its effectiveness.

Goro

Goro, Noah’s pet tiger, has "Goro’s Mighty Roar," boosting the attack damage of your boarding party. Like Noah, keeping him in the formation allows his skill to level up and become more potent.

Nancy-Chan

Available through the Ichiban DLC pack, Nancy-chan’s "Pincers of Pain" complements Goro’s Mighty Roar, significantly increasing attack power and potentially one-hitting enemies.

And those are the best Pirate Coliseum crew formations in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.