Summary
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiihas generated a lot of interest from gamers both inside theYakuzafan base and beyond with its outside-of-the-box take on the series.For new playerscoming to the game, there’s a lot to absorb. The combat system reveals additional layers of depth as players progress through the game, as do the RPG-style upgrade systems. Even if players only consider developing Majima himself, there are still multiple skill categories that can be invested in.
Core stats, global combat abilities like perfect guard, and both the Sea Dog and Mad Dog combat stances have their own set ofskills that players can purchase. Players will likely want to spread their investments among all these categories, but understanding how they’re used in combat can help to focus on one skill set at a time. With that in mind, these are the best Sea Dogs skills players can purchase inLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii.
9Catch ‘n Slash / Cutlass Heave-Ho
Boomerang Swords
One of the basic abilities of the Sea Dog stance lets Majima throw his cutlasses by holding light attack. It’s a useful trick as players can keep ranged enemies at bay while brawling with nearby foes. Catch ‘n Slash lets players transition into a combo after catching the blades, with a nice damage boost.
Cutlass Heave-Ho requires players to get to Pirate Rank 3 before they can unlock it, but this skill extends the range and length of time that the boomerang swords will attack enemies. The boomerang cutlass is a handy ability for the Sea Dog stance, so players will likely want both of these upgrades.
8Charge ‘n Shoot
Powerful Pistols
As soon as players get their hands on a pistol, they can unlock Charge ‘n Shoot. This gives the pistol’s heavy attack, the charged shot, a second level of power if it’s held longer. At Pirate Rank 3, players get access to the second level of this skill, which adds a third level of charged power. This is a very powerful pistol shot if players can get the time to charge it all the way up.
Making the opportunities to use the charged shot can be tricky, but the power of the move makes up for it. Players who want a powerful ranged option should add these Sea Dog skills to their kit.
7Chain Readiness
Faster Hook Charge
Players will want to get the chain hook as soon as they can inLike A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. This pirate-y version of a grappling hook can help players traverse the environment, explore, andfind treasure. That’s not all though - the chain hook can also be a useful combat tool.
The hook is unlocked through the main story, around mid-way through chapter 2. Once players have the hook, they’ll want to pick up this Sea Dog skill, which reduces the time it takes to charge the hook in combat.
6Chain Reaction
Hook Combos
The chain hook has some good utility uses in combat for closing gaps or pulling away shields. Once players start to unlock skills for it, though, the versatility only increases. Chain Reaction enables two moves after successfully grappling an opponent; players can press grab to slide behind them, or heavy attack for a lunging stab. This makes it a lot easier to use the hook to chain into combos after closing the gap on distant foes.
5Ultimate Counter: Hook ‘n Shoot
Powerful Counter-Attack
Ultimate counter can be a tough combat move to learn, but it’s powerful enough that players should at least attempt to get their timing down early to helpovercome later challenges. Bosses and tough enemies inLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiihave dangerous moves signaled by a red glow. To counter, players need to quickstep into these moves as the boss moves in to attack, then press the grab button within a short window to perform an ultimate counter.
This lets players use strong enemies’ toughest moves against them, so it’s vital to get this down. Once players have the counter down, the Hook ‘n Shoot skill lets them perform an extra follow-up counter for even more damage.
4Essence Of Piracy: Sidearm Shuffle
Heat-Action Hook Action
Heat Actions are strong contextual special moves that players can perform when the heat gauge is filled. Sidearm Shuffle can be activated with a full heat gauge after hooking an enemy by pressing the on-screen button prompt (heavy attack).
Heat actions are some of thestrongest movesin the game, and having one that can be triggered at will like Sidearm Shuffle is worth the high cost of the move.
3Essence Of Piracy: Rain Of Blood
Charge Up And Destroy
Rain of Blood is a heat action that’s available as soon as players obtain a pistol, and it can help with clearinglarger mobs of enemiesearly in the game. Players can activate this move after a fully-charged heavy attack from the pistol if there are 5 or more enemies nearby.
The on-screen button prompt will appear if there are enough enemies around the player, and they can unleash this heat action to clear smaller foes quickly.
2Essence Of Piracy: Skip Rope Slash
Hit Them While They’re Down
One of the best things abouttheLike a Dragonseries’ heat actions is the animations that go with each one. Equal parts amusing and brutal, these contextual vignettes are a core part of the series’ combat identity, across both the brawler and turn-based iterations.
One of the early heat actions available after players get the chain hook is Skip Rope Slash, and it typifies this whimsical brutality. Players can activate this heat move near a downed foe when two other enemies are nearby to use their prone body as a creative problem-solving tool.
1Sea Dog Supremacy: Perfect Guard
Timed Guard Attack Buff
One of the best Sea Dog skills that players can purchase is Sea Dog Supremacy: Perfect Guard. This gives players a temporary buff to attack damage whenever they perform a perfect guard. As players might expect from the high cost of the ability, the buff is significant.
To unlock this skill for purchase, players will first need to achieve Pirate Rank 2 and purchase Perfect Guard (5000 R, $3000) from the shared skills tree.
