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

In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, mastering the Pirate Coliseum demands not only skillful naval combat but also strategic crew formations. The right crew setup can be the key to dominating your opponents. Here’s a detailed look at the best crew formations to ensure your success in the Pirate Coliseum.

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When assembling your crew on the Goromaru, focus on the three crucial positions that significantly impact your performance in naval combat:

First Mate: As Goro’s right-hand person on the Goromaru, the First Mate’s role is pivotal. Depending on your choice, they can enhance either your offensive or defensive capabilities during naval battles.

Squad Leader: This position leads a section of your boarding party, which can consist of up to four members. The Squad Leader provides a specific boost, and you can have up to four Squad Leaders by upgrading your ship. This allows for a robust team of up to 20 crew members to board and fight alongside Goro in the second phase of naval combat.

Support Squad: These crew members don't engage in combat but offer powerful support abilities that can turn the tide of battle. They provide stat boosts or healing, which can be crucial during fights.

The Best First Mates For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

Different battles may call for different strategies, so here are the top picks for First Mates:

Daisaku Minami

Daisaku Minami, a lifelong friend and self-proclaimed brother of Goro Majima, joins your crew at the end of Chapter 4. His First Mate trait, "Sink King Kiwami," significantly increases damage to enemy sterns, making him invaluable for late-game Pirate Coliseum matches, especially against multiple ships.

Nishida

Nishida, recruited alongside Minami, boosts the Goromaru's repair capabilities as First Mate. With his trait, you gain two additional repair uses, essential for maintaining your ship's health during intense battles against multiple foes.

Captain Beef

Captain Beef, an early recruit, is an excellent choice for First Mate due to his "Sink King Kiwami" trait, which enhances your damage output in naval combat, even if his other stats are lower.

Misaki

Misaki, driven by revenge, brings the "Master of Stealth Kiwami" trait as First Mate. This trait provides additional smoke screen uses, allowing you to hide from enemy ships and launch surprise attacks, which can be a game-changer in battles.

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The Best Squad Leaders For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

Squad Leaders play a critical role in hand-to-hand combat, and here are the best choices for this position:

Kazuma Kiryu

Kazuma Kiryu, available as a pre-order bonus, is a formidable Squad Leader. His "Dragon of Dojima" trait boosts attack and speeds up the voltage gauge, enabling more powerful team boosts.

Jason

Jason, recruited early in the game, brings "Former Hunter’s Knowledge" as a Squad Leader, enhancing both attack and defense for your boarding party, crucial for early encounters.

Daigo Dojima

Daigo Dojima, a DLC character, offers "Wisdom King’s Divine Protection," which accelerates health recovery and charges the heat gauge for more devastating attacks.

Ono Michio

Ono Michio, a humorous mascot and DLC character, boosts attack and charges the madness gauge with "The Idol of Onomichi," allowing for more frequent and powerful finishing moves.

Masaru

Masaru, the first character you recruit, enhances your boarding party's attack with the "Marine Cuisine" trait, providing an early edge in hand-to-hand combat.

Taiga Saejima

Taiga Saejima, joining in the penultimate chapter, brings the "Veteran" trait, boosting both attack and defense, making him an excellent choice for a Squad Leader position.

The Support Squad Members For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

Support Squad members don't fight but can significantly influence battles with their abilities:

Noah

Noah, your first Support Squad member, provides "Rallying Cry," which offers medium health recovery. Keeping Noah in your formation and leveling up his skill enhances its effectiveness, making it vital for tougher battles.

Goro

Goro, Noah’s pet tiger, brings "Goro’s Mighty Roar," a powerful support skill that boosts the attack of your boarding party. As you keep Goro in your lineup and level up his skill, his roar becomes a game-changer, capable of one-hit kills against non-boss enemies.

Nancy-Chan

Nancy-chan, a DLC character from the Ichiban DLC pack, enhances "Goro’s Mighty Roar" with "Pincers of Pain," further increasing attack power. This combination can be devastating, making enemies fall with a single strike.

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.