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

In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, mastering the Pirate Coliseum requires not just skill in naval combat but also strategic crew formations. Here's a detailed look at the best crew formations to maximize your chances of success in the Pirate Coliseum.

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When it comes to positioning your crew on the Goromaru, focus on these three crucial roles, as they significantly impact your performance in the Pirate Coliseum:

First Mate: This role is pivotal as Goro's second-in-command, enhancing either the ship's offensive or defensive capabilities during naval combat. The choice of First Mate can make a substantial difference in battle.

Squad Leader: As the leader of a boarding party, this position influences the effectiveness of hand-to-hand combat. You can have up to four Squad Leaders after upgrading your ship, allowing for a boarding party of up to 20 crew members, which is crucial for dominating enemy ships in the second phase of combat.

Support Squad: These members don't participate in direct combat but provide essential boosts or healing, which can turn the tide of battle. Their support abilities are vital for maintaining the upper hand in fights.

The Best First Mates For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

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

Daisaku Minami

Daisaku Minami, a lifelong friend of Goro Majima, joins your crew at the end of Chapter 4. His "Sink King Kiwami" trait greatly boosts damage to enemy sterns, making him invaluable for high-star difficulty matches in the Pirate Coliseum where quickly taking down the boss ship is critical.

Nishida

Nishida, recruited alongside Minami, enhances the Goromaru's durability by providing two additional repair uses. This can be a game-changer in intense, multi-ship battles, ensuring your ship remains operational longer.

Captain Beef

Captain Beef, available early in the game, is an excellent choice for First Mate due to his "Sink King Kiwami" trait, which boosts damage in naval combat, despite his lower stats in other roles.

Misaki

Misaki, driven by a quest for revenge, brings the "Master of Stealth Kiwami" trait to the table, providing additional smoke screen uses. This can be strategically used to hide the Goromaru and launch surprise attacks, though it's more situational than the other First Mate options.

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The Best Squad Leaders For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

Squad Leaders play a crucial role in hand-to-hand combat, and here are the best options, with up to four positions available after ship upgrades:

Kazuma Kiryu

Kazuma Kiryu, a pre-order bonus, boosts attack and accelerates the voltage gauge charge with his "Dragon of Dojima" trait, making him an excellent Squad Leader for those who have access to him.

Jason

Jason, recruited early in the game, enhances both attack and defense with his "Former Hunter's Knowledge" trait, making him ideal for early boarding party formations.

Daigo Dojima

Daigo Dojima, a DLC character, speeds up health recovery and charges the heat gauge with his "Wisdom King's Divine Protection" trait, providing a significant advantage in prolonged fights.

Ono Michio

Ono Michio, another DLC character, boosts attack and charges the madness gauge with his "The Idol of Onomichi" trait, enabling more frequent use of devastating attacks.

Masaru

Masaru, the first recruit in the main story, enhances attack with his "Marine Cuisine" trait, making him a solid choice for your second Squad Leader after Jason.

Taiga Saejima

Taiga Saejima, joining late in the game, boosts both attack and defense with his "Veteran" trait, making him an essential Squad Leader for tougher battles.

The Support Squad Members For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

While the Support Squad doesn't engage in combat, their abilities can significantly influence the outcome of battles:

Noah

Noah, the first Support Squad member, provides a medium health recovery with his "Rallying Cry" skill, which becomes increasingly effective as he levels up, making him a permanent fixture in your crew formation.

Goro

Noah's pet tiger, Goro, boosts attack with his "Goro's Mighty Roar" skill. Keeping him in your formation ensures his skill levels up, enhancing your boarding party's damage output.

Nancy-Chan

Nancy-chan, a DLC character, complements Goro's Mighty Roar with her "Pincers of Pain" skill, providing an additional attack boost that can make short work of non-boss 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.