Top Early Upgrades for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Hawaii

Author: Emma Apr 25,2025

In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, players step into the shoes of the iconic Goro Majima, the Mad Dog of Shimano. This game provides Majima with an arsenal of skills and tricks to master, and here's a guide to the most beneficial early upgrades for Goro in *Pirate Yakuza*.

Goro Majima Upgrades in Pirate Yakuza, Explained

Goro Majima, an amnesiac ex-yakuza, starts his journey in *Pirate Yakuza* with a single fighting style in the game's opening chapter. As players advance through the main storyline, Goro unlocks new weapons and the Sea Dog fighting style, which introduces its own upgrade tree. The game features four distinct skill trees for players to explore:

  • Overall Stats
  • Shared Abilities
  • Mad Dog
  • Sea Dog

Here are the recommended early upgrades that will enhance your gameplay experience in *Pirate Yakuza*, offering significant benefits without requiring excessive resources.

Max Health Boost (Overall Stats)

The Health boost upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe first upgrade to consider is the Max Health Boost. This enhancement is crucial for surviving the intense boss fights and managing crowds of enemies. A higher health bar ensures Goro can withstand more hits, allowing him to outlast opponents and deal significant damage, making it an essential upgrade for tackling *Pirate Yakuza*'s toughest challenges.

Attack Boost (Overall Stats)

The attack boost upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe Attack Boost is another vital early upgrade for Goro, enabling him to inflict higher damage with his base attacks. Given the return to the series' traditional real-time combat, melee attacks are pivotal for progressing through both the main story and additional content. While the Attack Boost Plus upgrade might be costly, it's worth considering for future playthroughs to ease the difficulty.

Knockdown Evasion (Shared Abilities)

Knockdown Evasion upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiIn battles against multiple foes, dodging every attack becomes challenging, and getting knocked down is a common occurrence. The Knockdown Evasion upgrade is perfect for Goro, enabling him to quickly recover from heavy melee attacks and resume his offensive strategy.

Quickstep Strike (Shared Abilities)

The quickstep upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe Quickstep Strike upgrade enhances Goro's combat effectiveness by allowing him to strike after dodging. This upgrade is indispensable for simplifying all fights, including early boss battles, as it provides an additional attack opportunity and helps activate Goro's heat gauge attack.

Grapple Counter (Shared Abilities)

Grapple Counter upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe Grapple Counter upgrade is excellent for handling crowds, allowing Goro to counter grab attacks and avoid damage. Successfully executing the counter also enables Goro to launch a counterattack, making it a strategic choice for managing multiple enemies.

Serpent Trick (Mad Dog)

Serpent Trick upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe Mad Dog Style, Goro's pirate-themed fighting approach, equips him with dual swords, a flintlock pistol, and a grappling hook. The Serpent Trick upgrade is a game-changer for crowd control, enabling Goro to launch enemies into the air for devastating aerial combos, leaving them vulnerable to further attacks.

Frenzy Trick (Mad Dog)

The Frenzy trick upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe Frenzy Trick in the Mad Dog style is another crowd control technique, where Goro spins like a top, knocking down enemies in his path. This upgrade is particularly useful in the game's naval combat side quests, where players face waves of pirates, making it easier to manage large groups of foes.

Catch ‘n’ Slash (Sea Dog)

Catch 'n' Slash upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe Catch 'n' Slash upgrade enhances the projectile-based combat technique available from the start of the Sea Dog style. This upgrade extends the duration of the throw and allows for immediate follow-up attacks, enabling longer and more effective combos.

Charge ‘n’ Shoot (Sea Dog)

Charge 'n' Shoot upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe flintlock pistol in the Mad Dog style is a unique ranged weapon, but its long charge time can leave Goro vulnerable. The Charge 'n' Shoot upgrade makes the pistol more practical by allowing it to shoot multiple enemies at once, sending them flying and enhancing its utility in combat.

These are the top early upgrades for Goro Majima in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, designed to optimize your gameplay and make your journey through the game more enjoyable and successful.

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