Top Early Game Crew Picks for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, building the perfect pirate crew is key to progressing through the game's storyline efficiently. Early in the game, during Chapter 2, Goro and his initial crew venture into Madlantis, a sanctuary for pirates hosting Naval Colosseum battles. Here, you delve deeper into the backstories of Jason and Masaru, learning about their crew's disbandment due to a betrayal in the Colosseum. Goro's mission becomes clear: upgrade his ship and recruit a robust crew to compete in the naval battles. To move forward in the story, you must earn $10,000 to repair your ship and recruit five crew members. Here are the best early-game recruits to help you advance quickly.

Nickelle Kidman

Nickelle Kidman, a playful nod to Nicole Kidman, can be found lounging near the Honolulu beach. To recruit her, your crew, the Goro Pirates, must achieve a two-star rating. By the time you encounter her, you should already have this rating from completing the main story missions. If not, you can quickly boost your rating by finding treasure, fighting thugs, and engaging in naval battles.

Hammerhead

Hammerhead, located on the second floor of the Honolulu shopping center, requires a straightforward approach: defeat him in combat. This method is common among the recruits listed here, as it's the quickest way to bolster your crew. Hammerhead's health is manageable, making him an easy target to secure one of the five needed crew members to progress in *Pirate Yakuza*.

Kenzo

Kenzo, a ship hand at the Honolulu beach docks, can be recruited by either providing him with raw materials gathered during your sea voyages or by paying him a few thousand dollars. Both options are easily achievable, as you'll have amassed plenty of materials and money from your adventures. Kenzo is a swift and dependable addition to your crew, well worth the minimal investment.

Lucas

In Madlantis, Lucas can be recruited through a fistfight. His humorous interaction with Goro precedes the challenge, and while his melee weapon makes him slightly more formidable than Hammerhead, he's still manageable after the boss fights you've encountered in the preceding chapters.

Obispo

Obispo's recruitment involves dining at his restaurant in Honolulu. By engaging in battles to lower your health and then purchasing meals at his establishment five times, you can secure his services. While slightly more tedious, this method is still easier than recruiting others who demand higher ratings or more complex tasks.

While *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* offers many other impressive crew members across its islands, these five are your best bet for early-game recruitment to swiftly advance the story. As the game progresses and battles become tougher, you can focus on recruiting members with higher stats and more demanding requirements.

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