Home News Top Pirate Crew Formations for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Top Pirate Crew Formations for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Author : Jason May 15,2025

In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, mastering the Pirate Coliseum is not just about skill in naval combat; it also hinges on strategic crew formations. To dominate the waves, here are the best crew setups for your ship, the Goromaru.

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The Crew Management System in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

When strategizing crew positions on the Goromaru, three roles stand out as crucial, with the rest having minimal impact:

First Mate: As Goro's second-in-command, this role significantly boosts your ship's offensive or defensive capabilities during naval battles.

Squad Leader: Leading a section of your boarding party, this role enhances your team's performance. With upgrades, you can have up to four Squad Leaders, enabling a force of up to 20 crew members to board and fight on enemy ships alongside Goro.

Support Squad: These crew members don't engage in combat directly but offer powerful stat boosts that can turn the tide of battle. Summoning their help can enhance your team's attack, defense, or heal them 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 First Mates for your crew:

Daisaku Minami

The Crew Formation stat screen for Minami in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Daisaku Minami, a lifelong friend and self-proclaimed brother of Goro Majima, joins your crew at the end of Chapter 4. His "Sink King Kiwami" trait significantly boosts damage to enemy sterns, making him ideal for late-game Coliseum matches where quick boss ship takedowns are crucial.

Nishida

The Crew Formation stat screen for Nishida in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Nishida, recruited alongside Minami, enhances the Goromaru's durability by providing two additional repair uses. This is vital in intense battles against multiple ships, as it allows more frequent full health restorations.

Captain Beef

The Crew Formation stat screen for Captain Beef in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Captain Beef, an early recruit, should be your First Mate from the start. Despite his quirky nature, his "Sink King Kiwami" trait makes him a formidable choice for early naval combat, maximizing damage output.

Misaki

The Crew Formation stat screen for Misaki in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Misaki, driven by revenge, brings the "Master of Stealth Kiwami" trait, granting two extra smoke screen uses. This allows the Goromaru to hide and launch surprise attacks, offering a strategic edge in battles.

Related: How To Upgrade Cannons in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

The Best Squad Leaders For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

Squad Leaders are key to your success in hand-to-hand combat. Here are the best choices, with up to four slots available after upgrades:

Kazuma Kiryu

The Crew Formation stat screen for Kazuma Kiryu in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Kazuma Kiryu, a pre-order bonus, boosts attack and charges the voltage gauge faster with his "Dragon of Dojima" trait, making him an excellent Squad Leader for quick, devastating attacks.

Jason

Jason, recruited early in the game, enhances both attack and defense with his "Former Hunter's Knowledge" trait, making him a solid choice for initial boarding parties.

Daigo Dojima

Daigo Dojima, a DLC character, accelerates health recovery and charges the heat gauge with his "Wisdom King's Divine Protection" trait, enabling more powerful attacks.

Ono Michio

The Crew Formation stat screen for Ono Michio in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Ono Michio, a mascot from previous Yakuza games, boosts attack and charges the madness gauge with his "The Idol of Onomichi" trait, making him a valuable addition for devastating attacks.

Masaru

Masaru, your first recruit, enhances attack with his "Marine Cuisine" trait, giving you an edge in early hand-to-hand combat.

Taiga Saejima

Taiga Saejima, joining in the second-to-last chapter, boosts both attack and defense with his "Veteran" trait, making him a powerful Squad Leader for crowd control.

The Support Squad Members For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

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

Noah

Noah, your first Support Squad member, provides medium health recovery with his "Rallying Cry" skill. Keeping him in your formation and leveling up his skill enhances its effectiveness, crucial for tougher battles.

Goro

Goro, Noah's pet tiger, boosts attack damage with his "Goro's Mighty Roar" skill. Keeping him in your formation and leveling up his skill maximizes his impact, making him a permanent fixture.

Nancy-Chan

Nancy-chan, a DLC character from the Ichiban pack, enhances attack with her "Pincers of Pain" skill, synergizing well with Goro's Mighty Roar for one-hit kills.

These 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.