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

Author : Jack Mar 31,2025

In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, players step into the shoes of Goro Majima, the legendary Mad Dog of Shimano, navigating through the tropical landscapes with a host of skills and tricks to master. Here's a guide to the best early upgrades for Goro to enhance your gameplay experience in *Pirate Yakuza*.

Goro Majima Upgrades in Pirate Yakuza, Explained

Goro Majima, known for his aggressive style, begins *Pirate Yakuza* with a single fighting style. As you delve deeper into the game's narrative, you'll unlock new weapons and the Sea Dog fighting style, each with its own upgrade tree. The game features four skill trees:

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

Here are the early upgrades you should prioritize to make your battles and quests smoother, without breaking the bank:

Max Health Boost (Overall Stats)

The Health boost upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii One of the first upgrades to consider is the Max Health Boost. In *Pirate Yakuza*, boss fights often come with numerous henchmen, making crowd control vital. A higher health bar allows Goro to absorb more hits, enabling you to outlast your opponents while dishing out substantial damage. This upgrade is essential for success in critical battles.

Attack Boost (Overall Stats)

The attack boost upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii The Attack Boost is another crucial early upgrade for Goro. It enhances the damage output of all base attacks, which is particularly important given the game's return to the classic *Yakuza* melee combat style. While it may require a significant investment of in-game currency and points, the Attack Boost Plus upgrade can further simplify future playthroughs.

Knockdown Evasion (Shared Abilities)

When facing multiple enemies, Knockdown Evasion becomes invaluable. This upgrade allows Goro to quickly recover from heavy attacks or melee weapon hits, enabling an immediate return to offensive play. It's perfect for maintaining momentum in combat.

Quickstep Strike (Shared Abilities)

The quickstep upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii The Quickstep Strike upgrade lets Goro attack immediately after dodging, making every fight more manageable. This ability is especially useful in early boss fights, providing another way to trigger Goro's heat gauge attack.

Grapple Counter (Shared Abilities)

The Grapple Counter upgrade is excellent for crowd control, allowing Goro to counter grab attacks and avoid damage. Successfully executing this counter also lets you launch an attack, turning defense into offense.

Serpent Trick (Mad Dog)

The Mad Dog Style, Goro's pirate-inspired fighting technique, 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.

Frenzy Trick (Mad Dog)

The Frenzy trick upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii The Frenzy Trick in the Mad Dog style is another crowd control gem. Goro spins like a top, knocking down enemies in his path. This move is particularly useful in naval combat side quests, where you face waves of pirates.

Catch ‘n’ Slash (Sea Dog)

The Catch ‘n’ Slash upgrade enhances the projectile-based combat technique available from the start of the Sea Dog style. It extends the duration of the throw and allows for immediate follow-up attacks, making combos more effective.

Charge ‘n’ Shoot (Sea Dog)

The flintlock pistol in the Mad Dog style can be a double-edged sword due to its slow charge time. However, the Charge ‘n’ Shoot upgrade makes it more practical, allowing Goro to shoot multiple enemies at once and send them flying.

These are the best early upgrades for Goro Majima in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, designed to give you a strong start in the game.

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