Mastering Naval Combat in Like a Dragon: Ishin! (Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii): Optimal Crew Formations for the Pirate Coliseum

The Pirate Coliseum in Like a Dragon: Ishin! presents a challenging naval combat experience demanding strategic crew placement. This guide outlines the best crew formations to maximize your chances of victory. Success hinges on careful selection for three key roles: First Mate, Squad Leaders, and Support Squad.

Crew placement on the Goromaru significantly impacts naval battles. While all positions matter, three are paramount:

• First Mate: Provides offensive or defensive ship boosts.
• Squad Leaders: Lead boarding parties, offering various combat advantages. Upgrading the Goromaru allows for up to four Squad Leaders, leading a 20-member boarding party.
• Support Squad: Provides crucial battlefield support without direct combat participation.

Top First Mate Choices:

The optimal First Mate choice depends on the battle's demands. Here are some top contenders:

• Daisaku Minami: His "Sink King Kiwami" trait drastically increases damage to enemy sterns, ideal for swiftly eliminating boss ships in challenging Coliseum encounters. (Recruited late game)

• Nishida: Provides two extra ship repairs, crucial for surviving intense multi-ship battles. (Recruited late game)

• Captain Beef: Early-game acquisition with the "Sink King Kiwami" trait, offering significant early-game damage boosts.

• Misaki: Offers two extra smoke screen uses for tactical retreats and surprise attacks. (A riskier, but viable option)

Elite Squad Leaders:

Effective Squad Leaders determine your hand-to-hand combat success. Consider these top choices (up to four with a fully upgraded ship):

• Kazuma Kiryu (Pre-order bonus): "Dragon of Dojima" significantly boosts attack and voltage gauge charging.

• Jason: Early recruit with "Former Hunter's Knowledge," boosting attack and defense for your initial boarding parties.

• Daigo Dojima (DLC): "Wisdom King's Divine Protection" accelerates health recovery and heat gauge charging.

• Ono Michio (DLC): "The Idol of Onomichi" greatly boosts attack and madness gauge charging.

• Masaru: Early recruit with "Marine Cuisine," boosting boarding party attack.

• Taiga Saejima: Late-game recruit with "Veteran," significantly boosting attack and defense.

Unwavering Support Squad:

While not directly involved in combat, the Support Squad significantly impacts the battle's outcome. Prioritize these members:

• Noah: "Rallying Cry" provides crucial health recovery, improving with level progression.

• Goro (Noah's tiger): "Goro's Mighty Roar" boosts boarding party attack, becoming devastating with skill upgrades.

• Nancy-Chan (DLC): "Pincers of Pain" complements Goro's Roar for potentially one-hit kills.

By strategically utilizing these crew formations, you'll significantly enhance your performance in the Pirate Coliseum. Like a Dragon: Ishin! is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.