Top Early Upgrades for Goro in Pirate Yakuza: Hawaii

In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, players take control of Goro Majima, the iconic Mad Dog of Shimano, who starts his journey as an amnesiac ex-yakuza with a single fighting style. As you progress through the game's narrative, Goro unlocks new weapons and the unique Sea Dog fighting style, opening up additional upgrade paths. The game features four skill trees for Goro to master: Overall Stats, Shared Abilities, Mad Dog, and Sea Dog. Here's a guide to the best early upgrades for Goro that will enhance your gameplay without requiring a significant investment of in-game currency or points.

Max Health Boost (Overall Stats)

One of the first upgrades you should prioritize is the Max Health Boost. With many boss fights involving numerous henchmen, having a high health bar is crucial for surviving the onslaught. This upgrade ensures Goro can withstand more damage, which is essential for maintaining control in crowded battles and outlasting opponents in Pirate Yakuza.

Attack Boost (Overall Stats)

The Attack Boost is another early upgrade that significantly enhances Goro's combat effectiveness. With the return to the series' traditional real-time combat, boosting Goro's melee attack power becomes vital for tackling both the main story and side content. Consider investing in the Attack Boost Plus upgrade later on to further ease future playthroughs.

Knockdown Evasion (Shared Abilities)

In battles against multiple foes, evading attacks becomes challenging, and knock downs are common. The Knockdown Evasion upgrade is essential for Goro, enabling quick recovery after being hit by heavy attacks or melee weapons. This allows you to swiftly return to an offensive stance, maintaining pressure on your enemies.

Quickstep Strike (Shared Abilities)

The Quickstep Strike upgrade is a game-changer, allowing Goro to strike enemies immediately after dodging. This ability not only simplifies regular combat but is particularly useful in boss fights, providing an additional way to trigger Goro's heat gauge attacks.

Grapple Counter (Shared Abilities)

The Grapple Counter upgrade is invaluable when dealing with crowds. It prevents damage from grab attacks and allows Goro to counter with an attack of his own, turning defense into offense seamlessly.

Serpent Trick (Mad Dog)

The Mad Dog style equips Goro with dual swords, a flintlock pistol, and a grappling hook, perfect for managing multiple opponents. The Serpent Trick upgrade lets Goro launch enemies into the air, setting up devastating aerial combos and leaving them vulnerable.

Frenzy Trick (Mad Dog)

Frenzy Trick in the Mad Dog style is another crowd control tool, enabling Goro to spin like a top and knock down enemies in his vicinity. This move is especially useful in the game's naval combat side quests, where you often face waves of pirates.

Catch ‘n’ Slash (Sea Dog)

The Catch ‘n’ Slash upgrade enhances the Sea Dog style's projectile combat technique. It extends the duration of the throw and allows for immediate follow-up attacks, facilitating longer and more effective combos.

Charge ‘n’ Shoot (Sea Dog)

While the flintlock pistol in the Mad Dog style is initially slow and leaves Goro vulnerable, the Charge ‘n’ Shoot upgrade makes it far more practical. It allows Goro to shoot multiple enemies at once, sending them flying and making this ranged weapon a formidable tool in his arsenal.

These are the top early upgrades for Goro Majima in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, designed to maximize your combat effectiveness and ease your journey through the game's challenges.

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