Home News > Top Early Upgrades for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Hawaii

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

by Aurora May 14,2025

In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, Goro Majima, known as the Mad Dog of Shimano, is the protagonist you control. This game introduces a variety of skills and upgrades for Goro, making your journey through the pirate-infested islands of Hawaii more engaging. Here's a guide to the best early upgrades for Goro in *Pirate Yakuza*.

Goro Majima Upgrades in Pirate Yakuza, Explained

Goro Majima starts the game as an amnesiac ex-yakuza, beginning with a single fighting style in the first chapter. As you advance through the main storyline, Goro unlocks new weapons and the Sea Dog fighting style, which comes with its own upgrade tree. The game features four different skill trees:

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

Here are several early upgrades that players should consider in *Pirate Yakuza* to enhance their gameplay without requiring excessive in-game resources.

Max Health Boost (Overall Stats)

The Health boost upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiOne of the first upgrades players should invest in is the Max Health Boost. Essential for surviving the intense boss fights and managing crowds of enemies, a higher health bar allows Goro to endure hits and outlast opponents. This upgrade is crucial for success in *Pirate Yakuza*'s challenging battles.

Attack Boost (Overall Stats)

The attack boost upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe Attack Boost is another vital early upgrade for Goro. It significantly increases the damage dealt with basic attacks, which is essential in a game that has returned to its roots of real-time, melee-focused combat. For those willing to invest more, the Attack Boost Plus can make future playthroughs even smoother.

Knockdown Evasion (Shared Abilities)

Knockdown Evasion upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiIn battles against multiple foes, Knockdown Evasion becomes indispensable. This upgrade enables Goro to quickly recover from heavy attacks or melee weapon strikes, allowing you to maintain an offensive stance and quickly return to the fray.

Quickstep Strike (Shared Abilities)

The quickstep upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe Quickstep Strike upgrade enhances Goro's ability to counter-attack immediately after dodging, making it a game-changer in combat. This skill is particularly useful in early boss fights, enabling Goro to trigger his heat gauge attacks more effectively.

Grapple Counter (Shared Abilities)

Grapple Counter upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiFor managing crowds, the Grapple Counter upgrade is excellent. It prevents damage from grab attacks and allows Goro to counter with his own offensive move, turning defense into an opportunity for attack.

Serpent Trick (Mad Dog)

Serpent Trick upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe Mad Dog style, Goro's signature pirate fighting style, includes the use of dual swords, a flintlock pistol, and a grappling hook. The Serpent Trick is a key early upgrade that launches enemies into the air, setting up deadly aerial combos and leaving opponents vulnerable.

Frenzy Trick (Mad Dog)

The Frenzy trick upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiAnother crowd control technique in the Mad Dog style is the Frenzy Trick. This spin attack knocks down multiple enemies, which is particularly useful in the naval combat side quests where you face waves of pirates.

Catch ‘n’ Slash (Sea Dog)

Catch 'n' Slash upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiAvailable from the start of the Sea Dog style, the Catch 'n' Slash upgrade enhances Goro's projectile-based combat. It extends the duration of the throw and allows for immediate follow-up attacks, enabling longer and more effective combos.

Charge ‘n’ Shoot (Sea Dog)

Charge 'n' Shoot upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThe flintlock pistol in the Mad Dog style can be a cumbersome weapon due to its long charge time. However, the Charge 'n' Shoot upgrade makes it more practical, allowing Goro to shoot multiple enemies and send them flying, thus improving its utility in combat.

These are the best early upgrades for Goro Majima in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, ensuring you're well-equipped to face the challenges of the pirate world.

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