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

by Carter Mar 28,2025

Goro Majima, the iconic "Mad Dog of Shimano," takes center stage in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*. As players dive into this thrilling adventure, they'll find Majima equipped with a range of skills and tricks to master. Here's a guide to the best early upgrades for Goro Majima in *Pirate Yakuza*, designed to enhance your gameplay from the get-go.

Goro Majima Upgrades in Pirate Yakuza, Explained

Starting as an amnesiac ex-yakuza with a single fighting style, Goro Majima's journey in *Pirate Yakuza* begins modestly. As you progress through the main storyline, you'll unlock new weapons and the Sea Dog fighting style, each with its own upgrade tree. The game offers four skill trees for development:

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

These early upgrades are recommended to ease your battles and quests without demanding too much of your in-game resources.

Max Health Boost (Overall Stats)

The Health boost upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

The first upgrade you should consider is the Max Health Boost. Essential for surviving intense boss fights surrounded by henchmen, a higher health bar ensures Goro can withstand hits, enabling effective crowd control. This upgrade is crucial for outlasting opponents and dealing significant damage, making it a vital early investment in *Pirate Yakuza*.

Attack Boost (Overall Stats)

The attack boost upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Next up, the Attack Boost is a must-have. This upgrade amplifies the damage of Goro's base attacks, which is particularly important given the return to the series' traditional melee-focused gameplay. Although it may require a significant investment in in-game currency and points, the Attack Boost Plus can further simplify future playthroughs.

Knockdown Evasion (Shared Abilities)

Knockdown Evasion upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

In scenarios involving multiple enemies, the Knockdown Evasion upgrade is invaluable. It facilitates quick recovery after being hit by heavy attacks or melee weapons, allowing Goro to swiftly return to an offensive stance.

Quickstep Strike (Shared Abilities)

The quickstep upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

The Quickstep Strike upgrade is essential for enhancing your combat effectiveness. By enabling Goro to strike immediately after dodging, this upgrade significantly eases all fights, including early boss encounters, by adding an extra layer of attack and boosting his heat gauge.

Grapple Counter (Shared Abilities)

Grapple Counter upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

To handle crowds effectively, the Grapple Counter upgrade is perfect. It prevents damage from grab attacks and allows Goro to counter with his own offensive move, making it a powerful tool in crowded battles.

Serpent Trick (Mad Dog)

Serpent Trick upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

The Mad Dog style, Goro's signature pirate fighting technique, utilizes dual swords, a flintlock pistol, and a grappling hook. The Serpent Trick upgrade is a game-changer, allowing Goro to launch enemies into the air for devastating aerial combos, perfect for crowd control.

Frenzy Trick (Mad Dog)

The Frenzy trick upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Another crowd control gem in the Mad Dog style is the Frenzy Trick. This spin move knocks down multiple enemies, making it invaluable during 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 Hawaii

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, enabling longer and more effective combos.

Charge ‘n’ Shoot (Sea Dog)

Charge 'n' Shoot upgrade for Goro in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

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 transforms it into a more practical weapon, capable of hitting multiple enemies and sending them flying, thus enhancing its utility in combat.

These are the top early upgrades for Goro Majima in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, designed to give you a strong start in this action-packed adventure.

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