Mastering the Pirate Coliseum in *Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name* (also known as *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*) demands both skillful naval combat and strategic crew management. Optimizing your crew formation is key to victory. This guide outlines the best crew formations for conquering the Coliseum's challenges.
While the *Goromaru* offers several crew positions, three are paramount: First Mate, Squad Leader(s), and Support Squad. Other positions have minimal impact on combat effectiveness.
First Mate: Your second-in-command, influencing ship offense or defense during naval battles.
Squad Leader(s): Leads boarding parties (up to four, with ship upgrades), providing various combat boosts. You can have up to four Squad Leaders, leading to a maximum of 20 crewmates in the boarding phase.
Support Squad: These crew members don't directly fight, but their abilities can significantly impact the battle, offering attack/defense boosts or healing.
The Best First Mates for Your Crew Formation
The optimal First Mate choice depends on your strategy. Here are top contenders:
Daisaku Minami
Minami, recruited late in Chapter 4, possesses the "Sink King Kiwami" trait, drastically increasing stern damage. Ideal for late-game Coliseum battles, prioritizing swift boss ship elimination.
Nishida
Also recruited late-game, Nishida provides two extra ship repairs, crucial for surviving intense multi-ship encounters.
Captain Beef
An early recruit with the "Sink King Kiwami" trait, offering strong early-game stern damage.
Misaki
Misaki's "Master of Stealth Kiwami" trait grants extra smoke screen uses, offering tactical advantages through concealment and surprise attacks.
The Best Squad Leaders for Your Crew Formation
Squad Leaders heavily influence boarding combat outcomes. Here are some excellent choices:
Kazuma Kiryu
(Pre-order bonus) Kiryu's "Dragon of Dojima" trait significantly boosts attack and voltage gauge charge speed.
Jason
An early recruit, Jason's "Former Hunter's Knowledge" boosts both attack and defense for the boarding party.
Daigo Dojima
(DLC) Dojima's "Wisdom King's Divine Protection" accelerates health recovery and heat gauge charging.
Ono Michio
(DLC) Ono Michio's "The Idol of Onomichi" trait boosts attack and madness gauge charging.
Masaru
Your first recruit, Masaru's "Marine Cuisine" boosts boarding party attack.
Taiga Saejima
Recruited late-game, Saejima's "Veteran" trait significantly boosts both attack and defense.
The Best Support Squad Members for Your Crew Formation
While not directly involved in combat, the Support Squad significantly impacts battles:
Noah
Noah's "Rallying Cry" provides crucial health recovery, significantly improving survivability.
Goro
Goro's "Goro's Mighty Roar" boosts boarding party attack, often leading to swift enemy elimination.
Nancy-Chan
(DLC) Nancy-Chan's "Pincers of Pain" complements Goro's Roar, potentially one-shotting enemies.
By strategically combining these crew members, you can create powerful formations tailored to different Coliseum challenges. Remember to upgrade your *Goromaru* to unlock additional Squad Leader slots for maximum effectiveness.
Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
