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

In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, players step into the shoes of Goro Majima, the iconic Mad Dog of Shimano, who embarks on a thrilling adventure filled with action and intrigue. As you dive into the game, understanding the best early upgrades for Goro can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. Here's a breakdown of the top upgrades across various skill trees that you should prioritize early in *Pirate Yakuza*.

Goro Majima Upgrades in Pirate Yakuza, Explained

Goro starts off as an amnesiac ex-yakuza with a single fighting style in the game's first chapter. As you progress through the main storyline, you'll unlock new weapons and the Sea Dog fighting style, which introduces a unique upgrade tree. The game features four skill trees that you can develop: Overall Stats, Shared Abilities, Mad Dog, and Sea Dog. Here are some crucial early upgrades to consider:

Max Health Boost (Overall Stats)

One of the first upgrades you should invest in is the Max Health Boost. This upgrade is essential because many boss fights in *Pirate Yakuza* involve dealing with numerous henchmen. A higher health bar ensures Goro can withstand more hits, allowing you to outlast opponents while dealing significant damage. This is key to surviving and thriving in the game's most challenging battles.

Attack Boost (Overall Stats)

Next up, consider the Attack Boost upgrade. This enhancement increases the damage output of Goro's base attacks, crucial now that *Pirate Yakuza* has returned to its roots with real-time combat. While it may be costly in terms of in-game currency and points, it's a worthwhile investment. The Attack Boost Plus, a related upgrade, can further simplify future playthroughs.

Knockdown Evasion (Shared Abilities)

When facing multiple enemies, Knockdown Evasion becomes a vital upgrade. It enables Goro to quickly recover from heavy attacks or melee weapon strikes, allowing you to swiftly return to an offensive stance. This upgrade is perfect for maintaining momentum in combat and minimizing downtime.

Quickstep Strike (Shared Abilities)

The Quickstep Strike upgrade is indispensable for any combat situation. It allows Goro to strike enemies immediately after dodging, making every fight more manageable. This ability is particularly useful in early boss fights, providing an additional means to activate Goro's heat gauge attacks.

Grapple Counter (Shared Abilities)

The Grapple Counter upgrade is excellent for crowd control. It stops incoming grab attacks and prevents damage, and upon successful execution, allows Goro to counterattack. This upgrade is crucial for maintaining control in hectic battles.

Serpent Trick (Mad Dog)

The Mad Dog Style, Goro's signature pirate fighting style, equips him with dual swords, a flintlock pistol, and a grappling hook. The Serpent Trick is an excellent early upgrade within this style, enabling Goro to launch enemies into the air. This creates opportunities for deadly combos and leaves adversaries vulnerable.

Frenzy Trick (Mad Dog)

Another crowd control gem in the Mad Dog style is the Frenzy Trick. This spin move knocks down multiple enemies in Goro's path, making it particularly effective during the game's naval combat side quests where you face waves of pirates. Investing in this upgrade early on can ease the challenge of these encounters.

Catch ‘n’ Slash (Sea Dog)

Unlocked with the Mad Dog style, the Catch ‘n’ Slash upgrade enhances Goro's projectile combat technique. 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)

The flintlock pistol, part of the Mad Dog style, can be a game-changer with the Charge ‘n’ Shoot upgrade. Initially, the pistol takes too long to charge, leaving Goro vulnerable. However, this upgrade makes the pistol more practical, allowing Goro to shoot multiple enemies at once and send them flying.

These are the best early upgrades for Goro Majima in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, designed to optimize your combat effectiveness and enhance your overall gaming experience.

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