Home > News > Top Early Game Crew Picks for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Top Early Game Crew Picks for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Author:Kristen Update:Apr 08,2025

In Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, building the perfect pirate crew is crucial for advancing through the game's narrative swiftly. During Chapter 2, as Goro and his initial crew venture into Madlantis, a Pirate Sanctuary known for its Naval Colosseum battles, you'll delve deeper into the backstories of Jason and Masaru. Their crew's disbandment due to a betrayal in the Colosseum sets the stage for Goro's mission to upgrade his ship and recruit new members to compete in the arena. To progress, you'll need to earn $10,000 to repair your ship and recruit five new crew members. Here are the top five crew members to recruit early in the game, ensuring you can move forward quickly.

Nickelle Kidman

A screenshot from Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Nickelle Kidman, a playful nod to Nicole Kidman, can be found lounging near the beach in Honolulu. To recruit her, your crew needs a two-star rating, which you should already have by completing the main story missions up to this point. If not, you can easily achieve this by finding treasure, defeating thugs, and engaging in naval battles.

Hammerhead

The potential crew member Hammerhead in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Located on the second floor of the shopping center in Honolulu, Hammerhead can be recruited by defeating him in a fight. This is one of the quickest ways to add a member to your crew, as his health is manageable, making him an easy target for early recruitment.

Related: All Yakuza Games, Ranked from Worst to Best

Kenzo

Kenzo in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Kenzo, found at the dock area of the beach in Honolulu, can be recruited by either giving him raw materials you've collected during your journey or paying him a few thousand dollars. Both options are feasible early in the game, making Kenzo a fast and reliable addition to your crew.

Lucas

In Madlantis, Lucas can be recruited through a fistfight. His humorous interaction with Goro precedes the battle, which, while slightly more challenging due to his melee weapon, should be manageable given your experience from previous boss fights.

Obispo

To recruit Obispo, dine at his restaurant in Honolulu. By engaging in battles to lower your health and then purchasing meals, you'll need to repeat this process five times. While slightly more tedious, it's still easier than recruiting other members with more demanding tasks or higher rating requirements.

These five crew members are your best bet for early recruitment in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, allowing you to progress through the story quickly. As the game advances and the challenges intensify, you can focus on recruiting more powerful members with higher stats.

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