In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, building the best pirate crew is essential for progressing through the game's story swiftly. During Chapter 2, as Goro and his crew enter Madlantis, a Pirate Sanctuary known for hosting Naval Colosseum battles, you delve deeper into the backgrounds of Jason and Masaru. Their crew's disbandment following a betrayal in the Pirate Colosseum battles sets the stage for Goro's mission to upgrade his ship and recruit new crew members to participate in these naval challenges. To move forward in the main storyline, players need to earn $10,000 to repair their ship and recruit five crew members. Here are the best early-game recruits to help you progress quickly:
Nickelle Kidman
Inspired by Nicole Kidman, Nickelle can be found lounging near the beach in Honolulu. To recruit her, your crew must achieve a two-star rating, which is easily attainable by completing the main story missions up to this point. If you haven't reached this rating yet, you can quickly earn it by finding treasure, fighting thugs, and engaging in naval battles on the open sea.
Hammerhead
Located on the second floor of the shopping center in Honolulu, recruiting Hammerhead requires a straightforward fight. Most early-game recruits can be obtained by either paying them, giving them desired items, or defeating them in combat. Hammerhead falls into the latter category, making him a fast recruit. His health isn't formidable, allowing players to quickly add him to their crew.
Kenzo
Found in the dock area of Honolulu's beach, Kenzo can be recruited by providing him with raw materials gathered during your journey or by paying him a few thousand dollars. Both options are readily available, as players will have collected materials and earned money from treasures. Kenzo is a reliable crew member well worth the easily obtainable in-game resources.
Lucas
In Madlantis, Lucas can be recruited after a fistfight. His interaction with Goro is amusing, and the ensuing battle, while slightly more challenging due to his melee weapon, is manageable given the player's experience from previous boss fights in the first two chapters.
Obispo
To recruit Obispo, visit his establishment in Honolulu and eat there after engaging in battles and lowering your health. Repeat this process five times, and Obispo will join the Goro Pirates. Though slightly more tedious, this method is still easier compared to recruiting others who require more complex tasks or a higher crew rating.
While *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* offers many other impressive crew members across its islands, these five recruits will help you advance through the early stages of the story quickly. As the game progresses and more formidable challenges arise, you can focus on recruiting crew members with higher stats that require more effort. *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* is now available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
