In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, assembling the perfect pirate crew is key to swiftly navigating the game's storyline. During Chapter 2, as Goro and his team venture into Madlantis—a sanctuary for pirates hosting the Naval Colloseum battles—you'll uncover the backstory of your initial crew members, Jason and Masaru, who lost everything due to a betrayal in these fierce competitions. To progress, Goro must upgrade his ship and recruit more crew members to compete in the arena battles. However, before diving into these challenges, players must first raise $10,000 to repair their ship and recruit five new members. To help you get past this hurdle quickly, here are five crew members you can easily bring on board early in the game.
Nickelle Kidman
A clever nod to Nicole Kidman, Nickelle is an actor you'll find lounging on Honolulu's beach. She'll join your crew if your pirate group, the Goro Pirates, has achieved a two-star rating. By the time you meet her, you should already have this rating from completing the main story missions. If not, you can boost your rating quickly by finding treasures, battling thugs, and engaging in naval skirmishes.
Hammerhead
As you explore recruitment options, you'll notice three main methods: payment, offering a desired item, or winning a fight. Hammerhead, found on the second floor of Honolulu's shopping center, falls into the latter category. You'll need to defeat him in combat to recruit him. His health isn't overwhelming, making him a quick addition to your crew, crucial for advancing in *Pirate Yakuza*.
Kenzo
Located at the Honolulu beach docks, Kenzo is a ship hand who can be recruited either by giving him raw materials you've gathered on your adventures or by paying him a few thousand dollars. Since you'll have amassed plenty of both materials and money from your sea voyages, Kenzo is an easy and worthwhile recruit who adds reliability to your team.
Lucas
Found in Madlantis, Lucas requires nothing more than a fistfight to join your ranks. His pre-fight banter with Goro adds a humorous touch before you engage. Although he wields a melee weapon, making his attacks slightly more formidable than Hammerhead's, he should pose no significant challenge after the boss fights you've already conquered in the preceding chapters.
Obispo
To recruit Obispo, simply dine at his restaurant in Honolulu. With numerous enemies spawning nearby, you can battle them, weaken them, and then enjoy a meal at his establishment. Repeat this process five times, and Obispo will join the Goro Pirates as your fifth crew member. Though slightly more time-consuming, this method remains easier than recruiting others with more demanding requirements.
While *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* offers a wide range of crew members across its islands, these five early recruits will help you progress through the story at a brisk pace. As you face more challenging battles and need to expand your crew further in later chapters, you can then focus on recruiting members with higher stats and more complex recruitment processes.
And those are the best crew members to recruit in the early game for *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
