In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, building the best Pirate crew is essential for progressing through the game's story efficiently. During Chapter 2, Goro and his initial crew venture into Madlantis, a Pirate Sanctuary known for hosting Naval Colosseum battles. Here, you'll learn more about your current crew members, Jason and Masaru, and their past betrayal in the Pirate Colosseum, which led to their crew's disbandment. To move forward, Goro must upgrade his ship and recruit additional crew members to participate in the arena battles, requiring a total of $10,000 for ship repairs and the recruitment of five new crew members.
The Coliseum is a crucial element in *Pirate Yakuza*, and recruiting the right crew members early on can help you bypass this hurdle quickly. Here are the best crew members to recruit early in the game:
Nickelle Kidman
Nickelle Kidman, a playful nod to Nicole Kidman, can be found lounging on Honolulu's beach. 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 quickly achieve this by finding treasure, defeating thugs, or engaging in naval battles.
Hammerhead
Located on the second floor of the shopping center in Honolulu, Hammerhead can be recruited by defeating him in a fight. His health is manageable, making him an easy target for early recruitment.
Kenzo
Kenzo, a ship hand found at the Honolulu docks, can be recruited either by providing him with raw materials you've collected during your journey or by paying him a few thousand dollars. Both options are feasible given the resources you've likely gathered by this point in the game.
Lucas
In Madlantis, Lucas can be recruited after defeating him in a fistfight. Although his melee weapon makes him slightly more challenging than Hammerhead, this battle should be manageable given your previous encounters.
Obispo
To recruit Obispo, you need to dine at his restaurant in Honolulu five times. This can be achieved by engaging in battles to lower your health and then purchasing meals at his establishment. While slightly more tedious, this method is still more straightforward compared to other recruitment tasks on the island.
These five crew members are ideal for early-game recruitment in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, allowing you to progress through the story quickly. As you advance, you can focus on recruiting more powerful members with higher stats, which often require more effort. *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* is now available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
