In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, mastering the Pirate Coliseum involves not just skill in naval combat but also strategic crew formation. Here's a guide to the best crew formations to ensure your victory in the Pirate Coliseum.

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When setting up your crew on the Goromaru, focus on three key positions, as they are pivotal to your success in naval combat:

First Mate: This role is crucial as Goro’s second-in-command, boosting your ship's offensive or defensive capabilities. The choice of First Mate can significantly impact your performance in the Pirate Coliseum.

Squad Leader: These leaders command sections of your boarding party, offering boosts that vary with the chosen character. With upgrades, you can have up to four Squad Leaders, enabling a boarding party of up to 20 members to fight alongside Goro.

Support Squad: These crew members don't engage directly in combat but provide crucial stat boosts or healing, which can turn the tide of battle when summoned.

The Best First Mates For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

Depending on the type of ship battle, different crew formations can be beneficial. Here are the most effective First Mates:

Daisaku Minami

Minami, Goro Majima's lifelong friend, joins your crew at the end of Chapter 4. His "Sink King Kiwami" trait significantly boosts damage to enemy sterns, making him ideal for high-difficulty Pirate Coliseum matches where quickly taking down the boss ship is crucial.

Nishida

Nishida, recruited alongside Minami, enhances the Goromaru’s defensive capabilities by providing two additional repair uses. This is vital in intense battles against multiple ships, allowing you to restore your ship’s health more frequently.

Captain Beef

Available early in the game, Captain Beef should be your initial First Mate. Despite his quirky nature, he possesses the "Sink King Kiwami" trait, which is great for maximizing damage in naval combat, especially in the early stages.

Misaki

Misaki, driven by a quest for revenge, offers the "Master of Stealth Kiwami" trait, providing additional smoke screen uses to hide your ship and launch surprise attacks. This trait can be a game-changer in strategic battles.

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The Best Squad Leaders For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

Squad Leaders are key to your boarding party's success. Here are the best options, with up to four assignable positions once your ship is fully upgraded:

Kazuma Kiryu

A pre-order bonus, Kiryu's "Dragon of Dojima" trait boosts attack and accelerates the voltage gauge, making him a formidable Squad Leader for rapid team boosts.

Jason

Recruited early in the game, Jason's "Former Hunter’s Knowledge" enhances both attack and defense, making him a solid choice for early boarding party formations.

Daigo Dojima

As a DLC character, Daigo's "Wisdom King’s Divine Protection" trait speeds up health recovery and charges the heat gauge, enabling more powerful attacks.

Ono Michio

This amusing mascot from other Yakuza entries, available via DLC, boosts attack and charges the madness gauge with "The Idol of Onomichi" trait.

Masaru

Your first recruit, Masaru's "Marine Cuisine" trait enhances the attack of his boarding party, giving you an edge in early hand-to-hand combat.

Taiga Saejima

Joining late in the game, Taiga's "Veteran" trait boosts both attack and defense, making him an essential Squad Leader for tough battles.

The Support Squad Members For Your Crew Formation in Pirate Yakuza

While not directly engaging in combat, the Support Squad can significantly influence the outcome of battles with their skills:

Noah

Noah’s "Rallying Cry" provides medium health recovery, which becomes more effective as you level up his skill, making him a permanent fixture in your crew formation.

Goro

Noah's pet tiger, Goro, offers "Goro’s Mighty Roar," boosting the attack of your boarding party. Keeping him in the support squad and leveling up his skill maximizes his effectiveness.

Nancy-Chan

Available through the Ichiban DLC pack, Nancy-chan's "Pincers of Pain" enhances Goro’s Mighty Roar, creating a powerful attack combination that can one-hit many enemies.

These are the best Pirate Coliseum crew formations in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, designed to give you the upper hand in naval combat and boarding fights.

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