Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a refreshing yet challenging departure from the previous titles in the series, combining the franchise’s signature storytelling with turn-based RPG mechanics. With the release of the PlayStation 5 version, now’s a great time to jump in—but if you’re new or even a returning fan, there are a handful of things you’ll wish someone had told you earlier. These 15 tips cover everything from staying alive to building your fortune, and are drawn from real experience. Let’s get into it.
1. Free Healing Options – Save Your Yen Early
Restoring HP and MP can get expensive fast, especially in the early game when money is tight. Instead of constantly visiting restaurants or buying items, head back to your original starting location or—once you reach Chapter 4—make use of the Survive Bar. Both locations offer free rest and recovery. It might mean going out of your way, but the savings add up quickly, and you’ll be glad you conserved your funds for more essential upgrades.
2. Manual Saves Are Your Lifeline
Don’t rely solely on autosaves. Yakuza: Like a Dragon does autosave, but it can be unpredictable. If you lose a tough fight or forget to save after a long session, the game might send you back over an hour in time. Make it a habit to manually save after big battles, progress milestones, or even just long stretches of exploration. This simple discipline can save you a lot of frustration.
3. Unlock and Use the Healing Powder Skill Early
Once you gain access to the “Healing Powder” skill through the character Nanba, prioritize using it wisely. It allows you to heal party members during and outside of combat, using MP instead of items. It takes a turn during fights, so timing matters, but it’s invaluable for keeping your party in shape between battles without dipping into your inventory.
4. Never Stop Checking Vending Machines
You’ll be introduced to treasure hunting under vending machines early on, and while the earnings start small, it’s worth keeping this habit throughout the game. You can find money, healing items, or even valuable goods that sell for decent cash. It’s low effort with occasional high reward.
5. Grow Your Bonds at the Survive Bar
Character bonds aren’t just for flavor—they unlock deeper story moments and influence combat effectiveness. Fight together, eat together, and visit the Survive Bar to trigger cutscenes that level up your bonds. Just remember: bonds won’t level until you’ve talked to the character at the bar. Don’t forget to initiate the conversation.
6. Need Bugs? Go to Hamakita Park
You’ll occasionally need bugs for missions or crafting, but they’re not always easy to find. Save yourself the scavenger hunt—go straight to Hamakita Park. It’s the most reliable source for bug hunting and should be your go-to whenever you’re asked to collect them.
7. Don’t Stick to One Job Too Long
It’s tempting to keep your characters in one job class to maximize level gains, but doing so causes you to miss out on essential skills and combat diversity. Experiment with different jobs once you unlock them. Not only will you discover fun and sometimes absurd new attacks, but you’ll build a more flexible and capable team in the long run.
8. Use ATMs to Protect Your Wealth
In Like a Dragon, losing a fight costs you half your money. Ouch. The best way to avoid this? Deposit your yen into one of the many ATM machines scattered across the city. Make this a habit, especially before entering new or dangerous areas. It’s a quick trip that saves your wallet.
9. Fast Travel Is a Lifesaver—But Only If You Unlock It
The map is huge, and constant random battles can drag out your travel time. Thankfully, taxis allow fast travel—but only if you’ve interacted with them. Whenever you see a taxi, stop and register it. Later, you’ll thank yourself for unlocking so many quick travel points.
10. Company Management = Fast Money and a Hidden Ally
Around Chapter 5, you’ll unlock the business management minigame. At first, it might seem overwhelming—but push through. It’s one of the best ways to earn large sums of money quickly. Plus, by progressing far enough, you unlock a hidden (and optional) party member. Spend three to four hours mastering this mini-game, and you’ll be swimming in yen.
11. Boost Ichiban’s Stats—Vocational School Is Worth It
Certain conversations and job options are locked behind Ichiban’s personality stats: Passion, Confidence, Charisma, Kindness, Intellect, and Style. While there are many ways to increase these, attending vocational school at Ounabara is one of the fastest—though expensive. Once you’re rich from company management, reinvest in yourself.
12. Get Gold Safe Keys and Unlock the Best Loot
Silver safes are nice, but gold safes hold the real treasure. After unlocking job changes in Chapter 5, if you have Charisma level 3, assign Ichiban the Foreman job. This lets you demolish walls hiding secret areas—including black market shops where you can buy gold keys. They cost 10,000 yen each, so stock up once you’re financially stable.
13. Visit Restaurants Strategically
Dining at restaurants does more than restore HP and MP—it also increases party bonds and grants stat boosts through meal combos. These combos temporarily increase attack and defense, and their duration varies depending on the size of the meal. Every unlocked combo is saved in your menu for future reference.
14. Invest in the Romance Workshop
In Chapter 5, the Romance Workshop becomes available as part of the main story. This is where you’ll upgrade and craft new weapons. Yes, the upgrades can be expensive—topping out around 20 million yen—but it’s worth every yen for tougher fights. Don’t neglect this system; it’s essential for surviving late-game content.
15. Watch Out for Traffic—Seriously
You might laugh, but traffic is deadly. Cars can and will knock you over—and if you’re already low on health from a previous fight, this can be fatal. Always look both ways before crossing, especially when you’re beat up. It’s a small detail, but it can literally be the difference between life and death.
Substories Are More Than Just Flavor
You’ll encounter substories all over the city. They’re quirky, heartfelt, and often hilarious, but they’re also rewarding. Many unlock powerful summoning allies and can net you useful gear or money. Whenever you see one pop up—do it. Substories break up the main narrative while providing concrete gameplay advantages.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a game that rewards curiosity, experimentation, and patience. These tips aim to help new and returning players get the most out of their time in Ijincho. Whether you’re planning your PS5 playthrough or picking it up again on another platform, keep these insights close—and enjoy the ride.
Peace out, peeps!
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