Crafting and upgrading weapons is a major part of building a powerful team in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, especially for endgame and post-game content. While armor cannot be upgraded, weapons can be strengthened up to 12 times, transforming even modest gear into absolute powerhouses. This guide walks you through everything you need to know—from unlocking the crafting system to sourcing rare materials efficiently.
Unlocking the Romance Workshop
The Romance Workshop, the central hub for weapon crafting and upgrades, becomes available in Chapter 5. Speak to Sumire to access all services. However, to reach the full potential of the workshop, you must fully upgrade it. This requires a total investment of 22,200,000 yen via the “Fund Support” option when speaking to Sumire.
Once upgraded, you can use the Strengthen Weapons option to see a list of upgradable weapons. Requirements for each level include specific materials and yen, shown in the bottom-left of the upgrade screen. To take any weapon from its base form to its strongest state typically takes 12 upgrades and approximately 100 million yen.
If that number gives you pause, don’t worry—there are efficient money-making methods available. For detailed strategies, refer to dedicated guides on money farming.
Where to Get Upgrade Materials
While money is essential, materials are often the real bottleneck in weapon upgrades. Thankfully, there are several key methods to gather what you need.
1. General Goods Cart (Hamakita Park)
This is your go-to location for most common upgrade materials. It’s located near the top-right of the map, just east of the Dragon Kart area. The cart looks like a food truck and sells a wide array of essential materials at reasonable prices.
2. Welcome Pharmacy
Located nearby, the Welcome Pharmacy sells two upgrade materials not found at the General Goods Cart:
- Cal Attack Zero
- Simodyne Super X
Both are required for multiple weapon upgrades and come at a low cost. While limited in selection, the value they offer is notable.
3. Le Marche (Kamurocho – Chapter 15+)
This upscale store offers high-end, late-game weapons that can be used as crafting materials. Each item costs 10 million yen, making this an expensive but direct route for acquiring rare components.
Note: Le Marche becomes accessible only after reaching Chapter 15.
Bug Collecting – An Unusual but Important Method
Some weapon upgrades require bug-type materials in three rarities: normal, silver, and gold. There are two primary methods for acquiring bugs:
a. Hamakita Park – Bug Patches
Walk through patches of grass to trigger gold arrows pointing to hidden bugs. This is the best way to collect normal and silver bugs, with occasional gold bug spawns. If bug spawns slow down, use a taxi to leave and return to reset the area.
b. Can Collecting Minigame
Play the can collecting minigame to earn points, which can be exchanged for specific bugs (8,000 points each). With high scores—especially an S-rank on hard difficulty—you can maximize your returns with a 15x multiplier.
This method is slower but more reliable for hard-to-find bugs like cockroaches.
Sotenbori Battle Arena – Rare Material Goldmine
Arguably the best spot for rare upgrade materials, the Sotenbori Battle Arena has 30 floors, each with:
- A unique battle encounter
- A one-time clear reward
- A repeatable reward for meeting bonus conditions
Key material drops:
- Dragon Soul Bat – Often needed for top-tier weapons
- Gold Bugs – Found on floors 1–4 and 6–9
- Rare Components – Found on floors 11–14, 16–19, 21, 23, 25, and 27
This is the most efficient source for some of the game’s most elusive materials—and it saves you millions compared to buying them at Le Marche.
Final Millennium Tower – Post-Game Source
After beating the game, you unlock the Final Millennium Tower. While the battles are tough, the tower offers free upgrade materials as collectibles scattered across floors. You’ll also gain huge sums of money and XP during runs.
However, this is strictly post-game, and most materials here can already be gathered earlier via the Battle Arena or Hamakita Park.
Bonus Tips
- Other Minigames: Technically, other side activities around Ijincho drop upgrade materials, but they are slower and less consistent.
- XP Efficiency: If you’re farming materials in the Battle Arena or Final Millennium Tower, maximize your returns by using XP and Job XP boosters.
Wrap-Up
Upgrading weapons is expensive and time-consuming, but with the right routes and material sources, it becomes manageable and deeply rewarding. Whether you’re farming bugs or smashing your way through the Battle Arena, every investment leads to a more capable, powerful team.
If you’re looking to deepen your progression, follow guides on XP farming and money generation, and don’t forget to tune in to livestreams or community spaces for even more tips.
Thanks for reading—and happy crafting!
My Gaming Tutorials 
Leave a comment