The Like a Dragon game series is known mostly for its wacky minigames, but fans know the brawls are where it's at. You'll struggle with some of the boss fights and late-game encounters without upgrades, though. In this guide, we'll help with that and reveal how to unlock and upgrade abilities in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
Even if you're a seasoned Yakuza / Like a Dragon fan, the series reinvents itself in subtle ways with each new entry, and it's always a bit disorienting. Like a Dragon Gaiden may put players back in control of Kazuma Kiryu, but his new fighting styles are upgraded in an unusual way.
If you're loving the streets of Sotenbori and want more Like a Dragon guides, check out the game's pre order bonuses and find out if it has an English dub.
How to unlock and upgrade abilities in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
For series newcomers, the abilities in the Like a Dragon games aren't super intuitive. To upgrade them in The Man Who Erased His Name, you'll start by pausing the game and selecting 'upgrade abilities.' You can then use your hard-earned cash and experience from Akame's side missions (represented by red eyes) to purchase new abilities or upgrade ones you've already acquired.
Not all of Kiryu's abilities will be available immediately. They're represented by books, and new ones will appear in the upgrade menu as you make progress through the story. Players should also be aware of the different upgrade tabs, too; swapping between them will reveal different skills, with these tabs listed below.
- General stats (health, damage, etc.)
- Agent fighting style (new gadgets and upgrades for them)
- Shared abilities (moves shared by Agent and Yakzua fighting styles)
- Return of the dragon (new moves and upgrades for Yakuza fighting style)
You're now well equipped to bring the pain to Kiryu's enemies, but should check out our feature on his tortured soul to understand the character behind the punches. We can also let you know if the game will be on Game Pass and reveal the steps you need to take to unlock the Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth demo.