How to get Virtue in Like a Dragon: Ishin

The Shinto Priest in Like a Dragon: Ishin

The Shinto Priest in Like a Dragon: Ishin

Once you save the Shinto Priest from the bandits, he will take you to the shrine and explain to you how to get Virtue in Like a Dragon: Ishin. You can earn it by playing the game almost however you want to, but there are certain things you can prioritise if you want to buy the upgrades in the Virtue shop quicker.

You can upgrade almost everything else in Like a Dragon: Ishin, other than combat, by using Virtue. You can upgrade your sprint, inventory, farming, and even fishing skills. It's well worth investing in, especially once you start to spend time with the side content.

For more on the game, make sure to check out our review for Like a Dragon: Ishin. We've also got a look at how to redeem DLC in the game, as well as a hub on the Like a Dragon 8 release date.

Saito is praying at a jinzo statue in Like a Dragon: Ishin
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Praying is one of the best ways to earn Virtue in Like a Dragon: Ishin

How to get Virtue in Like a Dragon: Ishin

You can get Virtue by doing pretty much anything in Like a Dragon: Ishin. Even if you avoid all of the mini-games and side content, you'll still earn Virtue from completing story quests, and even walking around the map.

Here are some examples of the different ways you can earn Virtue in Like a Dragon: Ishin.

Method
Amount of Virtue
Fishing, per fish
+10
Buying from restaurants
+10 average, the more expensive, the more virtue
Praying
+20
Completing substories
+300
Karaoke, per song
+30
Improving friendship
+150
Mah-jong, per game
+50
Shogi, per game
+50
Buyo, per dance
+30
Harvesting vegetables
+3
Completing orders from the house
+25

Tips and tricks to gain Virtue fast in Like a Dragon: Ishin

There are a few things that you should invest in the early game, if you want to take full advantage of the Virtue system.

In the Virtue upgrades screen that you access through the shrines, there is a Virtue panel. There, you can upgrade your Virtue Cultivation a total of five different times. These boost your Virtue each time by 10%. So after the first upgrade, praying at shrines will give you +22, rather than +20. This may seem insignificant, but once you factor in the main stories and sub-stories that you'll be completing, it quickly becomes worth investing in early.

Secondly, there is a sub-story that's triggered outside the barracks a little way into the game. This features an interaction with an elderly couple and their dog. Once you've dealt with them, you'll receive a Double Pray Talisman. This boosts the Virtue you receive from praying by 400%. This means that you'll earn +100 Virtue, rather than +20.

You should also take advantage of praying at every shrine and statue that you come across, even if it means running a little out of your way to do so. These offer +20 Virtue at the base amount, but this adds up fast considering how many are across the city.

The Diligence Records in Like a Dragon: Ishin
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The Diligence Records in Like a Dragon: Ishin

The Diligence Records

The Diligence Records are a list of overarching objectives that you can complete in order to get large amounts of Virtue. Most of these will be completed naturally, such as travelling 30km on foot, or talking to people 100 times. However, some of them will require you to focus a little more on your gameplay. For a full list of the Diligence Records, please find them below.

Ryo in Like a Dragon Ishin completing his Diligence Records
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Adventure

Here is a list of all the ways you can earn Virtue through the Adventure tab.

Task
Virtue Reward
Talk to people 100 times
2000
Talk to people 300 times
4000
Talk to people 500 times
8000
Eat at restaurants 20 times
1500
Eat at restaurants 50 times
3000
Eat at restaurants 100 times
5000
Eat at restaurants 200 times
8000
Get 20 items from pots
1000
Get 50 items from pots
2000
Get 100 items from pots
4000
Pray at shrines 20 times
1000
Pray at shrines 50 times
2500
Pray at shrines 100 times
5000
Play mini-games 25 times
2000
Play mini-games 50 times
4000
Play mini-games 100 times
8000
Eat food from your inventory 30 times
1500
Eat food from your inventory 100 times
3000
Eat food from your inventory 200 times
5000
Eat food from your inventory 400 times
8000
Use 20 medicine items
1500
Use 50 medicine items
3000
Use 100 medicine items
5000
Use 200 medicine items
8000
Travel in a palanquin 5 times
1500
Travel in a palanquin 10 times
3000
Travel in a palanquin 15 times
5000
Reach fame level 3 in Rakunai
1000
Reach fame level 7 in Rakunai
2500
Reach max fame level in Rakunai
5000
Reach fame level 3 in Rakugai
1000
Reach fame level 7 in Rakugai
2500
Reach max fame level in Rakugai
5000
Reach fame level 3 in Mukurogai
1000
Reach fame level 7 in Mukurogai
2500
Reach max fame level in Mukurogai
5000
Reach fame level 3 in Fushimi
1000
Reach fame level 7 in Fushimi
2500
Reach max fame level in Fushimi
5000
Reach fame level 3 in Gion
1000
Reach fame level 7 in Gion
2500
Reach max fame level in Gion
5000
Spend 30 Ryo
2000
Spend 100 Ryo
4000
Spend 300 Ryo
7000
Spend 500 Ryo
10000
Travel 30km on foot
2000
Travel 100km on foot
7000
Travel 200km on foot
10000
Travel by sprinting for 5km
2000
Travel by sprinting for 20km
4000
Travel by sprinting for 50km
8000
Draw water from wells 10 times
1000
Draw water from wells 50 times
2000
Draw water from wells 100 times
4000
Deliver 5 packages
1500
Deliver 10 packages
4000
Deliver 15 packages
7000
Cut 100 pieces of wood
500
Cut 300 pieces of wood
1000
Cut 1000 pieces of wood
4000
Ryo in Like a Dragon: Ishin completing his Diligence Records
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Another Life

Here is a list of all the ways you can earn Virtue through the Another Life tab. Note, this won't be accessible to you until you complete the prerequisite quest.

Task
Virtue Reward
Harvest crops 50 times
1500
Harvest crops 200 times
3000
Harvest crops 500 times
5000
Harvest crops 1000 times
7000
Harvest crops 1500 times
10000
Harvest 50 Ginseng
1500
Harvest 100 Cabbages
1000
Harvest 100 Taro
1000
Harvest 100 Tomatoes
1000
Harvest 100 Strawberries
1000
Cook 10 times
2000
Cook 30 times
4000
Cook 50 times
7000
Cook 100 times
10000
Cook 200 times
15000
Interact with pet dogs five times
1500
Interact with pet dogs 15 times
4000
Interact with pet dogs 30 times
8000
Interact with pet cats five times
1500
Interact with pet cats 15 times
4000
Interact with pet cats 30 times
8000
Collect five Eggs
1500
Collect 15 Eggs
4000
Collect 30 Eggs
8000
Complete 30 Orders from the house
3000
Complete 100 Orders from the house
8000
Complete 200 Orders from the house
15000
Catch 25 Fish
2000
Catch 50 Fish
7000
Catch 100 Fish
13000
Catch 10 Tuna
4000
Catch a big game Tuna
2000
See the futon calming event
2000
See the bath calming event
2000
See the living room calming event
2000
See the garden calming event
2000
Ryo in Like a Dragon: Ishin completing his Diligence Records
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Friendships (Shops)

Here is a list of all the ways you can earn Virtue by befriending different shopkeepers around the city. This is usually done by buying from their shop.

Task
Virtue Amount
Become friends with the owner of the Singing Bar
1500
Become friends with the owner of the Umaiya Udon restaurant
1500
Become friends with the master of the Nichibu Dance Castle
1500
Become friends with the Shinto Priest
1500
Become friends with Akari
1500
Become friends with the shop assistant of the Hanamaru Udon restaurant
1500
Become friends with the courtesan Anna
1500
Become friends with the man in the Mahjong Parlour
1500
Become friends with the owner of the Shogi Parlour
1500
Become friends with the dice roller in the Gambling Den
1500
Become friends with the receptionist at the Chicken Racing Area
1500
Become friends with the owner of Ichikuraya
1500
Become friends with the owner of Sushizanmai
1500
Become friends with the owner of the Fukufukuya bar
1500
Become friends with the owner of Ecchudo Pharmacy
1500
Become friends with the girl at Uji Tea House
1500
Become friends with the shopkeeper at Don Quijote
1500
Become friends with the owner of the Pawn Shop in Rakunai
1500
Become friends with the mistress of the Japanese restaurant Haruhi
1500
Become friends with the boss of the small restaurant Aoba
1500
Become friends with the owner of the weapons store in Rakugai
1500
Become friends with the Greengrocer
1500
Become friends with the Palanquin bearer
1500
Become friends with the three brothers from Hyakugawa
1500
Ryo in Like a Dragon: Ishin completing his Diligence Records
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Friendships

Here is a list of all the ways you can earn Virtue by befriending different people and animals around the city.

Task
Virtue Amount
Become friends with the grovelling beggar
1500
Become friends with hungry sumo wrestler
1500
Become friends with the revolutionary chef
1500
Become friends with the love-hungry man
1500
Become friends with the man enchanted by swords
1500
Become friends with the injured man with a sense of justice
1500
Become friends with the man who can't remember
1500
Become friends with the careless wife
1500
Become friends with the veggie-loving boy
1500
Become friends with the man fishing off the edge of a precipice
1500
Become friends with the injured old lady
1500
Become friends with the mysterious merchant
1500
Become friends with the fascinating wife
1500
Become friends with the junk-loving boy
1500
Become friends with the man who collects junk
1500
Become friends with the woodcutter
1500
Become friends with the postman with no sense of direction
1500
Become friends with the waiting dog
1500
Become friends with the injured dog
1500
Become friends with the barking dog
1500
Become friends with the starving cat
1500
Become friends with the filthy cat
1500
Become friends with the beckoning cat
1500
Ryo in Like a Dragon: Ishin completing his Diligence Records by battling
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Battle

Here is a list of all the ways you can earn Virtue by winning fights around the city.

Task
Virtue Amount
Defeat 100 enemies in fights on the streets
2000
Defeat 200 enemies in fights on the streets
4000
Defeat 300 enemies in fights on the streets
6000
Defeat 500 enemies in fights on the streets
10000
Complete battle dungeon missions 10 times
1500
Complete battle dungeon missions 30 times
4000
Complete battle dungeon missions 100 times
10000
Defeat five of the Golden Sneaks
1500
Defeat 10 of the Golden Sneaks
3000
Defeat 15 of the Golden Sneaks
5000
Win with a Finishing Blow 10 times
2000
Win with a finishing blow 25 times
5000
Win with a finishing blow 50 times
10000
Break 10 objects in battle
1500
Break 25 objects in battle
4000
Break 50 objects in battle
8000
Activate Trooper Abilities during fights 500 times
2000

That's everything you need to know about Virtues in Like a Dragon: Ishin! For more games like this, check out our picks of the best free RPG games you can play right now.