Like A Dragon: Ishinis filled with several mechanics from throughout the Yakuza series. Some old favorites, like the fast travel system, return to help professional Ishin players get around the map with ease. Other, newer innovations like the game’s crafting system put power back in your hand as you aim to become the strongest in the land.
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While you may have slashed your way through every challenge in Japan, several aspects of Ishin are essential to remember if you plan to play optimally. Health and self-sufficiency are concepts to focus on as you learn the ins and outs of Ishin. Staying alive is the key to success, whether byrelying on some powerful armor accessoriesor by using your own cunning.
8Use Palanquins To Fast Travel
While the palanquin guys certainly don’t stick out amongthe cast of charismatic and quirky Ishin characters, they hold one of the most important jobs in the game: getting you around. While you may be expecting the roaming taxis of newer Yakuza games, you won’t find them in feudal Japan.
Like A Dragon: Ishin follows the series' traditional mantra of the customer going to the fast travel service to get around the map. However, it’s worth your time to go out and explore as much of the world as you can, especially early on, so don’t worry about passing up on palanquins from time to time. Once you’re later in your playthrough and have seen the sights, these will be an essential mode of transportation.
7Donate To The Blacksmith
Once you meet the blacksmith, prepare to become best friends with him, opting to donate as many of your spare items as possible to him and his apprentices. Donating unwanted, weaker items will give you additional levels with the blacksmith, with each rank coming with a small boon for your material usage or overall cost.
Leveling up with the blacksmith will not only cut your future costs when crafting powerful items but will also help clear your inventory of unwanted items that are otherwise just collecting dust. The only other use for spare swords is to show them off to a certain training master if you want to level up your Wild Dancer skill tree.
6Farm Your Preferred Combat Style
Whether you’re a fan of the Gunman, Swordsman, Brawler, or Wild Dancer style, sticking to your preferred choice can be a smart strategy for leveling up your other skill trees. Once you finish filling out a single tree, you can continue to use it, swapping out the general Training Orbs for tree-specific orbs.
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As you master a single style and swap out the Training Orbs you used, you can then reallocate these white orbs to the new class you’d like to level up. Sometimes it can become difficult to use a style lacking in many skills, so this method should allow you to enjoy the major benefits of each class without slogging through the upgrades by using an under-powered style to gain Training Orbs.
5Use Trooper Cards To Win
Holding a bunch of cards and suddenly gaining a following of powerful people and creatures isn’texactly the most logical explanation for what’s going onwith Trooper Cards, but it’s the truth. Trooper Cards are more important than your combat style skills in some instances, as a well-timed Heat action may change the tide of battle.
Legendary cards outfitted with powerful Corporal Skills are the name of the game here, so you’d do well to stack up a set of these as soon as you can. Once you have a powerful deck, create a set of load-outs for your given combat styles and enjoy. Few sword swipes can replicate the damage you’ll inflict on your foes when your juiced-up friends come to tear them to shreds.
4Grind The Arena For Crafting Loot
Ifyou’re familiar with the Yakuza series, then you may be excited by the return of the Arenaas a source of high-quality materials and gear to earn. Once you’ve had plenty of fun with the game’s main story anddecided to craft some gear in the post-game, you’ll frequently find yourself back at the Arena.
Located in Mukurogai, the Arena offers a ladder-like set of matches reminiscent ofYakuza: Like A Dragon’sarena system. If you’ve been wondering how in the world you’re supposed to get a bunch of rare purple or gold-tiered crafting items, this is your answer. Enemies roaming the streets, save for Golden Sneaks, rarely drop the highest tier of items found in the Arena.
3Pick Up Objects To Reset The World
You may have noticed an abundance of shining objects and covered pots littered around the world in Ishin. Not only are these fantastic sources of handy items and materials, but they also serve as get-out-of-jail-free cards for you to keep an eye out for as you roam the dangerous streets.
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If you find yourself being pursued by vagrants or in an otherwise sticky situation, simply grab an item off the floor and your entire world of NPCs will reset itself, keeping you safe. This trick can be used when you are short on time or health and need a guaranteed escape route to your destination. Keep your eyes peeled; you never know when a random scrap of paper on the ground may save you.
2Cook For Healing
If you find yourself stumbling through the streets, constantly bloodied and battered, perhaps you need a sustainable source of healing items. While restaurants are plentiful in Ishin,you can also cook your own food– these homemade meals will double as health-restoring items when Ryoma is in a pinch.
After mastering the process for whichever type of dish you are cooking, you’ll receive a dish equal to the quality of your work. If you are skilled enough to earn “great” ratings on your performance, then you’ll have a premium meal on your hands. Premium meals offer substantially more health, so get out there and master your craft.
1Ignore Healing Items By Stealing Health
Some ofthe most powerful weapons in Ishindo more than dish out incredible heaps of damage. Top-tier choices, like the Nenekiri-maru, will also replenish some of your health based on the amount of damage you inflict on your targets.
It’s always prudent to have healing items on hand, but if you want to spend less Ryo on healing pills, then why not just invest in an item with a restorative perk? Crafting is an expensive route, but once you’ve reached the hardest point of the game, convenience will become the most important factor as healing remains a formality. Take the time to grind out some materials at the Arena and craft a weapon to make your life easier.
