In Like A Dragon: Ishin, you can level up your main character and unlock different combat skills for Ryoma. Just like past Yakuza/Like A Dragon games, you have multiple different styles you can learn throughout the story mode.

This means a ton of options and special moves/passives to unlock. Which one is the best? Well, let us show you which ones to prioritize first.

Like A Dragon: Ishin Best Skills To Unlock For Combat

Brawler Style

Essence of Dragon Strikes

This skill is great for dealing with crowds; it doesn’t use much Heat and it’s best when you’re surrounded by multiple threats. This skill requires Essence of Mighty Strikes and the following move before you can unlock it.

Swordsman Style

Knowledge Of The Odachi

Like slow-but-strong attacks? The Odachi Knowledge is the best style for you. Once you unlock Knowledge of the Odachi, you will get a bunch of new moves that hit hard.

You get the odachi when you finish Chapter 1.

Essence of the Skewering Cuts

This skill lets you swing your enemy around while he/she is impaled. It deals a good amount of damage and doesn’t use much Heat.

You need to unlock Essence of Single Cuts and its consecutive skill before unlocking Skewering Cuts.

Essence Of Finishing Stab

Just like in past Yakuza/Like A Dragon games, any Heat move that deals damage to enemies on the floor are very useful. The Finishing Stab move is a great mop-up and extra damage tool since the sword deals good damage to enemies with low health. You can unlock this early in the Swordsman Style tree.

Gunman Style

Enhanced Rounds Knowhow (Gunman Style)

You need to learn how to craft enhanced shots & “elemental” shots (poison, acid, fire) to get far in this fighting style. Unlocking this skill lets you craft your own bullets at the blacksmith.

To unlock this skill, you need to complete William Bradley (master of combat)’s second lesson. This is at the center of Rakugai.

Essence of Finishing Shots

Essence of Finishing Shots is a good skill for gun enthusiasts. It lets you deal big damage to enemies on the ground, but with gunshots instead of the sword. The best part is you can use it from far away. You can unlock this skill early on as soon as you learn the style in the main campaign.

Wild Dancer

Typhoon of Steel and Fire

This skill gives you a neat Heat attack that lets you use your gun and sword in tandem against a locked-on enemy. Transition into a heel kick with an extra gun shot.

To unlock this skill, you need to unlock Rain of Steel and Fire and its subsequent move(s).

Essence of Sature

A counter move, basically. You use it just before an opponent hits you, and its active window is quite small. The counter deals a ton of damage, so it’s a good move to practice through and through.

The move can be unlocked deeper down the skill tree.

Splendid Skill: Moonlit Sake

This move is an attack that comes out quick after an evasion. While it doesn’t do much damage, it’s the best move to cheese when using the Wild Dancer style.

To unlock this useful skill, you need to complete the first Wild Dancer lesson from Ginryu. He’s the master of combat located in the west dojo in Rakunai.

Need to earn money consistently? Check out our other Like A Dragon: Ishin guide.