Yakuza: Like A Dragon – All Poundmates & How to Unlock Them

The release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon marked a significant shift in the series by transforming its well-known brawler gameplay into a unique turn-based RPG system. This new direction is heavily inspired by the protagonist Ichiban Kasuga’s favorite game series, Dragon Quest. Kasuga often reflects on this game fondly, and it has greatly influenced his personality and ambitions, aligning with the classic hero archetype seen in many RPGs.

There are many features in Yakuza: Like a Dragon which are very clearly inspired by classic RPGs. The game’s turn-based combat is the most obvious of these, along with the introduction of a party system allowing Ichiban to band up with his allies to overcome the evils across the game’s fictional version of Japan. The game also introduces a job system, allowing party members to switch between an assortment of special roles, each offering unique abilities and varying styles of gameplay.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon features another prominent RPG trope, though it’s one more commonly associated with games in the Final Fantasy series rather than those of Ichiban’s beloved Dragon Quest. Early in his adventure, Ichiban unlocks the ability to befriend and call on the aid of Poundmates, Y:LAD’s version of summons. Except, instead of summoning a powerful eidolon or reigning god, Ichiban gains the ability to call allies he’s met during his adventure, including a feisty crawfish, a large man wearing a diaper, and other powerful fighters.

How to Unlock the Poundmates Battle Ability

Ichiban will first encounter the Poundmates system during Chapter 4, Substory 05: Trip to Pound Town. This substory starts in Isezaki Ijincho, where Ichiban and Adachi come across a man on Ohama Street in the city’s Red Light District.

The man is handing out fliers promoting what appears to be a sexy phone service, and the first call is free. While Ichiban is skeptical, Adachi is totally on board and calls the number immediately. The boys don’t have to wait long before they are introduced to the legendary Gary Buster Holmes, courtesy of the Poundmates service.

It turns out that Poundmates is actually a service of mercenaries for hire that Ichiban can call on in battle when things get tough to unleash powerful special attacks for a price. After completing a short battle accompanied by Gary, the Poundmates feature is unlocked, and Ichiban is now able to access it during battle. Gary Buster Holmes is added to the Poundmates roster, ready to join the fight when called.

How to Get & Summon Poundmates in Battle

Yakuza: Like a Dragon features 14 unlockable Poundmates, the majority of which are obtained by completing specific substories. There are also 5 additional Poundmates which are unlocked through progressing in the game’s main story and through special means in later chapters of the game. Every Poundmate features its own unique ability that is accompanied by a delightfully over-the-top cinematic when executed. Ichiban can summon a Poundmate once per battle by selecting the “Etc.” option in battle, then selecting “Poundmates.”

Each Poundmate charges a fee for their services, and some have unique conditions that affect their qualifications to perform in battle. The Poundmates menu lists these details, giving Ichiban the opportunity to choose which summon is the right man, woman, or chicken for the job.

All Unlockable Poundmates in Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Here is a full list of all unlockable Poundmates in Yakuza: Like a Dragon and full details on each of these allies, including how to unlock them, their summoning fee, special ability, and any restrictions placed on their use in battle.

Gary Buster Holmes

Gary Buster Holmes is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 04: A Trip to Pound Town unlocked in Chapter 4 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory by passing by Otohime Land in the Red Light District and accepting the man’s flyer.

Tosanoyama

Tosanoyama is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 09: Persimmon Premonition unlocked in Chapter 4 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory by traveling to the park southwest of Survive Bar during the daytime.

Patriarch Gondawara

Patriarch Gondawara is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 07: Baby Don’t Cry unlocked in Chapter 4 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory by heading down Ohama St., past Otohime Land, and interfering with an altercation between two men.

Mr. Masochist

Mr. Masochist is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 24: Fifty Shades of Play unlocked in Chapter 7 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory by interfering with a group of women harrassing a dominatrix in a parking lot directly north of Otohime Land. After dealing with the ladies and experiencing an interesting cutscene at the nearby soapland, head to Fukutoku Park south of the Kinka Pharmacy near the Residental District cab stop. At the park, speak with the man assaulting the tree to continue this lengthy but very worthwhile substory.

Kiyoe Shirakawa

Kiyoe Shirakawa is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 17: A Love Worth Fighting For unlocked in Chapter 5 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory by interacting with some men near Kiyoe’s soup kitchen, located near the Homeless Camp in the Commercial District. Afterwards, speak with the man named Kuroi and revisit him as he works to develop a relationship with Kiyoe.

Nancy-Chan

Nancy-Chan is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 16: The Crawfish Caper unlocked in Chapter 5 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory by finding a crawfish on Sunrise Bridge, near the Homeless Camp, and releasing it into the river. After speaking with a nearby homeless man, Ichiban learns that the crawfish was his pet and is set on a mission to recover the missing crustacean.

Chau Ka Long

Chau Ka Long is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 36: Whispers of the Underworld unlocked in Chapter 9 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory by speaking with Iroha at Survive Bar and learning about a company called Zhou Long Trading, then following up on this rumor. Ichiban will have to reach Confidence Level 7 before he can complete the substory.

Taka the Striker

Taka the Striker is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 34: Bros Till the End unlocked in Chapter 9 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory by speaking with a group of bōsōzoku gang members at the south side of Hamakita Park and helping solve their beef with some local Yakuza.

Jiei-san

Jiei-san is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 26: The Masked Murderer unlocked in Chapter 9 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory by heading east of Eomeoni’s Vow, past Isobe Alley in Koreatown and, after overhearing a startling rumor, speaking with a local business owner.

Il Yu-Jin

Il Yu-Jin is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 25: A Fading Star unlocked in Chapter 7 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory inside Eomeoni’s Vow in Koreatown, where he’ll get involved with a unruly customer.

Ono Michio

Ono Michio is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 30: Fauxno Michio unlocked in Chapter 9 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory after completing Substory 29: The Michio Minefield, which he can start in a park located on the western end of Chinatown, just south of Club SEGA and The Bun Sauna.

Megumi

Megumi is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 23: Warmest Wishes unlocked in Chapter 9 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this Substory after completing Substory 22: An Act of Kindness which he can start by speaking with a girl asking for donations found near Jinnai Station. After completing this Substory, Ichiban can encounter Megumi again by visiting Akaushimaru on Isezaki Road and start Substory 23: Warmest Wishes.

Robson

Robson is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing the Part Time Hero Support Quest “Please Find My Cat 2” unlocked in Chapter 5 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban can start this quest after meeting Hiro and joining his Part Time Hero initiative, then visiting him at his office located on the second floor above Café Brave at the northwestern corner of the map.

After Ichiban has left the building, he will receive a call from Hiro asking him to locate his missing cats, starting the Support Quest “Please Find My Cat 1.” Once this mission is complete, the second quest will unlock and finishing it will unlock Robson.

Omelette

Omelette is unlocked as a Poundmate after completing Substory 15: Ijincho’s Safety Net in Chapter 5 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban will start this substory automatically during the story as it unlocks the Business Management minigame.

Special Gold Rank Poundmates

Note: Some of the Poundmates below are directly involved in Yakuza: Like a Dragon‘s main story. Therefore, we have included them in their own section to avoid story spoilers. Please consider this before proceeding!

Masaru Watase

Masaru Watase can be unlocked as a Poundmate as early as Chapter 13 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. However, unlike the previous legends, privilege of summoning Masaru Watase must be purchased for 50 Tojo Clan Crests. Tojo Clan Crests, introduced in a previous chapter, are collectibles found hidden throughout each of Yakuza: Like a Dragon‘s major cities.

Tojo Clan Crests appear as sparkling items on the ground and have a chance to drop from enemies later in the game. Once Ichiban has acquired enough Tojo Clan Crests, he should head to the Gran Blu Marino Hotel on the eastern end of Hamikita Park Avenue. Inside the building, Ichiban can speak with the mascot of Kamurocho, Kamulop, and exchange Tojo Clan Crests for various equipment and, most importantly, the Masaru Watase and Daigo Dojima Poundmates.

Daigo Dojima

Daigo Dojima can be unlocked as a Poundmate as early as Chapter 13 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The privilege of summoning the Sixth Chairman as a Poundmate also requires Ichiban to exchange 50 Tojo Clan Crests with Kamulop in the Gran Blu Marino Hotel, as described above.

Kazuma Kiryu

Kazuma Kiryu is unlocked as a Poundmate automatically after completing Chapter 14 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

Goro Majima

Goro Majima is unlocked as a Poundmate automatically after completing Chapter 12 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

Taiga Saejima

Taiga Saejima is unlocked as a Poundmate automatically after completing Chapter 12 of Yakuza: Like a Dragon.