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Yakuza: Like A Dragontakes a distinctly JRPG approach to contrast the typical beat-em-up combat the series is famous for. Along with this unusual style comes a greater focus on leveling up your party by fighting enemies in the world. There are two major areas to level up: in dungeons and the Sotenbori Battle Arena.
While the game’sunderground dungeons, like the introductory one in Isezaki Ijincho,present a couple of floors worth of enemies to battle, the Sotenbori Battle Arena boasts several floors of back-to-back battles. If you’re looking to level up without running around to encounter new groups of enemies, then check out the Sotenbori Battle Arena.
Updated February 6th, 2024 by Andrew Scariati:If you haven’t gotten your Platinum Trophy yet, now’s the time to accelerate the process with your favorite grind spot: The Sotenbori Battle Arena. We’ve added further grinding tips in the last section to ensure you’re making good use of the experience and items available in the Sotenbori Battle Arena.
What And Where Is The Sotenbori Battle Arena?
The Sotenbori Battle Arenais a training location where you can fight against various groups of enemies, progressing through30 increasingly difficult floorsto the top.
You need to reachChapter 12: The End of The Yakuzato enter Sotenbori, thus gaining access to the Sotenbori Battle Arena.
As Ichiban prepares to track down his enemies and confront the Omi, you are presented with theSotenbori Battle Arenaas a spot where you cantrain against tougher foes than you’ve encountered up to this point.
Head to the river and follow it to the red crossed swordsthat indicate the Sotenbori Battle Arena’s location.
Once you arrive at the entrance, you’ll be greeted byYappi, the Sotenbori Battle Arena’s resident host robot.
Speak to Yappito hear the basic rules and further detailsabout the Sotenbori Battle Arena.
Sotenbori Battle Arena Preparation
Before you enter Like A Dragon’s Sotenbori Battle Arena, make sure you stop byTsuruha Drugs in the northto stock up on key healing items, likeStaminan Royales, whichrestore your HP and MP by 500.
Here are the recovery items you can findin stock at Tsuruha Drugs:
Cost (in ¥)
4,000
7,000
10,000
50,000
30,000
Recovers500 HPand500 MP
40,000
Once you’ve finished stocking up, prepare your strongest party and equip your best gear before heading to the Sotenbori Battle Arena.
Many enemies in the Sotenbori Battle Arena areweak to elemental skills, particularly Electric.
If you want to make things easier on yourself,change your character’s jobs so that they can learn cross-class skills, thus gaining access to various elemental attacks.
For the male characters, change them toForeman (Fire), Host (Ice), andFortuneteller (Electric)to learn an elemental skill of each type.
For female characters, change toHostess (Ice)andNightqueen (Fire)to gain those two elements, though these characters likely won’t be relied on to attack.
You mustlevel up your character’s jobsto the requisite level in the Skill menu tolearn the elemental skills.
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In addition, take some time tocomplete the Ichiban Confections minigame, so you cangain access to the Essence of Orbital Laser, an extremely powerful Electric skill.
UsingElectric skills that paralyze opponentsis an excellent strategy for skipping enemy turns – accelerating the battle and keeping your team safe.
Once you are happy with your skills, you are ready to enter the Sotenbori Battle Arena.
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Win Without Skills Or Poundmates
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Viking Helmet
These first five floorsof the Sotenbori Battle Arenashould be straightforward, but you must be careful if you’re challenging this area for the first time.
Congratulations on clearing the first batch;the challenge will begin to pick up.
If you find yourself running low on MP, turn tosingle-use damage items, like the Rocket Launcher, to deal massive damage while conserving MP.
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How To Farm The Sotenbori Battle Arena
Once you’ve completed all 30 floors in the Sotenbori Battle Arena, you’ll be crowned the champion.
Return to Yappiat the front of the Sotenbori Battle Arenato choose from a list of checkpointsif you want to go back to a certain floor to claim the bonus reward or simply farm materials.
Here are some general tips onwhere to farm Job Ranksin the Sotenbori Battle Arena based on what level your job is.
If you are leveling up party members fromJob Rank One:
If you are leveling up all party members' Jobs in preparation forharderchallenges, like theTrue Final Millennium Tower:
In addition to farming levels and job ranks,identify the material(s)you need, thenlocate the floor(s) where it can be foundto narrow down where to begin your farming.
With a powered-up party, you should now be able to clear Yakuza: Like A Dragon’s Sotenbori Battle Arena without issue; happy farming.
