Yuki Tsuruno Boss Guide

Master the Yuki Tsuruno boss fight in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Learn strategies for his saw, branding iron, and fist attacks to emerge victorious.

Alright, let's get you prepped for the Yuki Tsuruno fight in Like a Dragon Gaiden. This one's got a couple of phases, and he comes at you with some nasty weapons at first. Don't worry, we'll break it down so you can handle him.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Phase 1: Wields a saw (Bleed) and branding iron (Burn). Supported by thugs.
• Phase 2: Fights with fists. Uses Heat mode and ultimate attacks.
• Weaknesses: Vulnerable after dodging his attacks, especially his ultimate moves.
• Resistances: Ailments (Bleed, Burn) can be a problem if you don't have protection.

Phases:

1. Phase 1: Weapons and Thugs
   You'll start the fight with Tsuruno and a few of his goons. The priority here is to deal with the thugs first. They can be a real nuisance and split your attention. Once they're cleared, focus on Tsuruno. He'll be hacking away with his saw, which can inflict Bleed, and poking with the branding iron, which can cause Burn and briefly stun you. The usual quickstep-attack combo is your best friend here. Keep moving, dodge his swings, and counter when you see an opening. Don't get too greedy; focus on avoiding the status effects if you can.
2. Phase 2: Fists of Fury
   Once Tsuruno's health drops to about half, a scene will play, and he'll ditch his weapons. Now he's all about his fists. This is where he'll likely activate his Heat mode and start pulling out some powerful ultimate attacks. You might recognize some of his hook kicks from earlier encounters; they can have a wider reach than you'd expect, so be ready to dodge. The key here is patience. Dodge his combos and wait for the opportune moment to unleash an Ultimate Counter. After a successful counter, you'll have a small window to get some hits in. Keep this up, and he'll go down.

Strategy:

• Deal with the adds: In Phase 1, always take out Tsuruno's thugs first. They just make the fight harder than it needs to be.
• Ailment protection: If you have gear that protects against Bleed and Burn, equip it before the fight. It'll save you a lot of healing items. You can find some suitcases with potentially useful gear in a side room down the hallway before Tsuruno's arena.
• Dodge and Weave: Tsuruno's weapon attacks can be brutal, especially with the status effects. Focus on dodging rather than blocking, and look for openings to counter.
• Ultimate Counter: This is your best tool, especially in Phase 2. Successfully landing an Ultimate Counter on Tsuruno gives you a great chance to deal damage.
• Healing: If you're struggling with the status effects in Phase 1 or taking a lot of hits in Phase 2, don't hesitate to use your healing items. It's better to use a few items than to lose the fight.
• Patience is Key: Tsuruno isn't the hardest boss, but he can wear you down if you're not careful. Stick to the strategy, don't rush, and you'll get through it.

After you finally defeat Tsuruno, there will be some scenes. You'll then be heading back to Sotenbori, probably to wait for a call from Hanawa. Good job on getting through that!