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How to Play Mahjong in Like a Dragon: Ishin
Like a Dragon: Ishin!

How to Play Mahjong in Like a Dragon: Ishin

Learn how to play Mahjong in Like a Dragon: Ishin! This guide covers where to play, the rules, scoring, and tips for mastering this complex minigame.

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Learn how to play Mahjong in Like a Dragon: Ishin! This guide covers where to play, the rules, scoring, and tips for mastering this complex minigame.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    To play Mahjong, locate the Mahjong parlor in Mukugorai, accessible by boat early in Chapter 2.
  2. 2
    The tournament option is recommended for unlimited play and avoids purchasing Mahjong sticks, with a 5 ryo entry fee.
  3. 3
    In Mahjong, each player starts with 13 tiles and aims to form four sets (sequences, triplets, or quads) and one pair.
  4. 4
    Sets can be formed by consecutive tiles of the same suit (sequence), three identical tiles (triplet), or four identical tiles (quad).
  5. 5
    A player draws a tile and discards one each turn.
  6. 6
    Tiles can be stolen from opponents: 'Pon' to form a triplet from a discarded pair, or 'Chi' to form a sequence from a discarded tile (only from the player to your left).
  7. 7
    'Kan' (Quad) can be formed with a triplet and a fourth matching tile, or by upgrading an exposed triplet with a fourth matching tile. Each 'Kan' reveals a Dora tile, which adds to scoring.
  8. 8
    Exposed sets are face-up; concealed sets are face-down.
  9. 9
    Winning can occur via 'Ron' (stealing the winning tile from an opponent, who pays you) or 'Tsumo' (drawing the winning tile yourself, with all players paying you).
  10. 10
    Mahjong has three major suits (Characters, Dots, Bamboos) numbered 1-9, and two minor suits (Winds and Dragons). Sequences can only be formed with major suits.
  11. 11
    Scoring is based on 'Han', which increases winnings. Specific hands award a certain amount of Han.
  12. 12
    A draw occurs if all tiles are exhausted without a winner. Players one tile away from winning gain points; others may lose points.
Tips
  • Pay attention to your hand and opponents' actions, especially if they declare 'Riichi' (one tile away from winning).
  • A sideways tile in the discard pile indicates a player has declared Riichi.
  • To declare Riichi, press Square (DualSense) / X (Xbox) at the start of your turn, provided the draw pile has over 4 tiles and you have at least 1,000 points. This locks your hand, allowing only the drawn tile to be played.
  • Avoid stealing other players' tiles excessively to prevent limiting your own hand options.
  • Consult the in-game help menu for a comprehensive list of winning hands and scoring elements (Yaku).

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