Basic Combat

Learn the basic combat controls, combat display elements like the Heat Gauge and Health Bar, and combat moveset in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life.

Combat Controls (typical):

PlayStation | Xbox | Control

- | - | Move your character

- | - | Move the camera

- | - | Light Attack/Rush Combo

- | - | Heavy Attack
Finishing Blow
Heat Action

- | - | Evade

- | - | Grab
Throw enemy/weapon

- | - | Guard
Change Grab while holding someone

- | - | Fighting Stance

- | - | Extreme Heat Mode

- | - | Center Camera
Hold to negate Heat Actions

- | - | Pause the game

Combat Display

The Heat Gauge, a silver dragon around blue orbs, fills as you land hits. Full orbs can be spent on Heat Actions. Pressing R2/RT (or your platform's equivalent) invokes "Extreme Heat" mode, consuming all Heat Orbs for increased damage, speed, and toughness; the more orbs spent, the longer it lasts. You start with three Heat Orbs, which can be increased via the Stats menu. Heat decreases from taking damage, being grabbed, getting knocked down, or inactivity.

The Health Bar, a large red bar at the top of your screen, indicates your health. Depleting it results in a game over. Health flashes when critically low. Restore health with food and drinks, and increase maximum health through upgrades in the Stats menu.

The minimap (radar (your minimap with nearby blips and threats marked)) in the lower-left shows enemies as red arrows. Enemy health bars are visible above their heads.

Encounters

Encounters are either Scripted (story, substory, training, minigame related) or Random.

Random encounters include:

• Aggressors: Found on the map as red arrows, usually in groups of three to five. They will charge to initiate combat if they spot you. They appear as red markers on the side of the screen when not in direct view, accompanied by an audio cue and gruff calls. Combat begins if they get close enough.
• Trouble: Alerts received via the Troublr app, leading to fights with local hoods at the indicated location.

Upon initiating an encounter, controls switch to combat. Defeat enemies to progress. If you are defeated, you will reload from the last autosave (checkpoint (an auto-save point you restart from on death)).

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life allows you to run away from combat after it begins by creating distance and hiding behind corners, a first for the series. Items or cash may drop from defeated foes.

The Basic Moveset

Kiryu uses his "Dragon" style, slightly modified with age.

• Rush Combo: Press Light Attack up to four times for fast, weak attacks. Useful for initiating combos or against tougher enemies. Can hit grounded enemies.
• Heavy Attack: A single, stronger blow than a Rush Combo. Can also strike grounded enemies.
• Finishing Blow: Press Heavy Attack up to two times after a Rush Combo. The specific input (e.g., Light-Heavy vs. Light-Light-Light-Heavy) determines the outcome. Typically deals good damage and results in a knockdown.
• Heat Action: Performable when at least one Heat Orb is full and a blue flame icon appears on screen. Press Heavy Attack. To preserve Heat, hold L2/LT (or your platform's equivalent) and press Heavy Attack to avoid triggering a Heat Action.
• Grab: Press the Grab button to grab an enemy. You can move grabbed enemies. Grabs cannot be blocked, but enemies have a grab limit and some resist more easily. Press L1/LB (or your platform's equivalent) to reverse your grab position. While holding an enemy:
  • Pummel: Press Light Attack multiple times.
  • Knock Away: Press Heavy Attack to kick the enemy, potentially damaging and knocking down nearby foes.
  • Throw: Press Grab again to throw the enemy to the ground, making them prone. This is effective for crowd control and can knock out enemies, though some tough enemies are resistant.