Abilities and Upgrading

Learn how to upgrade abilities in Yakuza 3, covering Soul, Tech, Body, and Heat upgrades, and their specific effects and experience point costs.

As you gain experience in fights and other activities in Yakuza 3, a bar will fill. Once it reaches 1000 experience points, you will receive a leveling point. You can then apply your accumulated leveling points in the Abilities screen to one of four categories:

• Soul Upgrades: Focus on Heat accumulation and expanding the Heat Gauge (the bar used for special moves).
• Tech Upgrades: Introduce new combat moves, both offensive and defensive.
• Body Upgrades: Enhance health, damage resistance, throwing, and grabbing capabilities.
• Heat Upgrades: Unlock new Heat Actions (powerful finishing moves) and other Heat-related enhancements.

By engaging in fights and completing Substories, which provide considerable experience, you can eventually unlock all abilities by the end of the game.

Soul Upgrades:

• 2 Exp Points: Phoenix Spirit - When Kiryu is at critical health, the Heat Gauge will fill automatically.
• Increase Max Heat Gauge: Adds another bar onto the Heat Gauge.
• 6 Exp Points: Stability - When in Heat Mode (a powered-up state), Kiryu cannot be knocked down by attacks.
• Increase Max Heat Gauge: Adds another bar onto the Heat Gauge.
• 12 Exp Points: White Tiger Spirit - Taunt enemies to increase the Heat Gauge.
• Increase Max Heat Gauge: Adds another bar onto the Heat Gauge.
• 20 Exp Points: Thunder God - When in Heat Mode, Kiryu can run and not be stopped by attacks.
• Increase Max Heat Gauge: Adds another bar onto the Heat Gauge.
• 35 Exp Points: Tortoise Spirit - Blocking charges the Heat Gauge.
• Increase Max Heat Gauge: Adds another bar onto the Heat Gauge.
• 50 Exp Points: True Stability - When in Heat Mode, Kiryu cannot be knocked down by even strong attacks.
• Increase Max Heat Gauge: Adds another bar onto the Heat Gauge.
• 75 Exp Points: Azure Dragon Spirit - Cannot be KO'd when in Heat Mode.
• Increase Max Heat Gauge: Adds another bar onto the Heat Gauge.
• 110 Exp Points: Wind God - Increases evasiveness of quicksteps (dodging maneuvers) while unarmed and not in Heat Mode.
• Increase Max Heat Gauge: Adds another bar onto the Heat Gauge.
• 160 Exp Points: Golden Dragon Spirit - Hold Taunt near enemies to charge the Heat Gauge manually.
• Increase Max Heat Gauge: Adds another bar onto the Heat Gauge.

Tech Upgrades:

• 2 Exp Points: Komaki Cat-Like Reflexes - Press Evade while falling to the ground to quickly get to your feet.
• 6 Exp Points: Rising Kick - Press Light Attack while on the ground to attack while getting up.
• Speed Boost 1: Attack speed increases.
• 12 Exp Points: Lotus Flare Fist - Hold Heavy Attack to charge this attack. Hold it longer than a Charge Kick.
• 20 Exp Points: Double Finishing Blow - Press Heavy Attack a second time after a Finishing Blow (a powerful attack).
• 35 Exp Points: Komaki Dodge Shot - Press Heavy Attack after a Quickstep for a strike.
• Speed Boost 2: Attack speed increases.
• 50 Exp Points: Knockdown Reversal - Press Heavy Attack as you fall to the ground to counterattack.
• 75 Exp Points: Bounding Throw - Press Grab after a single Finishing Blow while in Heat Mode. This move consumes Heat to use.
• 110 Exp Points: Kawauchi Release Throw - Mash Grab repeatedly when grabbed by an enemy and you'll throw them yourself.
• Speed Boost 3: Attack speed increases.
• 160 Exp Points: Quickstep Cancel - As long as not in Heat Mode, Kiryu can use a Quickstep to cancel out of a Rush Combo (a series of light attacks).

Body Upgrades:

• 2 Exp Points: Increase Health Gauge Max - Increases max Health.
• 6 Exp Points: Grab Escape 1 - It's easier to escape from an enemy's grab.
• Increase Health Gauge Max: Increases max Health.
• 12 Exp Points: Quick Stand 1 - Stand up faster by mashing the button once knocked down.
• Increase Health Gauge Max: Increases max Health.
• 20 Exp Points: Re-Guard - Press the Guard button after your guard is broken to swiftly re-guard.
• Increase Health Gauge Max: Increases max Health.
• 35 Exp Points: Increase Throw Power - Throws do more damage.
• Increase Health Gauge Max: Increases max Health.
• 50 Exp Points: Quick Stand 2 - Stand up even faster by mashing the button once knocked down.
• Increase Health Gauge Max: Increases max Health.
• 75 Exp Points: Grab Escape 2 - It's even easier to escape from an enemy's grab.
• Increase Health Gauge Max: Increases max Health.
• 110 Exp Points: Collateral Damage - Hitting other enemies with thrown enemies causes more damage.
• Increase Max Health Gauge: Increases max Health.
• 160 Exp Points: Increase Health Gauge Max - Increases max Health.

Heat Upgrades:

• 2 Exp Points: Essence of Finishing - Heat Action: Stand near a fallen enemy and press Heavy Attack in Heat Mode.
• 6 Exp Points: Essence of Slamming - Heat Action: Grab an enemy and press Heavy Attack near a fallen enemy.
• 12 Exp Points: Essence of Swinging - Heat Action: Grab an enemy's legs (press Circle near their legs while they're down), and press Heavy Attack.
• Red Heat Gauge 1: Your rightmost Heat Gauge bar will now be red.
• 20 Exp Points: Essence of Fear - Heat Action: Press Heavy Attack near an enemy both holding a weapon and afraid (the last enemy will typically be like this).
• 35 Exp Points: Essence of Head Bashing - Heat Action: In Red Heat Mode (a state where certain Heat Actions are enhanced), grab an enemy and press Heavy Attack near another enemy.
• Extra Heat Attack 1: Various Heat Actions will gain an additional attack if you press the indicated button.
• 50 Exp Points: Komaki Fist Reversal - Heat Action: Press Heavy Attack while an enemy attacks you while not in Fighting Stance.
• Red Heat Gauge 2: Another rightmost Heat Gauge bar will now be red.
• 75 Exp Points: Komaki Firearm Flip - Heat Action: Press Heavy Attack near an enemy with a gun.
• 110 Exp Points: Essence of Wreckage - Heat Action: Press Heavy Attack near a fallen enemy while health is flashing red.
• Extra Heat Attack 2: Various Heat Actions will gain an additional attack if you press the indicated button.
• 160 Exp Points: Ultimate Essence - Heat Action: Press Heavy Attack near a stunned enemy.
• Red Heat Gauge 3: Another rightmost Heat Gauge bar will now be red.