Yakuza Kiwami: MesuKing, every rival and all 59 cards

Yakuza Kiwami: MesuKing, every rival and all 59 cards All right, next is MesuKing. This is one I would start while you're already running around Kamurocho rather than leave the entire card hunt until the end. A few better cards make the battles easier, and some of the later opponents won't play until your collection is big enough. I'm going through the rules, useful decks, the full rival chain, and every card location. This is for Yakuza Kiwami, the remake of the first game. Substory numbers below use the English version. What actually counts as finished Keep these three goals separate: - The collection entries on the Completion List stop at 45 cards, with earlier milestones at 5 and 20. [Completion List](https://neoseeker.com/yakuza-kiwami/walkthrough/CompletionList). - The Professor's final challenge requires 50 cards and the preceding MesuKing substories. - A complete collection contains 59 cards: 30 Insect Cards and 29 Skill Cards. Beating the final Professor challenge completes the rival storyline and earns Throne of the MesuKing! You do not have to collect all 59 for that trophy/achievement. The final challenge cannot be finished in Chapter 4 because the necessary additional cards include Chapter 5's Purgatory area. [Completion requirements](https://trueachievements.com/a298351/throne-of-the-mesuking-achievement) and [card list](https://yakuza.fandom.com/wiki/MesuKing_cards). Getting started In Chapter 4, approach Club SEGA on Nakamichi Street. The glowing card outside starts substory 53, MesuKing: The Queen of Beetles. Return the lost card to the boy, then speak to him inside. He becomes your main contact for the game. Your starting cards are Japanese Rhino Beetle, Face Masher, Omni Choke, and Body Slam. The Hercules Beetle you find during the introduction belongs to the Professor. Returning it does not give you that powerful card permanently; your own copy comes much later. Complete the introduction before hunting the other cards. [Introduction and starter cards](https://dswiipspwikips3.jp/yakuza-kiwami/substory/substory07.html). The rules without the guesswork Build a deck with one insect and three skills, one skill for each hand: - Rock beats Scissors. - Scissors beats Paper. - Paper beats Rock. Win an exchange and you attack. Lose and the opponent attacks. A tie chips health from both fighters, so repeatedly tying is not harmless when your health is low. The match ends when a fighter runs out of health. Your insect determines your health and basic attacking strengths. Its large hand icon identifies its Super Move. The matching move is where you can deal your biggest damage, but you still need to win the rock-paper-scissors exchange to land it. Look at the opponent's strongest hand before deciding what to favor. The MesuKing Card Album is under Inventory → Valuables. Use it to check which numbered cards you own. [SEGA's rules and album instructions](https://manual.sega.jp/ryu-kiwami/en/index.html). Building a deck that works Technique is a requirement for using certain skills effectively. Meet or exceed the skill's Technique number. A powerful-looking skill can perform badly if your insect cannot use it properly. Also compare the compatibility marks rather than assuming every card with “Super” in its name improves every insect. Rock is Striking, Scissors is Grappling, and Paper is Throwing. I would prepare a strong option for each hand, then change insects for the opponent rather than force one favorite through every match. [Stats and compatibility](https://neoseeker.com/yakuza-kiwami/walkthrough/MesuKing). These are useful combinations to build around: - Early Paper: Japanese Rhino Beetle + Giant Swing. You already have the insect, and Tomohiro awards Giant Swing. It matches the insect's preferred move. - Early Rock: Empress Cicada + Cartwheel Kick. Get the insect inside Kyushu No. 1 Star and the skill in the Hotel District. This gives you a strong answer to Scissors-focused rivals. - Strong Scissors: Giraffe Stag Beetle + Omni Choke. The insect is in the Coliseum lobby from Chapter 5, and Omni Choke is a starter skill. This is a useful pairing against the Professor's Paper-heavy damage. - Later Rock: Ashy Gray Ladybug + Cartwheel Kick, or Giant Petaltail + Tornado Backfist. - Later Paper: Queen Alexandra Birdwing + Body Slam. Hercules Beetle can take this role after you finish the final challenge. These pairings match each insect's favored move and its Technique allowance. Fill the other two slots with compatible attacks or support skills you own. [Insect stats and preferred moves](https://spwiki.net/ryukiwami/wikis/81.html). Support skills are worth reading. Finish Time rewards choosing your Super Move while the timer still shows 10, then winning with it. Last Resort helps with a low-health comeback. Mystic Heal restores health when you win after taking an attack. Finish Breaker can stop the opponent using their Super Move. Watch the exclamation marks above the hands for available effects, and follow the condition printed on the card. For a straightforward Scissors deck, I would use Giraffe Stag Beetle, Last Resort, Omni Choke, and Mystic Heal once all four are available. You keep a strong matching attack and give the weaker slots useful support. It improves your chances; it does not make every opposing choice predictable. [Skill conditions](https://darage.com/guide/ryukiwami1/mini02.html). The complete rival chain Unless a step below sends you elsewhere, return to the Professor at the Nakamichi Street arcade. Ask to battle someone, then ask for a new opponent when that option is available. Finish each preceding substory before expecting the next one. 53. MesuKing: The Queen of Beetles Complete the introduction outside and inside the Nakamichi arcade. This unlocks the card hunt and gives you the starter deck. 70. Practice Match with Professor Talk to him again and pay the ¥100 play fee. Follow the tutorial with Paper → Rock → Scissors. This is the practice match, not the final throne battle. [Opening sequence](https://gamersheroes.com/game-guides/yakuza-kiwami-substories-guide/). 71. First Rival: Tomohiro Ask the Professor to introduce an opponent. Tomohiro chooses Rock, so keep choosing Paper. Your reward is Giant Swing. Put it on Japanese Rhino Beetle for a better matching Paper attack. 72. Private Lesson: Sachi Ask for the next opponent. Paper is useful against her Rock-focused insect. Paper followed by Scissors is a good opening, but don't keep following a memorized sequence after the actual match has gone differently. Watch her choices and your health. Win for Finish Time. 73. As Long as There's Love: Masaru You need a bee-type card in your collection. Pick up Paper Wasp directly outside the Nakamichi arcade if you haven't already. Masaru's dangerous hand is Scissors, so take a strong Rock option. You receive Super Romero Special. Owning the required insect gets you into the challenge. You can still build your battle deck around the hand that counters his strongest attack. [Early rival requirements and tactics](https://playstationlifestyle.net/2017/08/29/yakuza-kiwami-substories-guide-all-locations-walkthroughs?noamp=mobile). 74. Time for a Raid!: Nobuo Collect at least 30 cards and speak to the Professor after beating Masaru. Follow Tomohiro's problem to Club SEGA in Theater Square. Speak to Tomohiro there to face Nobuo. Nobuo has a strong Scissors attack, but he is less predictable than Tomohiro. Empress Cicada with Cartwheel Kick is a useful choice. Favor Rock to punish his strongest hand, while paying attention if he starts using Paper. The reward is Japanese Giant Mantis. 75. The Professor's Past: Takeru Return to the Nakamichi arcade. Takeru is the next challenger, and winning gives Last Resort. Don't rely on the old claim that he always rotates his hands in one fixed order. His choices can vary. Take a strong Paper setup to threaten his Rock-focused Empress Cicada. If a first attempt goes badly, rebuild around the damage you're actually taking rather than repeat the same losing sequence. [Nobuo and Takeru](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps4/181171-yakuza-kiwami/faqs/75194/chapter-4-substories). 76. The Professor's Past 2: Hime After Takeru, go to Club SEGA in Theater Square and speak to Hime. Her Queen Alexandra Birdwing has a powerful Paper attack, so bring a strong Scissors option. She can use other hands too; Scissors is your answer to her biggest threat, not a guaranteed win button. Victory gives Wasp King. 77. Enjoying It with Everyone: Masashi Return to the Professor with at least 40 cards. Masashi uses Giraffe Stag Beetle, so his Scissors damage is the big danger. A Rock-focused insect is useful. Avoid casually throwing Paper into that matchup just because it worked against an earlier rival. Winning awards Tie Breaker. Keep it in mind when ties are wearing your health down. [Late rivals](https://neoseeker.com/yakuza-kiwami/walkthrough/Substories3) and [30/40/50-card progression gates](https://dswiipspwikips3.jp/yakuza-kiwami/substory/substory08.html). 78. Battle for the MesuKing Throne: the Professor Finish Masashi's substory, reach at least 50 collected cards, then ask to fight the Professor seriously. You need access to Chapter 5's Purgatory cards to get this far. His Hercules Beetle specializes in Paper. Giraffe Stag Beetle is a strong Scissors answer. Add useful support rather than putting high-Tech skills on a low-Tech insect simply because their names sound stronger. The Professor can interfere with your Super Move and recover health. Check which hands are available before committing. Don't expect a universal three-button solution. You may need another attempt even with a good deck. Win to receive Hercules Beetle and Throne of the MesuKing! [Final challenge](https://trueachievements.com/a298351/throne-of-the-mesuking-achievement) and [Professor matchup](https://neoseeker.com/yakuza-kiwami/walkthrough/Substories3). Before the card hunt Cards appear as pink/red butterfly-like glows. Check indoors as well as the street. For cards above you or inside a narrow gap, use first-person view and aim at the glow until the interaction prompt appears. On PlayStation, click the right stick, R3; on other platforms, use the equivalent first-person input. The Card Watcher accessory from Bob's CP exchange helps you locate nearby cards. Equip it rather than leave it in storage. It won't replace looking up at an awning or walking into a shop. [Collection tips and first-person pickups](https://gameskinny.com/tips/yakuza-kiwami-all-mesuking-card-locations-guide/). Below, “insect” and “skill” have separate numbering. Insect 009 and Skill 009 are different cards. Purgatory pickups and its weapon shop become available from Chapter 5. All 30 Insect Cards 001. Giraffe Stag Beetle: Coliseum lobby, in the gap between the red seats. 002. Hercules Beetle: Win substory 78, the Professor's final challenge. 003. Empress Cicada: Inside Kyushu No. 1 Star. Search the floor near the entrance furnishings. 004. Queen Alexandra Birdwing: Purgatory weapon shop, ¥50,000. 005. Minminzemi Cicada: Ebisu Pawn, ¥50,000. 006. Iwasakikusa Cicada: Millennium Tower's front courtyard, by the vending machines near the save phone and lottery stand. 007. Seven-Spotted Ladybug: Showa Street, by the parked bicycles between Don Quijote and Poppo. 008. Stag Beetle: Serena's rear lot, around the rubbish and traffic cones. 009. Damselfly: Up in the tree in Public Park 3. Stand beneath it and use first-person view. 010. Japanese Giant Mantis: Win substory 74, Time for a Raid! [Cards 001–010](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps4/181171-yakuza-kiwami/faqs/75194/mesuking). 011. Miyama Stag Beetle: Northeast corner of the lot off Tenkaichi Alley, beside the rubbish bins. 012. Paper Wasp: Pavement immediately outside Club SEGA Nakamichi Street. 013. Sawtooth Stag Beetle: Nakamichi Alley, east of Smile Burger, tucked by the Club LIME sign. Adjust your position if the pickup prompt won't appear. 014. Honey Bee: Pink Street, beside the rubbish pile and pink café signage south of SHINE. 015. Japanese Rhino Beetle: Starter card from substory 53. 016. Old World Swallowtail: Narrow building gap north of Café Alps on Nakamichi Street. Use first-person view. 017. Western Hercules Beetle: Beside the save phone at the southeastern end of Senryo Avenue. 018. Small White: Pink Alley, just southeast of Kyushu No. 1 Star's entrance. 019. Ashy Gray Ladybug: Professor's reward for repeated battle wins. See the cleanup note below. 020. Wasp King: Win substory 76, The Professor's Past 2. [Cards 011–020](https://neoseeker.com/yakuza-kiwami/walkthrough/MesuKing2). 021. Autumn Darter: Narrow side passage immediately north of Shellac in the Champion District. 022. Walking Flower Mantis: Beside the sports car in the parking area near the Champion District's southern entrance. 023. Atlas Moth: Around the taxi at the Park Boulevard taxi stand. Check close to the vehicle. 024. Atlas Beetle: Doorway on East Taihei Boulevard, east of the Champion District's southern exit; look for the café sign. 025. Orange Ladybug: Passage leading into the small square lot in the Champion District. 026. Kuwana's Ladybug: Inside Club SEGA Nakamichi Street, on the floor near the counter. 027. Asian Giant Hornet: Behind a pillar at the theater entrance on Theater Avenue, near the movie posters. 028. White-Tailed Skimmer: South pavement of Park Boulevard, west of Vincent. 029. Giant Petaltail: West Park, on the roof edge over the benches north of the fountain/Komaki area. Look up in first-person view. 030. Devil's Flower Mantis: Behind a pillar beside Kanrai's entrance. [Cards 021–030](https://kouryakutsushin.com/ryu-kiwami/%E6%98%86%E8%99%AB%E5%A5%B3%E7%8E%8B%E3%83%A1%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AD%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0). All 29 Skill Cards 001. Cartwheel Kick: Hotel District, west of the taxi stand. 002. Face Masher: Starter card from substory 53. 003. Elbow Drop: Tenkaichi Street, just south of the Kazama Family Office entrance. 004. Super Elbow Drop: Ebisu Pawn, ¥10,000. 005. Kestrel Punch: Hotel District, in front of the paired vending machines northwest of the save phone. 006. Super Kestrel Punch: Inside Café Alps, around the chairs behind the front tables. 007. Finish Breaker: Underground Purgatory, up the steps to the second storefront porch on the east side. 008. Last Resort: Win substory 75, The Professor's Past. 009. Omni Choke: Starter card from substory 53. 010. Strangle Hold: West Shichifuku Street, just south of the northwestern taxi stand. [Skills 001–010](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1670634257&l=english). 011. Romero Special: Mach Bowl's entrance, behind the large bowling-pin decoration. 012. Super Romero Special: Win substory 73, As Long as There's Love. 013. Leg Splitter: Far western bend of Taihei Boulevard, at the southwest corner. 014. Super Leg Splitter: Ebisu Pawn, ¥10,000. 015. Tie Breaker: Win substory 77, Enjoying It with Everyone. 016. Finish Time: Win substory 72, Private Lesson. 017. Body Slam: Starter card from substory 53. 018. Tomoe Nage: In front of the small delivery truck north of Poppo on Tenkaichi Street. 019. Giant Swing: Win substory 71, First Rival. 020. Super Giant Swing: Inside Pocket Circuit Stadium, beside the capsule machines near the parts shop. [Skills 011–020](https://dswiipspwikips3.jp/yakuza-kiwami/playspot/mesuking.html). 021. Piledriver: Inside MEB, in a corner of the room. 022. Super Piledriver: Purgatory weapon shop, ¥10,000. 023. Taunt: Eastern end of East Shichifuku Street, beside the save phone. 024. Counter Heal: Purgatory weapon shop, ¥10,000. 025. Double Drop: Corner of the small parking lot on Pink Street North, southeast of Bantam. 026. Super Double Drop: Purgatory weapon shop, ¥10,000. 027. Banana Split: East Taihei Boulevard, in front of the small delivery truck near the Fantasy Mix sign. 028. Mystic Heal: Purgatory weapon shop, ¥10,000. 029. Tornado Backfist: Underground Purgatory, behind the chairs near the entrance stairs. [Skills 021–029](https://neoseeker.com/yakuza-kiwami/walkthrough/MesuKing3). Cleaning up the awkward ones Ashy Gray Ladybug is the one I would check before doing another lap around town. Use the Professor's option to battle someone and replay Tomohiro with Paper. Aim for 20 normal opponent wins, then talk to the Professor. Use the regular battle option rather than the practice tutorial. The wins do not need to be consecutive. If an active substory is occupying his dialogue, finish it and speak to him again. A player who thought the reward was stuck confirmed that clearing the active Professor substory resolved it. [Win reward](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps4/181171-yakuza-kiwami/faqs/75194/mesuking) and [dialogue blocker](https://reddit.com/r/yakuzagames/comments/hd20it/yakuza_kiwami_mesuking_card_19/). If a glow is visible but unreachable, check Insect 009, 016, and 029 first. Those need first-person interaction. Insect 013 is low down but has an awkward interaction position, so move around the sign instead of assuming it is another elevated pickup. If you're sitting on 45 cards and the Professor refuses the final match, collect five more. Finishing the collection entry does not satisfy his 50-card requirement. If you have all 30 insects and Skills 001–029, you're done. The album layout can make it look as though a 60th card should exist. There is no Skill 030 to hunt. [The empty-slot confusion](https://reddit.com/r/yakuzagames/comments/13mudi4/how_the_hell_do_you_get_the_last_mesuking_card/). Majima is a separate check The normal rival chain is not the whole Majima Everywhere system. Nishida's “Did you know, sir?” email points to the first MesuKing encounter. “Watch out, Kiryu-san!” points to the second. Speak to the Professor at the Nakamichi arcade when the relevant event is ready. The first victory unlocks Essence of Escape; the second unlocks Finishing Hold Reborn. [Rewards and location](https://neoseeker.com/yakuza-kiwami/walkthrough/MajimaEverywhere2). Check Majima's displayed insect again for the rematch rather than assuming your first deck is still the best counter. Those encounters also depend on Majima Everywhere progression. Beating the Professor doesn't automatically finish them, and a missing Majima email doesn't mean you need a nonexistent 60th card. Keep advancing the relevant Majima events and the MesuKing storyline. [Majima's email encounters](https://reddit.com/r/yakuzagames/comments/6ym7sc/quick_list_of_majima_everywhere_email_encounters/). The order I'd use Start the introduction in Chapter 4, collect cards while doing other errands, and clear the early rivals. Pick up Paper Wasp and a strong Rock pairing early. When Chapter 5 opens Purgatory, collect Giraffe Stag Beetle and the underground cards, then visit the weapon seller. If you're buying every card, set aside ¥160,000: ¥70,000 at Ebisu Pawn and ¥90,000 at the Purgatory weapon shop, before play fees. That is two ¥50,000 insects and six ¥10,000 skills. Work through the 30-card and 40-card rivals, reach 50, and beat the Professor. After that, use the numbered lists to clean up the collection instead of searching the whole city again. The main thing is to distinguish a collection gate from a difficult battle. If the Professor won't introduce someone, check your cards and substory progress. If you can enter but keep losing, check your insect's strongest hand, its skill compatibility, and the opponent's damage before spending another hour on the same deck.