Once you reach a certain point in Chapter 2 of the main story in Like A Dragon Gaiden, you will unlock Pocket Circuit. You will be racing little slot cars throughout a variety of courses, while trying to customize your vehicle to win each race. The problem arises in trying to figure out the optimal parts needed for each of the races, since you can’t just use the most powerful of parts right from the beginning. This page will cover all of the main races, listing out the parts loadout that worked in finishing in first place.

Introductory Race - Pocket Circuit¶

• Recommended Parts: Slick Tires, Balanced Frame, High Torque Motor Mark II, Regular Gears, Regular Battery

The first race is just to get you used to the whole Pocket Circuit thing. The High Torque Motor Mark II motor is a very nice part, so you should definitely go out of your way to get it from the Locker. If you use the loadout above, then you shouldn’t really need to do anything at all. There’s absolutely no reason to Boost, so keep your finger away from the button for it.

Rookies Welcome Race - Pocket Circuit¶

• Recommended Parts: Slick Tires, Balanced Frame, High Torque Motor Mark II, Regular Gears, Regular Battery

The second race isn’t going to be much different than the first one. There is a new obstacle here, though, which is a jump near the start of the race. Normally, even with the same loadout, this won’t be much of a problem, you will still not want to Boost here. You shouldn’t have to touch the controller at all once you’ve started the race, but keep a lookout for any instances of your car potentially going off the track.

Rookie Race - Pocket Circuit¶

• Recommended Parts: Slim Tires Plus, Balanced Frame Plus, Speed Motor Plus, Balanced Gears Plus, High Capacity Battery

This is the first race that might give you a little trouble, especially because of the two turns right at the end of lap. The loadout you used for the previous two races isn’t going to work here, so you’ll need to adjust your parts. Since you are doing 12 laps here, the High Capacity Battery will ensure that your car lasts longer without suffering a bigger slowdown towards the end of the race. You will still need to keep an eye out for those last two turns, as your car still might potentially start going off the track.

Remember that you don’t need to mash the Circle/B button as hard as possible here, as that will eat up all of your energy. Only press it enough to keep your car on the track, as you want to make sure you have more of it for later. It does seem like the two inside lanes are the biggest problem, though, with your car leaving the tracks. The above setup shouldn’t require you to boost at all during the race, though, which would give you a bigger chance of flying off the track.

Standard Race - Pocket Circuit¶

• Recommended Parts: Extra Spiked Tires, Extra Metal Frame, High Torque Motor Mark II, Extra Balanced Gears, High Capacity Battery

The Standard Race will introduce two new features for tracks, a grass section and the loop switch. The first is a hazard that will slow down your car, unless you have some kind of Spiked Tires equipped. The Loop Switch is a big loop that will require each racer to go through it every four laps. Yes, it is slow, but don’t fret if it takes you out of first place, unless it’s on the final two laps or something. The Loop Switch, depending on the rest of the track layout, could be a decent spot to use your Boost.

However, there isn’t really any need to use a Boost on this track, with the loadout listed above. It might seem like a tighter race at first, but you should eventually get enough of a lead that you shouldn’t need to worry. Also, the track is fairly simple, too, so you should never need to think about flying off at any point, unless you do use the Boost.

Pro-Am Race - Pocket Circuit¶

• Recommended Parts: Extra Slick Tires, Metal Frame Plus, High Torque Motor Mark II, Regular Gears Plus, High Capacity Battery, Light Suspension

As you can see, you will be using an extra part here, the Light Suspension. It will reduce the car’s bounce after it catches air, which helps with the few small jumps in this race. There are also a lot of turns in the middle of the track, so you will need to be extra careful where you use your Boost (yes, you’ll be using it). There will also be a Loop Switch after those series of quick turns, so you’ll need to remember when it comes to your turn going through it.

You see, as soon as you get onto the loop is when you want to use your Boost. If you time it right, you should stop boosting right around the middle of the series of quick turns. Other than that, you should be more than fine with the loadout above, as you shouldn’t really need to try and keep the car on the track at any point. As always, there is always that little bit of randomness to these races, so just keep a finger on the Circle/B button, in case of the worst.

Veteran Race - Pocket Circuit¶

• Recommended Parts: Super Slick Tires, Super Balanced Frame, High Torque Motor Mark II, Extra Balanced Gears, High Capacity Battery, Light Suspension

This is another race where the recommended loadout should be more than enough, without any need for Boosting. In fact, it’s quite tough to find a spot on the course where you could even Boost without flying off the track. There are two bigger jumps here that can cause you to lose control coming off of them, especially if you’re going too fast. The part after the first jump, when you circle around while going uphill, can be scary once you get to the inner lanes, as you might start flying off the track here.

That should be the only time this happens, though, and it might only happen on your first time through that section. There is a Loop Switch right before the starting/goal area, but that shouldn’t be any kind of problem at all.

Expert Race - Pocket Circuit¶

• Recommended Parts: Super Soft Tires, Super Speed Frame, High Torque Motor Mark II, Godspeed Gears Plus, High Capacity Battery, Flat Wing

If you use the above loadout, then this should be another relatively easy race for you. The only problematic section will be the series of jumps on the left side of the track, right after the Loop Switch. There is always the possibility that your car takes a jump the wrong way and flies off the track. Right after those jumps is the Wall, as mentioned in the special zones portion before beginning the race. You will need enough power to get past this, and it’s possible to use your Boost as you’re coming down off of it.

Your car should be able to handle the turns after the Wall, and there will be some straightaways before you get to the next set of turns. You might not need to Boost, though, but that opportunity is there if you want to do it.

Official Race - Pocket Circuit¶

• Recommended Parts: Super Spiked Tires, Super Speed Frame, High Torque Motor Mark II, Godspeed Gears Plus, High Capacity Battery, Flat Wing

Grass will be returning with this race, which is why you need the Super Spiked Tires. Other than those, the rest of the loadout will be the same as in the previous race. In fact, the above setup should make this race incredibly easy, and you shouldn’t really need to intervene at all. As always, though, races can be a bit random at times, so you do want to pay attention, in case you have to hit Circle/B to keep your car on track. The only real instance of this happening might be with some of the jumps.

CourStar Race - Pocket Circuit¶

• Recommended Parts: Ultra Slim Tires, Ultra Metal Frame, Godspeed Motor, Godspeed Gears Plus, High Capacity Battery, Medium Suspension, Flat Wing

With a total of 12 laps to do, you will probably want to use the High Capacity Battery here, just in case it starts running out of juice later on and you get passed by someone else. The biggest threat to stopping a win here will be the first jump after starting the race. Your car seems to get a good amount of air off of the jump, so there’s a chance your car will just fly off the track, even with the suspension equipped. However, this doesn’t always happen and the above loadout will guarantee a win, no matter what else occurs.

Should you win the CourStar Race, then that is the last one you need to do if all you want is the Pocket Circuit Pro trophy/achievement. Completing the race will unlock the Masters Circuit, where more races will be waiting for you. These are going to be more challenging, too.