Substory #30: Close Encounters of the Bird Kind? Guide and Rewards

This is a substory walkthrough guide for Close Encounters of the Bird Kind? in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Yakuza 8). Learn more about the objectives of this substory, tips for completion, rewards, as well as strategies for completing this substory!

How to Unlock Close Encounters of the Bird Kind?

Unlock Conditions and Location

Map		NPC Location
Exact Map Location	West Waikiki, Honolulu Kaku Ave.
How to Start the Substory	Chapter 6 ・Requires Substory 29

The location above were confirmed by the walkthrough team.

Can Only Be Completed at Night

This substory can only be completed during night time. You unfortunately can't wait for night time to come normally; the way to change from day to night is triggering it with certain quests. One such quest is during Chapter 6, after the battle with Yamai.

When you manage to make it into night time, be careful not to advance the story too much as you might trigger the time of day change again, preventing you from completing the quest for the time being.
Missable Features

Might Appear in Chapter 4 or 5

We have confirmed that it's possible to get this quest earlier at Chapter 4 or 5, as long as you clear Substory 29.

But note that the enemies you'll have to battle a level 29 enemy in this quest, far higher than the expected level you'll be in the chapters mentioned, so you likely will have a lot of difficulty clearing this substory early.

Substory Rewards

Substory #30: Close Encounters of the Bird Kind? Walkthrough Guide

How to Complete Close Encounters of the Bird Kind?

1	Approach the woman, Karen, telling a police officer about a UFO at the north part of Kaku Ave.
2	Talk to Karen at the Worldwide Market Village.
3	Return to Karen at the Worldwide Market Village at night time.
4	You'll be given a choice of what weapon you want to use. Choose the Rocket Launcher from the start to get a +20 raise to your Confidence stat. └ Choosing wrong at least once will make you permanently lose out on that stat bonus.
5	Aim correctly towards the UFO by launching when the meter shows 'Right There!'. You'll get a +20 raise to your Passion stat. └ Aiming wrong at least once will make you permanently lose out on that stat bonus.
6	Defeat Sojimaru Flying Beta Max.
7	Finish the cutscene to claim your rewards and complete the substory.

How to Defeat Sojimaru Flying Beta Max

This boss can get very difficult unless you're very overleveled for the battle. Here are some tips for defeating this boss.

1. Have your Party be at Least Level 27 or Higher
2. Destroy the Battery Charger First
3. It's Weak to Fire and Gun Types
4. Utilize AoE Healing Skills
5. Carry Lots of Recovery Items

Have your Party be at Least Level 27 or Higher

Sojimaru Flying Beta Max will be Level 29 when you battle it, so it will be difficult if you went in underleveled. You should be at around level 21-26 during Chapter 6, so grind a little bit to get level 27 for the battle.
How to Level Up Fast: Best Way to Gain EXP

Destroy the Battery Charger First

Sojimaru will recharge using the Battery Charger when its HP gets depleted a bit. You can prevent this by destroying the Battery Charger first, preventing Sojimaru from recovering health.

It's Weak to Fire and Gun Types

Sojimaru is weak to fire and gun type attacks. Use skills with these types to deal more damage to the boss.

Battle System Guide: How to Win Battles

Utilize AoE Healing Skills

Sojimaru has some attacks that deal AoE damage, so you'll encounter the problem of needing to heal multiple people a lot. A character with AoE healing skills will be useful in this battle, such as a Geodancer with the Essence of Natural Healing skill.
How to Recover Your Health

Carry Lots of Recovery Items

This battle can get long if you're facing it at a regular level, so make sure to prepare some recovery items. Try to have recovery items that recover both HP and MP at once so you can also recover MP for your skills.

Substory Rewards

It's worth doing this substory since you get quite a lot of rewards! Aside from the accessories and poundmate unlock, you also get tons of EXP and money from defeating the boss.

1. Antique Coin Accessory
2. Hibiscus Hair Band Accessory
3. Sojimaru Flying Beta Max as Poundmate
4. Lots of EXP and Money from Boss Battle

Antique Coin Accessory

Gear	Stat & Effects	How to Get
Antique Coin	・Greatly increases Job EXP obtained from battle	Substory Close Encounters of the Bird Kind?

Professor Okita will give you the Antique Coin at the end of the substory. This accessory greatly increases Job EXP obtained from battle

Hibiscus Hair Band Accessory

Gear	Stat & Effects	How to Get
Hibiscus Hair Band	・Greatly increases Job EXP obtained from battle	Substory Close Encounters of the Bird Kind?

Karen will give you the Hibiscus Hair Band at the end of the substory. This accessory greatly increases Job EXP obtained from battle.

Sojimaru Flying Beta Max as Poundmate

After you clear the substory, you'll be able to call on Sojimaru Flying Beta Max as a Poundmate.
Poundmates Guide: List of All Poundmates

Lots of EXP and Money from Boss Battle

After you defeat Sojimaru Flying Beta Max, you'll get approximately 30,000 EXP and $6,300. This is a lot of EXP and money and is a big incentive in completing this substory.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Yakuza 8) Related Guides

List of All Substories

List of All Substories