Ninja Gaiden 4: 4 Essential Skills to Master for Ultimate Domination and Enjoyment

Ninja Gaiden 4, developed by PlatinumGames rather than the franchise originators Team NINJA, remains staunchly faithful to its roots, providing a relentless and engaging action game experience that stands out in the industry. The game features a formidable difficulty curve right from Normal mode, which may daunt new players. However, by honing your understanding of the four essential combat skills, you’ll equip yourself to excel in battle, enjoy thrilling gameplay, and gear up for the added challenges of Hard and Master Ninja modes.

The Flying Swallow Technique: A Foundation for Combat Mastery

Learn Combat Skills screen in Ninja Gaiden 4 with skill names like Flying Swallow and Izuna Drop, button prompt reads HOLD A to Unlock. — The versatile Flying Swallow Combat Skill is essential in Ninja Gaiden 4.

Detail	Information
Location to Learn	Interact with Tyran near any DarkNest Terminal (Item Shop or Mission terminal).
Cost	500 NinjaCoins
Execution	In mid-air or during a Wind Run, press a direction on the right stick and the Heavy Attack button (Triangle or Y).

The Flying Swallow Combat Skill, a returning favorite, proves invaluable for air attacks while also serving various defensive functions. It’s crucial for all players to master this skill early on.

A. Offensive Basic: A Fast and Safe Attack Approach

Ninja Gaiden 4 in-game action features Flying Swallow move instructions on a futuristic combat platform. — Flying Swallow is an effective attack option that keeps you out of harm’s way.

This skill has a low barrier to entry, enabling quick engagement with enemies while minimizing vulnerability to short-range attacks. The Flying Swallow Barrage ability allows for up to three consecutive attacks, enhancing its effectiveness across various enemy types.

B. Defensive Basic: Repositioning and Evasion

Flying Swallow stands out due to its extensive movement capabilities, making it the fastest maneuver in the arsenal of both Yakumo and Ryu in Ninja Gaiden 4. Its quick execution and short recovery time allow players to cover significant distances rapidly.

A game character in combat stance on a metal platform with move combinations displayed on the screen. — Experience swift movement with the Flying Swallow Combat Skill.

Testing in Training mode reveals its effectiveness; one execution easily traverses nearly half the training area, accomplished in approximately 1.5 seconds—significantly faster than traditional ground movement, which takes about 3.5 seconds. This advantage highlights Flying Swallow as a superior option for traversing environments and escaping threats.

C. Advanced Defense: The Combo Break Escape

Beyond offensive use, Flying Swallow provides excellent defensive strategies, one of which is the Combo Break Escape. This maneuver enables Yakumo and Ryu to evade enemy combo attacks, creating distance for recovery.

A cinematic game scene shows two armored characters fighting with Move Activated instructions on screen. — Utilize Flying Swallow defensively to disrupt enemy combos.

Executing this escape is simple; players need to repeatedly tap the jump button (Cross or A) while holding a direction and the heavy attack button. While mashing buttons can often lead to errors, it becomes a strategic choice in an emergency, allowing for an effective counter against potentially lethal combo attacks.

Mastering Defensive Skills: Blocking, Dodging, and Parrying

A character performs a Heavy Attack in a cave setting, with on-screen options including Throw Shurikens and Bloodraven Form. — Parrying can be a rewarding and satisfying gameplay mechanic in Ninja Gaiden 4.

Blocking, dodging, and parrying serve as the fundamental defensive maneuvers available from the outset in Ninja Gaiden 4. These skills can be augmented with enhancements like Fatal Flash, Mirage, and Reflect, which introduce counterattack capabilities.

Detail	Blocking	Dodging	Parrying
How to Learn	Available at game start	Available at game start	Available at game start
Execution	Hold R2 / Right Trigger to block melee and ranged attacks	Dodge by pressing R2 / Right Trigger and a direction	Time a Light or Heavy Attack to counter an enemy’s attack
Cost	N/A	N/A	N/A

A. Defensive Basic: Utilizing Block for Safety

Blocking serves as one of the most efficient defensive tools in Ninja Gaiden 4. When Ryu or Yakumo hold the R2 / Right Trigger, they can withstand numerous regular attacks and even absorb single Power Attacks, which is invaluable during intense fights.

A character in combat with Karma 250 text on screen and dialogue reading An ambush, more likely. Stay on your guard, Yakumo. — Blocking provides a robust defense against most attacks.

Comprehensive Defense: The omnidirectional capabilities of blocking make it extremely effective. Mastering Art of Defense skills allows players to block up to nine consecutive attacks before faltering, transforming blocking into an exceptional defensive maneuver, particularly at higher difficulty levels.

B. Intermediate Defensive Skill: Dodging for Positioning

Two futuristic characters battle in a digital arena with a health bar showing x3 on screen. — Combine dodging with blocking for optimal defense.

Dodging holds certain risks, especially if executed from a neutral position where recovery delay can leave you vulnerable. Practicing safe dodging techniques entails dodging while engaged in blocking for the highest safety level. By coordinating dodging and blocking, players can prepare for immediate defensive actions, vastly improving opportunities to land perfect dodges.

Notably, skills like Mirage enhance defensive capabilities through the use of perfect dodges.

C. Advanced Defensive Skill: High-risk, High-reward Parry and Perfect Block

Futuristic combat game screen with Seori: I'll meet up with you on the top floor dialogue and multiple action options displayed. — Perfect Blocking requires impeccable timing for effective use.

Parrying and Perfect Blocking represent the pinnacle of defensive options in Ninja Gaiden 4, demanding impeccable timing for success. Proper execution can stagger even the toughest foes, affording players ideal counterattack opportunities.

In many circumstances, parrying might prove more advantageous, given the aggressive nature of enemies, while perfect blocking comes with a more challenging timing requirement, best suited for seasoned players. Nevertheless, both skills offer varying utilities depending on encounters.

Parry vs. Perfect Block: A Performance Analysis

In two playthroughs that included achieving SSS ranks on several chapters, I assessed the relative success rates of parries and perfect blocks against the D. D.O. Soldier: Sword enemy, chosen for its straightforward attack patterns:

Parry: Achieved success 6 out of 10 attempts—three misses still led to interrupting the adversary due to early parry attempts.
Perfect Block: Achieved success 4 out of 10 attempts—misses did not incur damage, but interruptions did not occur either.

Mastering the Combo System

Video game UI with commands like “Light Attack, ” “Heavy Attack, ” and “Throw Shurikens” on screen. — The breathtaking Izuna Drop technique returns in Ninja Gaiden 4.

Weapons	Air Launch Attack Input	Izuna Drop Input
Takeminakata	Square / X – Triangle / Y	Square / X x3 – Triangle / Y (Following launch)
Yatousen	Square / X x2 – Triangle / Y OR Triangle / Y x2	Square / X x2 – Triangle / Y (Following launch)
Magatsuhi	Square / X x3	Square / X x3 – Triangle / Y (Following launch)
Kage-Hiruko	Square / X – Triangle / Y	Square / X x2 – Triangle / Y (Following launch)
Dark Dragon Blade	Square / X – Triangle / Y	Square / X x3 – Triangle / Y (Following launch)
Dragon Sword (Ryu)	Square / X – Triangle / Y	Square / X x3 – Triangle / Y (Following launch)

Engaging in combat via combo strings is focused on fluidly alternating between light (Square/X) and heavy (Triangle/Y) attacks, with varying outcomes depending on the chosen weapon. For dismemberable foes, heavy attacks trigger instant obliteration.

Activating L2/Left Trigger allows Yakumo to enter Bloodbind mode, offering powerful but slower weapon capabilities, while Ryu’s Gleam Mode provides faster, unblockable heavy attacks and access to four unique Ninpo Spells.

Video game action scene with stats Karma 16652, Combo 18, and Instant Kill +100 +10 on screen. — Optimal combat strategies encourage short combos to mitigate interruptions.

Maintaining Safety: Lengthy combo sequences become risky as aggressive enemies threaten to interrupt. It is recommended to:

Keep combos concise: A sequence of two light attacks followed by a heavy finisher provides effective damage while maintaining safety.

Engage in aerial combat: Light and medium enemies can effortlessly be launched into the air for swift aerial combos, reducing the likelihood of interruption. Finish with the signature Izuna Drop attack (600 NinjaCoins), inflicting damage on any adversary underneath.

Extend Air Combos: By minimizing the risk of interruption during air combos, players can safely diversify their attack strategies. By executing light attack sequences and switching weapons mid-combo, players can dramatically extend their time in the air, thoroughly engaging their opponents.

If you prefer not to conclude an air combo with an Izuna Drop, consider using the charged heavy attack of the Takeminakata in Bloodraven Form for broad-range damage against multiple foes while in Berserk mode (activated by pressing L3 and R3 when the designated gauge is full).

Sustained Air Combo Potential

Video game combat scene with Move Activated and Training Menu text visible. — Staying airborne for prolonged periods is achievable via skilled weapon switching.

Once you’ve acquired multiple weapons for Yakumo, the ability to remain airborne extends significantly through proficient weapon switching in mid-combat. A test in Training Mode demonstrated that it was possible to stay aloft for an astonishing 16 seconds by alternating between various weapon light attack combos and invoking the Bloodbind Form to sustain the Gauge, concluding with a full light attack sequence from the Dark Dragon Blade in Shadow-gleam Mode.

Mastering Ultimate Attacks

Video game interface with New Weapon Skill Can Be Unlocked notification and KARMA 1177 score displayed in a dark cave setting. — Ultimate Attacks are formidable and essential mechanics in Ninja Gaiden 4.

Ultimate Attacks have consistently been powerful in the Ninja Gaiden series, and Ninja Gaiden 4 maintains this legacy. These attacks yield considerable damage even when charged at Level 1 (indicated by a blue aura around Yakumo and Ryu) and provide complete invincibility throughout their execution, thereby serving as potent offensive and defensive options.

A. Offensive Basic: Enhancing Ultimate Attacks

A digital character battles a robotic creature; on-screen commands include Light Attack, Heavy Attack, and Throw Shurikens. — Level 2 Ultimate Attacks are pivotal combat moves in Ninja Gaiden 4.

Skill Name	Cost (NinjaCoins)	Effect
Ultimate Technique: Final Charge	4, 000	Adds an additional charge level to the Ultimate Technique, enabling attacks on up to two enemies at maximum charge (Level 2).
Ultimate Guidance	800	Absorb nearby Blood Essence while charging to accelerate charge speed, with speed increases proportional to Blood Essence size.
Landing Ultimate Technique	5, 500	Instantly initiate an Ultimate Technique upon landing to improve charge speed.

At the game’s outset, executing Ultimate Attacks presents challenges; players are limited to Level 1 charges and must remain stationary for 1.5 seconds during charging, an eternity against relentless foes. Thus, purchasing skills from the above table is essential for optimizing Ultimate Attacks. Unlocking Ultimate Technique: Final Charge enables Level 2 charges, while the others significantly quicken the charging process.

B. Advanced Skill: Chaining Ultimate Attacks for Maximum Efficiency

A character battles creatures in the rain with on-screen text reading KARMA 7337 and Instant Kill 100+10. — Utilizing Blood Essences enables chaining multiple Ultimate Attacks together.

Mastering the Ultimate Technique along with Ultimate Guidance and Landing Ultimate Technique allows players to seamlessly chain Ultimate Attacks, swiftly dispatching multiple foes while ensuring safety.

The combat loop can be executed with ease:

Launch an enemy and finish them with an Izuna Drop, which pushes back any foes underneath and guarantees Blood Essence drops for you to absorb.
Consume the Blood Essence quickly to charge your Ultimate Attack to Level 2 via the Landing Ultimate Guidance, allowing for strikes against additional enemies.
Depending on the circumstances, repeat the loop or begin charging another Ultimate Attack.

While the strategies mentioned may seem straightforward in theory, mastering these advanced techniques requires dedicated practice. With perseverance, you can evolve from a novice to a master ninja in Ninja Gaiden 4, navigating through challenges with newfound confidence while enjoying the thrill that this action-packed game offers.

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