Caves & Catacombs

Complete walkthrough for Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound's 1-3 After The Demons! stage, including collectibles, challenges, and boss fight strategies against Gurthka.

Walkthrough

1. 1
   Follow the straightforward path right. To complete the 'Deflect 10 enemy projectiles' challenge, lure a Red Ninja to repeatedly throw shuriken at you.
2. 2
   Climb the wall on the right to reach platforms leading upwards. Use fireballs to cross to the left and find the first Golden Scarab. Drop down using the indicated buttons.
3. 3
   Continue right, defeating standard enemies and the new 'Fuma Shield' enemy. These enemies have a shield and throw a returning fuma shuriken. Defeat the elite version (blue aura) for a challenge.
4. 4
   Proceed to the next screen and Shrine #2. Here you meet Muramasa, the merchant. Use Golden Scarabs to buy talismans; 'Blood Frenzy' is recommended.
5. 5
   Continue into the cave, avoiding spikes. Before a Flame Thrower, destroy a fake wall on the bottom right to find a 'secret room'. Use fireballs to navigate the spikes and collect the Scroll.
6. 6
   Return and climb upwards using fireballs. Near the top, use Guillotine Boost off fireballs from the faces spitting them. Reach Shrine #3 and another Golden Scarab.
7. 7
   Continue left. After Gurthka burns the bridge, defeat the Fuma Shield. Collect the Triple Scarab (counts as 3 Golden Scarabs).
8. 8
   Navigate the pit area carefully, dealing with Red Ninjas. Climb walls to reach higher platforms and defeat Jet Ninjas. Reach Shrine #4.
9. 9
   In the next pit area, find the first Crystal Skull above you. Continue left, defeating Jet Ninjas and Red Ninjas. Defeat an elite Red Ninja guarding the second Crystal Skull.
10. 10
    Climb upwards, avoiding bamboo spikes, and enter the cave for Shrine #5.
11. 11
    Kill the Ronin and proceed. Gurthka burns the bridge again. Jump over a Ronin and hang off the ledge to get the last Crystal Skull.
12. 12
    Cross the next pit area by bouncing off Jet Ninjas. Use an elite Jet Ninja to defeat a Fuma Shield.
13. 13
    Navigate a tunnel with spikes by bouncing off fireballs to the ceiling. Reach Shrine #6.
14. 14
    Climb the shaft outside. Defeat a Fuma Shield using an elite Red Ninja. A turret appears; destroy it before climbing the wall. Avoid a land mine.
15. 15
    Continue to trigger a scene with a CIA Agent. Enter the cave behind him for Shrine #7.
16. 16
    Proceed to the gate for the boss fight.

BOSS FIGHT: GURTHKA

1. Gurthka has 4 main attacks:
• Ground Slam: Jumps high, slams down, releasing 4 curving fireballs. Dodge between them and attack.
• Dash Attack: Flies low, dashes, swipes with a claw, and releases 3 small fireballs. Dodge roll through it, get close to avoid the claw, and attack.
• Fire Breath: Breathes fire across most of the room. Move to the opposite side immediately.
• Pillar Attack: Slams the ground, creating 6 emerging fire pillars. Stay in the safe zones between them.
2. He also summons an elite skull with a blue aura, which is free damage.
3. The arena now has fire in the center, limiting movement. Stay on one side and wait for him to come to you. The flamethrower attack has a larger safe zone due to the arena size.
4. This fight is easier as you've faced him before.
5. After the fight, scenes play out, ending the stage and Act 1.

Tips

• To get the 'Deflect 10 enemy projectiles' challenge, find a single Red Ninja and have him repeatedly throw shuriken at you.
• The 'Avoid falling into pits' challenge is self-explanatory.
• The 'secret room' containing the Scroll is behind a destructible wall in the bottom right corner before a Flame Thrower.
• Use the Guillotine Boost to bounce off the fireballs spat by the two faces near the top of the climb after Shrine #2.
• The Triple Scarab counts as 3 Golden Scarabs.
• When fighting Gurthka, stay on one side of the arena and let him come to you, especially during his dash attack.

Completion of Stage 1-3, advancing to Act 2 and Stage 2-1 Midnight Assault. The exact rewards for rank completion (Time, Kills, Chain) are not detailed here but are crucial for achieving higher ranks.