Explore the powerful Dark Dragon Blade, its unique combos, and the devastating 5% Health Trick in Ninja Gaiden. Learn about Enemy Ambushes and their rewards.
This section details advanced combat techniques and optional challenges in Ninja Gaiden, focusing on powerful weapons and strategic enemy encounters.
Unlabored Flawlessness (UF) Weapon Trick: The Unlabored Flawlessness weapon has a unique "5% Health Trick." When Ryu's health drops below 5%, the kanji on the UF glow. Striking a boss with the glowing UF can deplete 40-55% of their health in a single combo.
Level 7 Attacks (UF Only)
- Flaming Hell Slash: [][]/\]
- Flying Dragon Falling Slash: []/\ [][][]
- Forest Winds & Mountain Fires: [], PRESS & HOLD /\, /\
- Boulder Splitter: /\
- Steel Splitter: PRESS & HOLD /\
- Hundred Demons Bite: --> []
- Flaming Whirlwind: --> /\
- Hundred Man Slash: ROTATE 360, /\
Ultimate Techniques (Level 7 UF Only)
- Tempered Steel Splitter: PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE
- Earth Splitter: PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX
Dark Dragon Blade
The Dark Dragon Blade is a powerful and stylish weapon obtainable on harder difficulties by collecting all 50 Golden Scarabs. It has fewer combos than the Dabilahro but is as powerful as the Unlabored Flawlessness, though it lacks the 5% health trick. Its Ultimate Technique has a slower charge time (3 seconds) but is visually impressive.
Dark Dragon Blade Attacks
- Gleam of Heaven & Earth: []/\
- Flaming Hell Slash: [][]/\]
- Drak Dragon Descending Fiends: /\
- Dark Dragon Flaming Dragon: PRESS & HOLD /\
- Hundred Demon's Bite: --> []
- Flaming Whirlwind: --> /\
- Hundred Man Slash: ROTATE 360, /\
- Corpse Crusher: [] OR /\ NEXT TO DOWNED ENEMY
Dark Dragon Blade Ultimate Techniques
- Dark Dragon Cauterizing Slash: PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE
- Dark Dragon Gates of Hell: PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX
Secondary Weapons & Armlets
Secondary Weapons
- Shurikens
- Incendiary Shuriken
- Windmill Shuriken
- Smoke Bomb
- APFSDS Cores
- Explosive Cores
- Bow/Strongbow
- Spear Gun
Armlets
- Armlet of the Sun
- Armlet of the Moon
- Armlet of Benediction
- Armlet of Fortune
- Armlet of Celerity
- Armlet of Potency
Each Armlet has a specific function: Sun and Moon boost attack or defense. Benediction increases Yellow Essence gain by 1.5%. Fortune provides an extra Ninpo slot. Celerity reduces Ultimate Attack charge time by 1.5 seconds. Potency enhances kick and throw attacks.
Enemy Ambushes
Enemy Ambushes are optional challenges where Ryu must defeat waves of continuously spawning fiends. The number of fiends increases with difficulty, from 60 on Normal to 120 on Master Ninja Mode. While optional, completing them rewards players with items like Lives of the Thousand Gods or Spirit of the Devils. Skipping an ambush means you cannot re-attempt it for Karma points later.
Ryu's Enemy Ambushes
- Challenge #1: Chapter 3 - Airship
- Challenge #2: Chapter 6 - Archives Room
- Challenge #3: Chapter 10 - Ritual Room
- Challenge #4: Chapter 12 - Peristyle Passage
- Challenge #5: Chapter 12 - Aquaducts 4B
- Challenge #6: Chapter 15 - Zarkhan Stadium
- Challenge #7: Chapter 15 - Stairway to the Imperial Palace
- Challenge #8: Chapter 16 - Underground Passageway
- Challenge #9: Chapter 16 - Drawbridge Square
- Challenge #10: Chapter 18 - Great Bridge Square
Rachel's Enemy Ambushes
- Rachel Enemy Ambush #1: Monastery Annex
- Rachel Enemy Ambush #2: Military Gate
- Rachel Enemy Ambush #3: Hayabusa Village - Central Bridge
Completing Rachel's ambushes results in a higher chapter ranking.
The Importance of Essence
Enemies drop three types of Essence: Yellow (currency for Muramasa's shop), Red (restores Ninpo), and Blue (restores health). Essence can be absorbed for immediate benefits or saved and absorbed while holding the Triangle button to unleash a powerful Ultimate Attack that can instantly kill enemies.
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