Time Trials

Master the Time Trials in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance! Our guide breaks down each Annihilation Battle, enemy types, and the best strategies to earn your rewards.

Hey there! So, you're looking to tackle the Time Trials in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, huh? These are basically a series of nine special challenges called Annihilation Battles that you'll find scattered throughout the game. They unlock after you grab the Rod of Trials back in Chapter 2. Think of them as little tests of your ninja skills! When you jump into one of these, you'll be dropped into a closed-off arena with a specific set of enemies. Once you clear them out, you'll get up to three chests with randomized rewards. Don't worry, though – your Health and Ki Gauge will be completely refilled when you leave a Test of Valor, so you can go in and out as you please. Completing each one also nets you an Achievement, which is pretty neat. Here’s a quick rundown of what you'll face and what you can earn: | Test of Valor | Acolyte/Warrior | Mentor/Master Ninja | Reward | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | One of White | [White Spider Ninja], Black Spider Claw Ninja, Black Spider Ninja Mage | Fiend Spider Ninja, Fiend Claw Ninja, Fiend Ninja Mage | [Lives of the Thousand Gods] | | Two of Black | Vangelf | Lesser Skeleton, [Spriggan] | [Talisman of Rebirth] | | Three of Blue | [Werewolf], [Quetzalcoatl] | Red Fur Werewolf, [Rabid Fiend Dog] | [Jewel of the Demon Seal] | | Four of Green | [Chupacabras], [Gaja] | [Hoover Executor], Marionette | Lives of Thousand Gods | | Five of Yellow | Tactical Ninja (Submachine Gun), Tactical Ninja (Rocket Launcher), [Hybrid Ogre Soldier] | Executor (Dual Gun), [Albino Garbage Bug] | [Jewel of the Demon Seal], [Mist Fish] | | Six of White | Hoover Executor, Tactical Ninja (9-Barrel Pod) | Vangelf, [Dragon Gahrula] | [Jewel of the Demon Seal], [Mist Fish] | | Seven of Red | Lesser Skeleton, Amazon Garbage Bug | Archvangelf, Marionette | [Talisman of Rebirth], [Mist Fish] | | Eight of White | [Mist Fish], [Blood Gaja] | [Demon-Faced Fish], [Amazonian Death Worm (Larva)] | [Grains of Spiritual Life], Yellow Essence, [Mist Fish] | | Nine of Violet | [Dog], [Shadow Claw Ninja] | [Dragon Gahrula], [Amazonian Death Worm (Larva)] | [Lives of Thousand Gods], [Mist Fish], [Mist Fish] | First Test of Valor Strategy: For this one, no matter the difficulty, I'd suggest using the [Falcon's Talons]' Thunderous Earth (→ Y). It's great for taking off a leg from those [Dual Sword] and Claw Ninjas first. Then, focus on the Ninja Mage. A Flying Swallow (Y while jumping towards enemy) followed by an Izuna Drop (X Y) combo works wonders. If you're on Master Ninja difficulty, upgrading the Falcon's Talons to Level 3 will let you instantly kill the Mages. Otherwise, you can finish them off with a Guillotine Throw (While jumping near enemy X +A). Second Test of Valor Strategy: On Acolyte or Mentor difficulty, try to keep the enemies outside your camera view. This way, only one Vangelf will come at you at a time. Use the Falcon's Talons' Thunderous Earth (→ Y) for a quick delimb, then go for an Obliteration Technique. Do this twice. When the third Vangelf attacks, block, then dash and jump. As you land, use the Fury of the Divine Beasts (Hold Y with MAX Essence) Ultimate Technique. For Mentor or Master Ninja difficulty, switch to the [Dragon Sword]'s Tiger Roar (X X Y). This will delimb the cannon off a neutral [Spriggan]. After that, charge up the [Lunar Staff]'s Dance of Flame (Hold Y with MAX Essence) Ultimate Technique on the Lesser Skeletons. Once they're dealt with, you can easily take down the remaining enemies one by one with any Ultimate Technique you prefer. Third Test of Valor Strategy: On any difficulty, it's best to ignore the [Werewolves] at first. Just keep circling the arena. When you get a chance, hit the [Quetzalcoatl] with a couple of shots from the Fiend Bane Bow while in the air, or use the Lunar Staff's Gleaming Shadow (X X Y) on the [Rabid Fiend Dogs]. If you happen to take down a lycanthrope during this, or if you've finished the other enemies, use the Falcon's Talons' Thunderous Earth (→ Y) to delimb all the wolf-beasts. This takes away their projectile attack. After you take one down with an Obliteration Technique, unleash the Lunar Staff's Hazy Shadow (↻ Hold Y with Essence) Ultimate Technique on the rest. Fourth Test of Valor Strategy: When you face the [Gaja]...