Speedrunning Strategies

Achieve faster clear times in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. Master optimal routes, enemy manipulation, and efficient Ninjitsu usage for speedrunning.

Welcome, aspiring Shinobi, to the ultimate guide for conquering Shinobi: Art of Vengeance with unparalleled speed. This section is dedicated to shaving precious seconds off your run, focusing on optimal routes, enemy manipulation, and efficient Ninjitsu usage. Mastering these techniques will transform you from a mere ninja into a blur of vengeance.

General Principles for Speedrunners

• Minimize Engagement: Unless absolutely necessary for progression or item collection, avoid combat. Your primary goal is to reach the end of the stage.
• Movement is Key: Practice precise jumps, wall runs, and rolls. Every frame counts. Learn the exact distances for jumps to avoid hesitation.
• Ninjitsu Conservation: While Ninjitsu is powerful, its use should be strategic. Save your most potent techniques for bosses or unavoidable choke points to clear them quickly.
• Know Your Enemies: Understand enemy attack patterns and placement to navigate past them without stopping. Some enemies can be baited into specific positions.
• Item Prioritization: Not all items are created equal in a speedrun. Focus on essential power-ups and ignore anything that takes you off the optimal path.

Stage-by-Stage Breakdown

Stage 1: The City Streets

This introductory stage is crucial for building momentum. Your goal here is to establish a fast pace and minimize any damage taken.

• Opening Dash: Immediately upon spawning, dash right. Jump over the first two Thugs without engaging.
• Rooftop Ascent: use wall jumps to quickly ascend the buildings. Ignore the Sniper on the lower ledge; their shots are easily dodged by maintaining forward momentum.
• First Item Grab: As you cross the first major rooftop gap, grab the Shuriken Power-Up. This is vital for later boss encounters.
• Sewer Entrance: Drop into the sewer entrance as soon as it's visible. Avoid the Sewer Rats by jumping over them.
• Boss: Street Enforcer:
  • Immediately activate Art of the Fire Dragon if you have it. This will deal significant damage.
  • Otherwise, use a combination of jump kicks and shurikens. Stay close to bait his ground pound, then punish him during his recovery.

Stage 2: The Industrial Complex

This stage introduces more environmental hazards and tougher enemies. Precision platforming is paramount.

• Conveyor Belt Rush: Dash across the initial conveyor belts. Jump over the Guard Dogs; do not stop to fight.
• Laser Grid Bypass: The laser grid section can be tricky. Time your jumps and rolls carefully. A well-executed wall run can bypass a significant portion of the grid.
• Elevator Shaft: Ascend the elevator shaft using wall jumps. Ignore the Maintenance Bots unless they directly impede your path. If you must engage, a single jump kick is usually sufficient.
• Explosive Barrels: Use your shurikens to detonate explosive barrels from a safe distance, clearing paths and damaging grouped enemies like the Heavy Troopers without direct engagement.
• Boss: Cybernetic Assassin:
  • This boss is vulnerable to sustained shuriken fire. If you collected the Shuriken Power-Up from Stage 1, now is the time to unleash it.
  • Dodge his dash attacks by jumping over him. Use Art of the Lightning Bolt if you need a quick burst of damage or to interrupt his charged attack.

Stage 3: The Ancient Temple

This stage demands careful navigation through traps and agile enemies.

• Spike Pit Navigation: The spike pits require precise double jumps. Do not rush these sections; a single misstep means a significant time loss.
• Statue Guardians: The Statue Guardians are slow but powerful. Run past them, using a slide if necessary to avoid their sweeping attacks.
• Hidden Passages: There's a hidden passage above the second waterfall that bypasses a section with three Ninja Assassins. Wall jump up to it.
• Pressure Plate Puzzle: The pressure plate puzzle can be solved quickly by activating the plates in the order: Left, Right, Center. This opens the path without triggering additional traps.
• Boss: Shadow Master:
  • The Shadow Master is fast. Use Art of the Phantom Clone to distract him and create openings for your attacks.
  • Focus on jump attacks and shurikens. His teleportation can be predicted; he usually reappears directly behind or in front of you.

Stage 4: The Sky Fortress

The final gauntlet. This stage tests all your accumulated skills and knowledge.

• Wind Tunnel Dash: The wind tunnels can either hinder or help. Use the upward drafts to gain height quickly. Dash through the horizontal drafts to maintain speed.
• Turret Suppression: The Automated Turrets can be destroyed with two shurikens. Prioritize taking them out quickly to avoid being knocked off platforms.
• Gravity Shift Room: In the gravity shift room, trigger the first switch, then immediately dash across the ceiling to the next platform before gravity reverts. This saves considerable time.
• Final Ascent: The final ascent involves a series of moving platforms. Time your jumps perfectly to avoid falling. A well-placed Art of the Phoenix Feather (if available) can save you from a fatal fall.
• Final Boss: The Dark Shogun:
  • This is where all your Ninjitsu and collected items come into play. Immediately use Art of the Fire Dragon and Art of the Lightning Bolt.
  • Unload all your remaining Shuriken Power-Up charges.
  • His attack patterns are predictable: a three-hit sword combo, followed by a projectile wave. Dodge the sword combo by jumping over him, then counter-attack. Jump over the projectile wave.
  • Maintain aggression. The faster you defeat him, the better your time.