In the thrilling world of Ninja Gaiden 4, players can wield five distinct weapons that each bring unique properties and attacks, further enhanced by their Bloodraven forms. While all weapons are viable for completing the game on any difficulty, choosing the right one can significantly ease your path to victory. Let’s explore the top weapons and what makes them stand out.
NOTE: Rankings based on multiple playthroughs at Normal, Hard, and Master Ninja difficulties, and Chapter Select runs completed at S rank over the course of 50+ hours. Screenshots captured from the game’s 1.0.2.0 Steam version.
Table of contents
Ninja Gaiden 4 Weapons Tier List
| Tier | Description |
|---|---|
| S Tier | Dominant weapons for their high damage, speed, versatility and strategic advantage |
| A Tier | Solid choices for the vast majority of combat scenarios, but with some limitations |
| B Tier | Solid performance in limited scenarios, but overall lacking |
S Tier
Dark Dragon Blade
The Dark Dragon Blade is undoubtedly the overall best weapon Yakumo can use. Its damage output is only slightly lower than Ryu’s Dragon Blade, but it combines that power with exceptional ease of use and high utility.
Key Strengths:
- Damage & Speed: Features very high base damage and one of the fastest light attacks in its Bloodraven/Shadow-gleam form.
- Utility & Crowd Control: Offers great utility with its circle motion input skills. Has an unblockable launcher to easily set up Izuna Drops and a powerful area-of-effect (AOE) ranged attack (B/Circle) in Shadow-gleam mode.
- Defense: The fast Shadow-gleam form light attack can reliably stop most Power Attacks, making it excellent for boss battles as well.
Downsides: The only true downside is the time required to unlock it, as you must complete the game once and clear all of the Boss Trials challenges. This effort, however, is well worth it.
Kage-Hiruko
Being the only ranged weapon in the game, the Kage-Hiruko grants great long-range combat capabilities that are extremely effective in the hands of expert players.
Key Strengths:
- Ranged & Launchers: Excellent for long-range engagements and features a wealth of launcher attacks, including a quick light-heavy attack (X/Square – Y/Triangle) laucher string.
- Unique Flying Swallow: Has a unique version of the ever-useful Flying Swallow technique that also functions as a launcher.
- Excellent Bloodraven Form Attacks: The Nocturnal Rain AOE attack (A/Cross – X/Square) is massively useful, launching multiple enemies in a wide radius. The fast Bloodraven form light attack is perfect for stopping Power Attacks and break guards at all ranges.
Downsides: The Kage-Hiruko loses out to the Dark Dragon Blade due to lower damage and moveset complexity.
A Tier
Takeminakata
The twin blades are Yakumo’s starting weapon, but they should absolutely not be dismissed. While their damage output is only acceptable, the weapon’s strength lies in its incredible versatility and utility.
Key Strengths:
- Versatility: Provides quick access to multiple launchers and a handy area-of-effect (AOE) attack (circle motion – Y/Triangle).
- Crowd Control: Offers amazing crowd control in Bloodraven Form. This includes the two heavy aerial attacks, which are easier to charge than ground attacks, and the Rising Stance: Spin technique (A/Cross – X/Square), which can decimate multiple enemies in a single strike while in Berserk State.
Downsides: While utility trumps damage, the Takeminakata’s lower damage makes it a less reliable choice at high difficulty levels, where fights must be ended quickly.
Magatsuhi
Heavily reminiscent of the glorious Lunar Staff in Ninja Gaiden 2, the Magatsuhi staff is a solid weapon that deals good damage via its ground multi-hit combos.
Key Strengths:
- Crowd Control: Thanks to the staff’s hitboxes, these combos work well as crowd control attacks, hitting enemies behind and to the sides of Yakumo, making it invaluable against enemies that swarm Yakumo in greater numbers.
- Bloodraven Form Attacks: The massive hammer into which the staff turns into in Bloodraven mode has surprisingly fast and strong attacks. By pressing A/Cross, Yakumo can also launch high in the air to escape pressure and unleash damaging downward AOE attacks.
Downsides: The Magatsuhi staff doesn’t have easy access to a basic launcher attacker, mostly forcing a grounded playstyle. Its most damaging combos also require long execution times which are often interrupted at Hard and Master Ninja difficulties.
B Tier
Yatousen
The Yatousen rapier is an interesting weapon characterized by its exceptional mobility and speed. However, its overall usability is extremely limited by a few core design conflicts.
Key Strengths:
- Mobility: Many of the Yatousen combos have great mobility, which can help Yakumo get out of danger while keeping up the pressure