Ninja Gaiden 4 Combat Guide — Yakumo Basics & Key Techniques

TL;DR

• Switch Bloodraven Form to Toggle (Settings > Controls) — smoother stance changes, better meter control, and easier aerial sequences.
• Use Obliterations (Triangle/Y) for instant clears and invincibility frames, but beware limbless enemies that still explode or grab.
• Master Perfect Blocks, Perfect Dodges (R2/RT) and parries to open counterattacks; red-glow attacks require Bloodraven blocking or perfect dodge.
• Practice shuriken cancels and mid-combo weapon swaps; use wall hooks, Flying Swallow and Guillotine Throws for positioning. Save Berserk/Bloodbath Slaughter for trash clears.

What You Need to Know First

Quick notes before you jump in.

Prerequisites:

• Recommended player level: no hard level gating, but expect a steep mechanical learning curve.
• Get comfortable with R2/RT blocking, Triangle/Y for Obliterations and Ultimates, and directional weapon swaps via D-pad.
• Training Mode is your friend — use it to drill parries, shuriken cancels, and stance transitions.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Tweak controls first

   1.1 Go to Settings > Controls and change Bloodraven Form from "Hold" to "Toggle." This single change keeps you from accidentally dropping stances mid-combo and lets you weave Bloodraven attacks into strings without button-hold fatigue.

2. Learn Obliterations and how to set them up

   2.1 Sever limbs with regular attacks. When an enemy is badly damaged, approach and press Triangle/Y to perform an Obliteration.

   2.2 Why Obliterations matter:

2.3 Caveat: limbless enemies can still crawl, grab, or explode. Don't get cocky.

1. Defensive baseline: Blocking, Perfect Blocks and Dodges

   3.1 Hold R2/RT to block up to four hits. Block most projectiles free.

   3.2 Perfect Block timing: tap block right before impact to break enemy stance and create counters.

   3.3 If an enemy glows red with an exclamation mark, either use Bloodraven Form blocking, execute a Perfect Dodge, or accept a broken guard and vulnerability if you mess up.

2. Mobility and environment usage

   4.1 Use wall hooks and grappling points to reposition and gain invincibility frames during wall moves.

   4.2 Chain wall moves into Flying Swallow attacks and set up Guillotine Throws from elevated positions.

1. Shuriken and combo tech

   5.1 Press O/B to throw shurikens. They're not just damage — use them to cancel animations, extend air juggling, and interrupt enemy attacks.

   5.2 Practice shuriken cancels in Training Mode: land part of a combo, toss a shuriken, then flow into another stance to keep the enemy airborne.

2. Bloodraven Form and Ultimate techniques

   6.1 Your Bloodraven gauge fills via attacks, Obliterations, and passive regen. Most regular moves have a Bloodraven variant — learn the differences.

   6.2 Hold Triangle/Y to charge Ultimate Techniques. Watch aura color (blue/red) for damage and effect changes. Use Blood Essence orbs to speed charging, but remember they won't heal when used that way.

1. Assassination and stealth

   7.1 Look for yellow indicators above unaware enemies. Approach from above or behind and press Triangle/Y for a one-hit elimination. Use these to thin groups before they see you.

2. Weapon switching and situational play

   8.1 Use D-pad to swap weapons mid-combo. Twin Blades/Tachi = balanced, Rapier/Lance = reach, Staff/Hammer = crowd control, Mechanical Arms = situational tools.

3. Berserk and Bloodbath techniques

   9.1 Fill your Berserk gauge and press both analog sticks to enter Berserk. Bloodbath Slaughter clears non-boss mobs but consumes the whole gauge — save it for bad moments.

4. Items and terminal usage

10.1 Hold L1/LB for your item wheel. Carry healing items, buffs, and one Incense of Rebirth for a clutch revival. Buy at DarkNest Terminals or find them in levels.

1. Train until it stops being annoying

11.1 Use Training Mode to practice parries, timing for Perfect Blocks, shuriken cancels, and stance transitions without the pressure of a real fight.

Pro Tips

• Toggle Bloodraven mid-combo to convert low-risk hits into higher damage follow-ups. You’ll bleed less meter if you weave Bloodraven attacks only when they actually hit.
• When an enemy starts the red-glow windup, bait it: step back, force the tell, then either enter Bloodraven block or time a Perfect Dodge. Trying to tank it usually ends badly.
• In larger fights, prioritize Obliterations on enemies that restore your health — it’s both crowd control and sustain. If you see a limbless crawler, use ranged Obliteration safety or finish from a distance.
• Practice weapon swaps in Training Mode while juggling with shurikens. Once you can mid-combo swap reliably, enemies die before they can file a complaint.
• Treat Bloodbath Slaughter like a panic button. It eats your gauge but resets encounters; if a room goes sideways, it’s cheaper to use the gauge than to waste healing items.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Leaving Bloodraven on Hold: players get stuck holding the button mid-combo and lose momentum. Toggle fixes this.
• Relying solely on blocking: red-glow attacks will break your guard. Learn Perfect Dodges and Bloodraven blocking.
• Using Berserk/Bloodbath Slaughter on the wrong batch of enemies: don’t waste a full gauge on a couple of tough but survivable mobs.
• Neglecting shuriken cancels: they look subtle but they’re the difference between 'good' and 'consistent' combo execution.