Ninja Gaiden 4 Guide: All Weapons & How to Unlock Them

Ninja Gaiden 4 delivers an intense, fast-paced experience where mastering your arsenal is crucial for survival. Yakumo wields five legendary weapons, each with unique combat styles and devastating Bloodraven transformations. This comprehensive guide explores every weapon, unlock requirements, combat role, and upgrade path, ensuring you dominate every encounter from start to finish.

Overview: Mastering Yakumo's Arsenal

In Ninja Gaiden 4, weapons are more than tools—they define your combat style and progression. Unlike previous games, which offered dozens of weapons, this installment focuses on five high-impact blades. Each weapon feels distinct, encourages strategic experimentation, and integrates seamlessly with the Bloodraven system, a transformative mechanic that elevates combat intensity.

Learning to master these weapons is not just about damage output; it’s about understanding timing, reach, crowd control, and strategic resource management. Whether you prefer fast precision strikes or overwhelming power, this guide will prepare you to become the ultimate ninja warrior.

The Weapons You Can Unlock

Yakumo's arsenal includes five legendary weapons:

Each weapon provides a new gameplay perspective, and their Bloodraven transformations dramatically alter combat dynamics. Experimenting with all five weapons is essential to fully mastering Ninja Gaiden 4’s combat system.

Takeminakata: The Balanced All-Rounder

Takeminakata is your first weapon and arguably your most versatile. These twin swords allow balanced offense and defense, making them perfect for newcomers. Their Bloodraven transformation merges both swords into a single, extended Tachi blade, increasing range and damage.

Tips for Takeminakata:

Takeminakata is excellent for learning combat fundamentals and excels at building meter for Bloodraven activation. Players should focus on maintaining distance to take full advantage of his extended reach during transformations.

Yatousen: The Precision Striker

Unlocked after defeating the Kitsune Courtesan in Chapter 3, Yatousen is ideal for precise, one-on-one combat. Its Bloodraven transformation turns the rapier into a massive drill, capable of piercing heavily armored enemies with ease.

Tips for Yatousen:

Yatousen is particularly effective against bosses, though it tends to be less powerful in crowd scenarios. Players should reserve Bloodraven activation for moments when armor needs to be broken and rely on dodges and counters to maximize overall damage output.

Magatsuhi: The Crowd Controller

Acquired in Chapter 7 after defeating Kurobo, Magatsuhi specializes in handling groups of enemies. Its sweeping staff attacks control the battlefield efficiently, while the Bloodraven hammer form trades speed for immense impact, capable of launching multiple enemies simultaneously.

Tips for Magatsuhi:

Magatsuhi shines in chaotic chapters filled with numerous opponents, but it demands careful timing and precise positioning to land full-impact swings. This weapon is especially suited for players who prefer a slower, deliberate combat style that delivers high damage.

Kage-Hiruko: The Hybrid Master

Unlocked in Chapter 10 by defeating Cetus, Kage-Hiruko combines melee and ranged attacks, demanding mastery over stances and distance management. Its Bloodraven form, Mechanical Arms, enhances both close-range and long-range attacks, providing unmatched versatility.

Tips for Kage-Hiruko:

Kage-Hiruko is well-suited for players who enjoy tactical combat, as constantly switching between blade and shuriken attacks maximizes efficiency. With patience and practice, its full potential can be unlocked, rewarding careful timing and strategic play.

Dark Dragon Blade: Ultimate Achievement

The Dark Dragon Blade represents the pinnacle of Yakumo’s journey. Permanently unlocking it requires completing all boss trials. Its unique Dark Gleam transformation mirrors the Bloodraven system, granting enormous power and range.

Tips for Dark Dragon Blade:

The Dark Dragon Blade is best suited for skilled players who are already familiar with all game mechanics, serving as a reward for mastering every other weapon. It offers iconic moves and delivers unmatched visual impact, making it a standout choice for those seeking both power and style in combat.

Ryu Hayabusa’s True Dragon Sword: Special Weapon

Starting Chapter 14, players control Ryu Hayabusa, wielding only the True Dragon Sword. Unlike Yakumo’s versatile arsenal, Ryu emphasizes mastery over a single weapon. Its Gleam mechanic enhances traditional combos like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow, creating fluid, high-damage sequences.

Efficient Weapon Upgrades

Ninja Gaiden 4 features two primary currencies. Weapon EXP is earned by defeating enemies and is used to upgrade individual weapon skill trees, while NinjaCoin can be spent on healing items, accessories, and universal combat skills. In the post-game, players can purchase the Enlightenment Omamori from Umi’s Shop for 8,000 NinjaCoin, which allows coins to be converted into Weapon EXP. To level up weapons efficiently, it’s advisable to replay chapters with heavy enemy presence and focus on upgrading your favorite weapons to maximize combat effectiveness.

Choosing Your First Weapon to Master

For newcomers, Takeminakata is a solid choice, allowing players to learn the combat system without feeling overwhelmed. More experienced players may prefer Yatousen for its effectiveness in boss fights, Kage-Hiruko for its unmatched versatility, or Magatsuhi for handling crowd scenarios efficiently. It’s important to remember that each weapon’s Bloodraven form can drastically alter its playstyle, so taking the time to explore every blade thoroughly is highly recommended.

Become the Ultimate Ninja

Mastering Yakumo’s five legendary weapons and their Bloodraven transformations is the key to surviving Ninja Gaiden 4’s brutal challenges. From the balanced Takeminakata to the legendary Dark Dragon Blade, each weapon provides unique combat experiences. By understanding their unlock conditions, combat roles, and upgrade paths—as detailed in our Ninja Gaiden 4 All Bosses List —players can confidently face any enemy and emerge as true ninja masters.