Ninja Gaiden 4: All Black Scales & Phantasmal Herbs

All Black Scales & Phantasmal Herbs in Ninja Gaiden 4

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-10-22 08:14:13
In Ninja Gaiden 4 (NG4), survival hinges on your ability to absorb punishment. As the game’s challenges escalate—bringing increasingly ferocious fiends and demanding boss encounters—maximizing your character, Yakumo's, health bar is one of the most critical upgrades you can pursue. To endure the deadly gauntlet of the game, you need to collect two extremely rare items scattered across the vast world: the Black Scale and the Phantasmal Herb.This guide reveals the essential upgrade mechanic, identifies all known locations for these vital items across the game's chapters, and ensures you get the most out of every dangerous mission.

Ninja Gaiden 4: All Black Scales & Phantasmal Herbs

The Dragon Lord's Grace: Understanding the Health Upgrade System

Increasing your maximum health in NG4 is a simple process, provided you have the right components.

  • The Components: You must collect one Black Scale and one Phantasmal Herb.
  • The Fusion: Once you acquire one of each item, they are automatically combined by the game to create a powerful upgrade item called the Dragon Lord's Grace.
  • The Upgrade: Yakumo automatically consumes the Dragon Lord's Grace, which permanently increases the size of his health bar by a small segment.

Based on in-game information, it appears that players can increase Yakumo's max health ten times, meaning there are likely ten Black Scales and ten Phantasmal Herbs hidden throughout the campaign.

Crucial Side Mission Protocol

Many Black Scales and Phantasmal Herbs are acquired as rewards for completing side missions. To ensure you don't miss any, follow this protocol:

  • Check Every Terminal: At the start of every chapter, check the first DarkNest Terminal you encounter for new missions, and check all subsequent terminals as you progress.
  • Turn In Missions: You must return to any DarkNest Terminal once a mission is complete to turn it in and receive your essential item reward.

Part 1: Locating Every Black Scale

The Black Scales are often tied to hard-to-find chests or specific side mission objectives that require extra exploration.

Scale #Location/Chapter Details
Scale 1Chapter 2: After using the rooftop steps with floating drones, you'll fight an elite enemy before a yellow rail jump. Find the chest in the short alley to the left (facing the elite enemy).
Scale 2Chapter 3 (Rotting Charm Mission): This is the reward for locating the 'Rotting Charm.' In the shrine, after finding the Food Thief, look for an outdoor-like area with a large blue cargo container. The charm is in a chest hidden behind that container.
Scale 3Chapter 4: Located in a memorial or shrine area. The chest containing the scale is at the top of a set of stairs, guarded by two spear-wielding enemies. Hard to miss in this area.
Scale 4Chapter 4 (Secret Supplies Mission): Complete the 'Secret Supplies' mission. The high-tech, glowing chest containing the supplies is in a large clearing where the wreckage of a flying machine is found.
Scale 5Chapter 8 (Antiquated Currency Mission): After clearing the obstacle course with the Pond Strider, you'll face two large fish fiends. Behind the fish near a "keep out" sign, a chest holds the currency. Remember to turn this in before leaving the chapter!
Scale 6Chapter 9: After clearing the first open area with the Pond Strider and sliding under the gate into the second area, find the water channel that leads back toward a Purgatory-like location. The scale is in a chest on the central land mass, guarded by tough enemies.
Scale 7Chapter 12: After the first combat encounter, head up the stairs. Before the second set of stairs leading to the next door, turn right. The chest is against a fence next to a stack of pallets.
Scale 8Chapter 12 (Classified Documents Mission): Near the end of the chapter, when the lights turn red just before a long corridor, turn right before the door. The chest with the documents is along the wall. Turn them in at the final terminal for the scale.

Part 2: Hunting Down Every Phantasmal Herb

Phantasmal Herbs are often obtained through side missions that require collecting items marked by a tell-tale pillar of light, or they are tucked away in hidden chests.

Herb #Location/Chapter Details
Herb 1Chapter 1 (Data Chip Mission): Collect the Data Chip near the three conspicuous chests in one of the outdoor combat arenas. You'll receive the herb when you turn in the mission at a DarkNest Terminal.
Herb 2Chapter 3: Inside the shrine, look for a circular chamber. You’ll spot a very slender alcove with a set of stairs leading to a chest at the top.
Herb 3Chapter 5 (Heirloom Knife Mission): Locate and turn in the 'Heirloom Knife.' While gliding up the mountain, defeat the large enemies that spit fireballs and check behind them near the end of the climb. The knife appears as a small pillar of light.
Herb 4Chapter 5 (Tengu Offering Mission): After defeating the massive statue boss, immediately look left as you exit the building. The 'Tengu Offering' is on the ground, marked by a small pillar of light in the darkness.
Herb 5Chapter 6: At the start of the level, after landing on the bridge, look left of the DarkNest Terminal near the broken remains of an old suspension bridge. The chest on the edge of the cliff contains the herb.
Herb 6Chapter 9 (Beautiful Minerals Mission): Find all 3 'Beautiful Minerals' spread throughout the chapter. They are always out in the open, marked by pillars of light. You must thoroughly explore each area to collect them all.
Herb 7Chapter 11: While riding on the rails in the first stage of the Dragon's Maw, jump off to a platform on the left. This platform is right after you slide under a gate and features a chest with the herb. Be sure to defeat the enemies first.

By diligently following this guide—checking every side mission terminal and exploring every corner—you will maximize Yakumo's health and equip yourself for victory in the most punishing battles Ninja Gaiden 4 has to offer.

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