All Combat Trials in Ninja Gaiden 4

Ninja Gaiden 4 (NG4) is renowned for its grueling difficulty, and nowhere is that more evident than in its 18 Combat Trials. These intense, isolated arenas are designed to push your mastery of Yakumo's entire arsenal—from specific weapon stances to advanced techniques—to the absolute breaking point. Each trial imposes unique and often punishing conditions, transforming familiar enemy encounters into complex, high-stakes tactical puzzles.This guide provides a comprehensive overview of every single Combat Trial, detailing the specific constraints, identifying the enemies you'll face, and outlining the valuable rewards you'll earn for proving your ninja superiority.

Ninja Gaiden 4: All Combat Trials

The Combat Trial Gauntlet: Trials 1–18

The trials systematically increase in difficulty, first testing basic speed and health management, before escalating to one-hit death scenarios and highly restricted weapon use.

Trial	Challenge Requirements & Conditions	Key Strategy Focus	Reward
Trial 1	Defeat all enemies within a 2-minute time limit.	Focus on high-damage combos and swift execution to beat the clock.	N/A
Trial 2	Your health decreases over time.	Utilize instant kill combos and aggressive play to minimize health drain.	N/A
Trial 3	Health cannot recover during the trial. Features larger, stronger enemies.	Prioritize evasion and plan attacks meticulously to avoid taking damage.	N/A
Trial 4	Must use only Base Form. Features rocky terrain and harsh weather.	Rely on quick attacks and excellent movement to counter difficult terrain and limited abilities.	N/A
Trial 5	Die in one hit. Must use Berserk/True Dragon Sword (No Bloodbath Slaughter/True Dragon’s Gleam).	Extreme precision and perfect dodging are mandatory against strong enemy attacks.	N/A
Trial 6	Health cannot recover. Must use only Magatsuhi/Dragon Sword against "disgusting" enemies.	Focus on mastering the Magatsuhi/Dragon Sword moveset; defensive play is crucial without recovery.	N/A
Trial 7	Health decreases over time. Must use only Takeminakata/Dragon Sword.	Use the Takeminakata stance's strengths for quick, decisive finishes.	Cursed Texts, Vol. 2
Trial 8	Defeat all enemies within a 3.5-minute time limit. Must use only Yatousen/Dragon Sword. Features huge monster heads.	Utilize the Yatousen's aggressive nature to take down large, slow targets quickly.	N/A
Trial 9	Die in one hit. Must use only Kage-Hiruko/Dragon Sword. Features two larger sized enemies.	Focus entirely on avoiding damage while quickly eliminating the high-priority targets.	Bloody Texts, Vol. 2
Trial 10	Defeat all enemies within a strict 35-second time limit. Bloodbind/Ki Gauge will not fill.	This is a pure speed and execution test. Use fast, raw damage combos from the start.	15,000 NinjaCoins
Trial 11	Health will decrease over time. Always Berserk/True Dragon Sword (No Bloodbath Slaughter/True Dragon’s Gleam). Features continuous, mixed enemy patterns.	Manage the constant health drain while maximizing the aggressive potential of the Berserk state.	16,000 NinjaCoins
Trial 12	Health cannot recover. Must defeat Cetus (huge shark-faced monster) plus supporting enemies.	Focus on burst damage on Cetus while handling the continuous flow of supporting enemies with minimal damage taken.	17,000 NinjaCoins
Trial 13	Defeat enemies within a 2-minute time limit. Bloodbind/Ki Gauge fill rate is increased. Features a big robot and one other enemy.	Aggressively use Ultimate Techniques and Bloodbind attacks, leveraging the faster Gauge fill to rapidly dismantle the robot.	18,000 NinjaCoins
Trial 14	Must use only Base Form. Must defeat Kagachi (stealthy, large-sized foe).	Master the use of ultimate techniques and basic weapon combos to counter Kagachi's speed and stealth while limited to your Base Form.	19,000 NinjaCoins
Trial 15	Die in one hit. Always Berserk/True Dragon Sword (No Bloodbath Slaughter/True Dragon’s Gleam). Features multiple variants attacking from all sides.	Requires flawless situational awareness and perfect dodges to survive the onslaught.	2,000 NinjaCoins
Trial 16	Defeat all enemies within a 3:15 minute time limit. Features multiple enemy types attacking at once.	Prioritize crowd control and eliminate the most dangerous enemy types first to manage the complex battlefield.	Medicine God's Orb
Trial 17	Defeat Achilles within a 4-minute time limit after dealing with initial enemies. Achilles uses a huge hammer-like weapon.	Focus on rapidly clearing the initial foes, then mastering the timing of Achilles' powerful, slow attacks for Perfect Parries/Dodges.	Shadow God's Orb
Trial 18	Defeat Dark Dragon (Phantom Form) within a 3-minute time limit. Features continuous wind, thunder, and spawning enemies.	This ultimate test demands high-speed, high-damage output combined withexpert environmental management to avoid the elements and minions.	Opulent Pipe

Mastering the Art of the Combat Trial

The 18 Combat Trials serve as the ultimate examination of your skills in Ninja Gaiden 4. Success in these arenas hinges on more than just high-damage output; it requires tailored strategies for each unique restriction:

Weapon Mastery is Essential: Trials 6, 7, 8, and 9 force you to rely on specific weapon stances(Magatsuhi, Takeminakata, Yatousen, Kage-Hiruko). You must know thefastest and most efficient damage combos for each to succeed.

The One-Hit Challenge: Trials 5, 9, and 15 are zero-tolerance zones. Here, defensive mechanics like the Perfect Dodge and Parry are more important than offense. Every action must be deliberate, andengaging an enemy should only be done when you are certain of theopening.

Time Pressure: Trials 1, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17, and 18 demand speed. For short limits like Trial 10 (35 seconds), you must use your strongest abilities immediately and withouthesitation, often requiring you to ignore defensive moves entirely infavor of aggression.

Health Restrictions: Trials 3 and 6, where health recovery is disabled, mandate a style of play that is focused on not getting hit at all. Conversely, Trials 2 and 11, where health drains over time, encourage hyper-aggression to finish the fight before the environment kills you.

By adapting your playstyle to the specific conditions of each arena, youwill not only conquer the 18 Combat Trials but emerge as a true masterof the Ninja Gaiden 4 combat system.

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