Ninja Gaiden 3 Guide Essentials Ninja Training

Weapons and Ninpo Magic

Ryu Hayabusa has a variety of techniques and weapons that are available to him in Ninja Gaiden 3. He does not have as many weapons as he did in previous games, but the weapons he does have get upgraded over the course of the game.

Hayabusa’s techniques fall into three categories: offensive, defensive, and environmental. Learn how and when to use these techniques, and learn all of his weapon combos to make battles easier and avoid taking damage.

Melee Weapons

Dragon Sword and Jinran-Maru (Day 2)

Dragon Sword

Jinran-Maru

The Dragon Sword and Jinran-Maru (Hayate’s Sword) are identical in every way (aside from appearance). Both swords inflict the same amount of damage and have the exact same combos.

It is not necessary to learn combos in Ninja Gaiden 3. As soon as the game starts, you can use any of the combos listed.

Dragon Sword and Jinran-Maru Combos

Xbox 360 Notation	PlayStation 3 Notation	Dragon Sword/Jinran-Maru Damage	Blade of the Archfiend Damage
		125	175
		125	175
		200	275
		200	275
		250	325
		250	325
		175	225
		175	225
		175	225
		275	350
		N/A	N/A
		250	325
		175	225
		200	275
		200	275
		250	325
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	175	225
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	175	225
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	175	225
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	175	225
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	275	350
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	N/A	N/A
		250	325
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	175	225
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	175	225
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	175	225
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	175	225
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	275	350
Hold , Release	Hold , Release	N/A	N/A
		250	325
		350	450
		250	325
		175	225
		175	225
		175	225
		275	350
		N/A	N/A
360 Circle	360 Circle	75	100
While Running	While Running	250	300
While Running	While Running	250	300
While Running	While Running	250	325
While Running	While Running	175	225
While Running	While Running	175	225
While Running	While Running	175	225
While Running	While Running	275	350
While Running	While Running	N/A	N/A
While Running	While Running	175	225
While Running	While Running	350	450
Jump	Jump	175	225
Jump	Jump	175	225
Jump	Jump	175	225
Jump	Jump	275	350
Jump	Jump	N/A	N/A
Jump	Jump	275	350
While Running, Jump	While Running, Jump	75	100
While Running, Jump	While Running, Jump	350	450
While Sliding	While Sliding	125	175
While Sliding	While Sliding	125	175
While Sliding	While Sliding	200	275
While Sliding	While Sliding	200	275
While Sliding	While Sliding	250	325
While Sliding	While Sliding	250	325
While Sliding	While Sliding	175	225
While Sliding	While Sliding	175	225
While Sliding	While Sliding	175	225
While Sliding	While Sliding	275	350
While Sliding	While Sliding	N/A	N/A
While Sliding	While Sliding	175	225
While Sliding	While Sliding	200	275
While Sliding	While Sliding	200	275
While Sliding	While Sliding	250	325
While Sliding	While Sliding	250	325
While Sliding	While Sliding	250	325
While Sliding	While Sliding	250	325
While Sliding	While Sliding	250	325
While Sliding Hit	While Sliding Hit	175	225
While Sliding	While Sliding	175	225
While Sliding	While Sliding	175	225
While Sliding	While Sliding	175	225
While Sliding	While Sliding	275	350
While Sliding	While Sliding	N/A	N/A
While Landing	While Landing	175	225
While Landing	While Landing	350	450
While Landing, 360 Circle	While Landing, 360 Circle	75	100
During Shadowless Footsteps	During Shadowless Footsteps	75	100
During Shadowless Footsteps	During Shadowless Footsteps	425	550
During Glide	During Glide	75	100
During Glide	During Glide	425	550
During Counterattack	During Counterattack	250	300
During Counterattack	During Counterattack	250	300
During Counterattack	During Counterattack	250	300
During Counterattack	During Counterattack	275	350

Blade of the Archfiend (Day 5)

Blade of the Archfiend

The Blade of the Archfiend is superior to the Dragon Sword and Jinran-Maru in almost every way. All of the Dragon Sword and Jinran-Maru combos inflict more damage with the Blade of the Archfiend, and there are combos that can only be done with the Blade of the Archfiend.

In addition, a few animations change when Hayabusa acquires the Blade of the Archfiend, such as the animation for the Izuna Drop. However, the notation remains the same.

Blade of the Archfiend Combos

Xbox 360 Notation	PlayStation 3 Notation	Damage
		325
		225
		225
		225
		350
		N/A
		325
		325
While Running	While Running	325
While Running	While Running	325
Jump	Jump	225
While Sliding Hit	While Sliding Hit	325
While Sliding Hit	While Sliding Hit	225
While Sliding Hit	While Sliding Hit	225
While Sliding Hit	While Sliding Hit	225
While Sliding Hit	While Sliding Hit	350
While Sliding Hit	While Sliding Hit	N/A
While Sliding	While Sliding	325
While Sliding	While Sliding	225
While Sliding	While Sliding	225
While Sliding	While Sliding	225
While Sliding	While Sliding	350
While Sliding	While Sliding	N/A
While Landing	While Landing	325

Projectile Weapons

Bow (Day 2)/Explosive Bow (Day 3)

At the beginning of Day 2, Hayabusa gains the ability to use a bow. It is upgraded with explosive arrowheads during Day 3, which inflict slightly more damage. When you aim the bow, it automatically locks on to an enemy.

In most cases, the enemy selected is a long-range fighter, such as a Terrorist (Rocket Launcher) or Archer.

If Hayabusa jumps into the air and then aims his bow, it auto-locks and Hayabusa is generally safe from harm. Only one arrow can be shot in the air, but if you need to shoot more, simply jump again. This is almost always the best way to use the bow.

Shuriken

Hayabusa’s shuriken are generally used to briefly stun an opponent or extend a combo for a higher karma score. Shuriken inflict very little damage and are not Hayabusa’s main source of offense.

However, using a shuriken while running enables Hayabusa to dodge, which is a good evasive maneuver.

Ninpo Magic

Art of the Fire Dragon

In story mode, the use of Ninpo replenishes Hayabusa’s Health Gauge. However, at the end of each battle his Health Gauge is replenished automatically. Because of this, it is important to manage the use of Hayabusa’s Ninpo.

While it’s easy to fill the Ki Gauge, then immediately use Ninpo, if only a few enemies remain and Hayabusa has plenty of health, Ninpo is not necessary.

In addition, the state of the Ki Gauge determines how much Hayabusa’s Health Gauge increases in size. If you can end a battle with a full Ki Gauge, Hayabusa’s Health Gauge will increase significantly more than if the battle ends with an empty Ki Gauge.

Unless otherwise stated in the Path of the Ninja chapter, it is highly recommended to save Hayabusa’s Ninpo until he is near death. Think of it more as a health item, rather than the ability to clear all the enemies off the screen.

Art of the Dark Void

Art of the Dark Void is the only Ninpo available in Ninja Trials mode. Your character charges up for a short time, then shoots a projectile that inflicts damage as it passes through enemies in a straight trajectory.

During the charging period, your character does not take any damage, and nearby enemies are hit by the power of the charge. Take this time to aim the Ninpo to ensure it hits the strongest enemy, or the highest number of enemies.