How to Slide in Ninja Gaiden 4: All Controls and Combos

What to know

• Sliding is available only while your character is running.
• You activate it by pressing the left stick (L3/LS) mid-run.
• It works as both an evasive and speed-maintaining maneuver.
• You can chain a slide directly into attacks or combos.

Sliding in Ninja Gaiden 4 is more than a flashy move; it’s a tactical maneuver designed for mobility, combat evasion, and combo continuation. Whether you're dodging enemy fire or chaining attacks, mastering the slide transforms your gameplay flow.

How sliding works during combat

Sliding is a new addition to Ryu’s and Yakumo’s movement set, building on the series’ legacy of silky-smooth combat. It blends traversal with offensive momentum, allowing you to reposition without breaking pace. While dashing or sprinting, pressing the left stick (L3 or LS) performs a clean ground slide that can cancel recovery animations or evade incoming damage.​

Controller vs keyboard inputs for sliding

Here’s a quick reference table for sliding based on your setup:

Sliding can transition seamlessly into attacks, making it ideal for combo setups or disengaging from aggressive enemies.​

How to slide in Ninja Gaiden 4

Step 1

Start running by pushing your movement stick fully forward (or hold W on keyboard).

Step 2

Once you are at full sprint speed, press the left stick button (L3/LS) or “V” on PC.

Step 3

You’ll notice the character drop into a sliding motion — this allows you to pass under projectiles or close gaps.

Step 4

Experiment with combo transitions — try performing a Light Attack or Shuriken throw immediately after the slide.

Step 5

Adjust camera mid-slide (using the right stick or mouse) to direct your follow-up attacks more accurately.

Advanced use of sliding in Ninja Gaiden 4

Sliding isn’t limited to dodging attacks; it’s integrated into rail-sliding and wire-based traversal segments where Yakumo seamlessly switches between rails and combat zones. Skilled players can chain these moments for cinematic speed and devastating combo setups. When performed right before impact, a slide also cancels damage frames and acts as a pseudo-dodge — a technique high-level players often rely on.​

When sliding makes the difference in Ninja Gaiden 4

Sliding excels in battles where spacing is critical — especially against agile enemies or bosses with wide melee ranges. It’s also useful in Bloodraven Form, helping you maintain offensive flow without interruption. In traversal sections, sliding beneath obstacles or through narrow corridors maintains Yakumo’s unbroken speed, a hallmark of Ninja Gaiden 4’s kinetic design.​