Which Skills to Unlock Early in Ninja Gaiden 4? Top 5 Skills for Early Headstart Explained

What to know

Skill Points and Weapon EXP are gained through combat and missions.
Skills are grouped into General Combat, Weapon Mastery, and Defensive Arts.
Prioritizing mobility and defense early ensures you adapt faster to combat.
Focus on one weapon first to build a strong foundation before branching out.

When you first start Ninja Gaiden 4, the sheer intensity of enemy encounters can feel overwhelming. Every swing, dodge, and counter must be precise. Choosing the right skills early can turn that chaos into mastery, giving you the control and flow the game demands.

Best early skills to unlock in Ninja Gaiden 4

Here’s a breakdown of the best early-game skills to prioritize and how they help your combat rhythm:

Skill Name	Category	Effect	Why Unlock Early
Perfect Block	Defensive Arts	Reduces damage and allows counter-attacks when blocking at the right moment.	Crucial for learning timing and surviving tough encounters.
Flying Swallow	General Combat	Quick aerial dash-attack that closes distance instantly.	Increases mobility and keeps you on the offensive.
Izuna Drop	General Combat	Signature combo finisher that launches and slams enemies.	Deals heavy damage and helps control groups of enemies.
Ultimate Guidance	General Combat	Enhances the charge attack power and area of effect.	Great for boss fights and clearing waves efficiently.
Weapon Mastery I (Takeminakata or default weapon)	Weapon Mastery	Unlocks tier-one weapon combos and damage boost.	Strengthens your main weapon early on.
Dodge Enhancement	Defensive Arts	Improves invulnerability frames and recovery speed when dodging.	Essential for avoiding damage and maintaining flow.
Movement Speed Upgrade	General Combat	Slightly increases sprint and combat movement speed.	Keeps you agile and responsive in fights.
Counter Strike	Defensive Arts	Adds a fast retaliation move after successful parry.	Makes parrying more rewarding and dynamic.

These foundational skills make it easier to survive, chain combos smoothly, and develop precision before unlocking higher-tier abilities later in the game.

Understanding how skills work

Skills in Ninja Gaiden 4 are divided into three main types:

General Combat: Core offensive and combo abilities that enhance overall fighting style.
Weapon Mastery: Upgrades tied to specific weapons, unlocked through Weapon EXP.
Defensive Arts: Survival and counter mechanics that strengthen your defenses.

You earn Skill Points through battles, missions, and challenges. Weapon EXP, on the other hand, increases only by using a weapon actively in combat. Early on, it’s smart to focus your resources into broad skills that apply across all situations.

Top five Ninja Gaiden 4 early skills

Here are the top skills to get early in Ninja Gaiden 4:

#1 - Perfect Block – Turning defense into offense

A key part of the Defensive Arts tree, Perfect Block allows you to deflect attacks precisely, negating damage and enabling counterattacks. It rewards precision and punishes sloppy timing.

Action	Control Input (Default)	Timing & Tip	Effect
Guard	L1 / LT	Hold to block standard attacks.	Reduces incoming damage.
Perfect Block	Tap L1 / LT just before impact	Time the block right before an attack lands.	Deflects attack, opens counter window.
Counterattack	Press Light Attack (□ / X) immediately after Perfect Block	Requires successful deflect.	Launches quick retaliatory strike.

Early advantage: Once mastered, Perfect Block prevents chip damage and gives you an opening against aggressive bosses.

#2 - Flying Swallow – Fast aerial engagement

The Flying Swallow skill under General Combat lets you soar toward enemies and slash midair. It’s perfect for controlling space and catching agile targets.

Action	Control Input (Default)	Usage Context	Effect
Jump	X / A	Perform while targeting an enemy.	Launches Yakumo upward.
Flying Swallow	Press Heavy Attack (△ / Y) while midair	Aim toward a locked target.	Dashes forward with a high-speed slash.
Cancel into Combo	Press Light Attack (□ / X) on landing	Chain seamlessly into ground combos.	Keeps combat flow continuous.

Early advantage: It enhances movement, letting you close gaps fast or reposition midfight while staying offensive.

#3 - Izuna Drop – High-damage combo finisher

The Izuna Drop is a fan-favorite General Combat skill that gives Yakumo a powerful finisher for juggling enemies. It combines mobility, control, and devastating damage.

Action	Control Input (Default)	Combo Route	Effect
Launch Enemy	Light → Light → Heavy (□□△ / XXY)	Use standard combo chain.	Sends enemy airborne.
Grab Midair	Press Grab (R1 / RB) near airborne enemy	Must be close enough mid-combo.	Initiates the grab phase.
Izuna Drop Slam	Auto-executes once grabbed	Controlled descent.	Slams enemy into ground for heavy damage.

Early advantage: Excellent for one-on-one duels and controlling small groups by removing key threats instantly.

#4 - Art of Defense – Reinforcing your resilience

The Art of Defense is a Defensive Arts skill designed to make blocking and parrying more forgiving. It strengthens your guard stance, reduces chip damage, and stabilizes your stance when facing heavy-hitting enemies or multi-target attacks.

This skill shines in early-game boss encounters and wave-heavy missions where avoiding every hit isn’t realistic. It gives you breathing room to learn enemy attack patterns while maintaining composure under pressure.

Action	Control Input (Default)	Effect	Usage Tip
Guard	L1 / LT	Blocks incoming attacks with reduced stamina loss.	Hold longer against multi-hit combos.
Perfect Block (Improved)	Tap L1 / LT before impact	Widens parry timing window and lessens block stun.	Practice timing with enemy rhythm.
Recovery Posture	Passive	Reduces stagger when blocking heavy attacks.	Use to maintain positioning against elites.
Chip Damage Reduction	Passive	Minimizes health loss from blocked projectiles.	Helps during ranged-heavy stages.

Early advantage: It provides a safety net for new players learning timing-based defense. Combined with Perfect Block or Dodge Enhancement, Art of Defense lets you sustain through tougher fights while maintaining counter potential.

#5 - Ultimate Guidance – Perfecting your power flow

The Ultimate Guidance skill belongs to the General Combat category. It enhances the efficiency and strength of Ultimate Techniques—those powerful, charged attacks you unleash after gathering Essence or defeating enemies.

With Ultimate Guidance, the charge-up time for Ultimate Techniques shortens, their impact radius expands, and their damage scales higher. This skill rewards strategic play—defeat weaker foes, gather Essence orbs, then unleash a devastating finisher when surrounded.

Action	Control Input (Default)	Effect	Usage Tip
Charge Attack	Hold Heavy (△ / Y)	Charges Essence into your weapon.	Watch the glow indicator for max charge.
Release Ultimate	Release Heavy (△ / Y)	Unleashes AoE burst dealing heavy damage.	Best used when surrounded.
Guided Charge (after upgrade)	Passive	Faster charge speed and stronger Essence absorption.	Defeat enemies near Essence for faster buildup.
Radius Boost	Passive	Expands AoE range by ~20%.	Helps against groups or large bosses.

Early advantage: Ultimate Guidance turns your Ultimate Techniques into fight-changers, letting you clear multiple enemies or deal massive boss damage faster. It’s especially useful in early missions where managing crowd control feels overwhelming.

When to move beyond the basics

Once these core skills are mastered and your preferred weapon’s first-tier mastery is complete, it’s time to move on to more advanced upgrades. At that point, invest in:

Bloodraven Form Upgrades for breaking guards and burst damage.
Weapon-specific branches like elemental techniques or heavy combo extensions.
Extended Ultimate Techniques that amplify damage output.

Replaying earlier chapters on higher difficulties also grants more Skill Points and Weapon EXP, letting you unlock these advanced skills faster.

Building your foundation in Ninja Gaiden 4

By unlocking balanced early skills—mobility, defense, and weapon mastery—you set yourself up for long-term success in Ninja Gaiden 4. Skills like Perfect Block, Izuna Drop, and Dodge Enhancement not only make combat smoother but also help you internalize the game’s rhythm. Once those are in place, transitioning to advanced combat becomes far more rewarding.