What to know
- Final Charge upgrades your Ultimate Technique to Level 2, allowing it to strike multiple enemies at once.
- You gain full invincibility during the Ultimate Attack animation, making it both offensive and defensive.
- The charging speed increases when using Blood Essence or performing a landing-based Ultimate.
- Mastering Final Charge lets you chain Ultimate Attacks to dominate both mobs and bosses.
The Ultimate Technique: Final Charge in Ninja Gaiden 4 is one of the most powerful combat skills you can acquire. It turns your Ultimate Attack into a Level 2 move capable of hitting more than one enemy at once — dramatically changing how you handle large crowds and high-intensity boss battles. Understanding when to charge, how to trigger it, and when to unleash it can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
What Final Charge does
Final Charge is an upgrade to your Ultimate Attack, allowing you to charge it to a higher level. When activated, this Level 2 Ultimate Attack:
- Hits multiple enemies instead of one.
- Grants full invulnerability during the animation.
- Increases Blood Essence absorption efficiency.
- Allows faster charge times when chained from specific combat actions, such as landing from a jump or absorbing Essence.
The upgrade is essential if you want to maximize your Ultimate Attack’s reach and reliability in tough encounters.
Ultimate Technique Controls
Here are Final Charge Controls for Ninja Gaiden 4, covering how to charge, trigger, and chain your Ultimate Attack effectively across platforms:
| Action | PlayStation Controls | Xbox Controls | PC (Keyboard + Mouse) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Begin Charge (Absorb Essence) | Hold △ (Triangle) | Hold Y | Hold R | Starts absorbing Blood Essence from fallen enemies to power up the Ultimate Attack. |
| Manual Charge (Static Charge) | Hold △ (Triangle) while standing still | Hold Y while standing still | Hold R while stationary | Manually charges your Ultimate Technique without needing Essence; slower but reliable. |
| Ultimate Attack (Level 1) | Release △ (Triangle) after first charge flash | Release Y after first charge flash | Release R after first glow | Performs a single-target Ultimate Attack with invincibility frames. |
| Ultimate Attack (Level 2 — Final Charge) | Hold △ (Triangle) until the second aura flash, then release | Hold Y until second aura flash, then release | Hold R until second glow, then release | Activates Level 2 Ultimate (multi-target) unlocked via Final Charge skill. |
| Landing Ultimate Activation | Jump → Attack → Land → Hold △ instantly | Jump → Attack → Land → Hold Y instantly | Space → Left Click → Land → Hold R | Quickly triggers Ultimate Attack upon landing from an aerial combo (requires Landing Ultimate Technique). |
| Essence Auto-Charge | Approach Blood Essence after a kill | Approach Blood Essence after a kill | Move near Blood Essence | Automatically absorbs Essence to refill the Ultimate charge bar faster. |
| Weapon Swap (mid-Ultimate) | Press R1 + L1 | Press RB + LB | Press Q or E | Switch weapons seamlessly during or right after the Ultimate animation to continue combos. |
How to unlock Final Charge
Just like any other technique, you can unlock skills for Ultimate Technique by purchasing them. You need coins and a minimum level of 10 to unlock final charge skill in Ninja Gaiden 4.
Ultimate Technique upgrades
| Skill Name | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Technique | Base | Perform a charged Essence-based attack with invincibility frames |
| Ultimate Guidance | Upgrade | Charge faster by absorbing Blood Essence |
| Landing Ultimate Technique | Upgrade | Begin Ultimate faster after landing from air |
| Final Charge | Major Upgrade | Enables Level 2 Ultimate, allowing multi-target hits |
How to use Final Charge for maximum impact
Here is how to use Ultimate Technique Final Charge properly in Ninja Gaiden 4:
Step 1: Build your charge
Collect Blood Essence orbs dropped by defeated enemies. Standing still while holding the charge button will begin filling your Ultimate meter. Essence absorbed will speed this process significantly.
Step 2: Use environmental safety
Find a brief safe moment — such as after dodging or staggering enemies — to initiate the charge. Charging leaves you temporarily stationary, so timing is key.
Step 3: Watch the glow
Once your charge reaches Level 2, your weapon or character will emit a distinct aura, signaling readiness. Release the charge to trigger the Ultimate Attack.
Step 4: Target effectively
With Final Charge active, your Ultimate can now hit two or more enemies simultaneously. Use it in crowded fights or against multiple elites to clear space fast.
Step 5: Chain for maximum output
After completing an Ultimate, quickly collect the new Essence orbs and restart the charge. This creates a Blood Essence Loop, letting you maintain combat flow with back-to-back Ultimates.
Final charge uses in Ninja Gaiden 4
| Scenario / Use | What Happens | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Crowd Control | Hits multiple enemies in a single Level 2 Ultimate Attack, clearing space fast. | Time your charge right after a dodge or parry to avoid interruptions while prepping the strike. |
| Boss Fights | Delivers huge burst damage when used during boss vulnerability windows. | Wait for the boss’s recovery animation — trigger Ultimate then for guaranteed hits. |
| Defensive Escape | Grants full invincibility during animation, acting as a panic button. | Use it immediately when surrounded to reset positioning or recover stamina. |
| Essence Looping | Absorbed Blood Essence speeds up next Ultimate charge. | Chain Ultimates by quickly collecting Essence after each kill for near-continuous attacks. |
| Landing Ultimates | Combines with “Landing Ultimate Technique” to charge instantly on landing. | Jump → Air combo → Land → Charge Ultimate → Release for seamless combos. |
| Weapon Switching Combos | Allows quick follow-ups between different weapon styles mid-Ultimate. | Use fast-switch weapons like the Dragon Claw to extend combo chains after the animation ends. |
| Area Denial | Destroys clustered enemies near objectives or choke points. | Lure enemies together first, then trigger Level 2 Ultimate to maximize efficiency. |
Advance tip: The Essence Charge chain
Players who master Final Charge often use a repeating loop — a combination of Ultimate Attack → Essence absorption → Jump → Landing Ultimate → Re-charge.
This pattern keeps enemies locked down and continuously fills your meter, creating near-endless offensive pressure while staying invincible during most of the sequence.
Why Final Charge defines high-level combat
In Ninja Gaiden 4, Final Charge isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a statement of mastery. It blends aggression, timing, and precision into a single move that captures the essence of the game’s combat philosophy. It allows you to stay offensive while remaining untouchable, making it a must-have for expert players looking to dominate every encounter.
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