The Ninja Gaiden video game series is one of the most influential in the hack-and-slash genre. A lot of the elements that are present in these titles have gone on to be adopted by various modern video games that are, in some way or another, similar to Ninja Gaiden. The Ninpo Magic mechanic is one of those elements.
Veteran fans can attest to how these abilities make the combat in Ninja Gaiden games even more engaging. As newcomers experience the updated and remastered versions of the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection, it is vital they know the best ones to use.
10 Art Of Rending Wind
The Art of Rending Wind Ninpo is an ability that's exclusive to Kasumi, a character that players can use in Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge. Before the player can control Kasumi in this game, they must first beat the campaign once.
With the Art of Rending Wind ability, Kasumi will fire a powerful beam of purple energy that lasts for 2 to 3 seconds. She will then end this attack with a final large purple beam that inflicts massive damage.
9 Art Of The Fire Wheels
The Art of the Fire Wheels Ninpo is one of the most recognizable ones in the series. It made its first appearance in the NES Ninja Gaiden games before being revived for 2004's reboot.
This Ninpo art will spawn spiritual balls of fire that will circle Ryu Hayabusa. This will act as a defensive barrier which will also damage enemies that get close enough to the player.
8 Art Of The Flame Phoenix
The Art of the Flame Phoenix Ninpo art is an ability that can only be used in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, found in Chapter 3. This Ninpo art is basically just an upgraded, more powerful variation of the Art of the Fire Wheels.
Like its predecessor, this Ninpo art encircles the caster, damaging nearby enemies. It is a good way of eliminating surrounding enemies, especially attack dogs. It can also block projectile attacks.
7 Art Of The Ice Storm
The Art of the Ice Storm ability is a Ninpo Art the player can use in the first Ninja Gaiden game. By using this ability, Ryu creates a whirlwind of ice shards around him, damaging and freezing enemies.
While this ability starts out with low damage, it becomes powerful as it gets upgraded. This ability is a good way of managing short-range crowds and it is also very effective against slow, massive bosses.
6 Art of the Raging Mountain God
The Art of the Raging Mountain God Ninpo art can only be used while playing as Ayane in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge.
This technique is very powerful. It releases an immense shockwave that obliterates surrounding enemies. It is very useful in situations wherein the player is surrounded by multiple enemies. Enemies powerful enough to withstand being killed immediately after one attack will be knocked back, or even have their limbs cut off.
5 Art Of The Inferno
The Art of the Inferno Ninpo art allows Ryu to conjure and hurl balls of flame towards enemies, inflicting considerable damage. It can also damage multiple enemies at once if they're caught in the blast radius.
This powerful Ninpo ability has a high range, which makes it ideal for damaging enemies before they even get the chance to get close to the player. In Ninja Gaiden 3, this ability also heals the player.
4 Art Of The Wind Blades
The Art of the Wind Blades is unlockable in Ninja Gaiden 2. It is a highly lethal ability that has a chance of cutting off an enemy's limbs, giving the player a chance to perform an Obliteration technique on them.
This ability has a very high chance of connecting to an enemy because of its wide range. Because of this, it is also a good way of managing crowds of opponents.
3 Art of the Piercing Void
The Art of the Piercing Void Ninpo has a very narrow radius and a very high chance of missing its target. However, once the attack lands, it is one of the most devastating Ninpo arts in the series.
The damage inflicted by this Ninpo art is very high. It is made even more overpowered in Razor's Edge because of its reduced Ninpo bar. This attack is capable of eliminating multiple enemies at once, so long as they're all within the trajectory path of the attack.
2 Art Of The True Inferno
The Art of the True Inferno is unlockable only in Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge. This powerful ability is an area of effect attack. When activated, Ryu launches a fire dragon at enemies, devouring anything that stands in its path. It also heals the caster.
This ability is incredibly powerful. However, it also takes out a massive chunk of the player's Ninpo bar. It can kill most enemies in just one hit and heals the player considerably if more than two enemies are damaged by the attack.
1 Art Of The Hurricane
The Art of the Hurrican attack is by far the most powerful and effective Ninpo art attack in the Master Collection. Although its damage isn't as high as Piercing Void's, the fact that it is highly mobile and is capable of having an effect on such a vast area makes it so much more worthwhile to use.
Activating this Ninpo art will spawn a massive hurricane that has sharp wind vacuums that cut up and kill multiple enemies.