How to parry in Ninja Gaiden 4

How do you perform a Ninja Gaiden 4 parry? Otherwise known as a counterattack, parrying in Ninja Gaiden has taken many forms over the years. Whether you're familiar with the original block-and-counter combo or NG3's parry stance, parrying is a crucial mechanic for any prospective Master Ninja. Thankfully, Ninja Gaiden 4's parry system is more accessible than ever.

Ninja Gaiden 4's parry functions similarly to its block. It negates damage, but rather than taking a defensive approach, you instead match an enemy's aggression with your own. It's an excellent way of maintaining pressure in combat, but it's also risky. Missing a parry often means you'll get hit by your opponent's attack instead, which could prove fatal at higher difficulties. To avoid that, here's how to become a parry master in Ninja Gaiden 4.

To perform a parry in Ninja Gaiden 4, attack at the same time as an enemy to cause your blades to clash and bounce off each other.

The basic parry technique is available right from the start, so you don't need to spend any NinjaCoin or Weapon EXP to unlock it. While the parry window is more forgiving than soulslike games, we recommend spending time in the Training Room to perfect it.

You can take parrying to the next level with one of the best Ninja Gaiden 4 combat skills. Fatal Flash offers a basic follow-up attack, but once you unlock it, the Bloodraven variants become available to purchase. The Perfect Fatal Flash (Bloodraven Form) incorporates AoE dismemberment and even Bloodbath Kills while in the Berserk state, letting you clear crowds of enemies in a single parry.

Speak to Raven Mentor Tyrant to unlock Fatal Flash for 900 NinjaCoin, Fatal Flash (Bloodraven Form) for 9k NinjaCoin, Perfect Fatal Flash for 27k NinjaCoin, and Perfect Fatal Flash (Bloodraven Form) for 36k NinjaCoin. You'll need 72.9k NinjaCoin in total, so start saving up with side missions and Purgatory challenges to unlock the best parry.

Now that you've mastered the Ninja Gaiden 4 parry, check out the Ninja Gaiden 4 system requirements to keep a stable framerate and nail those timings. We can also walk you through how to Guillotine Throw if you're looking to master the most iconic moves from the ninja game sequel.