Ninja Gaiden
True Dragon Sword/ Plasma Saber MK II Guide
Authored by VampireHorde
**I will give hints and tips for the Hurricane Pack Volume 1 only. I
don't plan to update the FAQ anymore for Volume 2 so please don't ask.
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INTRODUCTION
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Thanks for clicking on the FAQ. This guide will focus on using the True
Dragon Sword and its cousin the Plasma Saber MK II.
What is the True Dragon Sword?
The legendary ultimate form of the Dragon Sword, achieved by fitting
the Dragon's Eye into it.
In Chapter 12, a kunai scroll will a have message to speak with
Muramasa. When you visit him, he will tell of a Dragon's Eye that can
be placed underneath the sword. After Ryu activates the portal in Twin
Serpents Plaza in Chapter 13 he will be transported back to Hayabusa
Village. Run up to the Graveyard and a cutscene will show Ryu placing
the Dragon's Eye on the Dragon Sword. This in turn transforms the sword
into the True Dragon Sword.
**The True Dragon Sword is NOT an unlockable item! (And neither is the
Unlabored Flawlessness.)
**HP UPDATE: The TDS/PSMKII is still obtained the same way in the HP.
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THE ULTIMATE POWER OF THE TRUE DRAGON SWORD
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The True Dragon Sword has a purple glow and becomes very powerful when
the Dragon's Eye is inserted. With it, FOUR new moves are unlocked and
each move is VERY powerful in their own right:
CRIMSON SLASH: X, X, X
DRAGON TEAR: X, X, X, Y (TDS EXCLUSIVE)
TIGER ROAR: X, X, Y
FANG OF THE WOLF: X, X, Y, Y
BLADE OF THE DRAGON'S TAIL: X, X, Y, Y, Y
FIEND'S BANE KICK: X, X, RIGHT, X, X
EARLY WINTER RAIN: X, X, RIGHT, X, Y
BLADE OF NIRRTI: X, Y, X, X, X, X
IZUNA DROP: X, Y, X, X, X, Y
WINDMILL SLASH: RIGHT, X
BLADE OF THE UNDEFEATABLE: Y
HAZE STRAIGHT SLASH: HOLD Y
EXTINCTION STRAIGHT SLASH: HOLD Y W/ ONE ESSENCE
STORM OF THE HEAVENLY DRAGON: HOLD Y W/ MAX ESSENCE (TDS EXCLUSIVE)
AZURE DRAGON: RIGHT, Y
SCARLET DRAGON: RIGHT, HOLD Y
BLADE OF THE TWIN DRAGONS: RIGHT, HOLD Y, Y, Y (TDS EXCLUSIVE)
VIOLENT WIND: X WHILE RUNNING
VIOLENT GALE: X, X, WHILE RUNNING
THUNDERCLAP KICK: Y WHILE RUNNING
FLYING CRANE: ROTATE ANALOG STICK, Y
GLEAMING BLADE: ROTATE ANALOG STICK, HOLD Y
ROARING GLEAM: ROTATE ANALOG STICK, HOLD Y W/ ONE ESSENCE
TRUE DRAGON GLEAM: ROTATE ANALOG STICK, HOLD Y W/ MAX ESSENCE (TDS
EXCLUSIVE)
GLEAMING CROSS: Y WHILE BLOCKING
FIEND'S BANE KICK: X, X WHILE BLOCKING
FIEND SEALER: Y NEXT TO A DOWNED ENEMY
Two new ultimate moves are unlocked and pretty impressive to pull off:
-THE STORM OF THE HEAVENLY DRAGON:
Basically, it's a better-looking rip-off of Squall Leonhart's Lionheart
attack from Final Fantasy VIII.
-THE TRUE DRAGON GLEAM:
It's a little harder to pull off considering the situation. But when
executed properly, Ryu ends up spinning in a frenzied circle so fast
like a mini-hurricane. All enemies are decimated instantly with these
two new moves.
(Maybe with the exception of Very Hard difficulty.)
**HP UPDATE: The Lunar weapon's ultimate attack is similar to the True
Dragon Gleam and more powerful.
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TRUE DRAGON SWORD VERSUS BOSSES
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After obtaining the True Dragon Sword, you immediately get to use it
for the Alma fight in Chapter 13 (whether you like it or not).
<<CHAPTER 13: ALMA>>
Because of the sword's new power the Alma fight becomes increasingly
easy (if you know what you're doing). The key technique to reducing
Alma's health dramatically is the Gleaming Blade attack.
Have Ryu a long distance away to perform this move. When Alma is on the
ground and begins running towards Ryu, immediately charge the Gleaming
Blade and release when she comes within sweeping distance (TIME IT
CORRECTLY!). If done correctly, you will have stripped away 25-30% of
her health easily. If done incorrectly, you strip away 20% and you take
damage (funny how that happens, can anyone explain to me why that
happens?). If you can pull off this move 3-4 more times the fight is
over in a minute!
**HURRICANE PACK UPDATE: Alma's fireball attacks have been made faster.
Be evasive when she starts firing up her fireball attacks.
<<CHAPTER 14: DOKU>>
Since Doku is airbound throughout the fight, he becomes a faster
nemesis than in Chapter 11. BUT Doku can be defeated in 30 seconds
EASILY!
The secret? The Blade of Nirrti attack is the secret. I've seen
numerous Ninja Gaiden players (beginners and intermediate mostly) try
to spend the whole fight doing the Flying Swallow on him only to be
grabbed and have the life sucked out of them.
Here's the technique:
-Perform a Flying Swallow attack to make Doku block. (Making him block
is the key!)
-Immediately roll away to avoid his swipe THEN immediately begin the
Blade of Nirrti attack! Doing this will strip away 25% easily. Roll
away then repeat the process again. (You can also try to lure him into
doing his charge attack, but it's a little difficult to pull off.)
Just four more B.O.N. attacks and the fight will be over in 30 seconds.
No health lost, no ninpo wasted. See how easy that was!
**HURRICANE PACK UPDATE: This method is no longer effective on Doku. If
attempted, the attack will push him back. Instead of doing the B.O.N.
attack, use an XYY combo. Roll away and repeat. It'll take longer with
this method but remember that any attack with the TDS on Doku will take
away chunks of his health.
<<CHAPTER 15A: TENTACLE, ICE, AND SUPREME FIEND>>
The advantage for the Tentacle Fiend fight is that this is 1 of the
only 2 boss fights where you can use the Storm of the Heavenly Dragon
attack. Lop off those tentacles and use the ultimate!
For the Ice Fiend, use the Gleaming Blade every chance you get. This
should reduce its health dramatically and make the fight shorter.
For the Supreme Fiend, kill all of its summonings and lure him to doing
his cannonball attack. Roll away then do the Storm of the Heavenly
Dragon attack when he's recovering.
**HURRICANE PACK UPDATE: The Supreme Fiend will summon catwomen in
between boss fights so be on your guard! Also, the Ice Fiend now
summons pink fiends to assist him in the fight (meaning you can finally
use ultimate attacks on it!).
<<CHAPTER 15B: EMPEROR FORM 1 ONLY>>
The TDS does not seem to be as powerful in this fight for some reason.
Considering that you are moving the platform constantly and trying to
pull off a combo, you have no choice but to do the Fiend's Bane Kick or
Early Winter Rain. Has anyone pulled any combos on this boss other than
these two attacks?
I don't suggest using the TDS on the Emperor's second form. Equip any
ninpo and a bunch of projectiles and the Vigoorian Flail for this one.
<<CHAPTER 16: ???>>
Let's keep this boss's identity secret, yeah? Anyway, an obvious
technique can be used on this boss to beat him flawlessly. No damage to
you, no ninpo wasted. E-mail me if you want this OBVIOUS technique.
(You'll bang your head for not knowing this technique!)
**HURRICANE PACK UPDATE: This boss is immune to the Flying Swallow
attack. He was also made much quicker than his original version. You'll
need to stick with up close melee combat to finish him.
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THE PLASMA SABER MK II
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The Plasma Saber is just a green saber with the Dragon Sword's attacks.
There are NO new additional moves with this weapon! Don't believe what
anyone says about it.
How do you obtain the Plasma Saber?
Beat Ninja Gaiden on Normal or Hard difficulty. Begin a new game by
pressing the LEFT Trigger. You'll hear Ryu grunt and he'll start the
game with football padding and a Plasma Saber.
What is the Plasma Saber MK II?
A upgraded version of the Plasma Saber, in which the plasma oscillator
has been tuned to the maximum.
When Ryu inserts the Dragon's Eye underneath the saber, the sword
begins to pulsate with electricity. This shows the power of the Plasma
Saber MK II.
Like the True Dragon Sword, the PSMK II has the same exact attacks and
combos as the TDS. BUT the one main difference is the sound effect. The
PSMK II has a "swooshing" sound to it. Yeah, it's not that impressive
to me either.
**HURRICANE PACK UPDATE: To use the Ninja of the Future costume w/ the
Plasma Saber in the HP, simply hold the L-Trigger when selecting the
Round 2 Trial Mission.
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TRUE DRAGON SWORD VERSUS THE UNLABORED FLAWLESSNESS
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In a battle for best weapon, the Unlabored Flawlessness is hands-down
the more powerful of the two. Why? Let me explain.
The True Dragon Sword's ultimate attack only targets ONE enemy.
Impressive as it looks it doesn't really help especially when doing
Fiend Challenges.
It also DOESN'T have the 5% health trick like the UF and the counter
attack isn't so useful on multiple enemies.
IMO, the TDS (or PSMK II) is only best when fighting the last few
bosses.
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TRUE DRAGON SWORD VERSUS KITETSU
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Of these two weapons, the TDS is the winner. Even though the Kitetsu
has a better-looking ultimate attack, its power pales in comparison to
the TDS.
But since you don't obtain the TDS or PSMK II until Chapter 13, the
best alternate weapon to use in Chapter 12 is the Kitetsu. Abuse its
power as much as you can until you've gotten the TDS.
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COUNTER ATTACK FLAWS
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The counter attack is good for use in any situation. The only problem
with the counter attack of the Dragon Sword is its slow animation time
after landing the attack.
Once Ryu counters an enemy while blocking he can still sustain damage
during the attack or even after. This is VERY annoying especially when
fighting multiple enemies. (The Black Ninjas are a good example.)
Bigger weapons like the Dabilahro, War Hammer, Unlabored Flawlessness,
and Dark Dragon Blade have much faster counter animations and can be
done back-to-back-to-back seamlessly WITHOUT damage.
I only suggest using the TDS counters only when Ryu isn't outnumbered 3
to 1.
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GHOST FISH
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This has nothing to do with the TDS or PSMK II but did you know that
you could defeat all the ghost fish in Chapter 14 and 15 seamlessly
without damage using the Dragon Sword?
Many strategy guides suggest using the Vigoorian Flails. (It's the kiss
of death if you ask me.)
The problem with using the Flails is its slow lag time between combos.
You might pull off killing all the fish BUT can you do it flawlessly? I
didn't think so either.
What is the secret technique to killing ghost fish?
Just one attack: X, Y.
This is the slash/uppercut slash part of the Izuna Drop or Blade of
Nirrti. Press XY to do the move. Press X again just as Ryu is about to
land on the ground to do a spin slash and then press Y to do another
slash uppercut. Repeat over until all the fish are decimated. (Also be
sure to have the Armlet of Benediction equipped, each encounter garners
over 6000 to 8000 essence per go.)
Doing this makes Ryu attack continuously without fear of attack from
the ghost fish.
The key here is that there is no lag time between Ryu landing on the
ground and doing the move again. This is MUCH more helpful in gathering
essence than using the Flails. You can have 99,999 essence in 10
minutes easily!
**HURRICANE PACK UPDATE: This method is now ineffective. The fish will
bite Ryu before he even lands. You'll have to equip the Vigoorian
Flails in order to successfully string the combos without getting bit.
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Hey, I hope you learned more about the advantages and disadvantages of
this weapon. Although I prefer using the UF on Fiend Challenges I
wouldn't discount the power of the True Dragon Sword or the Plasma
Saber MK II. E-mail me at
[email protected] for any questions or
inquiries about my FAQ or about the game.
**Big thanks to Shinobier at master-ninja.com for the ghost fish
tactic. I'll never use the Flails on ghost fish ever again!
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This FAQ is only for use on GameFAQS. You may not copy, link, or
publish this FAQ on your publication or website without my permission.
If you want to use this FAQ then please e-mail me at the address above.
I have no problems with anyone who asks. June 2004.
