SHINOBI Art of Vengeance is a beautiful, challenging return to form for Joe Musashi, blending classic ninja action with modern Metroidvania exploration.
But finding every last secret can be a real challenge. That’s why we put together this SHINOBI Art of Vengeance Walkthrough. This isn’t just another walkthrough, this is the only one you’ll need. Forget clicking through a dozen different pages. Everything you need for 100% completion, every level, every collectible, every boss strategy, and every secret is right here on this single page.
Let’s sharpen that katana and get our revenge.
Table of Contents
Before You Start: The Shinobi Way
Before we dive in, let’s quickly cover the basics. Learning these mechanics will make your journey a whole lot smoother.
The Art of Combat
Combat in this game is a stylish, three step dance. We cover the essentials below, but for a full breakdown of advanced moves and combos, check out our in-depth SHINOBI combat guide. Learn the rhythm, and you’ll be unstoppable.
- Break Their Armor: Many tough enemies have a yellow armor bar. Your light attacks will just bounce off. Use heavy attacks or special abilities like the Bomb Ninpo to shatter their defenses and leave them wide open.
- Fill the Execution Gauge: Once their armor is gone, a white bar appears. This is your cue to unleash a flurry of fast combos. The goal is to fill this bar up as quickly as possible.
- Perform a Shinobi Execution: When the bar is full, a red icon will pop up. Hit the execution button for a flashy, instant kill. This is super important because executed enemies drop way more health, money, and energy. Think of weaker enemies as walking health packs.
Essential Abilities for Exploration
To get 100% completion, you’ll need to backtrack to old levels with new abilities. The game has a fast travel system at every Shrine, which makes this super easy. Keep an eye out for these five key traversal skills, called Ningi, which you’ll unlock automatically as you play the story.
- Cannon Punch: Lets you smash through green glowing walls and floors.
- Ninja Claws: Allows you to climb up specific yellow glowing walls and ceilings.
- Ninja Hook: A grappling hook for swinging across specific points.
- Sword Dive: A downward slam from the air that breaks green glowing floors.
- Glider: Lets you ride on wind currents to reach new areas.
Oboro Village: The Attack on Home
Our story begins with Joe Musashi’s home, the peaceful Oboro Village, under a brutal attack by the ENE Corp. This first level will teach you the ropes.
Musashi’s House and Bamboo Forest
After the opening cutscene, just start heading right. The game will walk you through the basics of jumping and attacking. You’ll soon run into your friend, Tomoe, and after a short chat, the attack begins. Take out the first few enemies and continue into the Bamboo Forest.
Here, you’ll find your first Shrine. These are your best friends, they save your game, heal you, and act as fast travel points. A bit further in, you’ll get a tutorial for the Shinobi Execution. Practice it here, as it’s the most important combat skill you have. Continue right, taking out enemies and breaking any chests you see for extra cash and items.
The Village
As you enter the village, everything is on fire. Use the first Shrine you see. Head right, using the rooftops to get past the flames. You’ll soon come across a special chest that can’t be missed. Open it to get your first magic ability, the Fire Ninpo.
Keep platforming your way to the right across the burning buildings. You’ll reach a tall, wooden tower.
Oboro Relic #1 (Requires Sword Dive): Climb the wooden tower and you’ll spot a glowing green floor. You can’t break this yet. You’ll need the Sword Dive ability from a much later level. Once you have it, come back here, break the floor, and grab the relic from the chest below.
Continue right to find the Village Ruins Shrine.
Village Ruins and Ghost Samurai
Just past the shrine, you’ll face your first mini boss: the Ghost Samurai. This guy will introduce you to “Dark Attacks.” When you see him glow with a purple aura, don’t try to dodge through the attack. You have to physically jump or run out of the way. Beat him, and head right into the Dojo.
The Dojo and Antechamber
The Dojo is a big platforming tutorial. You’ll learn how to wall jump and air dash. Make your way through the enemy filled rooms. Eventually, you’ll drop into a large chamber where you’ll be ambushed. Defeat all the enemies to open the gate on the bottom right. Go through and wall jump your way up to the next area, the Antechamber.
Use the Shrine in the Antechamber. To proceed, you need to open the locked gate. Wall run up the wall to the right of the gate, then jump and air dash over to a switch on the far left. Hitting it will open the path forward.
Elite Squads #1 (Requires Cannon Punch): Right next to that switch, you’ll see a glowing green wall. This is a Yokai Barrier. You’ll need the Cannon Punch ability from the Lantern Festival level to break it. Come back when you have it, break the wall, and prepare for a tough fight against an Elite Squad.
Oboro Relic #2: Now, head back down and go through the newly opened gate. In this large room, ignore the platforms for now and go all the way to the right, into a hidden passage. Fight your way through, and you’ll find a large chest at the end containing the second relic.
Now, return to the main room and use the platforms to climb all the way to the top. Go left, use a dodge roll to get under a low ceiling, and hit the switch on the far left platform. This opens the next gate. Drop down and head through it to reach the Attic.
The Attic and Boss Fight
The Attic is a fiery, dangerous area with lots of platforming. Head right, then carefully make your way up.
Ankou Rift (Requires Sword Dive): In the main attic room, you’ll see a platform hanging over a pit of fire. Below it is another glowing green Yokai floor. Once you have the Sword Dive, you can break it to enter this area’s Ankou Rift, a super tough platforming challenge that rewards you with a piece of the legendary Dark Katana.
Oboro Relic #3 (Requires Sword Dive): This relic is found inside the secret area of the Ankou Rift.
Secret Chest #1 – Kunai Burst Ninpo (Requires Ninja Claws): Near The Attic Shrine, you’ll see a path to the left blocked by a wall you can’t climb yet. Once you have the Ninja Claws from The Mountain level, return here. You’ll face a brutal platforming section full of spikes. Your reward is a chest at the end with a new Ninpo.
Secret Chest #2 – Max Kunai Boost (Requires Sword Dive): From The Attic Shrine, head right. You’ll see another breakable Yokai floor. Sword Dive through it to find a chest with a permanent Kunai upgrade.
Continue making your way through the Attic until you find a chest on a bridge. Opening it gives you your first ultimate Ninjutsu skill, Karyu. Use it, and you’ll destroy the bridge, dropping into the area below.
The Collapsed Bridge and Boss: Kozaru
You’ll land right next to a Shrine. Heal up. The path to the left is for a collectible we’ll get later. For now, head right. Fight your way through the next big vertical room, hitting switches to open paths.
Elite Squads #2 (Requires Ninja Hook and Ninja Claws): From the Collapsed Bridge Shrine, head left into the tunnel. You’ll need both the Ninja Hook and Ninja Claws to get through a long, tricky parkour section. At the end, you’ll find the second Elite Squad encounter for this zone.
Oboro Relic #4 & #5: Both of the last two relics for this zone are found in the large vertical chamber after the Collapsed Bridge Shrine. One is in a chest on a hard to reach ledge on the left side of the room. The other is in a chest you’ll find right before the exit, after hitting the final switch to open the gate.
After this area, you’ll meet the Shopkeeper for the first time. Use the zipline next to him to reach the Snowy Glade.
Boss Fight: Kozaru After a cutscene, you’ll face the first major boss of the game, Kozaru. He’s big, he hits hard, and he has a ton of health. The strategy here is simple: patience. Learn his attack patterns, dodge, get a few hits in, and back off. Don’t get greedy! Watch out for his purple “Dark Attack,” as you can’t dodge through it. Once you beat him, the stage is almost over.
You’ll end the level with a fun sequence called “The Chase,” where you ride a wolf. Just enjoy the ride and take out the enemies.
Lantern Festival: A Deadly Celebration
Joe follows the ENE Corp to a city in the middle of a festival. It’s time to crash the party.
The Lake and The Village
This stage starts with some tricky platforming across a lake. Take your time. When you reach the island, you’ll find a shopkeeper.
Piercing Kunai Amulet: This useful amulet is in a chest right near the first shopkeeper on the island.
Continue into the village. You’ll need to hit a couple of switches to open the main gate. Once inside, you’ll find a chest right on the main path containing the Cannon Punch Ningi. This is a huge unlock, as it lets you break all those green Yokai Barriers you’ve been seeing.
Lantern Festival Relic #1: Before going through the main village gates, jump up on the roof to the left. A chest is hidden behind some trees here.
The Tower and Rooftops
You’ll make your way into a large tower. The goal is to climb it.
Lantern Festival Relic #2: In the Tower area, after you defeat an axe throwing enemy on a high platform, wall jump up the wall to his right. There’s a hidden ledge above with a chest.
Lantern Festival Relic #3: You’ll eventually reach a locked gate in the Tower. To open it, you have to complete a parkour section to the left. After you do and fight off an ambush, a chest will appear with this relic inside.
Lantern Festival Relic #4: After you get the Cannon Punch, climb to the very top of the tower where the zipline is. Don’t take it yet. Instead, jump to a platform above the zipline to find another relic.
Now, take the zipline down to the Rooftops. This section is all about platforming on floating balloons and rooftops.
Elite Squads #1: Right after landing in the Rooftops area, drop down to a balloon platform directly below the Shrine. You’ll find the encounter symbol there.
“Fire Raider” Outfit: After a section where you slide down a long roof and use a dash point, stop. Instead of jumping forward, drop down and head left to find a chest with this cool alternate costume.
Fireworks and Boss: Arachno Tank
Continue through the fireworks filled sky.
Lantern Festival Relic #5: In the Fireworks section, you’ll slide down the side of a large building. Stick to the right, and you’ll land on a lower platform with a shield enemy. Defeat him to get to the chest with the final relic for this area.
Soon after, you’ll face the stage boss.
Boss Fight: Arachno Tank This fight is a test of your new ability. The tank is protected by a green Yokai Shield. You have to get in close and use your Cannon Punch to break the shield. Once it’s down, the tank will be stunned. This is your chance to deal massive damage. It will eventually regenerate its shield, so just rinse and repeat. Beating it gets you the Thunder Ninpo.
Lantern Festival Clean Up Run
Come back here once you have the Ninja Claws and Sword Dive.
Elite Squads #2: Fast travel to the Rooftops Shrine. This encounter is at the end of a tough parkour section that is much easier with the Ninja Claws.
Ankou Rift: Fast travel to the Buildings Shrine. Head right, roll under a small gap, and then use the Ninja Hook to grapple up and to the left. The Rift is a tense chase sequence where you have to outrun a wall of fire.
Secret Cave (Relics & Elite Squad): Fast travel to the Island Shrine. Use Sword Dive on the glowing green floor right here to enter a secret cave. This area is a very challenging parkour zone. You will find the last few collectibles for the stage inside.
The Mountain: A Secret in the Peaks
Joe’s pursuit takes him high into a treacherous mountain range where ENE Corp has a secret facility.
Mountainside and Secret Factory
The level starts outdoors, with drones and snipers making your life difficult. Prioritize them!
Power Booster Amulet: You’ll find this great damage boosting amulet in a chest right next to the first shopkeeper.
Wind Slash Ninpo: Once you get inside the Secret Factory, head left from the first Shrine you see. You’ll get ambushed by a wave of enemies. Defeat them all, and a chest will appear with this useful aerial Ninpo.
Foundry and Boss: Mandara
You’ll navigate a lava filled foundry with moving platforms. A tough mini boss fight against a Stomper Bot here will reward you with the Ninja Claws that lets you climb yellow walls. Use your new ability to progress through the Junkyard, which includes a tense chase sequence with a wall of spikes.
Boss Fight: Mandara At the peak, you’ll face Mandara, a classic boss from the Shinobi series. This fight is all about pattern recognition. He doesn’t have a Yokai shield, but he’s fast. Watch his moves, learn the openings, and strike when he’s recovering. Defeating him rewards you with the Shuriken Ninpo.
The Mountain Clean Up Run
You’ll need the Ninja Hook and Sword Dive for a full clear.
The Mountain Relics: There are several relics hidden here. One is in a hidden passage in the Mountainside area. Another is found during the spike wall chase in the Junkyard, after escaping into a vent, drop back down and go left. A third is at the very top of the large elevator system, across a gap to the left.
Ankou Rift: Fast travel to the Waterfalls checkpoint. Before entering the factory, use your Ninja Claws to climb all the way to the very top of the mountain peak. You’ll need the Ninja Hook as well to reach a secret area at the summit where the Rift is located.
Neo City: Rooftop Rescue
Joe heads to the futuristic Neo City to rescue hostages. This level is more open, with three districts to clear.
City Entrance and The Three Districts
The goal here is to rescue three hostages, one in each district (East, South, and West). Follow the signs from the entrance. Each path is a mix of platforming, combat, and switch puzzles.
Bomb Ninpo: This is one of the best Ninpos in the game. Right from the start, go past the shop and jump up two platforms to find a relic. From there, drop down and take the zipline to the right. The chest inside the room contains the Bomb Ninpo, which absolutely destroys enemy armor.
Ninja Hook: You will unlock the crucial Ninja Hook Ningi in this stage as part of the main story.
Boss Fight: Kijima
After rescuing all three hostages, you’ll be chased by a helicopter, leading you to the final area and the boss. Kijima is a fast swordsman. His main moves are a telegraphed dashing slash and a summoned floating sword that follows you. Both are easy to dodge once you get the timing down, leaving him open for a counter attack. Defeating him rewards the Vampire Amulet.
Neo City Clean Up Run
“Blue Blur” Outfit: In the far eastern part of the East District, use your air dash to reach a small, isolated room. Roll under a gap to find a chest with this awesome Sonic the Hedgehog themed costume.
Fish Market: Something Smells Fishy
Next up, Joe infiltrates a bustling fish market being used as a front.
Warehouses and Docks
This stage is a linear path through warehouses and across moving containers. The highlight is the Octo Sign room, where you have to use rotating platforms on a giant octopus billboard to get across.
Flame Forger Amulet: This amulet is in a chest in the Octo Sign room.
You’ll have a mini boss fight against an Oni, which rewards you with the Shisui Ninjutsu.
Boss Fight: Octostar
The boss is a giant tentacled beast. This fight is all about staying mobile. It attacks by spawning tentacles from the ground, spitting projectiles, and dropping containers from the ceiling. Keep dashing around the arena and attack its main body during the openings after its attacks.
Fish Market Clean Up Run
You’ll need Cannon Punch to get everything. The collectibles here are cleverly hidden. You’ll need to ride vertical containers up instead of across, use grappling hooks to reach higher levels, and break a Yokai Barrier to find a large secret zone with multiple collectibles, including the Ankou Rift.
Submarine Base: Underwater Infiltration
Joe must sneak into a secret ENE Corp base hidden beneath the waves.
Floor B1 and Flooded Sector
The stage starts with an elevator ambush. You’ll progress by using explosive canisters to blow open doors. The puzzles get more complex on Floor B2, with flamethrowers and lasers. Eventually, you’ll reach a Flooded Sector.
Sword Dive: After lowering the water level in the Flooded Sector, you’ll find a chest on the main path containing the Sword Dive Ningi. This is the last key traversal ability you need!
Boss Fight: Chiyo
After a thrilling chase sequence where you outrun rising water, you’ll face Chiyo, another skilled kunoichi. The fight is pretty straightforward until she starts summoning clones. Your absolute top priority must be to take out the clones as fast as possible. If you let them build up, they will overwhelm you. Defeating her unlocks the Raijin Ninjutsu.
Submarine Base Clean Up Run
With all your abilities, you can now fully explore the base. The clean up involves using explosive canisters to launch yourself to high platforms, using the Glider in air currents to reach vents, and completing a tough parkour segment behind a Yokai floor to find the Ankou Rift.
The Desert: Ancient Ruins
The quest takes Joe to a vast desert filled with ancient secrets.
Dunes and Astral City
This stage is all about aerial mobility. You’ll unlock the Glider Ningi right at the start, allowing you to ride updrafts and cover huge distances. Use it to navigate the dunes and the ruins of Astral City.
Great Serpent Ninpo: Near the Ascent checkpoint, the main path will tell you to go right. Go left instead. You’ll trigger an ambush. Defeat the enemies to get a chest with this incredibly powerful Ninpo.
Boss Fight: Beastmaster
This is a unique boss fight. You don’t fight the Beastmaster directly. Instead, he summons powerful creatures for you to fight, including ground pounding minotaurs and flying griffins. You’ll need to constantly switch up your tactics, fighting on the ground one moment and in the air the next.
ENE Corp Laboratory: The Beginning of the End
Joe infiltrates ENE Corp’s main research lab, the source of all the chaos.
West and East Labs
This high tech facility is full of dangerous mutants and tough security. You’ll need to navigate the two main wings of the lab, activating elevators and fighting through containment rooms.
Boss Fight: The Twins
This is one of the coolest fights in the game. You’ll initially fight two separate, smaller mutants. After you deal enough damage, they will merge into a single, massive, and much more powerful creature with a whole new set of attacks. Focus on taking them down one at a time before they can combine to make the second phase easier.
The Grand Finale: Final Bosses
After the lab, you’ll face the final story bosses in back to back encounters.
Boss Fight: Tenval’s Heart
This boss is a stationary heart of a giant Kaiju. It’s a pure damage and crowd control check. Use Cannon Punch to break its recurring Yokai Barrier, then unleash everything you have. It will summon waves of enemies. Ignore the small fry and focus on the heart, but take out the big Shadow Ogres when they appear. At about 60% health, the floor will start erupting with acid, so watch your step.
Boss Fight: Lord Ruse
The final boss of the story. This is a tough, multi phase battle against the man behind it all. We recommend equipping a defensive Amulet like the Shield Amulet and a high damage Ninpo like Fire Ninpo. Learn his patterns, be patient, and deliver the final blow.
Endgame Secrets: The Ultimate Shinobi
Finished the main story? The fight isn’t over yet. To truly achieve 100% and face the game’s ultimate challenge, you need to tackle the endgame.
The Six Lab Keys and the Secret Boss
Hidden across the world are six secret Lab Keys. Collecting all of them is the only way to unlock the true final boss.
- Lab Key 1: Found in a secret chest in the Fish Market.
- Lab Key 2: Your reward for defeating all three Elite Squads in The Mountain.
- Lab Key 3: Hidden in a chest in the ENE Corp Laboratory. You can only get it after beating the level’s main boss.
- Lab Key 4: Found in a secret chest in The Assault stage.
- Lab Key 5: Given to you automatically after beating the final story boss, Lord Ruse.
- Lab Key 6: The final and most demanding key. You must collect all 55 Oboro Relics in the entire game and give them to the shopkeeper. He will then sell you this key for 10,000 gold.
Once you have all six keys, return to the ENE Corp Laboratory. Go to the Containment Room checkpoint and interact with the machine in the middle of the room. This will unlock the path to the Shadow Master, the hardest boss in the game. Good luck.
Forging the Dark Katana
Remember those Ankou Rifts? Each one you complete gives you a Dark Katana fragment. There are 10 fragments in total. Once you’ve conquered all 10 rifts, you’ll forge the Dark Katana, an incredibly powerful weapon that will be a massive help against the game’s toughest challenges.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Official Website
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