How to Increase Max Health in Ninja Gaiden 4

In Ninja Gaiden 4, boosting your maximum health is crucial for surviving the game’s tough battles. To do this, you need to collect Black Scales and Phantasmal Herbs. These items are hidden throughout the game and can be obtained in different ways. This guide will show you the locations of all Black Scales and Phantasmal Herbs in Ninja Gaiden 4.

How to Increase Yakumo’s Max Health in Ninja Gaiden 4

Black Scales and Phantasmal Herbs:

Okay, so I figured out how to make your health bar bigger in NG4! It’s actually pretty easy. You just need to grab one Black Scale and one Phantasmal Herb. Once you have both, the game automatically combines them into this awesome upgrade called the Dragon Lord’s Grace, which boosts your health!

Creating a Dragon Lord’s Grace automatically gives Yakumo a small health boost. Based on in-game information, you can increase his maximum health a total of ten times. This suggests there are ten Black Scales and ten Phantasmal Herbs to find.

You’ll find most Black Scales and Phantasmal Herbs by completing side quests. Be sure to check for new quests at the first DarkNest Terminal in each chapter, and then at every one after that. Don’t forget to turn in completed quests at any DarkNest Terminal to get your rewards!

Where to Find All Black Scales in Ninja Gaiden 4

All Black Scale Locations:

Scale #	Location/Chapter	Image
Black Scale 1	Chapter 2: After making your way up the rooftop steps with floating drones, you’ll face an elite enemy before jumping on a yellow rail. The first Black Scale is in a chest at the end of the short alley to the left if you are facing the elite enemy head-on.
Black Scale 2	Chapter 3: Locate the ‘Rotting Charm’ for the associated side-mission. You’ll find the charm later in the chapter, once you’ve entered the shrine. As you make your way through, you’ll encounter an area after locating the Food Thief that looks more like the outside, with a large blue cargo container. The charm is in a chest behind the container.
Black Scale 3	Chapter 4: While fighting through the chapter, you’ll find a chest at the top of a set of stairs, guarded by two spear-wielding enemies. The scale is in the chest. The area appears to be a shrine or memorial of some kind, and as such it’s hard to miss.
Black Scale 4	Chapter 4: Complete the ‘Secret Supplies’ mission. You can find the supplies in a special high-tech chest that has a unique glow. It is found in a large clearing where the wreckage of a high-tech flying machine is encountered. There are several chests in the area, but the secret supplies stand out.
Black Scale 5	Chapter 8: Complete the ‘Antiquated Currency’ mission. After collecting the Pond Strider, you’ll make your way through an obstacle course. Near the end, you’ll encounter two of the large fish fiends with portals in their mouths. Look for a large ‘keep out’ sign painted on a wall behind one of the fish. After defeating that fish, there will be a chest directly behind it that contains the currency. Note: If you don’t go back to a terminal to turn this in before leaving, it will be a bit before you can do it in Chapter 9. You’ll find Black Scale 6 before finding the next terminal.
Black Scale 6	Chapter 9: In this chapter, you’ll encounter open areas that you can navigate with the Pond Strider. After clearing the first open area, slide under the gate into the second open area. In the second area, you’ll find a water channel that leads you back to an area similar to the Purgatory location in the first open area. There are several tough enemies here, and the Black Scale can be found in a chest in the middle of the land mass.
Black Scale 7	Chapter 12: After the first combat encounter in Chapter 12, you’ll head up a set of stairs and see the next door you must pass through. Just before reaching the second set of stairs that lead to the door, turn right, and you’ll see a chest against a fence and near a stack of pallets. This chest contains Black Scale 7.
Black Scale 8	Chapter 12: Complete the “Classified Documents” mission — Near the end of the chapter, you’ll reach an area where the lights suddenly turn red. This will occur just before the entrance to a long series of corridors that lead to the elevator ride that takes you to the end of the chapter. Just before the door, turn right, and you’ll find a chest along the wall that contains the documents. Turn them in at the final DarkNest Terminal to receive the Black Scale.

Where to Find All Phantasmal Herbs in Ninja Gaiden 4

All Phantasmal Herb Locations:

Herb #	Location & Chapter	Image
Phantasmal Herb 1	Chapter 1: Collect the Data Chip near the three chests later in one of the outdoor combat arenas. There are three chests in a row that are very hard to miss if you look. You’ll receive the first Phantasmal Herb when you turn in the mission at a DarkNest Terminal.
Phantasmal Herb 2	Chapter 3. While in a circular chamber in the shrine, you’ll see a very slender alcove with a chest at the top of a set of stairs. The herb is found within the chest.
Phantasmal Herb 3	Chapter 5: Locate and turn in the ‘Heirloom Knife’ for the associated mission. You’ll find the knife behind one of the large enemies that spits fireballs as you are gliding up the mountain. It will be near the end of the climb, but this is easy to miss, so make sure you take them all out and check behind them. It appears as a small pillar of light from a distance.
Phantasmal Herb 4	Chapter 5: Locate and turn in the ‘Tengu Offering’ for the associated mission. You’ll sign up for this mission earlier, but it is completed in Chapter 5. After defeating the statue boss, which looks like the statues you’ve been destroying up to this point, you’ll want to look left as soon as you exit the building. The Tengu Offering will be on the ground. It’s very dark as you exit, so look for the small pillar of light.
Phantasmal Herb 5	Chapter 6: At the start of the level, after landing on the bridge, head in the direction of the DarkNest Terminal and Tyran’s Raven. To the left of the terminal, you’ll see two chests near the broken remains of an old suspension bridge. The chest on the edge of the cliff contains Phantasmal Herb 5.
Phantasmal Herb 6	Chapter 9: Find all 3 ‘Beautiful Minerals’—these are items spread throughout Chapter 9. All of them are found in chapter nine, so make sure to thoroughly explore each area. They are always out in the open, marked by pillars of light like non-chest mission items.
Phantasmal Herb 7	Chapter 11: As you make your way through the first stage of the Dragon’s Maw, you’ll find yourself riding on rails. This herb is found in a chest on a platform off to the left of a rail. Just before you jump on the correct rail, you’ll climb a large wall with E-4 printed on it. The rail has a blue speed-boost ring as soon as you jump on it. After jumping on the rail, you’ll have to jump over several obstacle rings, then slide under one of the gates. Immediately after sliding under the gate, you’ll see the platform off to the left. Jump to it, defeat the enemies, then open all chests.
Phantasmal Herb 8	Coming Soon	Coming Soon
Phantasmal Herb 9	Coming Soon	Coming Soon
Phantasmal Herb 10	Coming Soon	Coming Soon