Perfect Fatal Flash is Ninja Gaiden 4’s most effective counter-attack, but also the most difficult maneuver to pull off consistently, as the skill’s in-game description is vague on its activation conditions. Here what the game doesn’t tell you to use Perfect Fatal Flash consistently after every parry.

NOTE: Method and strategy perfected in the over 30 hours the author has spent in the game, completing the main campaign twice in Normal and Hard difficulty and Boss Trials challenges. Screenshots captured from the Steam 1.0.1.0 version.

How to Use Perfect Fatal Flash

As the name implies, Perfect Fatal Flash is the enhanced version of Fatal Flash. To use it you have to:

1. Purchase the Fatal Flash and Perfect Fatal Flash skills from Tyran for 900 and 27,000 NinjaCoins, respectively. The Bloodraven Form of both skills is also available for 9,000 and 36,000 NinjaCoins.
2. Parry an enemy attack by pressing any attack button (Square/ X for light attack, Triangle/ Y for heavy attack) right before an attack connects with Yakumo or Ryu
3. Press the heavy attack button (Triangle/ Y), or the Bloodraven/Gleam Form button (L2/ Left Trigger) at the right time.

If done correctly, the cinematic follow-up will show a red cross on the enemy, who will get dismembered instantly, regardless of health. Press the heavy attack button (Triangle/ Y) to eliminate the enemy with an Obliteration attack.

How to Use Perfect Fatal Flash Consistently

The in-game description of Perfect Fatal Flash only mentions that the heavy attack button (Triangle/ Y) has to be pressed at the right time to use the skill, without elaborating.

The correct timing to use Perfect Fatal Flash is pressing the heavy attack button (Triangle/Y) right when Yakumo’s and Ryu’s bodies are glowing. This happens roughly one second after a successful parry, so button mashing will only lead to a regular Fatal Flash which, while useful, cannot incapacitate an enemy in a single strike.

To learn the proper timing, you can use Ninja Gaiden 4’s training by entering the Training Settings menu (Press the main menu button in Training Mode) and:

1. Select any enemy you want to practice against
2. Set their behavior to Normal
3. Set unlimited health. This makes it so that only an Obliteration attack unleashed after a Perfect Fatal Flash can defeat the training dummy, helping you understand quickly if you have performed a Final Fatal Flash, or a regular one.

Perfect Fatal Flash is only one of the intricate mechanics that powers the latest entry in the series by Team NINJA. You can check out our other Ninja Gaiden 4 guides for additional help with its gameplay intricacies.

Follow Wccftech on Google or add us as a preferred source, to get our news coverage and reviews in your feeds.