Master Ninja (or Legendary Hunter when playing as Rachel) rank is the highest possible rank given on any mission. Your ranking is based on 5 different factors:
- thetotal time spent on the mission
- thenumber of enemies you've killed
- the total Essence you've collected
- the number of remaining Ninpo, granting 100 000 bonus Karma if you're Ninpo gauge is full
- the total Karma you've earned during the mission - by far the most important factor as it lets you bypass the other requirements if you get enough of it. Thus, it is strongly recommended to toggle the Karma counter in-game by pressing
in the main menu.
It is also very important that you have a time limit for each fight - completing it before the end of the timer will grant you a very helpful Karma bonus that will greatly improve your final score, so play fast and efficiently!
It is even more important to not die during the chapter! In case that happens, select "No" when asked if you want to continue, and load your last save instead. You're only "allowed" to die if you happen to have a Resurrection Talisman.
You can refer to the table available in Stage 3 of the guide's roadmap to know all the minimum requirements per chapter - also mentioned in the same part, we're going to replay most of the Ambushes(yes, even the one including 100 Knightmares).
As already recommended several times in this guide, wearing the Grip of Murder costume and Azure Dragon Helmetwill greatly improve your odds of getting the Master Ninja rank, thanks to their massive combined damage bonus which will prove to be very efficient during boss fights. Also, it is a good idea to use your UTs (Ultimate Techniques) every time you have the opportunity, to gain more Essence AND more Karma.
Your Essence will be put to great use to buy potions and upgrade your weapons, more than ever.
Here are the weapons you should upgrade to level 3 first, as these are the ones you'll use the most:
- Dragon Sword
- Dual Katana
- Dabilahro
- Wooden Sword
You'll also find timestamps in each Chapter breakdown referring to the dedicated video below each one.
Chapter 1:
This first chapter is by far the hardest chapter to get Master Ninja ranking on! Due to an evident lack of weapons, techniques, and overall power, you'll need a pretty much perfect playthrough to get the MN ranking. Use UTs as much as you can to gain bonus Essence and Karma, especially during the close-quarters fights and never hesitate to use walls at your advantage with wall attacks, especially during fights.
Against Murai (12:50), wall attacks and attacking him after he charges are the best options.
Chapter 2:
This is thankfully a much simpler chapter than the previous one. Again, use your UTs against the cavalry archers encounter to deal with them effectively (8:24). If you need some health, don't forget you can shoot the target for some free Blue Essence!
The only boss you'll have to fight is Masakado: quickly kill the warlock ninjas to absorb their Essence and land some UTs on the boss, dealing a hefty amount of damage - once dismounted, use the 
combo to quickly put him into his grave (11:33).
You do not have to fight Doku to get the MN rank, so just let him kill you to go to the next chapter.
Chapter 3:
MN ranking isn't too hard to obtain in this chapter, thanks to the Ambush it contains (8:59). Remember that beating an Ambush will greatly improve your kill count and karma score, making MN rank easier to obtain.
This chapter's boss is Dynamo- you know the drill against this guy: 360° + while wielding your newly acquired Dual Katanaand this boss now belongs to history (24:03)!
Chapter 4:
There is no boss nor Ambush in this chapter, so you'll have to be quick from start to end. Do not skip any facultative battle, as Karma is valued above all.
By "facultative battle", we mean any fight that has no timer and can just be avoided by ignoring enemies.
When it comes to the final fight against the bikers, you should have access to the Guillotine Throw if you've picked all the Scarabs so far - use it to dismount the enemies from their bikes, turning them into regular soldiers (21:26).
Alternatively, you can use your Fire Ninpo to get rid of them, and refill your Ninpo to the Team Ninja logo nearby!
Chapter 5:
This first chapter (playing as Rachel) thankfully contains an Ambush (6:13) which you'll spend most of your time in since the chapter itself is very short. Beat it to secure yourself with a Legendary Hunter rank.
Chapter 6:
Sadly, there is no Ambush in this chapter for easy bonus Karma, although there is still our favourite boss: the Hydracubus (23:34). As usual, use the Flying Swallow technique to slice its tentacles, before going ham with your Dual Katana on his body. Before this boss, you'll be facing Red Demons - do not hesitate to use your UTs for easy damage and better Essence/Karma (22:40).
The Red Ninjas are quite annoying - try to either land an Izuna Drop or execute them on the ground, as they're extremely mobile and will dodge most of your attacks (12:46).
Chapter 7:
Be sure to clear every single room, as the karma requirement for this chapter is quite high.
Your first boss will also be your first encounter with the Doppelganger (7:04). Like its other iterations, it is noticeably weak to the Dual Katana's 360° + .
The chapter itself is quite long, and you'll be facing the Dragon Skeleton (36:26) at the end of the mission. Like a lot of bosses (just look at the previous one), it is weak to the Dual Katana 360° + attack - do not forget to take care of its minions first!
Chapter 8:
You know the drill at this point: Ambushes are a benefit as they are a great help towards you getting your MN ranking. Be careful as some superior enemies during this Ambush (5:35) might take you off guard. Take advantage of the open arena, as UTs and the combo are your best tools once again.
Don't forget to beat the Knightmare to get the Blades of Ouroboros! (2:38)
This chapter's boss is Gamov (26:16) - an unnecessarily quick and very hectic fight overall, don't waste too much of your time trying to land your standard attacks on him. Wall attacks are your best option, as he doesn't seem to know what to do against these.
Chapter 9:
Another long and intense chapter containing two bosses (including the Hydracubus at 26:25) and one Ambush #5into the library (5:22 on the video featured in 
Ninja Massacre).
It is also greatly advised to save a lot of Essence to buy lots of potions for the incoming fight against Alma (50:16), who is arguably one of the harder bosses, especially on Master Ninja. First, take care of her two minions, then use the Flying Swallow technique on her and hope she gets on her knees soon, as it is completely random - once down, use the combo with the Dual Katana to deal as much damage as possible. It's a very difficult boss fight, so don't hesitate to use any form of healing (or even your Talisman of Rebirth if you have any).
Chapter 10:
For the whole chapter, it is advised to use either the War Hammer (picked up at 1:22) or the Dabilahro, as most of the enemies will easily deflect your Dragon Sword hits.
Essence is quite scarce during this chapter, so be sure to clean up every single room to secure the MN ranking since it's quite a difficult chapter to complete with the maximum score
The only boss in this mission is Alternator(16:00): you will use the exact same technique you've used against Dynamo in Chapter 3 to quickly get rid of the second electric brother.
Chapter 11:
You can go back into the streets right at the start of the chapter to nab some extra Essence and Karma on soldiers nearby.
Do not forget to shoot the hidden switch facing the bow window (2:42) to get a very valuable and free Talisman of Rebirth!
Again, there is no Ambush in this chapter, but instead, two (two and a half?) boss fights in the form of the Two Tanks, the Chopper,and the Radio Tower. The drones in the hangar can be quite annoying during this chapter, so use your Greatbow or Windmill Shuriken to get rid of them.
Against the Tanks(11:26), the method is still the same: don't stop shooting at them with Explosive arrows, and watch for the cannon when it's aiming at you.
There's the second Team NINJA logo nearby, don't hesitate to replenish your health and Ninpo before fighting the incoming Chopper.
The Chopper(14:28)fight is a bit harder than the Tanks: you can take shelter behind the ammo boxes to avoid some damage during the phase where the Chopper fires lots of missiles. Your best opportunity to deal a lot of damage is when it flies above and beneath the bridge.
The Radio Tower (17:48) can be a tricky fight, but your best advice will be to kill all the soldiers on the Tower, except one, so none of them respawn.
Chapter 12:
Chapter 12 is one of the easiest missions to get MN rank on, thanks to its Ambush (6:41) and numerous bosses. At this point, you should already know you can beat both Ambushes to secure the MN rank.
A Level 3 Dabilahro is extremely valuable in this chapter thanks to his great ease in managing the demons encountered.
Half of the bosses will consist of Electric Worms (36:25 for the single worm, 44:48 for the double worm fight): wait for them to attack and punish them with a 
+ attack with the Dabilahro for easy and heavy damage.
The Doppelganger(54:36)is best defeated by using the Dual Katana 360° + attack until it dies. Wall attacks with Dabilahro also work quite well.
Paz Zuu(1:12:38) is another straightforward boss: use your favourite Dual Katana attack on its legs and repeat it on its head.
Chapter 13:
For this chapter's Ambush, go back to where you fought the Doppelganger in the previous mission, to gain enough Essence and Karma for the MN ranking.
Our good old friend Dokuiswaiting for us at the end of the mission (16:20). Contrary to your first encounter in Chapter 2, you'll be strong enough to make him pay for what he did: get rid of his minions and wait for him to spew flames - go behind his back and charge a UT for good damage. You can also wait for him to do his charge attack to throw a bunch of hits before retracting.
Chapter 14:
Thankfully, the Ambush (5:17) in this chapter will let you get your Legendary Hunter rank without too much hassle. Like the two other chapters featuring Rachel, this one is very short, and you'll spend most of your time beating the Ambush.
The mission bosses are none other than Ishtaros and Nicchae... There is no need to fight them, so just let them kill you and go on through to the next chapter.
Chapter 15 :
This can be the longest chapter in the game if you plan to go for the MN rank. This is solely due to one of the Ambushes (2:45) being the longest and hardest in the whole game because you will have to fight no less than 100 Knightmares, always in groups of three! Show them that you've got the bigger weapon and use the Dabilahro's UT to defeat them one by one.
The second Ambush (1:09:03) takes place shortly after the Knightmare galore but is thankfully much shorter and easier.
There also are three bosses in this adventure of a chapter!
First, your favourite pushover, Yotunfrau (1:37:28): Dual Katana and Dabilahro do wonders against this giant thing, so don't hesitate to use your UTs. After that fight, do not forget to grab the Inazuma scroll for an easier endgame.
Then, a double battle against Fire Worms(1:41:56): it is the exact same fight as the one with their electric counterparts you've fought in Chapter 12.
And finally, Smaugan (1:43:35): activate the floor switch to elevate onto higher platforms, kill the zombie archers, charge your Dabilahro's UT, and wait for him to get his head close to you to deal good chunks of damage to this beast.
Chapter 16:
Chapter 16 might be the hardest chapter to complete on Master Ninja, due to its final boss. Thus, the hardest challenge will be to actually complete the chapter itself, as the MN rank isn't too difficult to obtain, thanks to the Ambush.
The Ambush is located right at the first checkpoint (1:11) and will only consist of flying insects.
The first boss will be the Vigoorian Flail Doppelganger(32:14): like its other counterparts, the Dual Katana 360° + attack is your best tool against it - try to isolate the boss in a corner to make the fight even easier.
The other boss is Awakened Alma (35:32): if regular Alma was one of the hardest bosses in the game, her Awakened form definitely takes the cake as the hardest boss in the game. The method to defeat her remains the same though, try to land a Flying Swallow that will put her down to the ground before attacking her as much as you can with your True Dragon Blade. She seems to be more vulnerable to the Flying Swallow once she lands, so keep an eye on her all the time. Also, try not to spam Flying Swallow too much, otherwise you'll be more likely to get hit by her pink fireball. Awakened Alma requires a lot of patience to be beaten, especially on the hardest difficulty. The boss itself is extremely hard to hit due to its randomness, so the only thing to do is wish you good luck with that one.
Chapter 17:
Another mission without any Ambush, but with two bosses - one being the Unlabored Flawlessness Doppelganger (4:58), you can use the same technique you've used against all the others (you know, the one with the Dual Katana!).
However be very careful, since the Doppelganger will also be granted the Unlabored Flawlessness passive attack bonus, which means it will inflict more damage the less health it has!
The second boss will be Doku's Spirit (16:32), dealing more damage than ever. The Unlabored Flawlessness combo does absolute miracles against this boss! Alternatively, you can use Dabilharo's wall attacks if you haven't upgraded your Wooden Sword to its maximum potential. Don't forget to keep some Inazuma Ninpos to clean all the Ghost Fishes spawning during the fight, to make your life easier.
Chapter 18:
Finally, you're seeing the light at the end of this unending tunnel!
The final Ambush is located in this chapter and of course, we'll want to go for it (14:28): the Inazuma ninpo and your trusty Dabilahro will be your best tools to overcome the final trial, granting you a good amount of karma for your MN rank.
The final chapter is a great place to farm Essence and Karma from Ghost Fishes, so go for it if you need to buy some provisions. Don't hesitate to spend all your remaining Essence at Muramasa's to buy as many projectiles, potions, and Talismans as you'll need for the incoming final boss rush. Keep in mind that you can heal and replenish your Ninpo at the Team NINJA logo for free!
- Nicchae (1:08:32): while being a hard boss herself, the technique against Nicchae is rather simple. Equip your Dabilahro, Unlabored Flawlessness, or Dark Dragon Blade, and keep landing wall attacks on her until her defeat.
- Ishtaros (1:10:57): thankfully not as dangerous as her sister - your favourite Dual Katana attack works very well against her. Don't forget to be ready to block as she'll tend to dodge a lot. Alternatively, you can abuse her moveset : with the True Dragon Blade, wait for her to break your guard (usually with a front kick), roll away, and use the combo to stagger her, resetting her combos. This is a great technique to loop the fight in your favor and defeat the demon in no time!
- Marbus (1:12:32): take out his minions one by one and wait for him to do his aerial crash attack, leaving him very vulnerable for a few seconds. Bully him with your True Dragon Blade the rest of the time
- Holy Vigoor Emperor - First Phase (1:26:21): his lasers deal a ton of damage. You can use any Ninpo to prevent taking damage in case you don't feel like successfully dodging them. Focus on his arms and torso and throw as many attacks as you can.
- Holy Vigoor Emperor - Second Phase (1:28:14): just use EVERYTHING against the Emperor, everything you can think of: explosive kunai, explosive arrows, regular arrows, Ninpo...
And that's almost it! There is now one final obstacle between you and the final Master Ninja rank...
Chapter 19:
This is it, the very last chapter you'll fight against, with one last adversary: Fiend Murai (1:34:39). After all the things you've been through, the final boss clearly is no match for you, so grab your Dual Katana and use your most reliable and beloved attack against him to quickly get rid of this traitor. As long as you don't spend too much time in the platforming session and don't consume any Ninpo, you should get your Master Ninja ranking without any problem.
If you've managed to go through this absolute titan of a trophy, then congratulations! The platinum is almost yours!
All video credits go to meyerparkX
