How Do Armlets Affect the Izuna Drop? and More - NINJA GAIDEN "By the Numbers," Episode 6.1

Channel:

Guilty Gaming

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2,780

Published on July 25, 2023 7:53:30 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHhCVuf_uK8

Game:

Ninja Gaiden Black (2005)

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Show

Duration: 14:42

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Hey everybody, Guilty here with an addendum to “By the Numbers” Episode 6, where we analyzed the data behind the accessories—the armlets and ribbons—in Ninja Gaiden Black.

JTB posed a great question regarding how the Armlet of Potency affected Runaway Lightning and the Izuna Drop. I didn’t have the answers for him at the time, but I knew how to get them and get them, I did.

Runaway Lightning (or Rushing Thunder) can hit an enemy a maximum of five times. The first three hits are while Ryu is on the ground—we’ll specify these as Melee strikes—and as I demonstrate here, the player can actually cut themselves short and prompt the second half of the string early, reducing the first half of the combo by one or two hits. At 48 points with no accessories equipped, pressing Y too soon can rob the player of up to 96 points of damage.

And regardless of the appearance of the latter two hits that make up the second half of the string, they are technically not Melee strikes. Dealing 200 points of damage each, I would call these Physical strikes. Maybe you can tell by the sound effect used—studying the animation frame by frame didn’t help too terribly much—but these Physical strikes seem to be with the haft of the Flail as opposed to the sickle. I make a point to say all this because this is where the Armlet of Potency enters the conversation.

First off, yes—from start to finish, Ryu is using the Flails to inflict damage in this. I’m not gonna try to make sense out of why any of the hits made with the same weapon are different from each other. I’m just here to tell you what’s in front of me. The first half of the string, the Melee hits, can be boosted 5% with Armlet of the Sun (to 50 points per strike) or 15% with the Band of Power (to 55 points per strike). However, Sun and Power have no effect on the two strikes that make up the second half of the string. As JTB points out, those attacks are different.

With either Potency or the Band of Strength equipped, the opening Melee strikes are unaffected and deal the expected 48 points of damage per hit, but the final two attacks are boosted 40% from 200 points to 280. I will concede this one attack does not determine the usefulness of the Level 2 Flails or the ideal Armlet with which to pair with the Flails, but it must be stated that with the Armlet of the Sun, Runaway Lightning is capable of a maximum 550 points of damage. With the Armlet of Potency, however, the latter two hits alone deal 560 points.

The interaction between the armlets and the Izuna Drop is a bit more straightforward. With nothing equipped, Ryu will body-slam a man-sized enemy for 1500 points of damage. Equipping the Armlet of Potency will bump that damage 40% to 2100 points. Nice. But JTB’s question was about splash damage.

For those who are unaware, any enemy who is directly below Ryu (or within maybe a meter) as he performs the Izuna Drop will incur proximity damage in the amount of 700 points. Does the Armlet of Potency extend to those enemies, as well?

…No. Potency does not affect splash damage.

But wait a second. What about Armlet of the Sun?

Although Armlet of the Sun does not affect the 1500 points of damage dealt by the Izuna Drop, it does affect the Izuna Drop’s splash damage, bumping up the baseline 700 points approximately 5% to 734.

And the same principle applies to the Ribbon of Power. It’s unique 15% buff increases Izuna Drop splash damage from 700 to an astounding 805.

A great question from one of the great legends of the NG community that led to some pretty cool research. Speaking of research, the rest of episode 6 will follow in just a moment—I committed a small editing error in the first version I published and I also wanted to add more time for viewers to read the various notes I write.

I just wrapped chapters 6, 7 and 8, and maxed out a couple weapons with Muramasa, so rest assured: there is a ton of “Numbers” content on the way.

0:00 Ripping Thunder
2:42 Izuna Drop
4:30 Attack
5:34 Defense
6:34 Kicks & Throws
8:09 Essence
9:31 HP Regen
10:50 Ultimate Techniques
13:53 Summary

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