Shinobi Art of Vengeance: The Mountain collectibles guide

Complete guide to finding all secrets, Elite Squads, Oboro Relics, and the Ankou Rift in The Mountain stage

Understanding The Mountain’s Structure and Preparation

Shinobi Art of Vengeance The Mountain
The Mountain joins the Lantern Festival in Zone 2 of Shinobi Art of Vengeance (Image via SEGA)

Shinobi Art of Vengeance The Mountain
The Mountain joins the Lantern Festival in Zone 2 of Shinobi Art of Vengeance (Image via SEGA)

Shinobi Art of Vengeance organizes its campaign into distinct zones, with the second zone featuring both Lantern Festival and The Mountain stages. While you can tackle these in either sequence, experienced players strongly recommend completing Lantern Festival first. This strategic approach provides access to the crucial Cannon Punch ability, which becomes essential for unlocking numerous secrets, locating Oboro Relics, and accessing hidden areas throughout The Mountain.

Many players attempt The Mountain without proper preparation, leading to frustration and multiple return trips. The stage’s vertical design and complex platforming sequences demand specific movement abilities that you’ll acquire progressively. Understanding when to progress forward versus when to backtrack for collectibles can save you significant time and effort.

I successfully unlocked most of The Mountain’s content during my initial playthrough, but strategic planning is essential to minimize return visits. The timing of your revisit depends heavily on which abilities you prioritize acquiring first. Below you’ll find comprehensive guidance for every major discovery available in this challenging stage.

Locating All Three Elite Squads

The Elite Squad encounters in The Mountain stage reward you with a valuable Lab Key, one of six required to unlock a significant endgame secret. Fortunately, all three squads are accessible during your first playthrough if you know where to look. Their locations are reasonably straightforward, though one requires specific equipment.

  • Elite Squad #1: This initial encounter is practically unavoidable. Positioned directly along the main path, you’ll find it immediately after reaching the Waterfalls Save Point. The squad awaits just beside this checkpoint, making it impossible to miss unless you deliberately bypass the combat.
  • Elite Squad #2: Upon arriving at the Foundry Save Point, resist the temptation to proceed right into the demanding movement challenge. Instead, head left and utilize double jump or air dash techniques to reach the white scalable wall. Ascend this surface, move left to activate the switch mechanism, then descend into the adjacent chamber where the Elite Squad awaits engagement.
  • Elite Squad #3: Starting from the Excavation Site Shop, descend and proceed right through the purple-hued section of the map. Employ your Ninja Claws to scale the walls, and you’ll spot the final Elite Squad formation positioned on your left side.
  • Pro Tip: Elite Squads typically feature mixed enemy compositions with both melee and ranged attackers. Prioritize eliminating ranged units first to create safer engagement spaces. Using area-of-effect Ninpo can quickly thin their numbers before focusing on remaining threats.

    Essential Equipment and Ninpo Upgrades

    The Mountain introduces several crucial movement and combat enhancements that dramatically expand your navigational capabilities. Acquiring these should be prioritized to access the stage’s full content.

  • Ninja Claws: After defeating the initial Stomper Bot enemy in the Foundry area, proceed right to obtain the Ninja Claws. This indispensable tool enables vertical traversal of white-colored walls, opening previously inaccessible routes and collectibles.
  • Wind Sculptor Ninpo (Requires Ninja Claws/Hooks): From the Elevator Save Point, return upward to the miniboss chamber. Proceed up and right to access the purple map section. Scale the ascending white walls using your Ninja Hooks to grapple upward to another white surface. Carefully navigate past robotic enemies and rotating blades while continuing your ascent to claim this powerful wind-based technique.
  • Ninpo Master Amulet (Requires Ninja Claws/Sword Dive): Beginning at the Secret Factory Save Point, employ Ninja Claws to scale the right wall and drop into the next zone. Descend further and maneuver past twin laser barriers. Continue downward, activate the switch for future escape routing, then execute a Sword Dive descent to land safely on a platform. Reach the central section, perform two upward jumps, and trigger the first switch to disable left-side lasers. Jump leftward, wall-jump up the column and activate the second switch to clear right-side lasers. Proceed to the right column and trigger that switch from the right platform. Ascend, activate the subsequent switch, and Sword Dive through the floor surface. This eliminates the lowest laser barriers, allowing you to descend, trigger the final switch, and access the chamber containing the valuable Amulet.
  • Advanced Strategy: The Ninpo Master Amulet puzzle requires precise timing and spatial awareness. Practice Sword Dive canceling to maintain better control during the descent phases. Many players fail this section by rushing – instead, methodically plan each movement before execution.

    Collecting All Five Oboro Relics

    With strategic backtracking, all five Oboro Relics within The Mountain become obtainable during your initial playthrough. However, most players will need to return later for at least one relic after acquiring additional movement capabilities.

  • Oboro Relic #1: After obtaining Ninja Claws, return to the Waterfall map section. Rather than proceeding right into the Secret Factory, ascend upward using your newly acquired climbing ability. Continue right into the Mountain Peak zone. From the Save Point, proceed right until encountering a white wall. Utilize air dash or double jump to reach the next section, then scale the subsequent white wall. Slide down the slope and air dash toward another white surface. Traverse this wall downward, leftward, and upward to air dash into a concealed alcove containing the relic.
  • Oboro Relic #2: At the summit of the Waterfall area, you’ll notice a purple map section to your left. Leap to the structure’s rooftop and eliminate encountered enemies. Descend the left side and use golden handholds to jump and air dash inside the relic chamber.
  • Oboro Relic #3: During the Junkyard escape sequence where spinning red blades pursue you, return after passing the second blade. Head to the extreme left side. This relic becomes visible when you initially drop into the second corridor.
  • Oboro Relic #4: Following the dual Stomper Bot mini-boss encounter, proceed left past the newly accessible doorway. Ride the elevator upward and leap across to the left. Defeat several enemies, then open the Treasure Box containing the relic.
  • Oboro Relic #5: While in the Excavation Site, you’ll notice a shop to the right and an upward path accessible with Ninja Claws. Ascend using the white walls, then descend at the path’s conclusion to shatter the Treasure Box.
  • Navigation Tip: The relic hunt requires meticulous exploration and often demands returning to previously visited areas with new abilities. Create mental markers for locations you cannot yet access, and systematically revisit them after obtaining crucial movement upgrades like the Ninja Hooks or enhanced dash abilities.

    Conquering the Challenging Ankou Rift

    Once you’ve acquired both Ninja Claws and Ninja Hook in Shinobi Art of Vengeance, venture into the Mountain Peak, retrieve the final Oboro Relic mentioned previously, and re-ascend the white wall that provided access to it. Slide down the subsequent slope and execute an air dash/double jump combination to reach a white wall leading upward.

    Reach the summit and proceed left, where you’ll encounter a ceiling featuring a white surface. Utilize this to reach the next platform after eliminating all spawning enemies. Exercise caution around lightning-generating foes, as they possess dangerous area-of-effect attacks. Once cleared, use the upper platform to access the left white wall and continue climbing.

    Execute a double jump to the ceiling’s white wall to proceed toward the Ankou Rift in The Mountain stage. Drop and air dash to the following platform, slide down the incline, and again air dash to a white wall. You’ll observe several cubic platforms. Position yourself on one and employ the Ninja Hook to grapple to another attachment point in the upper left region. The Ankou Rift awaits in this elevated position.

    This particular Ankou Rift ranks among the most demanding challenges in Shinobi Art of Vengeance. It necessitates complete mastery of Ninja Claws mechanics to navigate a sequence of mobile platforms while avoiding laser obstacles. Maintaining elevation is crucial – descending too low often proves fatal. Flawless air dashes, precise double jumps, and expert Ninja Claw application are essential for success. While some players consider returning later with the glider accessory, this isn’t strictly necessary with proper technique execution.

    Advanced Technique: Master the ‘wall kick cancel’ technique by quickly jumping off walls to maintain momentum. For laser avoidance, time your dashes to pass through gaps during their oscillation patterns. Practice the entire sequence in segments rather than attempting the complete run immediately.

    Shinobi Art of Vengeance represents SEGA’s newest action-platformer entry, scheduled for release on August 29, 2025, across PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One platforms. For additional game insights, consult our comprehensive review coverage.

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