Complete Lantern Festival collectibles guide with expert strategies and optimization tips
Stage Overview and Essential Upgrades
The Lantern Festival in Shinobi Art of Vengeance serves as your first true test of platforming mastery, featuring numerous deadly drops that paradoxically hide valuable rewards. This stage contains the standard collectible types: Elite Squads, Secrets, Oboro Relics, and an Ankou Rift. Expect multiple return visits as you progressively unlock essential movement abilities.
Pro Tip: The stage’s difficulty spikes significantly in vertical sections. Master air dashing and wall jumping early to avoid frequent deaths.
Strategic revisits become necessary after clearing Neo City, The Mountain, and Submarine Base, which grant Ninja Hooks, Ninja Claws, and Sword Dive respectively. While not particularly demanding for collectible hunting, completing this stage thoroughly provides substantial character progression benefits.
Common Mistake: Attempting the Ankou Rift without all required abilities wastes time. Ensure you have both barrier-breaking techniques first.
Elite Squad Locations and Combat Strategies
During my initial Lantern Festival exploration, I secured the first two Elite Squads. These combat arenas require defeating enemy waves, with all three completions rewarding the Super Shocker Amulet that enhances Thunder Ninpo effectiveness.
- Elite Squad #1: Located in The Rooftops area immediately after the Save Point/Shop. Instead of proceeding right, descend downward. Utilize environmental hazards by knocking adversaries into the void for efficient clearing.
- Elite Squad #2: The third rooftop structure displays a purple zone with visible Elite Squad marking. Eliminate spawning enemies, then descend the building’s left side. Execute air dash followed by double jump to reach the air dash symbol. Ninja Claws significantly simplify this section by enabling wall climbing. While enemy evasion is possible, I recommend dispatching the firearm-wielding enemy to utilize his platform for the necessary double jump and air dash sequence to access the Elite Squad.
- Elite Squad #3: Return to the stage entrance after obtaining Sword Dive and apply it to the ground-level Yokai Barrier adjacent to the save point. Ninja Claws remain essential here. Navigate a spike-filled chamber requiring precise movement to evade flamethrowers—a recurring hazard in similar rooms. Shatter the concluding Yokai Barrier to encounter the final Elite Squad, featuring numerous gun users and a formidable hopping Oni.
Advanced Strategy: For Elite Squad #3, prioritize eliminating ranged attackers first. The hopping Oni’s attack patterns create openings—dodge through its leaps rather than away from them.
Secret Locations and Valuable Unlocks
Currently, I lack footage for the Lantern Festival’s ultimate secret. Once you acquire Ninja Claws, revisit the secret maze section to obtain a Max Health Boost. I’ll update this guide with precise location details when proper footage becomes available.
- Cannon Fist Skill: From the Oboro Relic #2 location, ascend rightward instead of left toward Oboro Relic #3. Perform wall jumps and air dashes to reach the right side containing a Switch mechanism. Activate it and displace the yellow obstruction box. This opens the previously inaccessible upward path near the blue lantern screen. Defeat the shield bearer and axe throwers, ascend, utilize the yellow platforms, and execute double jump/air dash rightward on the second platform to enter the secret zone. The technique tutorial occurs automatically here.
- Fire Raider outfit: After the Rooftop Save/Shop, traverse the initial floating platforms and slide rightward down the roof. Avoid using air dash points. Instead, proceed left to discover a Treasure Box awaiting activation.
Optimization Tip: The Cannon Fist acquisition route can be streamlined by using enemy attacks to propel yourself forward, saving precious seconds during speedruns.
Oboro Relic Collection Guide
The Lantern Festival presents a unique opportunity—all five Oboro Relics can be collected during a single playthrough. These artifacts can be exchanged at vendors to unlock additional purchase options using in-game currency exclusively, completely avoiding microtransactions.
- Oboro Relic #1: At the conclusion of The Boat section, ascend the rooftop before exiting the screen. The Treasure Box conceals itself behind the tree. Alternatively, transition from The Village side and walk directly to the container.
- Oboro Relic #2: Within The Tower segment of The Village where you encounter the suspendable blue lantern, clear the initial enemy group, then scale the right wall via jump/run maneuvers. The Treasure Box housing the Relic rests near the substantial blue Lantern.
- Oboro Relic #3: From the prior Oboro Relic location, advance upward and left past the Blue Lantern. Employ blue swirls to dash across the extensive gap, using platforms/handholds to reach dual platforms. Eliminate several enemy waves to secure the Relic.
- Oboro Relic #4: In the Cannon Fist acquisition area, a treasure box awaits beyond the Yokai Barrier (Green Wall) demolished by punching.
- Oboro Relic #5: Deep within the Rooftop segment, you’ll confront archers positioned on an elevated platform. Vanquish them, then use handholds to descend to a Treasure Box protected by a shield soldier. Defeat him and claim the prize.
Collection Strategy: Follow numerical order for efficiency. Relics 1-3 form a natural progression path, while 4 and 5 require backtracking with new abilities.
Ankou Rift Challenge and Dark Katana Fragment
The Lantern Festival’s Ankou Rift resides within the final Rooftop Section building. While accessible anytime, Ninja Hooks become essential for grappling to this area’s summit.
Inside awaits a timed maze navigation challenge utilizing both Yokai Barrier destruction techniques. Absolutely avoid attempting this Shinobi trial without possessing both Cannon Fist and Sword Dive. Mastering mid-air Sword Dive cancellation becomes crucial for rapid navigation. This represents one of the less demanding Ankou Rifts, rewarding participants with one of ten Dark Katana fragments.
Advanced Technique: Practice Sword Dive cancellation in safe areas first. The timing involves pressing the jump button immediately after initiating the dive—this preserves momentum while avoiding commitment to the full animation.
Shinobi Art of Vengeance emerges as SEGA’s latest action platformer, scheduled for August 29, 2025 release on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One platforms. Discover additional game insights through our comprehensive review.
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