Ninja Gaiden 4 — Drowned District (Chapter 8) All Locations Tutorial and Side Mission Walkthrough
Chapter 8, the Drowned District, is one of the most atmospheric and mechanically dense sections in Ninja Gaiden 4. This guide gives a complete, step‑by‑step walkthrough of every location, puzzle, enemy encounter, and collectible in Chapter 8. It also covers optional side missions, Gourdy captures, platforming shortcuts, boss preparation, and speedrun-friendly routing. Use this as your single reference to complete Chapter 8 — Drowned District with 100% completion and efficient replayability.
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How to use this guide
Follow the walkthrough in order for the first full playthrough.
Use the “Collectibles and Secrets” sections at the end of each area to pick up everything missed.
If you want to speedrun, follow the “Speedrun route” and skip optional side content.
For boss prep, see the recommended loadout and combat tactics before the boss arena section.
Chapter 8 objectives and quick checklist
Main objective: Navigate the Drowned District, restore power to the sluice gates, and clear the Purgatory Gate access.
Side objectives: Rescue two trapped NPCs, capture all Gourdy creatures, and collect three Ledger Fragments, five Ration Packs, and every hidden item in the Chapter.
Completion checklist:
Finish main story triggers.
Restore all power nodes.
Capture all Gourdy (3).
Collect Ledger Fragments (3).
Clear side missions (2).
Defeat area miniboss and chapter boss.
Recommended loadout and tips
Primary weapons: Mid-range blade and throwable shuriken set for crowd control.
Sub weapon: Grapple or zipline tool for crossing flooded sections quickly.
Consumables: Recovery items (2–3), stamina boosters (if available), and one stun grenade for miniboss.
Skill priorities: Movement mobility (dash/air-dodge), Gourdy luring skills, and damage buffs against armored foes.
Play cautiously near water: drowning mechanics and pull currents can separate you from cover.
Walkthrough: Entry to Drowned District
Starting area: Flooded Promenade
When Chapter 8 begins, you enter a low-visibility, fog-laden promenade. Walk slowly and check your mini-map for objective markers. The promenade contains small patrols of submerged grunts who use ambush attacks emerging from water alcoves.
Move from cover to cover, using shuriken to pull enemies into open ground.
Watch for collapsing platforms; they sink a few seconds after you step off.
Clear the first flood gate puzzle by activating the nearest solar relay — it’s a small pedestal near the eastern walkway.
Collectibles in Flooded Promenade:
Ration Pack 1: At the broken vendor stall by the southern bank. Jump across a half-submerged beam to reach it.
Ledger Fragment A: Tucked under the statute base on the west end; crouch and dive briefly to pick it up.
Pro tip: Use the grapple to swing to the second promenade level, bypassing two enemy packs and saving time.
Walkthrough: The Sluice Gate Ruins
Main actions
The Sluice Gate Ruins are a multi-tiered puzzle: you must restore power to three sluice control nodes in the correct sequence to lower a major central barrier.
Node order hint: the middle node must be activated last.
Watch for electrified water when nodes are toggled; enemies spawn during the final trigger.
Use portable barriers or raised platforms to avoid water shocks.
Enemy types:
Amphibious Skirmisher: fast, favors hit-and-dash.
Shielded Diver: heavy defense, weak to stun.
Aquatic Mage: ranged attacker; kill these first to avoid sustained damage.
Collectibles:
Ration Pack 2: Inside the sluice control room chest after the first node.
Gourdy #1: Found in a submerged alcove behind the southwestern node. Lure with the sound lure gadget or bait using the "shimmer" lure skill.
Tactics:
Use area-of-effect attacks when enemies cluster at the nodes.
When Low Visibility toggles, rely on audio cues for enemy approach.
Walkthrough: Underwater Catwalks
Traversal and hazards
This section features narrow catwalks over deep water with intermittent currents. Platforming precision is required.
Time jumps with the swing lines to avoid current bursts.
Some catwalks collapse after the third enemy wave — don't linger.
Hidden path:
A breakable railing hides a secret step-down path that leads to a sub-chamber with a minor puzzle: align the rotating valve discs to redirect water flow. Completing it yields an upgrade fragment.
Collectibles:
Ledger Fragment B: Behind the rotating valves, accessible after redirecting flow.
Hidden Item: Fishscale Talisman: Boosts underwater stamina for a short time; found in a barrel guarded by a single Shielded Diver.
Combat tip: Enemies are weaker underwater but disrupt movement. Switch to lightweight weapons to maintain mobility.
Walkthrough: Floodlight Tower and Zipline Route
Reaching the tower
The Floodlight Tower is the vertical hub connecting lower catwalks to upper streets.
Use the zipline to ascend quickly; however, the zipline is electrified intermittently. Disable the tower’s lightning emitter by killing the Turret Overseer at its base first.
Inside the tower, activate the floodlight to reveal insulated walkways across the fog-drenched expanses.
Collectibles:
Ration Pack 3: In the small maintenance hatch midway up the tower shaft.
Gourdy #2: Lives above the floodlight casing. Use stealth to pick it up; Gourdy skittishness triggers if you sprint.
Speedrun tip: If you time the zipline when the emitter cycles off, you can climb without disabling the turret, saving ~30 seconds.
Walkthrough: Market of Lost Echoes
NPCs, side missions, and optional shops
The Market of Lost Echoes is a compact hub full of loot and optional NPCs who offer tasks.
Two side missions are available here: “Return the Ledger” and “Find the Missing Fisher.”
The shopkeeper sells a special air-filter that reduces fog impairment — buy it if your playstyle is melee-heavy.
Side mission walkthrough: “Find the Missing Fisher”
The fisher NPC is trapped under a collapsed walkway west of the market. Break the beam supports with a strong charged attack to free him.
Reward: a small cache with upgrade materials and a unique map marker for a secret chest.
Collectibles:
Hidden Item: Market Token: Under the fruit stall on the eastern row, requires a crouch-and-reach.
Ledger Fragment C: Given as a quest reward after returning the farmer’s ledger.
Pro tip: Activate all market stalls for temporary buffs that reduce enemy spawn density in the adjacent sections.
Walkthrough: Sewers and Underpass
Navigation and key puzzles
The sewer complex is an environmental maze with flow switches and gated passages.
There are three flow switches; toggling them changes water levels and opens new passages.
Sequence hint: Lower central flow, then upper, then side; this allows access to a hidden cache.
Enemies:
Sewer Brutes: slow but heavy-hitting; pull them into water to slow movement.
Eel Swarms: small and numerous; take them out with sweeping attacks.
Secrets:
A one-way grate near the southern drain leads to a sub-room with a chest containing a rare upgrade shard.
Look for wall markings that hint at the switch order.
Collectibles:
Rare Upgrade Shard: In sewer sub-room.
Hidden Journal Entry: Provides lore and contributes to 100% completion.
Walkthrough: The Purgatory Gate Approach
Restoring and opening the gate
The Purgatory Gate is the final major dial-in for Chapter 8. To open it you must restore three power nodes in surrounding ruins and defeat the gate’s guardian.
Power node 1 (Sluice Ruins) — already restored earlier.
Power node 2 (Floodlight Tower) — disable the Turret Overseer to gain access.
Power node 3 (Market underground) — requires returning the Ledger and freeing the Missing Fisher.
Once nodes are reactivated, the Gate itself will power up. Expect a wave spawn and a miniboss before you can open it.
Miniboss: The Gate Warden
Pattern: heavy slam, shockwave, and summoned totems.
Tactics: dodge the slam (dash through), interrupt summons with ranged attacks, and use vertical mobility to avoid shockwaves.
Recommended approach: bait the slam, roll to the side, unleash a high-damage combo, and finish with a stun if available.
Reward: Access to the Gate Chamber and the chapter boss arena.
Walkthrough: Gate Chamber and Chapter Boss
Boss arena setup
The Gate Chamber is a circular room with flooded sections that change during the fight. The boss uses environmental manipulation and summons water-based minions.
Boss: Drowned Regent
Phases:
Phase 1: Summons tidal minions; uses sweeping vortex attack.
Phase 2: The battlefield partially floods; boss gains range shock attack.
Phase 3: Regains full strength and performs a massive area wipe if not interrupted.
Detailed boss strategy:
Phase 1: Kill minions quickly. Use shuriken and AoE to stall summons. Learn attack cues for the sweeping vortex; dodge diagonally to avoid the pull.
Phase 2: Move to raised platforms to avoid flooding. Attack when the boss finishes channeling the shock; this is the window for heavy combos.
Phase 3: The boss alternates between telegraphed lunges and rip currents. Use projectile counters and stun attacks to interrupt big rotations. If boss charges a golden glow, back off and prepare to dodge; that signals an unavoidable large damage attack.
Environmental tips:
Destroy the water totems around the arena when safe; they heal the boss otherwise.
If you have a stun grenade, hold it for Phase 3 to interrupt the major channel.
Drops:
Boss core upgrade.
Unique cosmetic part (if you completed side mission “Find the Missing Fisher”).
Collectibles and 100% completion checklist
Ration Packs: 3 (Promenade, Sluice control, Tower)
Ledger Fragments: 3 (Promenade base; Valve chamber; Market reward)
Gourdy captures: 3 (Sluice alcove; Floodlight casing; Hidden rooftop)
Rare Upgrade Shard: 1 (Sewer sub-room)
Market Token, Fishscale Talisman, Hidden Journal Entry.
If any of the above are missed, use the chapter waypoint to quick travel back to the area and retrace steps. Many collectibles are gated behind side missions — complete side objectives first.
Optional side missions and their rewards
Return the Ledger — reward: Ledger Fragment C and Market token.
Find the Missing Fisher — reward: unique map marker and cosmetic.
Side mission quick tips:
Always finish the market side mission before approaching the Purgatory Gate; it opens the Market underground, shortening backtrack time.
Freeing the fisher requires destroying structural supports — use heavy charged attacks or environmental explosive barrels.
Platforming shortcuts and movement tricks
Vault-cancel: Press dodge immediately after a ledge vault to maintain sprint momentum. Use this to chain across collapsing platforms.
Zipline clip: On early ziplines, crouch then jump to exit slightly earlier and gain a height advantage on rooftop collectibles.
Water dash: A brief forward dash while submerged cancels some slow-down effects; use it to avoid eel swarms.
Note: These advanced techniques require practice. Use the Floodlight Tower open area as a safe practice zone.
Speedrun route and timing tips
If speedrunning Chapter 8, follow this condensed route:
Flooded Promenade — skip optional collectibles; head straight to Sluice Gate.
Sluice Gate — restore only the central node to progress (skip hidden alcove).
Zipline to Floodlight Tower — disable Turret Overseer quickly via a single high-damage strike.
Market — skip side missions, but buy air-filter if necessary for visibility.
Sewers — use lower flow path to reach Purgatory Gate fastest.
Purgatory Gate — kill only required miniboss waves; conserve resources for final boss.
Boss — focus on avoiding phase damages and quick burst windows.
Key time savers:
Use grappling shortcuts to bypass most lower sections.
Prioritize movement upgrades and stamina boosters for an uninterrupted pace.
Use the shop only if essential to prevent a stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best weapons for Chapter 8?
The best weapons are a mid-range blade for balanced damage and mobility, paired with a lightweight shuriken set for crowd control. Use projectile sub-weapons to clear summoned minions quickly.
Where is the first Gourdy located?
The first Gourdy is behind the southwestern sluice node, in a submerged alcove. Use the sound-lure gadget or gentle approach to prevent the Gourdy from fleeing.
How do I lower the central Sluice Gate?
Restore power to the three surrounding nodes in the correct sequence — the middle node last. Avoid stepping into electrified water when nodes toggle.
What causes the Floodlight Tower to become safe?
Defeat the Turret Overseer at the base of the tower to stop electrified ziplines and switch off the tower emitter.
Can I miss Ledger Fragments permanently?
No. Ledger Fragments remain collectible in the chapter until you leave for the final boss arena. If you miss them, use the chapter waypoint to return before finishing the gate sequence.
How do I defeat the Drowned Regent boss?
Prioritize killing minions, destroy healing totems, and interrupt heavy channels with stuns. Use elevated platforms in Phase 2 to avoid floods and bait the boss into attack windows for big combos.
Are there any sequence breaks or soft-locks?
There are no soft-locks that prevent completing the chapter, but missing side mission triggers can make backtracking longer. Always complete Market side missions before opening the Purgatory Gate.
Troubleshooting common problems
Stuck on flooded platform: Look for the nearby raised switch that temporarily drops water level.
Gourdy runs away: Slow your movement, use stealth, or throw small bait shurikens to lure it back.
Too many enemies spawning at once: Pull them individually using ranged attacks and collapse choke points.
Post-chapter suggestions
Revisit the Market to unlock future chapter vendors and purchase upgrades with boss drops.
Finish any remaining side missions in the chapter to secure 100% completion.
If you’re collecting cosmetics, check the reward chest in the Market after the final boss; some unique drops unlock there only if side missions were completed.
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