NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER: Complete Guide

A guide to Shinobi Striker's 4v4 online battles: creating and training your avatar, the four ninja types, how the game modes work, master training, loadouts, and how to keep up with the still-running DLC and Esoteric Scrolls updates.

Researched September 2026 — current as of Season Pass 10 (running through March 2027) and the Esoteric Scrolls update of 24 September 2026. Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Status note: Shinobi Striker came out on PC in August 2018 and is still getting content eight years later. Bandai Namco is still releasing master training packs under Season Pass 10 (the latest is Naruto Uzumaki (Sage Mode), released 28 August 2026) and rotates the Esoteric Scrolls item lineup roughly weekly. There's no crossplay, so matchmaking depends on the PC player base. Queue times at off-peak hours can be long.

Quick Start

Your avatar is your character. You don't pick Naruto or Sasuke in matches. You create an original ninja and equip jutsu and gear learned from masters.
Pick a type for each loadout. Attack, Ranged, Heal or Defense. Your type decides your role in the team. You can save several loadouts and switch between them.
Train under masters to unlock techniques. Set a master in the Ninjutsu Library in the Hidden Leaf Village lobby, then play to earn Training Points. Spend those points on that master's ninjutsu, secret technique and costume pieces.
Do VR Training and missions early. They're low-pressure ways to earn XP and unlocks, learn movement, and try out new jutsu against AI.
Movement is half the game. Wall running, chakra dashes and high jumps let you cross the vertical maps quickly. Watch your chakra when dashing. Getting around well matters more than landing every combo.
Learn guard, guard break and Substitution. These three mechanics decide most fights (more below).
Play the objective. Most modes are won on flags, bases or barriers, not kills. A team that chases kills will lose to a team that holds points.
Heal types win matches. If your team has no healer, switch your loadout. Revives and area healing turn team fights around.
Don't feel you need every DLC master. The free base-game masters are enough to build every type well. DLC mostly adds variety and newer techniques.

Core Combat

The kit

Slot	What it does
Weapon (normal attack)	Your basic combo tool. Weapons differ in reach and speed, and many new weapons come through Esoteric Scrolls
Ninjutsu x2	Two cooldown-based techniques (projectiles, grabs, buffs, heals, barriers)
Secret Technique	Your ultimate, charged by fighting. Examples include Tailed Beast State: Nine Tails from the Naruto (Sage Mode) pack
Ninja Tools	Consumables such as pills, scrolls and scientific ninja tools. Many new ones rotate through Esoteric Scrolls
Substitution	Your emergency escape (see below)

Guard, guard break and substitution

Guard blocks most normal attacks and many jutsu. Players who guard at the right time are hard to kill.
Guard break. Some attacks and heavier strikes break through a guard, so repeatedly blocking the same opponent is risky. Attack-type players are especially good at guard-breaking.
Substitution Jutsu gets you out of a combo. It's limited by a gauge that recovers over time, so don't waste it on a light hit. Save it for when you're caught in a combo that would kill you or for a jutsu you can't guard.

A typical exchange: block the opponent's opening, bait their substitution with a quick poke, then commit your big ninjutsu or combo. If you open with your strongest move, a fresh substitution will make you miss it.

Movement

Wall running and vertical movement are central. Maps have many levels, and fights often happen on rooftops and walls.
Chakra dash closes gaps and gets you out of trouble.
Use high ground to find flag carriers, and break line of sight to reset a fight you're losing.

The Four Types

Type	Job	Play it like
Attack	Close-range damage and guard breaks	Dive enemy healers and ranged players, finish off weak targets, and pressure objectives
Ranged	Poke and zone from distance	Stay out of melee, punish anyone chasing your team, and shoot down flag runners
Heal	Keep the team alive and revive downed allies	Stay behind your frontline, heal before allies drop low, and revive when it's safe
Defense	Protect objectives and block damage	Hold bases and barriers, create space with defensive jutsu, and soak attention

A balanced team of one of each is the easy default. Two Attack with one Heal and one Defense is common in aggressive objective modes. Avoid teams with no healer.

What to equip per type

Most ninjutsu are type-specific. Attack-type ninjutsu go in Attack loadouts, Heal-type in Heal loadouts, and so on, so your master choices shape your type.

Attack: Pick fast gap-closers and a technique that catches opponents who stand still guarding. The new Frog Kumite (Attack type, Naruto Sage Mode pack) combines a close-range Clean Hit with a Shadow Clone Rasengan follow-up. Nature Energy: Concentration puts you into Sage Mode with no cooldown, boosting physical abilities and preventing flinching while you attack.
Ranged: Choose projectiles with good tracking and a way to create distance.
Heal: Bring at least one strong healing technique. Revives and ranged heals help the most.
Defense: Use barrier and protection techniques that suit the modes you play.

Game Modes

Mode	Objective	Key tips
Flag Battle	Steal the enemy flag and bring it back to your base	Ranged and Attack types hunt carriers. Defense guards your own flag. Carriers should wall-run and use high ground
Base Battle	Capture and hold bases across the map	Spread out early and don't bunch on one base. Rotate as a group once you hold a majority
Barrier Battle	Attack or defend a barrier protecting a target	Defenders protect the barrier and punish attackers who get separated. Attackers focus damage together
Combat Battle	Straight team fight on kills	Fight near your healer and focus the same target

Ranked play happens in the Ninja World League, where wins raise your rank and show off your skill. Unranked quick matches and custom rooms are also available.

Progression

Levels and rank: You level up by playing matches and missions. Higher levels unlock more customization and features.
Masters and Training Points: Each master has a list of unlockables (ninjutsu, secret technique, costume, accessories, avatar parts). Train until you've taken everything you want, then switch.
VR Training and missions: Good for grinding on your own, testing loadouts, and earning Training Points with a master set without dealing with queue times.
Scrolls and appraisal: Matches and missions drop scrolls that you appraise in the lobby for random rewards (the "Scroll Appraiser" and "Rare Connoisseur" achievements ask for 50 and 500 appraisals). Appraise them regularly rather than letting them pile up.
Esoteric Scrolls: A rotating lineup of weapons, ninja tools and costumes that Bandai Namco refreshes roughly weekly. As of September 2026, recent lineups included:
- 24 Sep 2026: Water Sword: Tobirama Senju, Darui's Long Sword (Prototype), Aburame Clan Insects
- 17 Sep 2026: Kushina's Chain, Attack Scroll "Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist", Danzo's Kunai, Viperblade: Night Fang
- 10 Sep 2026: Ninja Shark, Ninja Cats, Ninja Hawk
- 27 Aug 2026: Nine Tails' Claw, Celebratory Outfit: Multilayered, Tenten Scroll, Scientific Ninja Tool "Healing Spray"
Items rotate out, so if a weapon or ninja tool fits your build, get it during its week.

DLC and Editions

Standard Edition: The base game with a full set of free masters.
Deluxe and Ultimate Editions: Bundle the base game with some of the earlier season passes. Check the Steam page for current contents, since bundles and discounts change.
Season Passes 1 through 10: Each adds a batch of master training packs. Season Pass 10 delivers its content by March 2027: Bandai Namco's page lists Master Character Training Pack #48 Jiraiya (Sage Mode) plus packs #49 to #51 and a bonus Secret Technique unlock. The latest pack, Naruto Uzumaki (Sage Mode), arrived on 28 August 2026.
Individual training packs are also sold separately, so you can buy only the masters you want.

Buying advice: Start with the Standard Edition. Once you know which type you enjoy, buy the packs that add strong techniques for that type rather than a whole season pass.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Chasing kills in objective modes. An enemy that holds bases or flags wins even if you're winning fights.
Wasting Substitution. Spending it on a light hit leaves you open to the real combo.
Guarding forever. You'll get guard-broken. Mix guard with dashes, jumps and counters.
Having no healer. Teams without a Heal type lose long fights.
Wandering off alone. 4v4 punishes anyone who's out of position. Stay close enough to help.
Ignoring vertical space. Staying on the ground makes you easy to predict and easy to hit.
Taking too many masters at once. Finish training one master before moving on so you actually unlock usable jutsu.

Advanced Tips

Bait substitutions. Pressure first. Once the opponent has spent their substitution, commit your damage.
Check the enemy team's types. If they have a healer, dive it first. If they have lots of Ranged, close the distance and fight inside buildings.
Carry flags on walls. Wall running breaks line of sight and makes carriers much harder to catch.
Time your Secret Technique. Use it to win a key objective fight or save an ally, not on a single opponent.
Keep more than one loadout ready. Switch type if your team is missing a role.
Use your ninja tools. Pills and scientific ninja tools can decide close fights. Build a set that covers healing and utility.
Practise combos in VR. Test damage and combo routes before you use them in ranked.

FAQ

Is Shinobi Striker still active in 2026? Yes. It's still getting Season Pass 10 master packs (the latest being Naruto Uzumaki (Sage Mode), 28 August 2026) and weekly Esoteric Scrolls updates. PC matchmaking is quieter at off-peak times.

Can I play as Naruto or Sasuke directly? Not in normal matches. You play your own avatar and train under characters like Naruto or Sasuke to learn their techniques and costumes.

Which type is best for beginners? Heal type is forgiving and always useful to the team. Attack type is more fun once you understand guard breaks and substitution.

Is there crossplay? No. PC players are matched with other PC players.

Is the season pass worth it? Only if you want its specific masters. Individual training packs let you buy just the techniques you'll use.

How do I change my master? Go to the Ninjutsu Library in the Hidden Leaf Village online lobby and set your new master.