From Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Ninja series are (mostly) Warrior-Type Monsters with the word "Ninja" in their names. A handful of the Ninja cards exist in the TCG and OCG, but some also exist in only the Anime.

A deck based around Ninjas is tricky, due to the fact that Spell, Trap, or Monster effects are just what you expect a real Ninja would use. For example, "Strike Ninja" can be removed from the field by removing from play two DARK Monsters from your Graveyard, only to come back to the field at the end of the turn (for "dodging" a card that might have destroyed it). Armed Ninja, Crimson Ninja, and White Ninja, three counterparts all serve as spell, trap, and monster removal (respectively), while Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke can further this by destroying any face-up defense position monster by attacking it (as well as having the highest ATK of any ninja card). Ninjitsu Art of Decoy makes survival easy for Ninjas, while Ninjitsu Art of Transformation allows you to trade your used ninjas (such as the three aforementioned ones) for a more powerful, if albeit ability inclined, monster. "Fuhma Shuriken", a Spell Card that equips to Ninjas will always deal 700 damage to the opponent when removed from the field.

Overall Ninjas have many abilities that can frustrate your opponents, but not many that are game breaking. Ninjas, however, are great against Exodia Decks, which focus on defensive monsters and spells and traps to stall for the titular card (which Ninjas are adept at destroying). Because of Ninjitsu Art of Transformation, Ninjas fit well into Harpie, beast and insect decks.

"Goe Goe the Gallant Ninja", "Lady Ninja Yae", and "Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke" are characters based on Konami's popular video game series Ganbare Goemon (Mystical Ninja). Incidentally, all the Sasuke Samurai monsters are from this series, as well.

In the anime, Ninjas were used by Jean-Claude Magnum. However, Magnum used only anime-only cards, and his Ninjas operated quite differently from the actual cards. His Ninjas had poor attack power, but many had effects allowing them to swarm the field.

Playing Style

A Ninja Deck is a deck that revolves around the Ninja archetype. To effectively use the archetype, Ninja Decks must use a large variety of monsters. WIND monsters are helpful for the effect of Lady Ninja Yae, while DARK monsters are necessary for the effect of Strike Ninja. As well, high level monsters that can be summoned with Ninjitsu Art of Transformation. Ideally, one should attempt to use monsters that fulfill several of these criteria; for example, Brain Crusher is both DARK and Insect.

Ninja Decks can be made in a variety of ways; although there is very little archetype specific support, they qualify for Warrior support, as well as the aforementioned WIND and DARK monsters. Since this deck combines WIND and DARK monsters, Dark Simorgh is perfect in this deck.

Ninja Decks are rarely seen, as there is very little support currently available for the archetype, and the decks can be difficult to make, as they require one to incorporate a wide variety of cards.

Although Armed Ninja and Crimson Ninja are Ninjas, they will be difficult to use in a Ninja Deck, as their effects are sub par and most of the time their effects are only activated upon their being attacked and destroyed, making them difficult to effectively use with Ninjitsu Art of Transformation. Their 1 star level also limits a duelist's options to support mosters such as Nimble Momonga or Giant Rat. Using the transformation to summon Beatdown monsters such as Chainsaw Insect and Berserk Gorilla is a waste, since the higher level ninja cards can be used to summon better Beatdown monsters such as Big Koala and Behemoth the King of All Animals, or the top two Ultimate Insects and Insect Queen. The transformation can be used to stall for better cards by special summoning high defense monsters such as Soul Tiger or Cocoon of Evolution. Another great card to special summon is Stealth Bird since it has decent defense (1700), and can be fliped face down to prepare for its flip effect damage. Though if one of these ninja cards can survive your opponent's turn while Face-up, you can use Ninjitsu Art of Transformation to special summon Ultimate Insect LV3 during your opponent's End Phase. Then when your Standby Phase starts you will be able to level this monster up into Ultimate Insect LV5 and gain it's special effect. Furthermore, destroying Ninjitsu Art of Transformation will not destroy the higher level monster since it was equiped to the previous level monster. However, it will remain in the spell/trap zone since the previous level monster was not destroyed but rather tributed.

Recommended Cards

Monsters

• Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke
• Strike Ninja
• Lady Ninja Yae
• Goe Goe the Gallant Ninja
• White Ninja
• Armed Ninja
• Crimson Ninja

• Any Insects, Winged Beasts, or Beasts equal to or less than Level 7.

Spells

• Fuhma Shuriken X2
• Reinforcement of the Army
• The Warrior Returning Alive
• Fusion Sword Murasame Blade X2
• Emergency Provisions (To clear any useless Ninjitsu Art of Transformation cards that are still in your spell/trap card zones but are no longer equiped to a special effect monster such as Ultimate Insect LV5, which would have leveled up into Ultimate Insect LV7)
• Recycle (To return valuable spells and traps to your deck)

Traps

• Ninjitsu Art of Decoy X2
• Ninjitsu Art of Transformation X2
• Spirit Barrier X2 (In combo with Ninja Art of Decoy)
• Return from the Different Dimension (Only if high level monsters are exclusively DARK)

From City of Heroes Wiki

Overview

Ninjas is a Mastermind primary power set.

You are known by many names... Sensei, Shogun, Kage, Lord. What you are is a Master of the most deadly assassins the world has ever seen... You are a Ninja Master. Command your Ninja Henchmen and even train them in new weapons and techniques. Ninjas have superior reflexes and can even super leap. Their training makes them highly resistant to confusion. Ninja Henchmen cannot be resurrected.

References to "Ninja Henchmen" in the following powers include all Ninja powerset Henchmen. That means the Oni as well.

Power Tables

Mastermind

Ninjas is available as a primary power set for Masterminds. The following table shows which powers are available and at what level:

	Power	Level	Effect
	Snap Shot	1	Ranged, Minor Damage (Lethal)
	Call Genin	1	Summon Genin
	Aimed Shot	2	Ranged, Moderate Damage (Lethal)
	Train Ninjas	6	Ranged, Train Ninja Henchman
	Fistful of Arrows	8	Ranged (Cone), Moderate Damage (Lethal)
	Call Jounin	12	Summon Jounin
	Smoke Flash	18	Hide Ninja
	Oni	26	Summon Oni
	Kuji In Zen	32	Ranged, Enlighten Ninja Henchman

Powers

The following are powers in the Ninjas powerset.

Aimed Shot

Though it takes longer to execute, your Aimed Shot deals greater damage than Snap Shot.

Damage	Moderate(Lethal)
Recharge	Moderate
Minimum Level	2 (Mastermind)
Effects	Ranged
Enhancements	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Range
	Increase Attack Rate
	Enhance Damage
	Enhance Accuracy

Call Genin

Calls forth one to three Genin Ninja (the second is available at level six, the third at level eighteen) to do your bidding. Genin have good reflexes and jumping skill, but they are still the lowest rank Ninja and only possess the most rudimentary skills. However, they can be trained in more advance techniques and weapons. You may only have 3 Genin under your control at any given time. If you attempt to call Genin, you can only replace the ones you have lost in battle. If you already have three, the power will fail.

Recharge	Very Long
Minimum Level	1 (Mastermind)
Effects	Summon Genin
Basic Powers	Thunder Kick (Melee, minor Smashing damage, Disorient)
	Shuriken (Ranged, minor Lethal damage)
Train Powers	Shuriken (Ranged, minor Lethal damage)
	Storm Kick (Melee, moderate Smashing damage)
Zen Powers	Explosive Shuriken (Targeted Area of Effect, moderate Lethal damage)
	Crane Kick (Melee, heavy Smashing damage, Knockback)
Enhancements	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Disorient Duration
	Enhance Running Speed
	Enhance Knockback Distance
	Enhance Damage
	Enhance Accuracy

Call Jounin

You can summon one to two highly skilled Jounin Ninja (the second is available at level twenty-four). Jounin are master assassins and expert swordsmen. They possess superior reflexes and jumping skill. Like all Henchmen, Jounin can be trained in even deadlier Ninjitsu techniques and weapons. You may only have 2 Jounin under your control at any given time. If you attempt to summon more Jounin, you can only replace the ones you have lost in battle. If you already have two, the power will fail.

Recharge	Very Long
Minimum Level	12 (Mastermind)
Effects	Summon Jounin
Basic Powers	Gambler's Cut (Melee, minor Lethal damage, ?-Defense)
	Sting of the Wasp (Melee, moderate Lethal damage, ?-Defense)
	Caltrops (Location Area of Effect, minor Lethal damage over time, -Speed)
Train Powers	Soaring Dragon (heavy Lethal damage, KnockUp)
	Poison Dart (Lethal/Toxic damage, -Regeneration)
	Placate (Foe -Perception, Self Hide)
Zen Powers	Golden Dragonfly (Cone Melee, extreme Lethal damage, KnockUp, -Defense)
	Blinding Powder (Sleep -Acc Immobilize?)
	Hide (Self Hide, +Defense)
Enhancements	Enhance Slow
	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Disorient Duration
	Enhance Sleep Duration
	Enhance Running Speed
	Enhance Knockback Distance
	Enhance ToHit Debuff
	Enhance Defense Debuff
	Enhance Damage
	Enhance Confusion Duration
	Enhance Accuracy

Fistful of Arrows

You fire a fistful of arrows at foes in a cone in front of your. Good at close range.

Damage	Moderate(Lethal)
Recharge	Moderate
Minimum Level	8 (Mastermind)
Effects	Ranged (Cone)
Enhancements	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Range
	Increase Attack Rate
	Enhance Damage
	Enhance Accuracy

Kuji In Zen

Kuji In Zen will permanently bestow the most advanced techniques and powers to one Ninja Henchman. The Enlightened Ninja will gain new abilities, powers and weapons. The powers gained are unique and dependent upon the target Ninja Henchman that is Enlightened. This power only works on your Ninja Henchmen and you can only Enlighten any given Ninja Henchman once.

Recharge	Medium
Minimum Level	32 (Mastermind)
Effects	Ranged
	Enlighten Ninja Henchman
Genin:
Visual Change:	Metal headband, face mask
Powers added:	Explosive Shuriken (Targeted Area of Effect, moderate Lethal damage)
	Crane Kick (Melee, heavy Smashing damage, Knockback)
Jounin:
Visual Change:	Metal headband, shoulder pads
Powers added:	Golden Dragonfly (Cone Melee, extreme Lethal damage, KnockUp, -Defense)
	Blinding Powder (Foe -Accuracy, Sleep, Immobilize?)
	Hide (Self Hide, +Defense)
Oni:
Visual Change:	Fiery eye aura
Powers added:	Char (Ranged moderate Fire damage over time, Hold)
	Rain of Fire (Area of effect, minor Fire damage over time)
Enhancements	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Range
	Increase Attack Rate

Oni

Summons an ancient and powerful Oni, a formidable creature who possesses the skill of a warrior and the powers of wind and fire. You may only have 1 Oni under your control at any given time. If you attempt to summon another Oni, the power will fail.

(Note: Oni is a Fire/Fire Dominator)

Recharge	Very Long
Minimum Level	26 (Mastermind)
Effects	Summon Oni
Basic Powers	Fire Sword Slash (Melee, moderate Lethal/Fire damage)
	Fire Blast (Ranged, moderate Fire damage)
Train Powers	Fire Sword Hack (Melee, moderate Lethal/Fire damage)
	Ring of Fire (Ranged, moderate Fire damage over time, Immobilize)
	Fire Breath (Cone Ranged, moderate Fire damage over time)
Zen Powers	Char (Ranged, moderate Fire damage over time, Hold)
	Rain of Fire (Area of Effect, minor Fire damage over time)
Enhancements	Enhance Hold Duration
	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Knockback Distance
	Enhance Immobilization Duration
	Enhance Damage
	Enhance Accuracy

Smoke Flash

You can command one of your Ninja Henchmen to throw down a Smoke Bomb. The Smoke Flash will allow the Ninja to Placate his nearby foes, and thus unable to target the Ninja. The Smoke Flash also makes the Ninja stealthy and hidden for about 10 seconds, enabling him to perform critical hits with his next few attacks. You can only use this power on Ninja Henchmen.

Recharge	Slow
Minimum Level	18 (Mastermind)
Effects	Hide Ninja
Enhancements	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Range
	Increase Attack Rate

Snap Shot

A quick attack that fires an arrow at your foe after only minimal aiming. Fast, but little damage.

Damage	Minor(Lethal)
Recharge	Fast
Minimum Level	1 (Mastermind)
Effects	Ranged
Enhancements	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Range
	Increase Attack Rate
	Enhance Damage
	Enhance Accuracy

Train Ninjas

Train your Ninja Henchmen with more advanced techniques and weaponry. This power permanently bestows new powers and abilities to one Ninja Henchman. The powers gained are unique and dependent upon the target Ninja Henchman. This power only works on your Ninja Henchmen and you can only Train any given Ninja Henchman once.

Recharge	Medium
Minimum Level	6 (Mastermind)
Effects	Ranged
	Train Ninja Henchman
Genin:
Visual Change:	None
Powers added:	Shuriken (Ranged, minor Lethal damage)
	Storm Kick (Melee, moderate Smashing damage)
Jounin:
Visual Change:	Second sword, wrist crossbow
Powers added:	Soaring Dragon (Melee, heavy Lethal damage, KnockUp)
	Poison Dart (Ranged, Lethal/Toxic damage, -Regeneration)
	Placate (Foe -Perception, Self Hide)
Oni:
Visual Change:	Fiery body aura
Powers added:	Fire Sword Hack (Melee, moderate Lethal/Fire damage)
	Ring of Fire (Ranged, moderate Fire damage over time, Immobilize)
	Fire Breath (Cone Ranged, moderate Fire damage)
Enhancements	Reduce Endurance Cost
	Enhance Range
	Increase Attack Rate

External Links

• Ninjas for Masterminds at RedTomax.com