Trained in Art of Ninjitsu: Ninjitsu is the art of stealthy combat, espionage and assassination. Ninjitsu is a new skill and will be listed in the skill list. It has a regular cap of 100, and is raisable to a cap of 120 with Power Scrolls.

Ninja Special Abilities

Special Ability: Focus Attack
Summoning all of her skill and strength for a single attack, the Ninja strikes the enemy with great precision. Besides giving a damage bonus, Focus Attack also increases the effectiveness of any hit chance properties on the weapon the Ninja uses for the attack. The strength of these bonuses is dependent upon the Ninja�s skill in Ninjitsu.

Special Ability: Death Strike
Striking the enemy with a special technique, the Ninja can cause damage long after the actual blow. After receiving a Death Strike (which deals half of the damage of a normal blow) if the Ninja�s opponent moves more than five steps, or five seconds elapse, the opponent will suffer damage determined by the skill level of the Ninja.

The delayed damage dealt is greater if the Ninja�s opponent chooses to run away rather than stand and fight. Only highly skilled Ninja can execute a Death Strike.

Special Ability: Animal Form
Using an ancient secret only known to a few, the Ninja mysteriously takes the shape of a beast, granting himself animal-like abilities. Animal form gives the Ninja the ability to transform into an animal, gaining special bonuses unique to each type of creature. There are 12 animal forms available to a skilled Ninja, including stealthy animals such as Rats, ferocious beasts like the Bake Kitsune, and fast runners like Ostards and Unicorns.

Special Ability: Ki Attack
Focusing his Ki, the Ninja uses momentum to strike the enemy with tremendous force. The Ki Attack is a special attack that requires the superb timing and quick movement of a well trained Ninja. In order to execute this attack, the Ninja will have to initiate the Ki Attack and then quickly close the distance between himself and his opponent to deliver an effective blow.

The farther the Ninja travels to deliver the blow, the more powerful the Ki Attack.

Special Ability: Surprise Attack
Attacking from the shadows, the Ninja catches her opponent off-guard and unable to fully defend himself. An attack that can only be initiated by a Ninja in stealth mode, Surprise Attack inflicts a defense penalty on the Ninja�s opponent for a short duration. Using this ability automatically reveals the Ninja, who then cannot stealth again for another 5 seconds. The defense penalty applied to the Ninja�s opponent is dependent upon the Ninja�s skill in Ninjitsu.

Special Ability: Backstab
Sneaking up behind the enemy undetected, the Ninja plunges his sword deep into his enemy�s back, inflicting great damage. Similar to Surprise Attack, Backstab requires the Ninja to be in stealth mode in order to initiate this special attack, but instead of lowering the defense of the Ninja�s opponent, Backstab applies a significant damage bonus to the attack.

Using this ability automatically reveals the Ninja, who then cannot stealth again for another 5 seconds.

The strength of the damage bonus is dependent upon the Ninja�s skill in Ninjitsu.

Special Ability: Shadowjump
With great skill and precision, the Ninja stealthily jumps high into the air and lands a considerable distance away. Upon landing, the Ninja�s stealth ability determines if they remain hidden from view.

Special Ability: Mirror Image
Delving into the mystical aspect of Ninjitsu, the Ninja summons a perfect replica of her likeness in order to confuse her enemies. Those skilled in Ninjitsu can create a Mirror Image of their self, which can absorb a single attack from an enemy before disappearing. Ninja can create up to 4 Mirror Images at a time, making it quite difficult to determine which Ninja is real.

Mirror Images will appear as if they are fighting, but they do not actually do damage to the enemy.

Note: Samurai Empire is still being play tested and balanced. Some of the special abilities might change before launch day.