Hashirama vs. Madara (The Two Founders)

The climactic confrontation between Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, and Madara Uchiha, the legendary rival, serves as the epic opening boss battle in Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. This guide will equip you with the strategies and insights needed to master Hashirama's Wood Style and decisively defeat Madara in his Susano'o-clad Nine-Tails form. This battle is a test of reaction, resource management, and strategic Jutsu application.

Understanding Madara's Arsenal

Madara, empowered by the Nine-Tails and encased in his Perfect Susano'o, wields devastating power. His primary attacks include:

Susano'o Sword Swings: Wide-arc, high-damage melee attacks that cover significant ground. These are often telegraphed but require precise dodging or blocking.
Fireball Jutsu: Large, explosive projectiles launched from the Nine-Tails' mouth or Madara's Susano'o. These can track and deal considerable damage.
Tailed Beast Bomb (Bijuudama): Madara's ultimate attack, a massive energy sphere that requires a successful Quick Time Event (QTE) sequence to counter.
Chakra Shuriken: Smaller, faster projectiles that can interrupt your attacks or movement.

Hashirama's Wood Style Mastery: Offensive and Defensive Strategies

As Hashirama, your Wood Style Jutsu are your greatest assets. They offer both powerful offensive capabilities and crucial defensive utility against Madara's overwhelming attacks.

Key Wood Style Jutsu and Their Application:

Hashirama's moveset is designed to control the battlefield and exploit Madara's vulnerabilities. Here’s how to effectively utilize his signature techniques:

Wood Style: Wood Dragon Jutsu (R1/RB + Circle/B):
- Offensive: Summons a massive wood dragon that lunges forward, binding and damaging Madara. This is excellent for punishing Madara after he completes an attack animation or when he's charging a Jutsu. It also provides a brief window for follow-up attacks.
- Defensive: While primarily offensive, the sheer size of the Wood Dragon can momentarily disrupt Madara's approach or even absorb smaller projectiles if timed perfectly.
Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence (R1/RB + Square/X):
- Offensive: Spawns a forest of wood spikes from the ground, covering a wide area. This is your primary area-of-effect (AoE) attack. Use it when Madara is stationary or when he's about to land from a jump to catch him in the attack. It's also effective for chipping away at his health if he's blocking.
- Defensive: Can be used to create temporary obstacles or to force Madara to move, disrupting his attack patterns. While not a direct shield, the visual clutter and hitboxes can sometimes intercept smaller projectiles.
Wood Style: Wood Golem Jutsu (Awakening - see below):
- Offensive: During Awakening, Hashirama summons a colossal Wood Golem. This significantly boosts his attack power and defense. The Golem's punches and slams deal immense damage and have a wider reach than Hashirama's base attacks.
- Defensive: The Golem acts as a massive shield, making Hashirama almost impervious to Madara's regular attacks. Use this to tank hits while dishing out heavy damage.
Wood Style: Hobi Jutsu (Guard + Directional Input):
- Defensive: This creates a temporary wooden wall that can block incoming attacks, including Madara's Susano'o sword swings and Fireball Jutsu. It's crucial for mitigating damage when you can't perfectly dodge.
- Strategic Use: Use Hobi Jutsu to create openings. Block an attack, then immediately counter with a Wood Dragon or Deep Forest Emergence while Madara is recovering from his attack animation.

General Combat Strategy

Maintain Distance: Madara's Susano'o is powerful up close. Utilize Hashirama's ranged Wood Style Jutsu to chip away at his health from a safe distance.
Dodge and Counter: Observe Madara's attack patterns. His Susano'o sword swings are often preceded by a wind-up. Dodge these with a quick dash (X/A) and immediately counter with a Wood Dragon or a combo.
Chakra Management: Hashirama's Wood Style Jutsu consume chakra. Use your chakra dash (L2/LT + X/A) sparingly for quick repositioning or to close gaps for a combo if Madara is stunned. Replenish chakra by holding Triangle/Y.
Guard Wisely: While dodging is preferred, guarding (L2/LT) can save you from unexpected attacks. Remember that guarding too much will break your guard, leaving you vulnerable.

Mastering the Tailed Beast Bomb QTE Sequence

When Madara charges his Tailed Beast Bomb, the screen will shift, and a Quick Time Event (QTE) sequence will initiate. Successfully completing this is paramount for dealing massive damage and avoiding a devastating attack.

Preparation: As soon as you see Madara begin to gather chakra for the Tailed Beast Bomb, stop attacking and position yourself centrally if possible.
Button Prompts: A series of button prompts (Circle/B, Square/X, Triangle/Y, Cross/A, or directional inputs) will appear on screen. They often appear in rapid succession.
Timing is Key: Press the corresponding button precisely as it appears. There's a small window for success. Don't mash; focus on accuracy.
Visual Cues: Pay attention to the visual effects. Successful inputs will usually be accompanied by a flash or sound effect, indicating you're on the right track.
The Final Input: The sequence often culminates in a larger, more impactful button press (e.g., mashing a specific button or a final directional input) to unleash Hashirama's counter-attack, often the Sage Art Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands.
Practice Makes Perfect: If you fail, don't get discouraged. The game will likely restart the QTE or a checkpoint. Learn the sequence and improve your reaction time.

When to Unleash Awakening

Hashirama's Awakening transforms him into the Sage Mode Wood Golem, significantly boosting his power and defense. Knowing when to activate it is crucial for maximum impact in this specific fight.

Activation: Hold down the Chakra Charge button (Triangle/Y) until your chakra bar is full and glows, then press the Awakening button (R3/RS).
Optimal Timing:
- Mid-Fight Power Spike: The best time to activate Awakening is typically when Madara's health is around 50-60%. This allows you to capitalize on the increased damage output and potentially push him into the next phase or finish him off quickly.
- After a Successful QTE: If you successfully complete a Tailed Beast Bomb QTE, Madara will often be staggered or vulnerable. Activating Awakening immediately after this can allow you to chain devastating attacks.
- To Overcome Pressure: If you find yourself taking too much damage or struggling to break through Madara's defenses, Awakening provides a temporary invulnerability and massive damage boost, allowing you to turn the tide.
- Avoid Early Activation: Do not activate Awakening at the very beginning of the fight. You want to save this powerful transformation for when it can truly make a difference, either to burst down Madara's health or to recover from a difficult situation.
Awakening Strategy: While in Wood Golem form, focus on aggressive melee combos and the Golem's unique Jutsu. The Golem's attacks have a wide reach, making it easier to hit Madara. use your chakra dashes to close distance quickly.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Chakra Depletion: Over-reliance on Jutsu without charging chakra will leave you vulnerable. Balance your Jutsu usage with regular attacks and chakra charging.
Ignoring Madara's Tells: Each of Madara's major attacks has a distinct wind-up. Learn these visual cues to anticipate and dodge effectively.
Button Mashing QTEs: Mashing buttons during QTEs often leads to failure. Focus on precise, single presses for each prompt.
Wasting Awakening: Activating Awakening too early or when Madara is in an invincible state (e.g., during a cutscene) will diminish its effectiveness.

By understanding Madara's attack patterns, mastering Hashirama's versatile Wood Style Jutsu, and strategically deploying your Awakening, you will emerge victorious in this legendary battle of the founders.

How to Beat Hashirama vs. Madara (The Two Founders)