Shinobi Striker does not have one grind, it has several running side by side: master training for jutsu, scroll appraisals for gear and outfits, levels and stats for your profile, and a trophy list on top. A modded save does not replace all of them equally, and grinding is not equally painful across all of them either.
So rather than a blanket verdict, this comparison goes track by track. By the end you should know which parts of the game are worth playing for and which ones a $50 PS4 or PS5 save actually saves you from.
The tracks, compared
| Track | Grinding it | With a save | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters and jutsu | One master at a time to Training Rank 5, across a roster with 49 numbered DLC packs | Unlock all including DLC; the Jiraiya save also lists all jutsu | The biggest time saving |
| Wardrobe | Training rewards, random appraisals, paid packs | All clothes on both saves | Big saving, especially for completionists |
| Scrolls | Earned through levels, VR missions, matches and training | Max scrolls on the unlock-all save | Removes appraisal bad luck |
| Profile stats | Built honestly over years | Maxed counters on the Jiraiya save | A flex, but obviously edited |
| Trophies | 48 trophies including the platinum | Not what the saves are sold for | Separate service if you want it |
| Skill | Built by playing | Not included in any save | Only grinding gives you this |
Masters and jutsu: where the save wins clearly
Every ninjutsu and secret technique comes from training a master at the Ninjutsu Library, one master at a time, up to Training Rank 5. The roster keeps growing: Naruto Uzumaki (Sage Mode) was DLC pack 49 in August 2026, and two more Season Pass 10 masters are due by March 2027. For a returning player, that backlog is the wall that makes the game feel closed.
This is where a save earns its price. Grinding a master teaches you little that a VR mission with the finished kit would not, and the reward is the moveset, not the training itself. If you only skip one track, skip this one. The all masters guide explains what to confirm about DLC masters before ordering.
Wardrobe and scrolls: a saving with one catch
Outfits are spread across training rewards, Tenten's random appraisals and paid packs, which makes the wardrobe the most frustrating grind to finish. Both saves list all clothes, and the unlock-all save adds max scrolls, so the appraisal lottery stops being a gate. The catch is the future: items released after your order are not in any save, so a little farming continues either way.
If you enjoy the appraisal ritual, keep it. Some players like rolling for gear and do not mind duplicates, in which case the scroll farming routes turn it into a pleasant routine rather than a chore.
Profile stats: decide what you want people to see
Levels, wins and mission counts tell other players how long you have been around. Grinding builds those numbers slowly and believably. The Jiraiya save sets several of them to 2,147,483,647 with a 100.00 K/D, which is a statement rather than a record. Neither choice is wrong, but they say different things about you, so pick deliberately. The Jiraiya save breakdown covers every counter.
Trophies: grind them or buy them separately
The trophy list has 48 entries: 36 bronze, 8 silver, 3 gold and the platinum. Our platinum guide estimates 60 to 90 hours, much of it online. The saves are sold for content, not trophies, so if the platinum is the goal, either play for it or use the platinum trophy service, which is listed from $15 with instant time stamps or $25 with realistic ones.
Skill: the one thing only grinding gives you
No save teaches you when to hold your substitution, how to space a Ranged loadout or when to fire a secret technique. Those habits come from matches, and they are what decides fights in ranked. A buyer with everything unlocked and no practice still loses to a player with half the jutsu who knows the timings.
That is why the best plan for most people is a hybrid. Let the save handle the tracks that are pure time (masters, wardrobe, scrolls), then spend your hours on the part that is actually the game: matches. The builds guide and the levelling guide are where that practice starts.
When grinding is the better choice
Grind it out if you have the time and enjoy the loop, if you only care about one or two masters, if you play mainly ranked and want an untouched profile, or if you are on Xbox or PC, where our saves are not available. Pick a save if you are returning after years away, if the DLC backlog has kept you out, or if the wardrobe is your endgame. When you have decided, both saves are on the Shinobi Striker hub at $50 each, applied to your own PSN account with PS Plus active on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which part of the grind does a save save the most time on?
Master training. Every jutsu and secret technique sits behind training a master to Rank 5 one at a time, and the roster now runs to 49 numbered DLC packs on top of the base game.
Will a modded save unlock the platinum trophy?
The saves are sold for content, not trophies. The store lists a separate platinum trophy service from $15 if that is what you are after.
Do I still need to play after buying a save?
For skill, yes. The save gives you the tools; matches teach you when to use them. New content released after your order also has to be earned normally.
Is grinding better for ranked players?
Often. Ranked rewards practice under normal cooldowns, and an untouched profile draws no attention. Ranked players who buy a save should leave the infinite perk outfits off when they queue.
Can I grind on Xbox and buy a save for PlayStation?
You can, but the two never meet. We know of no official way to move Shinobi Striker progress between Xbox and PlayStation, and the saves only cover PS4 and PS5.