There are six outfits, or "paths" in the main game. You start with the default, and unlock another later in the game, while the other four require you to complete a certain number of a certain type of Seal in-level. (I'll be explaining Seals later in the guide.) The six paths are:


Path of the Ninja
This is the first path you'll see in the game. You carry one Distraction Item and one Attack Item. It's a balanced loadout for someone who doesn't want to get into specialized paths just yet. You'll spend almost all of the game in this if you have trouble completing the Seals.
Advice for this path:
Rushing around makes a lot of noise, even with the stealth upgrade, and that makes stealth kills difficult to accomplish. If you're still inexperienced with the game, I suggest taking it slowly.





Path of the Mark
You unlock this on the third-to-last level in the game. It's very much like the Path of the Ninja, however, you carry one Attack Item and instead of a distraction item, you get the power of the last mark (which personally, is very awesome): Mark of Serenity. (Since you can only use Mark of Serenity in this path, I'm going to explain it after this rather than in the equipment section.)
Mark of Serenity allows you to teleport to the location at the end of a Focus arc. (I'll be explaining Focus when I get to the equipment.) It's very useful for the puzzles, as you can teleport past lasers, traps, and enemies. It also allows you to teleport between, or to, hiding spots. It has no "shot limit" like ninja tools- just a very long cooldown period.
Advice for this path:
Make good use of Mark of Serenity. Path of the Mark is slightly easier to use than Path of the Ninja, but if you want to make full use of the mark, you may be forced to wait until the cooldown expires before moving again, especially in crowded areas.



Path of Might
This path is the "first" Seal set.(If you're anything like me, you won't be able to get them "in order".) You carry one Distraction Item and one Attack Item. Pretty basic so far. Then you get into the other abilities. This set has more armor than the others. (which translates into two extra hit points.) You can knock enemies down easier. Stealth kills restore your health. (The health you'll probably lose trying to knock those enemies down head-on.) The disadvantage; Focus no longer stops time, so you have to be VERY quick and accurate.
Advice for this path:
Just because you have extra hit points doesn't mean you can take on four guys at once without dying, unless you're very skilled. Trust me, when I was testing this path, I tried and died. What this does mean is that if you get seen, it's a lot easier to knock the enemy down than if you were using a different path. Especially if you spend your points on the more powerful weaponless attacks.



Path of the Hunter
I HIGHLY recommend this path for beginners. You can carry two Attack Items, ALL stealth kills will automatically succeed. Period. Absolutely no chance of failure, unless you get seen before you kill them. However, items will no longer be replenished at checkpoints, so whatever amount you had at the beginning of the level is what you get. However, if you're having problems with stealth kills and you're not really using your items a lot anyway, this is the perfect set for you.
Advice for this path:
This set is very over-powered, whether you're a pro or rookie. You'll still have to take your time so you don't get pounded before you can actually GET to the target, but as far as the actual kills are concerned, you barely have to do anything. This can, however, take some of the fun from the game for more experienced players.



Path of Silence
This path is a personal favorite of mine, but for the sake of writing space, I'll refrain from telling you about how awesome I think it is. The Path of Silence set completely nullifies all sounds from movement. You can run right around an enemy and he'll never know you were there. (Unless of course you get too close.) But enemies can still hear you grappling onto objects, or using ninja tools.. The stealth is useful, but you carry two Distraction Items, and you can't carry a sword or attack items, so the only way to get a kill is indirectly, such as through a chandelier. And those aren't something you'll find at every turn, so most of the time, you'll have to find ways to avoid enemies rather than being able to "remove" them when they're in your way. (There's a very funny ability that appears when you use this path however, on levels where you're forced to kill someone as part of the storyline, as you can see in the screenshot. I call this move "The Hidden Katana")
Advice for this path:
This set is fun to play, but I would not suggest it for beginners. The lack of a sword can make it very difficult to get past certain areas. In-depth knowledge of enemy reactions would be useful for this set. The best advice I can give you though, is to take it slowly. But be ready to move like lightning in a split second. It may be all the chance you get to work your way through.



Path of Nightmares
If you want to maximize the points you get for kills(/just/ for kills), this is the path to use. In this set you have one Attack Item, and NO Distraction Items. A stealth kill will terrorize any enemy that witnesses it(though the effect won't work as well if they're close enough to set off the alarm immediately), and anyone who finds a dead body will become terrorized. (Instead of just alerting everyone to your presence, like it usually does.) The score bonus you get for terrorizing an enemy, and the following domino effect, makes this set worth the extra time.
Advice for this path:
Strike terror into the hearts of your enemies to get a large score in a short period of time. This is the one set where leaving bodies in the spotlight can be an advantage. I would not suggest carrying Hisomu Terror Darts or Ravenous Insects with this set. You have the ability to terrorize enemies with everything else, why bother overdoing it? And Ravenous Insects will cut down on the bodies, minimizing the bonus points you get from terrorizing enemies.

Apparently there's a character limit on how much you can put into one section, and there's no more room in my "Paths" section, so I'll just collect all the DLC information here instead. :P



Path of Wisdom
Path of Wisdom has the potential to be both the strongest and weakest path in the game. It requires completely different tactics to anything used for any other set. As it's based on Dosan, it has no Mark powers, so, there's no Farsight, and Focus doesn't stop time. Instead you carry two extra uses for both Attack and Distraction items. You cannot carry a sword, though unlike Path of Silence, you have a unique stun ability with atleast double the range of your typical stealth kill, although it won't offer any honor bonuses. However, you can only attack from behind your enemy. You can't use "Bat's Prey", "Emperor's Abyss", or "Hangman's Hymn", and attacking from the front will allow your enemy to react before you stun them. This stun has a unique effect though, namely that stunned enemies remained stunned indefinitely (the exception being that their allies can revive them if they're not terrorized), allowing you to throw them off of cliffs to get the "Slippery Slope" kill, string them up with a unique varient of "Grim Harbinger" that can be extremely useful for inflicting large-scale terror.

Tips for this set: Terror is your best friend. Bodies stunned by the Path of Wisdom's attacks can be used to cause terror in the same ways as corpses. As an added bonus, "Friendly Fire" kills remain an option.



Dusk Moths
These are easily one of the most useful item in the game. Dusk Moths are a Distraction Item that blocks light sources soundlessly. Even dart-proof search lights. Enemies won't even know the light is out, and you can move through without any of the hassle you used to have. As an added bonus, it also works as an effective single-enemy stun, which is completely silent. This is a great item to use with Path of Silence to take out that one guy that's always in your way. (As an added note, these will not protect you from lasers, laser tripwires, or motion sensors. So smoke bombs still have their uses outside of multi-enemy stuns.) No enemies are immune to Dusk Moths.



Fungal Spores
I first heard about these from the achievements, and let me just say, this item is way more cool than it sounds. This Attack Item inflicts an instant kill on a target, terrorizes any witnesses, and will kill any enemies that try to investigate, which can nullify alarms you would have normally set off when a body is found. It's extremely effective when combined with Path of Nightmares. No enemies are immune to Fungal Spores.

These ninja tools apply various effects to enemies, allowing you to hide, stun, or just draw enemies away. Two of these can be found in-level, the others must be bought using points.


Noise Maker
This is the first Distraction Item you'll find in the game. It's found in the second level. When thrown, it produces a sound that will attract guards, or distract them away from something you need to get to. It's a useful tool for stealth, as it allows you to remove unwanted soldiers from your path when you're having trouble getting past them.
Noise Maker Upgrade: This allows you to throw the noise maker, then move away before setting it off, or, simply wait for the right moment to set it off for maximum effect. You will have to keep the noise maker equipped as your item to be able to set it off, so if you switched to darts or far-sight, you'll have to switch back.
NO enemy is immune to the Noise Maker.

Smoke Bomb
This is the second Distraction Item you'll find in the game. It's INCREDIBLY useful. When thrown, it creates a cloud of dust that will hide you from sight/line of sight, even under a light source. Enemies won't be able to see you as long as the smoke is between you, even if neither of you are in the cloud itself. It will also block laser beams allowing you to pass safely through without getting incinerated or setting off the security alarms or turrets.
Smoke Bomb Upgrade: This adds a toxin to the smoke. Now, if you throw it at an enemy, it will stun them. This can be fun for killing more than one enemy at once, since you can then perform "Bloody Whisper", which will kill all enemies within a certain radius of the first stunned soldier you attack. Enemies with special helmets are immune to the smoke bomb's stun effect will be able to see you even when you're inside the cloud. (You can tell if they have the helmet by that blue vision-distance marker.)

Distraction Flare
This item, you have to buy in-game. It creates a light that will blind nearby enemies that have special vision masks, and distract any normal enemies that are facing it. This is a handy tool for using against tech ninjas, catacomb guards, and some of the bandits, all of which have visors, as shown in the screenshot.
Distraction Flare Upgrade: Same as the noise maker. This allows you to throw it, then set it off from a distance, or at just the right moment. Again, you'll have to keep it equipped as your item to be able to set it off.

Cardboard Box
I thought this one was particularly amusing. This box acts as a portable hiding spot for that ONE level where you really needed something to hide in, and it just wasn't there. The only downside is, if you move, it ceases to operate as a normal hiding spot, and you'll set off any motion sensors or lasers that are in your path. Enemies will see you moving and go to investigate, and if they get close enough, they'll raise an alarm. I suggest using this for the level where you return to the ninja dojo, as in the final puzzle room you have to try and avoid three tech ninjas. As long as you remain stationary, they'll walk right past you, allowing you to escape easily.
Cardboard Box Upgrade: This grants you a new stealth kill; you can kill an enemy and hide them under the box. It's a bit of a bummer, since you can only carry one, and if they're hidden under the box, you aren't, but you can get a new one at the next checkpoint, or retrieve the box from on top of the body once the coast is clear.

These items will either kill, terrorize, or stun enemies, and there's a very interesting selection to choose from.


Spike Mine
This is the first Attack Item you can get in the game. It will kill any normal enemy that steps on it, unless you throw it too close, and then they'll hear it hit the ground and shoot it. Elite guards won't be killed by this, but it will inflict a stun on them instead, allowing you to kill them with your sword. You can recollect a mine later if an enemy never steps on it.
Spike Mine Upgrade: This removes the sound produced from it hitting the ground, allowing you to throw it right in someone's face without them noticing it. Elite Guards will only be stunned by these.

Hisomu Terror Dart
This will instantly inflict terror on any enemy hit by it. Terror is a debuff on an enemy. It doesn't have a timer, it's continuous. However, elite guards can shake off the effects of terror. Use the terror darts together with other distraction items to control the direction an enemy fires in.
Hisomu Terror Dart Upgrade: This upgrade forces a terrorized enemy to commit suicide after a certain period of time has elapsed. Not even elite guards can resist the upgraded dart. Suicides will count as a "Ninja Tool Kill", which is pretty neat. Elite Guards can resist standard Terror Darts, but not upgraded ones.

Caltrops
I imagine stepping on this is a lot like stepping on a sharpened Lego. Throwing this releases three small spikes that will stun an enemy when they step on one. Three spikes, three enemies, one Bloody Whisper. No enemies are immune to these.
(EDIT: Dogs ARE immune to caltrops. Credit: Sogaple)


Ravenous Insects
And last but not least... Ravenous Insects. Throw these at a dead enemy, they'll have the body stripped to the bones in a few seconds of silence, leaving nothing for other enemies to find and raise an alarm over. Throw these at a live enemy and you're going to attract every other enemy between here and the Arctic. I'm sure you'd probably scream bloody murder if you were being eaten alive by rabid bugs too. Enemies attracted to the screams will become terrified, so it does have some interesting uses, considering the large sound radius it puts out. No enemies are immune to Ravenous Insects.

Now onto the abilities. First, I want to explain something. I count an "ability" as something that you can't switch out for something else. Almost every path has it. It's not something that's specific to a single set. (For example, Mark of Serenity, which can only be used with the Path of the Mark set, as opposed to Focus)


Focus
"Focus" is the power of the first mark you get in the game. This is the friend of all those who want to live a long and happy life. Focus freezes everything in its current position and allows you to see whether an item will fly straight or if it has a travel arc, markers for objects you can hit with darts or grapple onto, and even the distance the sound will travel after you leave Focus. All the paths can use Focus, but the Path of Might set will no longer freeze time.

Darts
While these are technically not an "ability", I count them as such because you will ALWAYS have them in your arsenal. Darts are the bread and butter of your equipment. They can be used as both a Distraction Item, AND an Attack Item (by using it to dislodge chandeliers, or even explosives in some levels). No set will force, or even allow you to leave these behind. If you learn nothing else, learn to use these, and you'll be a pro at the game in no time.

Grappling Hook
This is ALSO technically not an "ability", but again, no set forces or allows you to leave this behind. If you're playing the game right, you'll be using this on every, single, level. If you're playing the game wrong, I've got nothing for you, because I can't even imagine how you could find a way to use this wrong.

Far-Sight
This is the power of the second mark you get in the game. It can be extremely useful for stealth. It allows you to see through doors and walls, so it's helpful to see with your mind what you can't with line-of-sight. It also allows you to see wire connections so you can tell what traps are connected to what switches, and how to shut them off. It may also help you to see hidden passages if you have trouble finding vents among all the rest of the stuff in the levels. This ability does not combine with the effects of Focus, so time will not freeze. You'll want to be properly hidden before using it.

Honor
Honor is a type of point earned by getting any or all of the three "stars" at the end of the level, completing the three Seal challenges, or collecting the three Voice of the Hisomu scrolls from each level. Every level has nine total points to be gained, that can be spent on upgrades to your armor, new stealth kills or abilities, stealth upgrades, or on your items. You MUST collect every scroll, complete every Seal challenge, and get a perfect score on every single level to have unlocked all of the items and skills in the game.
(Note: There is a difference between "Honor" and "Honor BONUS". The first applies to upgrades, the second applies only to your level score. :P)


Seals
These are level-specific challenges you have to complete. There are FIVE types of Seal. The first four of these types apply to different unlockable Paths. They are (in order), "Aggression", "Combat", "Stealth", and "Terror". The fifth is what I call the "Ninja Seal", which is basically just for people like me who want to get perfect scores on every level. Every level has three different Seals. Completion of a Seal grants you a point to spend on upgrades and items at the equipment selection screen. Example of possible challenges you have to complete would be, reaching a certain place within a certain time limit, getting to a certain point in the level without smashing any lights (harder than it will at first seem), not raising any alarms in a certain area, etc. Some are easy, some are hard, and some are just ridiculous. Like the one challenge that requires you to get smelled by all three of the dogs in the level.
(As a side note, if you manage to collect all three seals in every level as you play, you'll have unlocked all four paths by the end of level 6, "Hessian Castle".

Score Bonuses
Every level has a total of four score bonuses you can get. They are "Undetected", "Distracted", "No Alarms Raised", and "No Enemies Killed". If you look at the screenshot, you can see that I killed all of the enemies in that level, and because of that, I didn't get any of the score bonuses. Enemies that you never encountered, or never saw you at all, will go into Undetected. If they detected you, but didn't see you enough to set off an alarm, they go into Distracted. And if they set off an alarm, they'll prevent you from getting No Alarms Raised. A kill will remove the enemy from any of these score bonuses. Enemies will count toward blocking both No Alarms Raised AND No Enemies Killed, if they raise the alarm and then you kill them. However, the game mechanics prevent it from tallying the same enemy twice, so it was forced to leave that space empty in order to show the correct kill count. To get the best score, I suggest Path of Silence. It's harder, but if you can get all four of the score bonuses, you're in for a massive amount of points.

(NOTE: Undetected and Distracted HONOR bonuses you gain IN-LEVEL still count toward your regular score. Kills only affect the bonus score at the end of the level.)


If you're looking for information on scroll locations or score points you'd recieve for different actions, I know I've seen a couple of guides on those topics.
This concludes the guide. Hopefully I've done my job thoroughly enough and you've been able to get something useful from this guide. Enjoy Mark of the Ninja!