Doku

> "*A dark samurai... Clad in black armor... Master Ryu... Do not attempt to fight it...*"
> - Ayane in Chapter 2
>
>

**Doku, Lord of Greater Fiends** (ドーク重鬼卿, Greater Fiend Doku) is a Boss in *Ninja Gaiden*.

## Overview

### Chapter 2: The Hayabusa Ninja Village

Under the order of the Holy Vigoor Emperor, Doku burned down the Hayabusa Ninja Village to steal the Dark Dragon Blade, murdering the dragon shrine-maiden Kureha and even Ryu Hayabusa in the process.

### Chapter 8: Tairon Under Attack

As Rachel failed to kill her twin sister Alma, after the Greater Fiend's defeat at the hands of Ryu in the Dworku Monastery, Doku makes his appearance to kidnap the Fiend Hunter, with the intent of using her blood to summon Awaken Alma.

### Chapter 11: The Path to Zarkhan

Wielding his cursed sword Kitetsu, the Dark Samurai confronts Ryu Hayabusa again in the Zarkhan colosseum, but is ultimately defeated and conjures his Evil Spirit to carry on the "Fiendish Awakening" ritual.

## Appearance

* Chapter 11: The Path to Zarkhan

In the colosseum.

## Moveset

* **Ground Pound**: when at distance, plants his sword onto the ground and releases a shockwave. Guard Crushes and Guard Breaks, so jump to avoid it. It's also possible to roll through it, but the timing is tighter.

* **Fire Breathe**: breathes a stream of fire from right to left. Unblockable.

* **Sword Throw**: launches his sword boomerang-like. Guard Breaks.

* **Turn-around Slash**: when behind him, throws a single quick slash to reposition himself.

* **Six Slash Flurry**: unleashes repeated attacks with forward momentum. Every single hit Guard Breaks. Last move is a double spin.

* **Lunging Slash**: ducks helding the sword backwards down by his hip, then rushes into a lunging horizontal slash. Unblockable, dodge into him.

* **Diagonal Slash**: performs a diagonal slash either from shoulder height or rising, sometimes following it up with the other variant.

* **Soul Eraser**: grabs Ryu with the left hand and stabs him with the Kitetsu, draining his vitality while regenerating his own. Unblockable, Button Mash to escape faster if caught.

## Strategy

### Dragon Sword

Stay a roll distance away from him and use the invincibility frames of the **Windmill Slash** (→ X) to dodge through every move, following it up with **Tiger Roar** (X X Y), then roll backwards to reset the fight to neutral.

Applying constant pressure may result in clashing swords with Doku, in which case mash (X) and (Y) to repel him and punish with (X Y Y).

### Dabilahro

Still standing a dodge away from him, roll through his attacks and counters with a single **Flaming Whirlwind** (→ Y), before evading away.

### Essence Storing

Since from Hard onwards Doku receive reinforcements from the start of the fight and these minions respawn at certain treshold of his healthbar, after killing both, hold block and maintain a long distance from the boss to trigger his ***Ground Pound***, then dodge towards him and absorb the essence to unleash an Ultimate Technique that most likely drain enough of his vitality to spawn the next set of supports.

This strategy is particularly effective with a low-HP Unlabored Flawlessness setup.

## Quotes

* "*Rachel, I should kill you now for the pain you have inflicted on Alma, but instead I shall use you to make her even stronger. It will be your blood, the cursed blood of a twin sister, that shall serve to awaken Alma. It is a shame such a fine specimen has to go to waste... you might have become more powerful than even Alma, but no longer...* "
- Kidnapping Rachel in the Dworku Monastery in Chapter 8

* "*The failed protector of the Dark Dragon. Must I take you life yet again?*"
- Confronting Ryu in Chapter 11

* "*[The Dark Dragon] is in the hands of the Holy Vigoor Emperor, your true master. You see, young Ryu, you are not so different from us. Those of the Dragon Lineage like yourself draw their blood from the same Ancient Dieties as the Fiends. You most of all should know that your true place is at the Emperor's side. My hatred will not be so easily defeated! I will bring about the Awakening! Pitiful woman... your sister must be quite precious to you...*"
- After his defeat in Chapter 11