Doku

Doku
Personal Status
Titles	Lord of Greater Fiends (重鬼卿, Jūki kyō?)
Aliases	Heavily Armored Dark Knight (暗黒の鎧武者, Ankoku no yoroi musha?) The Evil Spirit of Doku (ドークの怨霊, Dōku no onryō?)
Katakana	ドーク
Race	Greater Fiend
Gender	Male
Status	Deceased
Professional Status
Affiliation	Vigoor Empire
Rank	Knight
Behind the Scenes
Appearances	Ninja Gaiden Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword Ninja Gaiden 3
Japanese Voice	Kôji Totani
English Voice	Charles Dennis
Music	Lord of Greater Fiends Emperor (Chapter 13; Σ & Σ PLUS)

“	The failed protector of the Dark Dragon Blade. Must I take your life yet again?	„
	~ Doku to Ryu Hayabusa, Ninja Gaiden

Doku, the heavily armored dark knight, is the Greater Fiend who lured Alma, Rachel's sister, into the fold and turned her into a Fiend.

He is a boss in Ninja Gaiden, Ninja Gaiden Black, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, and Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus, appearing in Chapter 2, Chapter 11 and Chapter 15, and in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword, appearing in Chapter 6, and in Ninja Gaiden 3, appearing in Ninja Trials "Mentor 11", "Leader 06", "Master 06" and "Master 10", and in Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, appearing in the first Test of Valor.

Description

Doku clads his towering figure in a black samurai armor with golden laces on his shoulders and a golden sash around his waist (上帯 Wa-obi) that carries his weapon of choice, the cursed sword Kitetsu, and a wakizashi (脇差). His horned helmet (兜 Kabuto) is complemented by a fanged war mask (面頬 Menpō). Lacking a corporeal form in itself, Doku's body is seemingly made of malevolent demonic fire (鬼火 Onibi).

In his Evil Spirit form, Doku appears larger and translucent blue, with only his torso, head and arms preserved, and emits the strong blue flame of a detached soul (人魂 Hitodama). He retains an echo of his Kitetsu even in this form, despite the actual weapon being lost in the Zarkhan stadium, and is also able to freely extend his hand at his targets.

Story

Ninja Gaiden

After discovering the location of the Dark Dragon Blade, a cursed sword capable of bestowing unfathomable power upon its wielder, within the Hayabusa Ninja Village in Japan, the Emperor of Vigoor, a secluded nation in western Asia, sent the dark knight Doku and his army of Samurai to retrieve it. Rushing in from his uncle Murai's nearby Shadow Clan Ninja Fortress, the young Dragon Ninja Ryu Hayabusa makes his way through the burning houses and corpses of his brethren, cutting down any opposition on his path. As he vanquishes Masakado the Red Samurai on the Great Bridge to the temple where the legendary artifact is held, Ryu comes face to face with Doku, who has just killed his childhood friend Kureha, the dragon shrine maiden, and proceeds to murder the shinobi too with a single strike of his newly acquired armament (Chapter 2: The Hayabusa Ninja Village). This tragedy will come the be remembered by the Hayabusa Ninja Clan as "The Dark Dragon Blade Incident".

Resurrected by a falcon's spiritual power, Ryu is directed by Murai towards the Vigoorian capital of Tairon to seek revenge (Chapter 3: Skies of Vengeance). As Rachel fails to kill her twin sister Alma, after the Greater Fiend's defeat at the hands of Ryu in the Dworku Monastery, upon the Dragon Ninja's departure, Doku makes his appearance to kidnap the Vigoorian Fiend Hunter, with the intent of using her cursed flesh and blood to grant the "Fiendish Awakening" to Alma. (Chapter 7: Hidden Underground)

Traversing the surrounding moat, Ryu makes his way to the Zarkhan stadium, where the Dark Samurai awaits for him. Locking Rachel behind a barricade, Doku unsheathes his cursed sword, Kitetsu, and the two warriors engage in a battle to the death, but the Greater Fiend is ultimately defeated and, after revealing both the location of the Dark Dragon Blade in the Emperor's hands and the shared bloodline of the Dragon Lineage and the Fiends to the Ancient Deities, conjures his Evil Spirit to carry on the "Fiendish Awakening" ritual. (Chapter 11: The Path to Zarkhan)

Chasing The Evil Spirit of Doku through Tairon, Rachel is teleported through a Stone Circle to the Hayabusa Ninja Village and then the Zarkhan Pyramid, where she is ambushed by the Ancient Greater Fiends Nicchae and Ishtaros, falling captive to the Dark Knight again. (Chapter 14: The Ancient Twin Deities)

With Rachel chained atop the Zarkhan Pyramid, The Evil Spirit of Doku summons Awakened Alma and, as the Greater Fiend is defeated by Ryu Hayabusa, prepares to kill the Fiend Hunter with his sword to complete the ritual, but Alma rushes in to take the stab instead, breaking her curse and saving her twin sister. (Chapter 13: The Fiendish Awakening)

Failing to complete the ritual, Spirit Doku retreats in the Zarkhan Labyrinth, ambushing Ryu on his way to the Imperial Palace Core. Defeated once more, before vanishing, he curses Ryu's blood turning him into a Fiend. (Chapter 14: Vengeful Spirit)

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword

Six months after the destruction of the Dark Dragon Blade by Ryu, The Evil Spirit of Doku is resurrected by the Dark Dragonstones, crystals containing the will and essence of the Dark Dragon, that released them at the moment of its defeat at the hands of the Dragon Lineage. Seeking vengeance and the Dark Dragon Blade to restore the Fiends to their former glory, Doku confronts the Dragon Ninja in the ruined Underground Coliseum of Tairon. Ryu manages to defeat Spirit Doku, hurling his evil soul into oblivion and obtaining the Dark Dragonstone of Spirit. (Chapter 6: Mortal Enemy)

Powers and Abilities

General

• Agility: In his physical form Doku is quick with his sword strikes, but not as acrobatic as a ninja. In his spirit form he is able to manoeuvrer swiftly in flight.

• Strength: Doku possesses supernatural strength, and is able to send a grown human flying from a slap or a throw with little effort.

• Swordsmanship: As the most skilled samurai of the Vigoorian army, Doku's skill with the katana is at the highest calibre; having been able to best even Ryu Hayabusa single combat.

• Hand to Hand: Doku is able to perform simple Samurai jiu-jutsu style throws.

• Spirit Form: A form in which Doku takes up when his physical form is destroyed, he is more mobile as a flying spirit.

Techniques

Attack Name	Hitstun	Guard	Notes
Ground Pound	Knockback	Crush & Break	At a distance, plants his sword onto the ground and releases a shockwave. Jump to avoid. Not used in his Evil Spirit form.
Fire Breathe	Knockback	-	Breathes a stream of fire from right to left.
Stab of Extinction	Knockback	Break	Launches his sword boomerang-like. In his Evil Spirit form, the whole arm is launched alongside the weapon.
Turn-around Slash	Knockback	Block	When behind him, throws a single quick slash to reposition himself.
Six Slash Flurry	Knockback	Break	Unleashes repeated attacks with forward momentum, ending in a double spin.
Lunging Slash	Knockback	-	Ducks helding the sword backwards down by his hip, then rushes into a lunging horizontal slash. Dodge into it.
Diagonal Slash	Knockback	Break	Performs a diagonal slash either from shoulder height or rising, sometimes following it up with the other variant.
Soul Eraser	Throw	-	Grabs Hayabusa with the left hand and stabs him with the Kitetsu, draining his vitality while regenerating his own. Tap Quick and Strong Attack repeatedly to escape faster.
Long-Range Throw	Throw	-	Launches his left arm to grab Hayabusa and brings him back to slash him multiple times. The arm grab itself doesn't deal damage. Tap Quick and Strong Attack repeatedly to escape faster. Only used in his Evil Spirit form.
Quick Throw	Throw	-	Impales Hayabusa with his sword and tosses him away. Cannot be escaped. Deals massive damage. Only used when wielding the Dark Dragon Blade.

Strategy

Doku — Dark Dragon Blade

Roll and jump away from Doku and begin to charge the Dragon Sword's Extinction Straight Slash (Hold Strong Attack, Release with Essence) to bait his Ground Pound. Release the input as soon as you see the boss commits to the attack and jump straight up to evade the area of effect shockwave, then start charging the Extinction Straight Slash again immediately upon landing. If your first move positioned Ryu close enough to Doku, he'll perform the Six Slash Flurry combo, which you'll safely punish with your Ultimate Technique. Otherwise, he'll use his Ground Pound technique again; in that case just jump away and repeat the process. It is vital to avoid the Quick Throw at any cost, as it is a one-shot kill.

Managing to defeat Doku in this instance on Normal Difficulty will unlock Mission Mode and on Hard and Very Hard the successive Difficulty mode without needing to complete the whole playthrough.

Doku — Kitetsu

With the Dragon Sword, stay a roll distance away from him and either dodge through his attacks and punish with Tiger Roar (Quick, Quick, Strong Attack) or use the invincibility frames of the Windmill Slash (→ Quick Attack) as a dodge following it up with a Quick, Strong Attack combo. Then roll backwards to reset the fight to neutral. Applying constant pressure may result in clashing swords with Doku; in which case tap Quick and Strong Attack repeatedly to repel him and punish with a Quick, Strong, Strong Attack. With heavier weapons like the Dabilahro and War Hammer, limit yourself to a single Flaming Whirlwind (→ Strong Attack) punish.

In Ninja Gaiden Black, it is noteworthy the efficacy of the Vigoorian Flail to keep Doku at bay by punishing his every move with either a simple Fire Pit (X X Y) or Wide Heavens (X Y) into Dragon Emperor Kick (While jumping Y). The latter can have its power boosted by a massive 40% with the use of The Armlet of Potency.

In all versions except the first Ninja Gaiden, on difficulties higher than Normal Doku will receive support from a couple of enemies, that will spawn at the start of the fight and every time he loses 25% of his Health: Samurai on Hard, Black Spider Clan Ninja on Very Hard and Black Spider Clan Red Lotus Ninja on Master Ninja. After quickly dispatching both with an Izuna Drop (Quick, Strong, Quick, Quick, Quick, Strong Attack) — The Art of the Inferno and Smoke Bombs also come in handy against them—, hold block and maintain a long distance from the boss to trigger his Ground Pound. Then dodge towards him and absorb the Essence orbs to unleash an Ultimate Technique that will most likely drain enough of his vitality to spawn the next set of minions. This is most effective with the Dabilahro's Hundred Demons Blade or Asura Slash Ultimate Technique, unless one is willing to play at low Health to trigger the special attack-increasing power of the Unlabored Flawlessness.

Doku — Evil Spirit

Similar to the regular Doku, equip the True Dragon Sword and dodge through his attacks and combos to punish with either Tiger Roar (Quick, Quick, Strong Attack) or a Quick Attack into Scarlet Dragon (→ Hold Strong Attack, Release) to knock him away. Otherwise, roll and jump away from him and wait for him to give you chase and begin to charge a Gleaming Blade (↻ Hold Strong Attack, Release). Since from Hard Difficulty onwards, Spirit Doku receives the support of a swarm of Mist Fish at the start of the fight and every time he loses 25% of his Health, this last method in particular may prove quickly lethal by dispatching the whole horde with The Art of the Inazuma and using the Essence orbs lying around to turn the technique into the more powerful Annihilating Gleam (↻ Hold Strong Attack, Release with MAX Essence).

Not only the supporting minions are completely absent in the original Ninja Gaiden, but in this version only the boss can be launched with Azure Dragon (→ Y) or Flying Crane (↻ Y) into a Blade of Nirrti (While jumping straight up X X X X).

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 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 Deities 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.

• "Alma... with your own flesh and blood as sacrifice, receive now the Awakening!"
  — Performing the ritual in Chapter 13.

• "This is not over."
  — After Awakened Alma's defeat.

• "Receive the curse... become a Fiend..."
  — After his defeat in Chapter 14.

• "I find you at least, Dragon Ninja. Now, return what is ours... You will give me the Dark Dragon Blade!"
  — Confronting Ryu is Chapter 6 of Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword.

• "Cursed... Dragon Ninja... If only I had the Dark Dragon Blade, I could... restore the Fiends... to their former glory... Holy... Vigoor... Emperor!"
  — After his defeat in Chapter 6 of Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword.

Gallery

Doku makes his appearance in the Dworku Monastery

Doku and Rachel in the monastery

NG1: Doku Render

NG1: Ghost Doku

Trivia

• He is one of the five Greater Fiends of the Holy Vigoorian Empire along with Alma, Nicchae, Ishtaros and Marbus.

• The japanese pronunciation of his name is the same as (毒, ^? Poison), though the pronunciation was changed in the English dub probably due to its assonance with the word "Dork".

• Ironically, Doku is the one of the few bosses that can be attacked by Kitetsu's Dead Soul Bind Throw Technique.

• His Japanese voice actor, Koji Totani was well known for voicing Jagi in Fist of the North Star, Kacricon Cacooler in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Capricorn Shura in Saint Seiya.

• He shares many similarities with Kyokotsu enemies from Nioh 3.

• He was made Lord of the Greater Fiends by Vigoor for his loyalty to him. ^{[citation needed]}