Walkthrough for Ninja Gaiden 4, Part 37: Learn how to defeat Spectral Doku, find the Key of the Decayed Soul, and navigate The Core.
Walkthrough
- 1Save your game at the Save Point. Use the Lioness Key to enter the next area for the boss battle.
- 2BOSS BATTLE: SPECTRAL DOKU
- Doku has new attacks: Hover and Slam, Grab-and-Stab Combo.
- 3He often hovers and performs a quick slam attack. Roll away to evade.
- 4Baiting his Rush Attack is key. Roll away from it and counter with a Square, Triangle 2-hit combo. This deals 10-15% damage and pushes him back.
- 5Avoid his retaliation counter after he's pushed back.
- 6If Doku doesn't Rush Attack early, prepare for a long battle of waiting.
- 7MISSION COMPLETE!
- 8CHAPTER 18: THE CORE
- 9OBJECTIVE: REACH THE CORE
- Equip the Flails and kill the Fish enemies.
- 10Grab the Raptor Deity statue to reveal the exit.
- 11Approach the Save Point and SAVE your game.
- 12Go to the far right for a chest.
- 13Go the other way and search a dead body for a MAP.
- 14Continue down the path, encounter enemies. Use Izuna Drops on Shadow Fiends and Ultimate Techniques (UTs) on Crab Fiends.
- 15Open a chest in the corner for a Devil Elixir.
- 16OBJECTIVE: FIND THE KEY OF THE DECAYED SOUL
- AREA: PALACE COMPOUND
- If the door to the Imperial Palace is locked, go back towards the large gateway.
- AREA: PALACE COMPOUND
- 17You will be swarmed by Ghost Fish. Use the Flails to kill them and collect essence.
- 18Open the doorway to trigger a cutscene.
- 19AREA: STAIRWAY TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE
- After the cutscene, search a dead body for an item.
- 20LIFE OF THE GODS #27: Go back to Great Bridge Square. Enter the building Rachel cracked open. Use a Wall-To-Wall Run to the top ledge to find the last Life of the Gods. Equip it to increase your life bar.
- 21ENEMY AMBUSH: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE
- Across from the last Life OTG location, find a glowing portal in an enclosed arena.
- 22If the gate in Chapter 4 was not unlocked, go to the end of the alleyway, turn right, use a Bird Flip to reach an upper ledge, then jump down towards the portal.
- 23Enter the portal to fight Pink Shadow Fiends and Arioch Crab Fiends.
- 24Evade the Arioch Crab and focus on killing the Shadow Fiends first.
- 25Use leftover essence for a True Dragon Sword UT on the Arioch Crabs.
- 26Completing this challenge rewards a TALISMAN OF REBIRTH.
- 27Replenish stock at Muramasa's Shop if needed.
- 28Head back to the Imperial Palace entrance and enter with the Decayed Key.
- 29AREA: THE CORE - 1ST FLOOR
- Kill Red Dinos with the Dabilahro, using Flaming Hell Slash and Flaming Whirlwind. Separate them to avoid attacks.
- 30Place the Wolf Deity statue on the mantle.
- 31Exit through the adjacent door, equip the Flails, and kill the Ghost Fish.
- 32Ascend the stairway, open a chest, and enter the next area.
- 33AREA: THE CORE - 2ND FLOOR
- Kill the red dinos.
- 34Place the Devil Deity statue on the mantle.
- 35Exit through the adjacent door, use the Flails for Ghost Fish.
- 36Eliminate them and ascend to the third floor.
- 37AREA: THE CORE - 3RD FLOOR
- Fight Crab Fiends. Equip the True Dragon Sword and use hard combos. Stay evasive and use Explosive Arrows.
Tips
- Save your game frequently, especially before boss battles.
- Baiting Doku's Rush Attack is the most effective strategy against him.
- Use Izuna Drops on Shadow Fiends and UTs on Crab Fiends.
- Prioritize killing Shadow Fiends during the Great Bridge Square ambush to manage the Arioch Crabs.
- Stock up on healing items and arrows at Muramasa's Shop before entering the Imperial Palace.
- Talisman of Rebirth (from Great Bridge Square Enemy Ambush)
- Increased Life Bar (after collecting all Life of the Gods pieces)
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