This game is amazing and it is far too hard

For one, head back to Muramasa's statue at the beginning of the Labyrinth to fill your stock with Elixirs of Spiritual Life (I would fill my inventory with both types of EoSL...if you get really close to killing him, and are on really low health, there may be no point wasting a GSE when a normal EoSL will suffice). And possibly Devil Elixirs, depending on how much Ninpo you use.

As for the battle itself, here's a little strategy that may or may not help. It certainly helped me, though (and I was completing it through on Hard):
> equip the Unlabored Flawlessness.

> (This is only if there are a shoal of Ghost Fish at the start) Use the Art of Inazuma to wipe them out.

> Run away from Doku right to the furthest wall away from him (which, if I remember correctly, is directly behind you at the start of the battle)

> If he throws his sword at this point, run up the wall and backflip off to dodge it. If he throws his glove, I think you can do a similar thing to dodge it, though try adding on a Y as you are in the air. You should dodge it. Though if you don't, I've read somewhere that you can struggle out of the glove attack, though I'm not sure how. Probably just by bashing buttons.

> When he charges at you (or, if he doesn't, merely gets into close proximity), run directly up this wall jump off and hit Y. Move out of the way. Repeat.

> Keep using AoI if the Ghost Fish reappear.

> Don't overuse Elixirs. Remember, the lower your health, the more damage that the Unlabored Flawlessness will inflict.

Hmmm...that help?

"Stay back, boy. This calls for divine intervention!"

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Use the True dragon sword. When he comes at you, you can do the attack where you phase right through him. After he charges at you, do it again.

If he grabs you, BUTTONMASH. Do it as much as possible. That way, he doesn't get the full attack out. If he throws his hand and grabs you from a distance, by button mashing, he won't even give you damage.

As previously said, wall jumping will help, and it's recommended that you keep doing doing the attack where you press Y after you jump off seeing as how he can't hurt you while you're doing that attack.

Try to avoid ninpo, it will only work once or twice, and you get a lot more points if you don't even use it at all.

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ghost doku is nothing like 1st alma, especially on very hard level where your chances of getting an on-target slash is about 10%, and she incessantly throws like 6 stones at you instead of 2.

the unlabored flawlessness is the best weapon in the game against opponents who cant throw or grab (yellow/pink zombies, stupid ninjas) Simply block and counter attack. after you've got about 2-3 essense free, do an ultimate technique that can kill ALL opponents within 2-3 bodylengths radius and get a gazillion yellow essense points.

I've beat the very hard level after about 2 hours of game play (it obviously comes after a gazillion tries at various difficulty levels). My best advice is to KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS. If they can't throw, just block and counter attack. Works better with heavier weapons cuz the sword leaves you vulnerable even during a counter. If they CAN throw, do alot of block + roll. Another advice is TIMING. After performing certain moves you're exposed for a moment. You're also exposed after you take a hit. So do your opponents. TIME yourself well to continue hitting your opponents during exposion, and likewise save your ass by dodging as soon as you're able to.

also, make good use of combo attacks. the killer drop, the forward jump Y, the ultimate techniques slash are excellent moves because your body emits a yellow light during these attacks, i.e. you cant be hit (although you may be hit afterwards). the blood sucking move of the kitetsu seems to keep you well-protected also.

my fav. combo attack against medium ennemies is forward jump + Y, leaving my opponents stunned, then with good timing i follow up with that awesome drop or charged Y to cut off some heads. works everytime even on very hard diff.

Danorma
I'm devotion, not obsession.