- A devil wielding a massive katana. Deflect everything possible, dodge his kicks (or break defense with Oni Gauntlet if your deflects stop denting him).
- "No escape" shouts = white-glowing attacks that can only be parried/deflected — not dodged.
- Listen for "Shatter", "Prepare", or "Perish" tells before deflecting long-range sword slashes back at him.
- Difficulty: 3.5/10 on Carnage.
Quick Attributes
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Boss |
| Order | #3 in game (Carnage Boss Rematch) |
| Difficulty (Carnage) | 3.5 / 10 |
| Parry Difficulty | Medium — high on white-glowing and ranged slash attacks |
| Enhanced Form | Dohatsu-Ten Enhanced — 3.5/10 with enhanced attacks in early stages too |
Last verified: 2026-09-04 · Patch 1.0 · Carnage Boss Rematch
1. Boss Overview
Dohatsu-Ten is a devil-class swordsman with a massive katana. Where Sasaki teaches you to read a single opponent, Dohatsu-Ten tests three things at once: ranged combat (you cannot close distance), anti-dodge mechanics (white-glowing attacks that bypass dodge entirely), and stamina management (he can break your guard if your deflects are sloppy).
The good news: he shouts a single English word before every unparryable / ranged attack. Listen for those tells and the fight clicks.
2. Attack Patterns
| Phase | Attack | Tell | Counter |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | Standard Katana Strikes | Normal swings, no glow | Deflect normally; chain into Issen |
| P1 | Kick to Face | Lifts his leg and thrusts it forward | Perfect dodge, OR parry/deflect at stamina cost, OR break guard with Oni Gauntlet |
| P1 | White-Glowing "No Escape" Attack | Shouts "No escape" — blade glows white | Only parry/deflect works — dodge is not an option |
| P1 | Long-Range Sword Slashes | Shouts "Shatter", "Prepare", or "Perish" | Send the slash back with a clean deflect — they return to him |
| P2 | Rapid Teleports | Blinks across the arena | Each teleport ends in a deflectable attack (sometimes with Malice-wreathed weapon) |
| P2 | Dash Slash (enhanced) | Used when distance is too large | Sidestep the dash and punish the recovery |
3. Strategy — Phase 1
Dohatsu-Ten's Phase 1 is a clean test of three rules:
- Deflect everything possible. Standard katana strikes deflect cleanly. Chain into Issen on the long recovery.
- When kicks come: perfect dodge OR parry/deflect with stamina cost. Kicks do stamina damage if you deflect them. If you are low on stamina or your deflects are coming up short on damage, use the Oni Gauntlet (R3 + RS or equivalent) to break his defense.
- White-glowing attacks: only parry/deflect work. When you hear "No escape", you cannot dodge. Hold block and tap A on impact.
- Listen for "Shatter / Prepare / Perish" tells. These signal long-range sword slashes. Deflect them and they return to Dohatsu-Ten — saving you the trouble of closing distance.
- If attacks stop making a dent: use Oni Gauntlet. When you have whiffed too many deflects and his posture is recovering, the Oni Gauntlet breaks his defense and resets the rhythm.
4. Enhanced State
In his Enhanced state, Dohatsu-Ten teleports rapidly — each teleport ends in a deflectable attack, sometimes with his weapon wreathed in Malice. The enhanced version of Dohatsu-Ten (Carnage Rematch's "Dohatsu-Ten Enhanced") adds these teleport-enhanced attacks to early stages of the fight too, not just below 50% HP.
- Always be ready to deflect. After every teleport, treat the next swing as guaranteed.
- Watch for the dash slash. If the distance gets too large, Dohatsu-Ten will close it with a dash slash. Sidestep and punish.
- Malice-wreathed weapons hit harder. Don't let them land.
5. Recommended Build (1st Playthrough)
Action Difficulty Starter Build + Awakening
Charm of Awakening is the standout for Dohatsu-Ten: the faster Awakening fill means you can break his guard with Oni Gauntlet more often, which is your reset button when his guard-break combo threatens to chip through your stamina.
6. Carnage-Specific Build (for the Rematch)
Carnage / Minamoto no Yoshitsune Build
7. Rewards
Defeating Dohatsu-Ten grants:
- Souls — yellow soul payout (varies by difficulty).
- Dohatsu-Ten's Katana — unique weapon with the Malice element.
- Progress unlock — story progression.
8. Common Mistakes
- Trying to dodge the white-glowing attacks. They cannot be dodged. Parry only.
- Ignoring the voice tells. "Shatter", "Prepare", and "Perish" are your warning. Deflect the slash back at him rather than dodging sideways.
- Running out of stamina on kicks. Kick deflections cost stamina. Either perfect-dodge them or use the Oni Gauntlet to break his defense.
- Standing still during teleports. He teleports to your flank or behind you. Always be ready to deflect after a teleport.
Source data: PowerPyx — Carnage Difficulty Boss Guide (verified Sept 3, 2026).