Learn how to beat Inshun in Dokkodo by reading each spear tell, parrying in the correct direction, and staying patient through his feints.
Inshun, the final Vagabond storyline boss in Dokkodo, becomes easy once you learn to parry each move in the right direction — parry his flip slash to the right, his double speed-thrust forward twice, and his double right slash to the right twice.
Inshun is the final boss of the Vagabond storyline in Dokkodo as it stands right now, and he fights with a spear. He is a genuine step up from the previous boss, but the fight is far less about out-damaging him than it is about reading his tells and answering each one with the correct parry. Get the directions down and he folds quickly.
Who Inshun is and how this fight works
The spear is what makes him tricky. It gives him long reach, so he can poke you from a distance most bosses can’t, and his feints are harder to read when the weapon hides the real swing. Don’t try to trade blows or rush him down. Stay patient, learn each move once, and the spear stops being scary.
Every attack Inshun uses and the parry that counters it
| Attack | How to spot it (tell) | How to counter it |
|---|---|---|
| Acrobatic flip into a right slash (lands behind you) | He charges toward you, then a light flashes on his spear right before he flips into the air | Spin to face where he lands and parry right |
| Double speed thrust (can also appear as two normal thrusts) | A fast thrust like the previous monk’s, but it comes twice in a row | Parry forward, spin to face him, then parry forward again |
| Jump into a double right slash | Usually happens right after you take a swing at him | Parry right twice |
| Right-then-downward counter (after he parries you) | His defensive answer when he deflects your attack, like the previous monk | Parry right, then forward |
| Quick chamber counter | The chamber shines with a blue light | React and parry the direction he strikes from |
| Normal attacks and feints | Standard pokes mixed with fakes; hard to read because of the spear | Block or roll away to reset (see below) |
This table is the spine of the fight — come back to it whenever a move catches you off guard. The two that trip people up most are the flip and the double speed thrust. On the flip, the key is the spear light: once it flashes, he’s about to leap behind you, so don’t panic-parry where he was — turn to where he lands and deflect right. On the speed thrust, remember it’s a pair. Parry the first one forward, then immediately spin to face him so the second thrust doesn’t clip your back, and parry forward again.
The double right slash almost always comes as punishment for your own aggression, so expect it whenever you swing — answer with two right parries. His right-then-downward strike is a defensive counter he throws out after he parries you, and the rhythm is right then forward. And any time a chamber lights up blue, that’s your cue to read the angle and parry whichever way the strike is coming from.
Handling his feints and protecting your posture
When you can’t read his feints yet, roll away to reset distance instead of guessing a parry — staying spaced out beats getting overwhelmed up close.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Inshun the final boss in Dokkodo?
Yes — Inshun is the final Vagabond storyline boss in Dokkodo as of right now. He caps off that questline, so he’s the toughest fight in the storyline at the moment.
What weapon does Inshun use, and why is he harder than the last boss?
He fights with a spear, which gives him extra reach and makes his feints harder to read than the previous monk’s. He’s a step up overall, but he’s still very beatable once you know which direction to parry each move.
How do you counter his flip-behind-you slash?
Watch for the light flashing on his spear as he charges in — that’s the wind-up for the acrobatic flip. When he jumps, spin to face where he lands and parry right to deflect the slash.
How do you deal with his feints when you can’t read them yet?
Keep your distance by rolling away to avoid being overwhelmed, and keep watching for the fakes rather than committing early. You can hold guard now and then if you need a breather, just don’t let your posture break.
Video help
