Phantom Blade Zero Boss Guide: Every Fight, Region and Reward

Phantom Blade Zero makes its bosses part of the route through the game: fights introduce new attack patterns, test different weapons and often reward tools that open up more of the world. The roster runs to more than 60 encounters, including hidden opponents, repeat fights and groups of enemies. Knowing what to watch for can make the difference between a clean win and getting caught by a late red or blue attack.

This guide follows the regions in which the fights appear, with practical cues for each encounter and the rewards described in the source. Some fights are optional or best tackled later, while others gate routes, story progress or access to new areas. The full roster is listed first; the fight notes then cover the major encounters in more detail.

Phantom Blade Zero bosses, in encounter order

• Zho Shang
• Jagged Steel, The Frenzied Brute
• Peng Meng, The Axemaster
• Aberrant Three-Faced Puppet
• Hua, Deadly Betrothed
• The Hunt, Sixfold Scythe
• The Gold Masked One (five encounters)
• Hua Qianxiao, The Sword Fanatic
• Ying Ye, The Outlaw
• Bai Chilian, The Sacrificial Serpent
• Zhuo Bi, The Gatekeeper
• Master Bi Yuan of the Tianxuan Sect
• Master Bi Hai of Kuye Temple
• Dusk, The Puppeteer
• Yuzan, No. 3 Musician Puppet
• Mu Xiaokui, Young Mistress of the Order
• Blaze, Shadow Warden Captain
• Cavalrybane, Elite Shadow Warden
• Wu Xuan, The Fallen General
• Gu Wanyue, The Wailing Wraith
• Corpse-Eating Xue
• Wan Jun, The Coppermaul
• Red, The Mysterious Swordswoman
• Chief Disciple of the Seven-Stars Formation
• Yubi, No. 21 Swordfighter Puppet
• Xie Qiudong, The Divine Healer
• Chang Hong, The Thunder Spear
• You Loong, Leader of the Blackwater Crew
• Flame, The Lion Grandmaster
• Soulclaimer, Elite Shadow Warden
• Zhu Yuan, The Searing Blade
• Grief-Striken Jin
• One-Eyed Archer
• You-Loong, The Frenzied Blackwater Crewleader
• Yan Qiansui, The Zither Maiden
• Heartpiercer, Elite Shadow Warden
• Iron Butcher, The Frenzied Brute
• Bi Feng, Giant Saber Commander
• Kui Yanyan, The Deranged
• Huangxing, The Kunlun Renegade
• The Puppet Scavenger & Acolyte Hansui
• Four Acolytes (one in each of four regions)
• Blizzard Blademaster
• Qiu Feng, The Crimson Boneblade
• Mo Yuan, Leader of the Bastion of Mo
• Lei Dang, The Order's Envoy
• The Crusher and the Saw
• The Puppet Scavenger, Heartpiercer and Cavalrybane; Yuding No. 12 and Yubi No. 21
• Leng Tu, Herald of the Veil
• Meng Hua, The Merciful Lady of the Blossol Veil
• Zho Shang (in the perfect ending)

Weeping Creek Valley

Zho Shang appears in the tutorial. The result is fixed, so there’s no need to treat this encounter as a test of your build or combat skill.

Jagged Steel, The Frenzied Brute introduces parrying and perfect dodges. Follow the on-screen cues and use the fight to get comfortable responding to those mechanics; this early opponent is designed to teach rather than overwhelm.

Peng Meng, The Axemaster is the first major skill check. His Dread Axe can take away all your Sha-Chi if his back slam connects, so give that move room. Dodge the sweeping attack, then look for the blue attack after his stamping sequence and parry it. Defeating Peng Meng earns the Dread Axe as a Phantom Edge.

Aberrant Three-Faced Puppet is a hidden encounter that can appear early, but it’s not a sensible fight to force at that point. Soul’s comment about needing to learn more signals that you should return later; the puppet has a large health pool and takes little damage when you first find it. Once you’re better equipped, watch for her disappearing into mirrors. She can emerge with a red attack that calls for a perfect dodge. Returning near the end of the game makes the fight much easier.

Hua, Deadly Betrothed is another concealed fight in the opening region, at the bottom of the first Sha-Chi tower. Keep moving to avoid the flowers she leaves on the ground. The reward is the Scarlet Wraithblade, a strong weapon for the first half of the adventure.

The Hunt, Sixfold Scythe closes the first chapter and introduces a two-phase boss. He moves quickly and makes full use of the arena. When he takes to the air, be ready for a blue attack to parry or an attack that needs a perfect dodge. His whirlwind is best avoided by creating distance. Save your offense for when he comes down and you can reach him. Victory awards the Hunter Chain Sickle Phantom Edge.

The Gold Masked One appears in five optional encounters. The first four share a similar rhythm, with quick red-flash attacks as the main warning to watch. These fights also add story detail, so it’s worth seeing them through rather than treating them as disposable stops.

Crimson Forest

Hua Qianxiao, The Sword Fanatic opens the region. When his sideways spin turns into swipes, expect a red attack and prepare a perfect dodge. Staying close helps keep his sword’s range manageable. If he spins in a breakdance-like motion, back away from the area attack that follows. He drops Fanatic’s Broken Blade.

Ying Ye, The Outlaw shifts between a mounted first phase and a shield-focused fight on foot. Bring a weapon that breaks shields, preferably one with some reach. When Ying Ye lays down smoke, expect a leap followed by a blue attack that can be parried. His shield attacks can build up bleed, so avoid letting repeated hits stack up. The reward is the Outlaw Warblade.

Bai Chilian, The Sacrificial Serpent is the region’s two-phase boss and a sharp increase in pace. She vanishes and reappears around the arena, making lock-on useful for tracking attacks from above. Block patiently and look for openings when her Sha-Chi breaks. Beating her grants the White Serpent and Crimson Viper swords.

Village of Lu

Zhuo Bi, The Gatekeeper is built around his shield. A shield-breaking weapon is essential to making progress, and his finishers can remove roughly a quarter of his health. Attack after he falls following a move, but keep the goal in mind: break the shield to create the largest damage windows. The Bastion Phantom Edge is the reward, and it also helps with traversal.

Master Bi Yuan of the Tianxuan Sect uses attacks that break Sha-Chi, followed by moves you can parry. Dodge the opening attacks, then parry their follow-ups. Stay close to limit the blades he throws from a distance. The Tianxuan Bronze Sword is your reward, and the win clears the first set of threads blocking the village well.

Master Bi Hai of Kuye Temple also rewards a shield-breaking weapon. Watch for a red attack after his quick attack string. At intervals, he protects himself inside a translucent bell and calls in three golden warriors. Defeat them to bring down the barrier and damage Bi Hai. Winning grants the Kuye Temple Prayer Beads summoning Phantom Edge and removes the second set of threads from the well.

Dusk, The Puppeteer is hidden behind a requirement to find six memory flowers. This two-phase battle is fairly readable: deal with summons as soon as they appear, and block when Dusk fires at you. He splits in the second phase, but the same priorities still apply. The rewards are the Puppeteer’s Bell Phantom Edge and Illusory Pipa Head.

Yuzan, No. 3 Musician Puppet waits inside the village well. A red glow from her instrument signals that you should prepare to dodge. Parry white orbs and send blue projectiles back with a parry. When she appears above the arena’s center and releases large grey orbs, move toward the outside and dodge there. She awards the Heartrend Pipa Phantom Edge.

Mu Xiaokui, Young Mistress of the Order is the first three-phase fight and one of the game’s most striking encounters. In phase one, red swipe projectiles lead into a disappearance and a red attack; perfect dodge when she returns. A leap into the air signals a blue attack.

In phase two, Mu Xiaokui becomes the Queen of Iron and Jade. Her spiral sword attack, which glows red and blue, is followed immediately by a red strike. Watch her arm when she recovers Sha-Chi after a guard break: she may attack with red soon after.

Phase three brings in Jade Dancer and Iron Fiend, her guardians. The Fiend’s high knees and claps precede a red attack. Try to break both guardians’ guards together, or keep moving so you can focus on one while the other is out of reach. The rewards are Puppet No. 44’s eye and Fist Fragment: Core, and Mu Xiaokui’s story continues beyond this fight.

Pangzhen and the Mandate Encampment

Pangzhen is the game’s largest map, and Blaze, Shadow Warden Captain is its first boss. Use nearby enemies where possible: defeating them can restore health and set up finishers for follow-up attacks. Keeping your distance gives you more time to react to the chains Blaze throws.

In phase two, as Blaze, Phosphor Consciousness, he adds poison attacks. A spin signals incoming red attacks. Dodge away when he jumps, and move clear when he throws a circle into the sky.

Cavalrybane, Elite Shadow Warden is the first of four enemies in this group. Parry the blue attack after his aerial spins. When he charges, keep blocking and be ready to dodge the kick that follows. He drops the Armybreaker weapon.

Wu Xuan, The Fallen General telegraphs a blue attack by spinning his hammer overhead; parry it. A shield-breaking weapon will help you get meaningful damage in. He awards the Wolfjaw Phantom Edge, which is itself useful for breaking shields.

Gu Wanyue, The Wailing Wraith is hard to keep in view as she flies around, so leave lock-on active. A purple glow precedes a blue projectile that you can parry. When the arena turns black, keep blocking; that gives you a chance to break her guard. The rewards are Fanatic’s Fragment: Fixation and a gate key found at the bottom of the well. That key opens a new area in the Village of Lu.

At the Mandate Encampment, Corpse-Eating Xue waits behind a locked door and is surrounded by smaller enemies. Clear the surrounding threats quickly, then watch for the rapid swinging blades. The larger, slower enemies remain dangerous, so don’t let their pace draw your attention away from them. This fight starts a side quest to find three missing items rather than giving you a weapon.

Wan Jun, The Coppermaul has several attacks that reward stepping away before committing to a counter. Dodge when he jumps to land on his back, then attack while he is down, even if his guard is intact. Sand covering the screen signals a red attack; his hammer sliding along the ground is another cue to get clear. Defeating him unlocks the Bashpole Phantom Edge, which opens routes around the world.

Red, The Mysterious Swordswoman appears unexpectedly on a rooftop, where limited room makes positioning matter. Watch her when she jumps to a spire. If she catches you with thread, expect a red attack shortly afterward. There’s no reward listed for the fight, but Red says she’ll return, and Soul suspects she has more power to reveal.

Chief Disciple of the Seven-Stars Formation begins as a group fight against a leader and six weaker opponents. Take out the others first and lean on parries in the opening phase. The second phase, Chief Disciple, Sword of Despair, is more demanding. After his dash, parry the blue attack. In a three-swing sequence, the final swing is blue. If he sends small red projectiles from above, keep moving as they close in; repeated hits can end the fight quickly. Victory earns the Swordsman’s Summon Phantom Edge and Training Grounds Key.

Yubi, No. 21 Swordfighter Puppet is the first numbered puppet. Her electrical spinning attacks are followed by red attacks, so time your perfect dodge for the follow-up. Be alert for another red attack after she jumps into the air or onto the room’s roof. Her reward, the Baishan Stormswords, is useful in the second half of the game.

In the later Pangzhen fights, Xie Qiudong, The Divine Healer introduces enemies who heal allies connected by red thread. Remove the connected enemies at the start, then focus on Xie whenever possible rather than spending too long on targets he can restore. When he raises an arm and pauses, a red attack is coming.

Chang Hong, The Thunder Spear has two phases: first on foot, then on horseback as The Thunder Lancer. After a sword swipe, dodge the electricity that travels along the ground. Perfect dodge the red attacks that follow his jump and spin, and the moment the horse raises its front hooves. The reward is the Thunder Spear Phantom Edge.

You Loong, Leader of the Blackwater Crew fights underwater. Track the bubbles to follow him, and watch for a red attack after his spinning trident sequence. When his red attack sends water toward you, dodging and attacking can interrupt it. Defeating him awards You Loong’s Deluge Phantom Edge. The guide recommends completing this encounter before the next boss, Flame.

Flame, The Lion Grandmaster changes the demands of the fight between its two stages. Equip You Loong’s Deluge Phantom Edge to put out Flame’s fire. In the second stage, The Lion Grandmaster’s Final Dance, the battle moves onto poles. Move when he fires rather than trying to reposition constantly. The reward is Dormant Flaming Mane, a story item and weapon that can’t be used until later.

Soulclaimer, Elite Shadow Warden appears shortly before the boat at the edge of Pangzhen. His main cue is a blue attack after he retreats and spins toward you. It’s easy to spot and can be parried. He drops the Parting Hooks weapon.

Meigu Lake

Zhu Yuan, The Searing Blade can be counted as either a Pangzhen or Meigu Lake encounter; he waits at the bottom of the Sha-Chi tower. When he glows orange, dodge or interrupt him with a guard break. His spin sends fire across the ground, followed often by a jumping red attack. Wait until he reaches you before perfect dodging. He gives Scorching Flames, a fragment for soul tempering Sanguine Reach.

Grief-Striken Jin starts with a group of enemies. Defeat the weaker ones first, then handle Jin as a more conventional duel. The reward is Embroidered Shoes, used to soul temper the Scarlet Wraithblade.

One-Eyed Archer applies constant pressure with arrows, making blocks important. His most dangerous move comes when he charges in the arena’s center and fires red lasers. Run to the edge before the attack, where the patterns are easier to read, and be ready to jump over beams that reach the boundary. Winning grants the One-Eyed Bow Phantom Edge.

You-Loong, The Frenzied Blackwater Crewleader is the second and final You Loong fight. It opens with a red attack, and he’s faster than before, but his moves largely echo the earlier battle. The encounter is hidden on an island in the lake. The reward, High-Power Pump, soul tempers You Loong’s Deluge Phantom Edge.

Yan Qiansui, The Zither Maiden sends colored orbs from her weapon. Parry blue ones, avoid red ones and stay clear of the large white orbs. Red attacks often follow once the colored projectiles disappear. Victory earns Fanatic’s Fragment: Attachment, Fanatic’s Obsession for soul tempering Fanatic’s Broken Blade, and Illusory Pipa Strings for story progress.

Heartpiercer, Elite Shadow Warden is a hidden encounter and the third fight against an Elite Shadow Warden. Dodge the spinning blades in his red attack. Another red attack follows his backward spin jump, so don’t assume the danger has passed when he lands. The reward is Sundering Dual Axes.

Mountain of Imprisonment and Crimson Mansion

Iron Butcher, The Frenzied Brute throws three purple jars that inflict poison. Dodge those, and also move when he throws a single jar: an explosive follows it and deals heavy damage. He drops Iron Butcher Mask, which soul tempers Jagged Steel.

Bi Feng, Giant Saber Commander can disguise his attack timing among a series of grey-looking swipes. Watch for the red strike at the end and perfect dodge it. His blade projectiles can be parried; a direct leap upward also signals a red attack. Winning gives you Juggernaut.

Kui Yanyan, The Deranged is a brief surprise fight. Stay close to interrupt his attacks and parry the daggers he throws. Once he’s beaten, you receive the Missing Lift Crank needed to activate the lift.

Huangxing, The Kunlun Renegade is the fight shown in the trailer. In phase one, his flail spin accelerates before ending in a red attack. Space is tight, so use the pillars to jump away from attacks when necessary.

Phase two calls him Huangxing, The Whirling Executioner. Perfect dodge just before he reaches you during his floor roll. Two wind swipes followed by a sword swipe lead into a blue attack, often followed by a red one; a well-timed parry can keep you safe through that sequence. The Flying Guillotine Phantom Edge opens locked areas across many maps.

The four Acolytes are fought by interacting with certain scarecrows. They share an enemy type but use distinct attacks and elemental themes, and each grants a mask. One is unavailable until the Crimson Mansion fight. The guide suggests leaving the Acolytes until later and defeating the other three before entering Meigu Lake’s frosty area, where they are required. Waiting also makes them easier to handle.

The Puppet Scavenger & Acolyte Hansui is the encounter that brings in the final Acolyte. The Scavenger’s slow blade swings are straightforward to block, but Hansui can freeze you. Prioritize the Acolyte, especially when a blue attack appears second in a sequence. Leave circles of ice on the floor, and avoid the decoy Acolyte when it explodes. Rewards include Alloyed Scythe Blade for soul tempering the Hunter Chain Sickle Phantom Edge, Yang puppet eye and Frost mask.

Meigu Lake’s ice area

Blizzard Blademaster guards the end of the region, which becomes accessible after all four Acolytes are defeated. Equip an accessory that reduces elemental damage. After he charges up, the second attack is red and calls for a perfect dodge. His opening attack is also worth learning: it returns later in the battle, and the timing is tight. The reward is Whiteshadow.

Mirage Estate

Qiu Feng, The Crimson Boneblade is the estate’s first boss. When he raises both arms, dodge the next two attacks; the final slam is red. Parry his red blades, with the last one in the sequence arriving as a blue attack. He drops the Wraith Mask accessory.

Mo Yuan, Leader of the Bastion of Mo is tied to the final Long Pillar. Completing the earlier pillars leads to another fight with the Gold Masked One, whose familiar moves now come with added attacks. A charge followed by a leap and red strike can deal enough damage to nearly end the fight at once, so perfect dodge it. When attacks descend in columns, keep moving as they track your position. The post-fight story scenes are a major part of this encounter.

Lei Dang, The Order's Envoy is described as one of the hardest fights. Keep him in view because he can attack from different angles. His leap followed by a wave across the arena is the key threat: hide behind the stones to avoid the blast. Winning gives you Tiger Cannon Phantom Edge, which opens hidden areas in several maps.

Mount Soulrend and the closing fights

The Crusher and the Saw finally become opponents after appearing earlier in the Crimson Forest. The first phase pairs the two, and the second turns the fight into The Crusher, Earthshattering Form. Lock onto Saw during the first phase to make the action easier to follow. The Crusher is slow, though his size can make the fight hard to read up close. When he swings his hammer, prepare for a jump and spinning red attack. The reward is Bonesaw.

The Puppet Scavenger, Heartpiercer and Cavalrybane; Yuding No. 12 and Yubi No. 21 appear across separate phases. The individual fights follow the patterns described above. Completing other available content before reaching this point can bring characters from completed quests into the battle. They deal useful damage and distract the bosses, which can help if you’re working toward the perfect ending.

Leng Tu, Herald of the Veil brings summons into the arena, so clear them first. Avoid the shadows of his large arms when they appear overhead. When he charges a large orb in the arena’s center, the force pushes you away, but the guide says you don’t need to dodge that effect. Completing more quests before this fight can also bring help into the encounter.

Meng Hua, The Merciful Lady of the Blossol Veil is the final main story fight. Jump over or dodge her rotating lasers. When she charges a white orb and the screen turns black, prepare for a red attack immediately afterward. Those are the main cues to track; the rest of the battle is more manageable. She awards The Lady’s Fan and The Lady’s Crown, which soul tempers it.

Perfect ending

Zho Shang returns if you reach the perfect ending and defeat The Lady. The source keeps the fight’s details back so the encounter can speak for itself. If you’re tracking story progress as well as bosses, the game’s quest list can help show what remains before the end.

The route through Phantom Blade Zero rewards attention to attack signals and to the items each fight unlocks. Shield-breaking weapons matter against several opponents, while Phantom Edges and other rewards can open new paths or strengthen weapons for later battles. Hidden bosses and regional detours are easy to miss, so checking the roster against your progress can help you decide when to return and what to tackle next.