Phantom Blade Zero: How to Get the Only Satisfying, Perfect Ending

As a sprawling Wuxia masterpiece, Phantom Blade Zero stands tall as the premier action title of the year and easily ranks among my absolute favorite action games of all time. The journey is overflowing with content, seamlessly blending main narrative arcs with countless side quests, elusive collectibles, formidable hidden bosses, and forgotten domains waiting to be uncovered. Before diving headfirst into the fray, I strongly suggest reviewing Game Informer’s essential Phantom Blade Zero tips and tricks. While that guide hints at certain prerequisites needed for the ultimate conclusion, the breakdown below outlines every specific milestone required to experience the definitive ending firsthand.

Achieving the true ending in Phantom Blade Zero is surprisingly straightforward rather than needlessly cryptic. It demands thorough exploration and completion of the game’s rich optional content, meaning success relies on preparation rather than frustrating guesswork. To keep things relatively spoiler-free, terminology that might currently sound like confusing jargon will naturally click into place as your adventure unfolds. If securing the ultimate conclusion is your primary goal, bookmark this walkthrough; the requirements will illuminate organically over time. However, players who wish to remain entirely pristine should proceed with mindful caution.

How to Unlock the True Ending in Phantom Blade Zero

The objectives outlined below do not strictly follow a linear path. You can safely postpone these tasks and tackle them all at once right before triggering the game’s final point-of-no-return warning. Feel free to explore at your own pace, but ensure every item on this checklist is marked complete before stepping past that ultimate threshold.

• Secure the Crystal Puppet Eye [Yin] and Crystal Puppet Eye [Yang]:
  • Fully explore and clear the optional Mountain of Imprisonment zone to acquire the Crystal Puppet Eye [Yin].
  • Vanquish the concealed boss residing within the Crimson Manor—a late-game estate nestled in the Weeping Creek Valley—to obtain the Crystal Puppet Eye [Yang].
• Vanquish all four Acolyte bosses: Throughout your travels, you will stumble upon four unsettling scarecrows located in the Village of Lu, Pangzhen, Meigu Lake, and the Crimson Manor within Weeping Creek Valley (marking the final mask location). Interacting with these effigies transports you into specialized combat arenas. Defeat each adversary to claim their respective artifacts: Yanru’s Blazing Mask (Fire), Leiting’s Thunder Mask (Lightning), Guhe’s Venom Mask (Poison), and Hansui’s Frost Mask (Ice).
  • These encounters present a severe challenge, as each combatant wields devastating elemental magic. Equip specialized resistance accessories to mitigate incoming elemental damage and secure the upper hand.
• Step through the Meigu Lake Mirror: Once all four Acolyte masks are in your possession, return to Meigu Lake. Board the Sha-Chi boat and navigate toward the western expanse of the territory, characterized by floating icebergs near a frosted mountain range. Disembark and proceed forward to discover an enigmatic mirror. Having the complete set of masks grants you passage into a secluded dimension. While technically optional, conquering the boss guarding this realm is mandatory for the true ending.
  • Following your victory over this chapter-ending boss, place both Crystal Puppet Eyes into the waiting statue.

• Discover all five Long Pillars: The initial four monuments are hidden across Weeping Creek Valley, Crimson Forest, Meigu Lake, and the aforementioned mirror dimension. The final pillar awaits discovery within the mandatory narrative finale.
• Gather the White Serpent Eye, Black Serpent Fang, and Red Serpent Tongue: Advance the main storyline until these items are secured naturally. Avoiding specific location spoilers, this progression is unmissable as long as you follow the primary campaign trajectory.
• Recover all of Quick Hand Zhang’s Relics: You will encounter Quick Hand Zhang across five distinct regions throughout the main questline. Each meeting tasks you with retrieving three hidden Relics stashed within glowing green chests. Complete every set before entering the game’s finale; the quest log will officially mark his storyline as finished once successful.
• Complete the Campaign: With all prerequisites fulfilled, advance into the final confrontations of Phantom Blade Zero. Triumph over the final boss to trigger the breathtaking true resolution, officially titled “The Final Battle.” Congratulations on conquering the journey!

For additional insights, explore Game Informer’s comprehensive Phantom Blade Zero guide, and read our in-depth Phantom Blade Zero review.