Guide: How to get the True Ending in Phantom Blade Zero

Unlocking Phantom Blade Zero's True Ending takes more than just going through the main quest.

Phantom Blade Zero has been making waves with its stunning visuals, spectacular Kungfupunk combat, and challenging boss fights. But if you're one of the many players diving into S-Game's action RPG, there's something you should know: the game has multiple endings, and not all of them end well for Soul.

Depending on your choices and how much of Wulin you've explored, your journey could end in Annihilation or the True Ending, also known as the Perfect Ending.

If you're aiming for the best possible outcome, we've got you covered. Getting the True Ending takes considerably more effort than simply defeating the final boss, as you'll need to uncover hidden areas, complete several side quests, collect special items, and take down some particularly challenging enemies.

Here's everything you need to know to unlock the True Ending in Phantom Blade Zero, including where to find the required items and bosses. Don't worry if some of the encounters prove too difficult at first, as you can return to many of them after strengthening Soul.

Phantom Blade Zero

Release date: 29 October, 2026

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC

Developer: S-GAME

How do I get the True Ending or True Ending in Phantom Blade Zero?

To unlock the True Ending in Phantom Blade Zero, you'll need to complete several optional quests, defeat hidden bosses, and gather specific items before heading into the final stages of the game.

Here's a checklist of everything you need to accomplish:

1. Finish the required purple-icon quests: Check the Story menu for quests marked with purple icons and complete them before heading into Mirage Estate. These include Deep in the Valley, Illusion of Inanis, Sha-Chi Powered Boat, Allure of Vanity, Illusory Pipa, Pillars of Kunlun, Whence the Weeping, The Herald's Illusion, Crimson Manor, and Secrets at the Heart of the Lake.
2. Acquire both Crystal Puppet Eyes: The Crystal Puppet Eye [Yin] can be obtained by progressing through the Mountain of Imprisonment, while the Crystal Puppet Eye [Yang] is rewarded after defeating the hidden boss in Crimson Manor.
3. Defeat the four Acolyte bosses: Look for mysterious scarecrows in the Village of Lu, Pangzhen, and Meigu Lake, as well as the final Acolyte encounter in Crimson Manor. Defeating these bosses rewards you with four elemental masks.
4. Explore the hidden realm in Meigu Lake: Head towards the western portion of the lake and find the mysterious mirror near the snow-covered mountain. Use the four Acolyte masks to enter the secret realm, defeat its boss, and insert both Crystal Puppet Eyes into the statue.
5. Clear all five Long Pillar challenges: Complete the encounters associated with the Bloodline Awakening quest. The first four Long Pillars can be found in Weeping Creek Valley, Crimson Forest, Meigu Lake East, and the Phantom Illusionist Ruins in Meigu Lake. The fifth becomes accessible later in the game.
6. Complete Quick Hand Zhang's Relic requests: Track down Zhang's hideouts and help him recover treasures hidden in green-glowing chests. Each request involves collecting a certain number of Relics, so make sure you've completed his entire questline before the finale.
7. Gather the three Serpent parts: Progress through the main story to obtain the White Serpent Eye, Black Serpent Fang, and Red Serpent Tongue. These are necessary to access the final region, regardless of which ending you're pursuing.

How do I obtain the Acolyte masks in Phantom Blade Zero?

As you explore Wulin, you'll come across some rather strange-looking scarecrows. Interacting with these takes you to a separate arena where you'll face powerful enemies known as the Acolytes.

There are four Acolyte bosses to defeat, each with a different elemental ability. You'll need all four masks to unlock the secret realm in Meigu Lake, so don't overlook these encounters.

Yanru's Blazing Mask

The first Acolyte can be found in the Village of Lu, in one of the rice fields near the Terraces Bell. Interact with the scarecrow to enter the arena and challenge Yanru, who rewards you with Yanru's Blazing Mask upon defeat.

Yanru has several powerful fire attacks, including a large area-of-effect explosion that appears directly beneath Soul. It may seem impossible to escape at first, but the trick is to wait for the red flash before performing a perfect dodge. Doing so teleports Soul out of the affected area and gives you an opportunity to strike back.

If you're struggling with Yanru early in the game, you can always return later after obtaining the Flameward accessory in Pangzhen, which helps reduce fire damage.

Leiting's Thunder Mask

The next Acolyte, Leiting, can be found in Pangzhen, but you'll first need to defeat the Lion Dance Grandmaster as part of the main story. Doing so rewards you with Flaming Mane, a Phantom Edge that allows Soul to burn through the brambles blocking several paths around the area.

Once you've obtained Flaming Mane, head towards Old Man Gen's home and look for a sloping path nearby. Clear the obstacles along the way until you find a scarecrow surrounded by lightning. Interact with it to enter Leiting's arena, where you'll face her powerful electrical attacks. If you're struggling with the fight, equipping the Thunderward accessory can help reduce incoming lightning damage.

Guhe's Venom Mask

Guhe's scarecrow is located in Meigu Lake, near the Meigu Village East Dock. From the dock, head south until you find a scarecrow surrounded by a flock of birds.

Unlike the previous Acolytes, Guhe relies heavily on poison attacks, which can make this fight particularly troublesome if you're unprepared. There are a couple of items that can make the encounter easier:

• Preservation Jar: An accessory found in Crimson Forest that helps against poison.
• Green Serpent Brew: A consumable that helps deal with negative status effects.

During the fight, watch out for Guhe's clones, which repeatedly launch waves of poisonous projectiles towards you. Your safest option is to keep dodging until the barrage ends rather than trying to force an attack.

Guhe also has an area-of-effect attack similar to Yanru's, which can seem almost impossible to avoid. However, successfully performing a perfect dodge or parry allows Soul to teleport towards the real Guhe, creating an opening to deal damage.

Hansui's Frost Mask

The fourth and final Acolyte, Hansui, is found in Crimson Manor, a hidden location in Weeping Creek Valley. However, you won't be able to access this area until much later in the story, so don't worry if you haven't encountered this boss yet.

Hansui uses ice-based attacks that can freeze Soul in place, leaving you vulnerable to further damage. Keep Green Serpent Brew ready to deal with the freezing effect, and consider equipping the Frostward accessory, which can be found in the snowy area of Crimson Forest. Defeating Hansui rewards you with Hansui's Frost Mask and the Crystal Puppet Eye [Yang], both of which are needed to unlock the True Ending.

Where can I find the Crystal Puppet Eyes in Phantom Blade Zero?

There are two Crystal Puppet Eyes to collect in Phantom Blade Zero: Yin and Yang. Both are required to activate a statue inside the secret realm in Meigu Lake.

• To obtain the Crystal Puppet Eye (Yin), you'll need to progress through the optional Mountain of Imprisonment region and explore the areas unlocked during its storyline.
• The Crystal Puppet Eye (Yang), meanwhile, is obtained by defeating the hidden boss in Crimson Manor. This is the same encounter that rewards you with Hansui's Frost Mask, meaning you can complete two True Ending requirements at once.

How do I unlock the secret realm in Meigu Lake?

Once you've collected all four Acolyte masks, return to Meigu Lake and travel towards the frozen waters in the northwest. Look for a passage through the ice that allows you to bring your boat to a small fishing village. From there, continue exploring until you reach the second Bell, called the Four Guardian's Mirror.

Interact with the mirror while carrying all four Acolyte masks. The masks will break the mirror's seal, allowing Soul to enter the hidden Discordance realm in Meigu Lake. You'll need to defeat the boss inside this area as part of the requirements for the True Ending. Afterwards, find the mysterious statue and place both Crystal Puppet Eyes into it to complete this part of the quest.

How do I collect Quick Hand Zhang's Relics for the True Ending in Phantom Blade Zero?

Another requirement for unlocking the True Ending is collecting all of Quick Hand Zhang's Relics, which are hidden in distinctive emerald-green treasure chests throughout Wulin. You'll need to complete his requests across five different regions, returning the treasures to him at each hideout.

You'll first encounter Zhang in Crimson Forest during Chapter 3: Steel and Steam, where he's trapped in a wooden cage near the Trail of Cages Bell. Rescue him to receive the Quick Hand Pendant, which increases one-handed weapon damage by 10%, and unlock his questline, The Wily Hare's Three Dens.

Zhang has five hideouts scattered throughout the game, where he'll ask you to recover Relics from the surrounding area. Here are their locations:

• Crimson Forest: Zhang's first hideout is inside Thieves' Camp, where he relocates after you rescue him.
• Village of Lu: His next hideout is inside a cavern near the centre of the village. Activate the Zhang's Hideout Bell at the entrance, then drop down into the opening to find him.
• Pangzhen: Look for an abandoned house west of the village, closer to the mountains. Once inside, activate the Zhang's Hideout Bell and use the ladder beneath the floorboards to reach him.
• Meigu Lake: Head to the Meigu Village West Dock Bell and travel northeast towards the edge of the island. You'll find Zhang's hideout nearby.
• Mirage Estate: Follow the main route until the path splits near a flooded area. Take the left path and look for a large staircase with flames burning on both sides. Climb the stairs and continue along the passage to reach Zhang's final hideout.

At each hideout, speak to Zhang to learn which Relics he needs. Search the surrounding region for the green-glowing chests, collect the requested treasures, and return them to Zhang to claim your reward. The number of Relics varies between regions, so make sure you've recovered everything he asks for before moving on.

You'll need to complete all five sets of Relic requests to fulfil this True Ending requirement. The final set is found in Mirage Estate, so be sure to finish Zhang's last request before proceeding to the final battle.

Where can I find all Long Pillars in Phantom Blade Zero?

Another requirement for unlocking the True Ending is completing the Bloodline Awakening quest, which involves finding five Long Pillars scattered throughout Wulin and defeating the powerful enemy within each one.

Each Long Pillar contains a challenging encounter against the Gold-Masked One, also known as the Man in Black. These battles test players' mastery of combat mechanics, particularly parrying, dodging, and managing the enemy's Sha-Chi.

Fortunately, players don't have to complete these challenges immediately upon discovering them. If the enemy proves too difficult, you can return later after upgrading your weapons, equipment, and abilities.

Here are the locations of all five Long Pillars:

• Weeping Creek Valley: Complete Deep in the Valley to access the optional area. Find the Rusted Loong Key near the Long Pillar Overlook Bell, then use it to open a locked door beyond an area filled with Maskwalker enemies. Follow the tunnel to reach the Long Pillar.
• Crimson Forest: After defeating Iron Fever, continue through the mountain tunnel to discover another Long Pillar.
• Meigu Lake: Use the Sha-Chi Powered Boat to reach the eastern portion of the lake. You'll find the Long Pillar on an island guarded by several enemies, including a Butcher.
• Phantom Illusionist Ruins: This pillar is hidden within the secret realm accessed through the mysterious mirror in western Meigu Lake. Once you've collected all four Acolyte masks and entered the realm, explore the area near the fishing village. Use the Dread Axe to break through a sealed gate and reach the Long Pillar.
• Mirage Estate: The fifth and final Long Pillar becomes accessible much later in the game. Make sure to explore this region thoroughly and complete the challenge before proceeding to the final battle.

Although the encounters become increasingly difficult, there's a trick to fighting the Gold-Masked One. He can only be damaged after you successfully parry or perfectly dodge certain attacks, or when you break his Sha-Chi.

Pay particular attention to his blue attacks, which can be parried, and his red attacks, which require a perfect dodge. Getting the timing right is essential to creating opportunities for counterattacks, so try not to rush the fight.

Where can I find all three Serpent parts in Phantom Blade Zero?

You'll also need to complete The Four Serpent Houses main quest to access the game's final region. This involves recovering three Serpent parts hidden across Crimson Forest, the Village of Lu, and Meigu Lake, before returning to the Green Serpent House in Pangzhen.

Here's where to find each item:

• Red Serpent Tongue: Return to the Red Serpent House in Crimson Forest after obtaining Flaming Mane from Flame, the Mask-Bound Lion Dance Grandmaster. Use its fire-breathing ability to burn away the branches blocking the entrance, then head inside to collect the Red Serpent Tongue.
• Black Serpent Fang: Head back to the Village of Lu and locate the Black Serpent House. From the nearby Bell, use Flaming Mane to destroy the wooden obstacles blocking the path up the hill. Enter the building to retrieve the Black Serpent Fang.
• White Serpent Eye: Progress through the Sha-Chi Powered Boat quest to reach Meigu Lake. Take the boat towards the island marked with a Bell, where you'll need to defeat two regular enemies before facing Heartpiercer, Elite Shadow Warden. Once the boss has been defeated, enter the White Serpent House and collect the White Serpent Eye.

After obtaining all three parts, return to the Green Serpent House in Pangzhen and place them into the Serpent Door to open the passage towards the final region.

However, this is an important point of no return, so make sure you've completed the necessary side quests and collected the required items before proceeding. The remaining Long Pillar challenge and Quick Hand Zhang's final request can be completed inside Mirage Estate.

Once you've completed all the requirements, you're ready to see how Soul's journey truly ends. Just make sure you've checked everything off your list before the final confrontation, or you might find yourself facing a very different ending.