How to Execute Enemies in Phantom Blade Zero (Execution Key, Abilities and Gear)

Quick answer: Break the enemy’s guard by draining its Sha-Chi, then press E (Execute) when the E prompt appears over it. On controller, Execute is Circle or B.

Executions in Phantom Blade Zero are finishers, and they only work on an enemy whose guard is already broken. That makes the thin Sha-Chi bar under every enemy’s health bar the number that matters. Empty it, and the enemy becomes Guard-Broken (more on that in how to guard break enemies fast).

How to execute an enemy

Drain the enemy’s Sha-Chi until it is Guard-Broken. Standard Combos on Left Mouse wear the bar down. Sha-Chi Combos do it faster, and the bamboo yard tutorial in the prologue spells that out with the line “Sha-Chi Combos will break enemies’ guard faster!”

Sha-Chi Combos will break enemies' guard faster tutorial with the four combo inputs in Phantom Blade Zero

The four Sha-Chi Combo inputs on keyboard and mouse are these.

F F F
LMB F F
LMB LMB F F
LMB LMB LMB F F

Parrying is the other fast route. It costs you nothing, and it takes a big chunk out of the attacker’s bar. The tutorial text reads “Parry does not consume Sha-Chi. Instead, it severely depletes the attacker’s Sha-Chi”.

A white E-key symbol appears above an enemy when its guard is broken and it is ready for an execution. In the Chapter 1 cart chase, the symbol appears over every rider after his guard breaks, even while he remains mounted beside the cart.

E execution prompt over a Guard-Broken rider during the cart chase in Phantom Blade Zero

Hit E with the prompt on screen. In the Controls screen’s Combat bindings, Execute is assigned to E. F performs Heavy Attack and cannot start an execution. With a controller, use Circle on PlayStation or B on Xbox.

E execution prompt over another rider beside the cart in Phantom Blade Zero

Guard-Broken enemies have an “execution threshold” (the Deathlock accessory below raises it), so a broken guard does not always mean an instant execution. If the E prompt has not appeared yet, keep attacking until it does.

Executions vs assassinations

Both actions use E, but their conditions differ. In an open fight, an execution finishes an enemy whose guard is broken. An assassination requires stealth: crouch with C, approach an enemy from behind without being spotted, then press E when the prompt appears on its back. Endless Renewal · Lv. 1 rewards both.

Abilities that reward executions

You learn these through Train Abilities at a bell (full list in the abilities list). Endless Renewal · Lv. 1 makes every assassination and execution refill HP and Sha-Chi, and the training screen flags it with “Requires 1 Blackstone”.

Endless Renewal Lv. 1 on the Train Abilities screen in Phantom Blade Zero

Endless Renewal · Lv. 2 adds a chance for executions to return Remnant Spark, the resource Phantom Edges spend.

Endless Renewal Lv. 2 on the Train Abilities screen in Phantom Blade Zero

Ability	Effect	Cost
Endless Renewal · Lv. 1	Both Assassinations and Executions replenish HP and Sha-Chi	20,000 Remnant Dust + 1 Blackstone
Endless Renewal · Lv. 2	An execution may replenish Remnant Spark	20,000 Remnant Dust + 1 Sha-Chi Amber
Flowing Chi	Free Phantom Edge counters and follow-ups in set situations	10,000 Remnant Dust

Flowing Chi ties into Guard-Broken enemies directly. Its full text reads “When a regular enemy uses a ranged Red-flash Attack, or has less than 50% HP while Guard-Broken, certain Phantom Edges can be used at the right moment to counter or perform a follow-up attack without consuming Remnant Spark.”

Weapon arts that use the Execute key

Several weapon arts are bound to E, alone or paired with Block (Right Mouse). The three Sanguine arts unlock at weapon level 10 and then apply to every weapon of that class. Every weapon and Phantom Edge is in the weapons list.

Weapon	Art	Input	Requirement
Sanguine (one-handed)	Phantom Execution	Block + Execute	Sha-Chi >90% / >75% / >50%
Sanguine Twin (dual blades)	Shadow Execution	Block + Execute	Sha-Chi >90% / >75% / >50%
Sanguine Reach (two-handed)	Fatal Execution	Block + Execute	Sha-Chi >90% / >75% / >50%
White Serpent & Crimson Viper	Ranged Execution	Execute	Distant enemy low on HP
Flying Guillotine (Phantom Edge)	Reaping	Phantom Edges	Enemy can be executed

For the Sanguine arts, the Sha-Chi requirement drops from >90% at Lv. 1 to >75% at Lv. 2 and >50% at Lv. 3. Each one uses up all of your Sha-Chi. These are heavy attacks you fire off with your own Sha-Chi, not the Guard-Broken finisher.

Phantom Execution closes the gap instantly for a slash that can kill or badly wound. You can’t swap your main weapon for 15 seconds afterward.
Shadow Execution performs Phantom Triple Slash.
Fatal Execution is a forward slash with a burning trail and high Guard Break. Press Heavy Attack before it ends for an upward follow-up.
Reaping turns the Flying Guillotine into a ranged execution. Its level 25 art, Soul-Seizing Reaping, “can also execute weaker enemies below 50%HP.”

Execution accessories and the Way of the Blade achievement

Accessory	Where	Nearest bell
Deathlock	Meigu Lake	Meigu Village East Dock
Executioner’s Headscarf	Chest in Mirage Estate	Training Grounds

Deathlock raises the execution threshold of Guard-Broken enemies by 5%, and each execution grants a 5% damage boost that stacks twice, with every stack lasting 10 seconds. Executioner’s Headscarf cuts your main weapon switch cooldown by 1 second each time you execute an enemy. Both are in the accessories list.

Executions also feed one trophy. The Bronze achievement Way of the Blade asks you to “Perform a Chain Execution” (see the achievements guide).