How to Burn Thorny Vines in Phantom Blade Zero (Bramble Barriers)

Quick answer: Stand next to a thorny vine and press Ctrl to burn it with the Flaming Mane, the lion-head Phantom Edge Lei Dang repairs in Pangzhen. It works even when the Flaming Mane isn’t equipped.

Thorny vines, which the game calls bramble barriers, block doorways and paths across Phantom Blade Zero. Getting past them takes one specific fire weapon, and you get it partway through the main story in Pangzhen.

What burns thorny vines

The Flaming Mane is what clears bramble barriers. It is a fire weapon from the Phantom Edges list, and its card lists the type as Artifice. Its field ability is called Burning Path, and the card describes it as “Burns through damp brambles, even when not equipped.”

You don’t have to slot it into your loadout to use it on vines. As soon as the Flaming Mane is yours, a tutorial card titled “Flaming Mane Exploration Ability” appears and reads “Use the Flaming Mane to burn away bramble barriers, even when not equipped.”

Flaming Mane Exploration Ability tutorial card about burning bramble barriers, Phantom Blade Zero

In combat, the same weapon works differently. The card text reads “Hold [Ctrl] to unleash a stream of flame, dealing damage and igniting enemies. Continuously consumes [Sha-Chi].”

How to get the Flaming Mane

The Flaming Mane comes from the main quest The Heart’s Trail in Pangzhen. The weapon starts out broken, so you have to earn it first and then get it repaired.

Defeat the Lion Dance Grandmaster at the end of the Lion Dance Hall Depths in Pangzhen’s backstreets. You receive the Dormant Flaming Mane, a Story Item. Its card reads “A lion-headed flamethrower, now cold and silent after its fuel ran dry. For the time being, it can not be used.” and “If refueled, it may be able to burn through bramble barriers on the path.”

The objective updates to “Visit Lei Dang at Jingyang Hall”. Head for central Pangzhen’s Jingyang Hall bell.

At the hall gate, press E to open the pair of red doors, then enter. A cutscene featuring Lei Dang starts.

When the cutscene ends, Lei Dang’s talk menu shows “The Tainted Heart”, “Repair the Flaming Mane” and “Leave”. Choose “Repair the Flaming Mane”.

Lei Dang's talk menu with The Tainted Heart, Repair the Flaming Mane and Leave at Jingyang Hall, Phantom Blade Zero

Lei Dang restores the weapon at his forge. When the prompt “Equip the new Phantom Edge now?” appears, the Flaming Mane is ready to use. The Dormant Flaming Mane also disappears from your items.

How to burn a thorny vine

Check the area map for a green marker; hovering over it names the Phantom Edge you need, FLAMING MANE. On the Crimson Forest map, a marker is next to the Red Serpent House bell.

Crimson Forest area map with the green Flaming Mane marker beside the Red Serpent House, Phantom Blade Zero

Approach the vine and wait for a Ctrl prompt to appear on it. At the Red Serpent House, it blocks the shed entrance at the yard’s edge.

Soul at the thorny vine blocking the shed doorway at the Red Serpent House with the Ctrl prompt, Phantom Blade Zero

Press Ctrl. Soul raises the Flaming Mane’s lion head and directs a stream of fire at the vine, burning it away.

Soul breathing fire from the Flaming Mane lion head to burn the vine at the Red Serpent House, Phantom Blade Zero

Pass through the gap. With the vine cleared, the route beyond is accessible. At the Red Serpent House, the shed entrance opens onto a double gate into the manor; the Red Serpent Tongue and Loong Emblem (yin) are there.

Soul at the open shed doorway after the thorny vine burned away at the Red Serpent House, Phantom Blade Zero

Where thorny vines block the way

Several bramble barriers stand between you and quest items, including the Serpent pieces and a boat:

Red Serpent House, Crimson Forest: the shed entrance at the yard’s side, along the route to the Red Serpent Tongue (Four Serpent Houses quest).
Black Serpent House, Village of Lu: across the stone stairs past the bell yard, the way up to the Black Serpent Fang and the Loong Emblem (yang).
Pangzhen Docks: the climb up to the docks, on the way to the Sha-Chi Powered Boat.