Quick answer: Parry normal and Blue-flash attacks, dodge Red-flash ones, rest at every bell, keep two weapons for the Sha-Chi refill, and check the missables list before you leave an area.
Phantom Blade Zero from S-GAME is out on PC through Steam. These are the habits to build before your first fight. All keys listed are the default PC binds.
1. Pick the difficulty you want, and change it later
New Game offers three difficulties. Wayfarer suits players who are there for the story, Pathbreaker is the default, and Hellwalker is the hardest pick.
Your choice is not permanent. Go to Settings, open the Game tab, and choose Select Difficulty. This option is unavailable during a fight. More detail is in the Phantom Blade Zero difficulty modes breakdown.
2. Parry normal and Blue-flash attacks, dodge Red-flash ones
A moment before impact, tap Block (Right Mouse) to deflect standard strikes and Blue-flash attacks. Red-flash moves require an evade instead: hit Dodge (Left Shift) immediately before impact. For timing practice, visit how to parry in Phantom Blade Zero.
3. Do not sit in Guard Stance
Holding Block puts you in Guard Stance, which stops normal attacks. The cost is Sha-Chi. Your bar drains for as long as you hold Block, and each hit you absorb drains it further.
Once the bar is empty, your guard breaks. Treat holding Block as a brief fallback, not your main defense. The full rules are in the Guard Stance explainer.
4. Break the guard, then execute
Enemies also have Sha-Chi. Parries and Sha-Chi Combos wear it down. When their guard breaks, an E prompt shows up over them. Press E to Execute. Learn more in Phantom Blade Zero executions.
5. Carry two weapons
Press 1 to swap weapons. Every swap restores your Sha-Chi to full, followed by a short cooldown. A second weapon therefore works as an emergency refill when your guard is close to breaking. Read the details on switching weapons.
6. Use bells before anything risky
Bells serve as checkpoints. Press E at a bell to restore your HP and Medicine and to make it your respawn point. Use bells before anything risky.
On the normal difficulties, you respawn after death with full HP and refilled Medicine. Find them all with the Phantom Blade Zero bell locations.
7. Learn your medicine keys
Press R to take Lower Medicine; T activates Upper Medicine. Your Healing Gourd replenishes 40% HP. Memorizing the controls prevents fumbling during combat. More details are in how to heal.
8. Spend Remnant Dust at bells, and reset freely
At a bell, open Train Abilities. Hold Space on an unlocked node to buy it with Remnant Dust.
There’s little cost to experimenting: while still on that screen, press P to wipe all abilities and recover your Remnant Dust. For the full procedure, see Train Abilities and respec.
9. Upgrade your weapon as soon as you can
Upgrades open when you meet the Outpost Forge, which is in Weeping Creek Valley. Afterward, use Upgrade Equipment at any bell; the payment is metal, Solvent and Remnant Dust.
Every Blackstone raises Attack and Guard Break by +10%. Find the required materials and costs at how to upgrade weapons.
10. Grab blue Memory Flowers
Watch for glowing blue flowers and press E to collect them. Gathering enough raises your maximum HP. Completing the first full memory increases it by +5%. Track them with the Memory Flowers list.
11. Hold V when the map is not enough
Press M to open the map and choose a quest to track. The map does not show hidden paths, though, so it can send you toward a wall.
In the world, hold V to use Mind’s Eye. It shows the quest marker and how far away it is. Read the Phantom Blade Zero map guide for more.
12. Sneak when you can
Press C to crouch, then approach an enemy from behind before it notices you. When a prompt appears on its back, press E. Soul kills the enemy in one move. See stealth assassinations for the details.
13. Know what can be missed
Questlines may lock with little notice, making advance planning important. These three appear early:
- Finish the thieves’ camp tales before you beat Bai Chilian.
- Get the Flesh Lily before you reach the Village of Lu.
- Take up Old Man Gen’s request before heading into the Pangzhen backstreet.
Review the full Phantom Blade Zero missables list before you leave an area.
