Quick answer: Chang Hong fights with a lightning spear on foot, then a lance on horseback. If you die in phase 2, you respawn at the Ancestral Shrine Square bell, and the fight resumes at phase 2.
Chang Hong at a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 name bar | “Chang Hong, the Thunder Spear” |
| Phase 1 HP | 78,750 |
| Phase 1 weapon | Long spear, on foot |
| Phase 2 name bar | “Chang Hong, the Thunder Lancer” |
| Phase 2 HP | 87,500 |
| Phase 2 setting | Armoured horse, heavy rain |
| Location | Backstreet square, Pangzhen |
| Respawn point | Ancestral Shrine Square bell |
| Reward | Thunder Spear Phantom Edge |
Chang Hong is one of the Order’s Envoys, and each phase has its own name bar. Difficulty does not change his HP. It changes how much damage he deals.
Where the Chang Hong fight starts
The fight takes place in a backstreet square in Pangzhen, a short walk beyond the Ancestral Shrine Square bell, along the route to Yu’er’s home, where The Heart’s Trail picks up. Rest at the Ancestral Shrine Square bell before you go in. If you die, you only have to make that short walk again.
Packed dirt and stone form the square’s open center, bordered by stacked stone walls and slanting wooden homes; a shrine hall with red pillars occupies one side. Entering triggers a cutscene. Soul says he has no wish to add to Chang Hong’s troubles. Chang Hong replies that Soul was himself, yet somehow not himself, and that Soul always bears what he cannot voice alone. He adds that if he cannot restore Soul today, he has little time left himself. Chang Hong’s name bar appears, and combat starts.
Phase 1 attacks: Chang Hong, the Thunder Spear
The game gives his attacks no names, so each move below is named by how it looks. Keep an eye on the spear’s flash: a blue flash means you can parry, while a red one calls for a dodge. Certain heavy strikes ignore guards, and power attacks will break a guard you hold up.
Lightning call
He plants himself and raises the spear as sparks gather at his feet, then a bolt drops. Move sideways out of the lit circle. Do not stand still or heal inside the circle while the sparks gather.
Wide crescent sweep
He swings the spear in a huge golden crescent in front of and beside him. Back out of range or dodge through it. It reaches far, so trading hits inside it costs more than it gains.
Red-flash charge
A red flash shows on the spear tip, then he lunges forward fast with the spear held level. Dodge to the side.
Blue-flash thrust
A blue glint shows on the spear point just before a close thrust. Parry on the hit.
Lightning burst
He thrusts the spear skyward, a bolt strikes it and lightning explodes around him. Back away instead of staying close.
Seven-hit spear-head string
A red flash, then seven rapid spear strikes. Dodge and keep your distance. The last strike hits hardest.
Grab
A red flash at close range leads into a grab. Dodge away.
During this phase he calls out “Let’s see you handle this!”, “Did you catch that?” and “There’s no room for mistakes!”. On Pathbreaker, his strings follow each other with almost no pause, so there is often no safe moment to drink a healing gourd right after one ends.
Phase 2 attacks: Chang Hong, the Thunder Lancer
A cutscene plays when phase 1 ends. The fight then continues in heavy rain, with Chang Hong mounted on an armoured horse. He shouts “Neither of us has a choice anymore!” and spends much of this phase circling at a distance before he charges in.
Circling charge
He rides wide loops across the square, then charges straight at Soul with the lance lowered. Dodge sideways, not backwards.
Leaping horse slam
The horse rears, leaps and crashes down beside Soul, knocking him to the ground. Dodge away from the landing spot.
Lance sweep
He swings the lance in a wide golden arc from the saddle as the horse passes or turns. Stay off the flank and dodge through.
Mounted grabs
A red flash at close range leads into a grab. Dodge on the flash.
The phase 1 flash cues remain in effect: blue-flashing attacks in phase 2 can still be parried.
Chang Hong damage on Pathbreaker and Wayfarer
These numbers use Soul’s maximum HP of 1,402 and a supply of 3 healing gourds. Pathbreaker is the standard difficulty; Wayfarer is the easier option.
| Difficulty and phase | Hit | Damage taken |
|---|---|---|
| Pathbreaker, phase 1 | Ordinary spear hit | About 150 HP |
| Pathbreaker, phase 1 | Heavier swing | About 230 HP |
| Pathbreaker, phase 1 | Last hit of seven-hit string | About 350 HP |
| Pathbreaker, phase 1 | Biggest single hit | About 530 HP |
| Wayfarer, phase 1 | Heaviest hit | About 280 HP |
His biggest hit on Pathbreaker removes more than a third of Soul’s health. If he lands several strings in a row and you cannot heal between them, he can empty a full health bar in under 20 seconds. On Wayfarer, a phase 1 fight that used all three gourds lasted about 90 seconds. In phase 2 on Wayfarer, a few minutes of charges and lance hits brought Soul down from 1,402 HP to under 600.
If his damage proves overwhelming, choose Wayfarer: his attacks deal about half as much damage, while his HP is unchanged. The difficulty modes page compares the two settings.
Tips for the Chang Hong fight
- Rest at the Ancestral Shrine Square bell before you go in, so a death costs only the short walk back.
- Watch the spear: a blue flash is a parry, a red flash is a dodge.
- Heal once he backs off or finishes a string, and never right after a red flash.
- In phase 2, when he keeps his distance and circles, take the opportunity to heal and prepare to sidestep his next charge.
- Other boss guides, such as the Cavalrybane fight, and the full Phantom Blade Zero boss list cover the fights around him.
Thunder Spear Phantom Edge reward
Chang Hong drops the Thunder Spear Phantom Edge when he is defeated. Its card reads “Martial”, “Damage 450” and “Status Effects 360”, with this description: “A long spear that rose to fame alongside Chang Hong, one of the Order’s Envoys. It draws lightning from all directions, channeling it into thunderous force.”
- Repeatedly press the Phantom Edges button to execute up to 3 strikes of [Thunderclap Spear Art].
- A full combo uses 1 Sha-Chi charge.
- Its attacks inflict Paralysis and release lightning.
- A prompt appears next: “Equip the new Phantom Edge now?”
The Thunder Spear’s Soul Tempering material is the Thunder Core.
What happens if you die in phase 2
A phase 2 death returns Soul to the bell in Ancestral Shrine Square, with full HP and every healing gourd restored; nothing is lost. Re-enter the square to trigger a brief return shot. In the rain, Chang Hong immediately reappears as “Chang Hong, the Thunder Lancer”. Neither the phase 1 cutscene nor that phase of the fight plays again, and the name bar shown in the rain confirms your progress remains saved.
