If you have just finished the opening sequence of Phantom Blade Zero, Against the Flow is where the adventure really begins. Soul finds himself deep in Weeping Creek Valley, surrounded by ruined paths, strange enemies, and the remains of a village that has clearly seen better days. Your job is to find a route forward, but there is plenty to discover along the way.
This chapter introduces many of the systems you will rely on throughout the game. You will learn how Bells work, collect your first weapon upgrades, meet important characters such as Yu’er and Forge, and begin several Tales that lead to optional encounters and rewards. Exploring a little off the main path can make a real difference, especially when you find useful accessories and upgrade materials early.
Phantom Blade Zero Against the Flow Walkthrough Guide
I’ll walk you through the chapter in a practical order, from the wreckage in Weeping Creek Valley to the Axemaster fight and the final exit toward Steel and Steam. I’ll also point out side objectives and collectibles worth picking up before you move on.
1. Explore the Wreckage in Weeping Creek Valley
After the opening encounter with The Hunt, Soul wakes up in Weeping Creek Valley. Get back on your feet, recover if necessary, and check the map before setting off. The markers help distinguish the main story from optional Tales and collectible-related discoveries.
Follow the path beneath the hanging horse. You will soon hear someone crying, which adds the Tale Whence the Weeping to your quest list.
Take a moment to inspect the petrified body and the sword near the stream. You can interact with them for additional information, and there is Remnant Dust nearby. When you are ready, climb the scratched rock ledge to reach the next section.
A Maskwalker brute is waiting ahead. These basic enemies are manageable if you keep attacking rather than letting them surround you. Watch for their blue-flash attacks, which can be parried for a counterattack. Drop down to the right afterward to collect more Remnant Dust.
Continue toward the injured man being attacked by two Maskwalkers. Defeat the enemies and speak to the Dying Escapee. He explains that he came from upstream and asks you to help the village. His request points you toward the next objective.
Collect the Remnant Dust in the water, then climb the large scratched stone near the man’s location.
2. Activate the Beginning Bell
Follow the path forward until Soul notices the strange red threads drawing him toward a Bell. A woman named Inanis explains that the Bells are connected to Soul and can help restore him.
Activate the Beginning Bell. This marks the official start of Against the Flow and reveals more of the surrounding map.
Bells are important throughout Phantom Blade Zero, so get into the habit of activating each one you encounter. They serve as rest points, restore health and medicine, reveal nearby areas, and let you travel between previously activated Bells. You can also train abilities and save your progress.
Which ability should you unlock first?
The first Bell introduces the ability-training system. You can spend Remnant Dust to activate unlocked skills, while Blackstones, Sha-Chi Ambers, and Memory Flowers unlock additional abilities.
Fluid Form Lv. 1 is free at this stage. If the tutorial asks you to refund it, make sure you unlock it again before leaving the training menu.
Fluid Form is useful because it rewards well-timed defensive actions with opportunities to pursue enemies. Learning to dodge and parry early will make later fights much easier.
3. Clear the Waterfall Path
Leave the Beginning Bell and move toward the waterfall. Collect the Remnant Dust along the way, then deal with the Maskwalkers beyond it.
You will encounter groups of enemies as you move deeper into the valley. When ranged enemies are present, try to eliminate them first. Being attacked from a distance while dealing with melee enemies makes fights much harder than they need to be.
Near a fire, you will face a group of Maskwalkers, including one carrying a flaming weapon. Lock on to your target and use execution opportunities when they appear. Executions temporarily protect Soul from incoming damage, so they can help you control a crowded fight.
Continue toward the larger waterfall and deal with the Yellow-Robed Brute. This enemy is tougher than the basic Maskwalkers, so watch its club attacks and avoid attacking carelessly during its combos.
Collect the Remnant Dust beneath the waterfall, then climb the scratched rock ledge nearby. Follow the elevated route across a large branch and some scaffolding.
After crossing the branch, you will hear a creature roar in the distance. Keep going until you reach a staircase guarded by three Maskwalkers. Deal with the enemy throwing stones first, then take out the remaining enemies.
Near a ladder, pick up the collectible Investigating the Villagers’ Belongings: Abandoned Land Deed.
4. Learn Stealth and Find the Lady’s Rift Bell
Climb the ladder to learn the basics of stealth. Crouch behind an unaware enemy and use the execution prompt to perform an assassination.
You can also assassinate enemies after crossing gaps with wall runs. This is especially useful when an enemy is positioned alone on a narrow path or elevated platform.
Continue up the steps, but watch for enemies throwing fire pots. These attacks can leave burning areas on the ground, so either defeat the thrower quickly or wait for the flames to clear before moving in.
Follow the wooden walkway until you find a ladder on the right. Look down toward the red threads to locate the Lady’s Rift Bell.
Activate the Bell to open another section of the map. You can now use the travel option at Bells to move between activated locations.
Optional boss: Aberrant Three-Faced Puppet
Beside the Lady’s Rift Bell, you will find a golden Rift. Entering it starts an optional encounter against the Aberrant Three-Faced Puppet.
This fight can be challenging while you are still learning the combat system. You do not have to defeat the Puppet immediately, so feel free to return later after improving your weapons and abilities.
Leaving the Rift adds the Tale Triple Threat to your quest list.
Before continuing, climb the ladder near the Bell and collect the Traversal Talisman beside the chained fence. This consumable lets you travel to a Bell from elsewhere on the map, making it useful when you want to return to a familiar area.
5. Cross the Valley and Meet Yu’er
Use the chain to cross the next gap and defeat the dual-wielding Maskwalker on the other side. The enemy drops Hunter’s Insight, an accessory that increases damage dealt and Sha-Chi depletion against attacking enemies by 7%.
Keep moving along the wooden walkway. You will receive a tutorial for Mind’s Eye, which helps you locate your tracked objective in the world.
Wall-run across the next gap and use the hanging chain to swing over the following one. Be careful around the enemies throwing fire pots and rocks from the opposite side. Move quickly across the gap and attack them before they can keep interrupting you with projectiles.
At the end of the cliffside, slide down the rope to reach a lower campsite. Here, you will meet Yu’er, the daughter of the village brewer.
Yu’er has escaped from Pangzhen and is searching for a rare flower that might save her father from a mysterious illness. She explains that the route to Pangzhen passes through the woods above a large waterfall.
Talk to her about the village, the weeping woman, and her father’s condition. Asking about her plan to find the flower unlocks the Tale Flesh Lily.
6. Collect Sanguine Twin and Activate the Next Bell
Climb the scratched ledge near Yu’er’s campsite and follow the path toward the waterfall. At the base of a ladder, you will find Sanguine Twin, your first dual-wielded weapon.
Equip it if you want to try a different fighting style. You can carry two main weapons and switch between them during combat.
Weapon switching is more than a change of moveset. It also restores Sha-Chi, allowing you to extend your offensive pressure when used at the right moment. There is a cooldown between switches, however, so you cannot keep swapping weapons without a pause.
Climb the ladder and activate the First Meeting with Yu’er Bell. Break the nearby crates to collect Forged Metal, which is used to upgrade one-handed weapons.
At this point, consider unlocking another ability. Healing Art gives you an additional medicine use, which can be especially helpful if you are playing on a higher difficulty. Steady Composure is another useful choice if you are comfortable dodging and parrying, since it helps you interrupt enemy attacks after a successful defensive move.
Continue toward the waterfall. You will encounter Maskwalkers fighting each other along the road. Before joining the fight, look near the first lamp and drop down to the lower path. You can find Remnant Dust and another Traversal Talisman here.
Return to the main road and finish off the surviving enemies. They should drop Battle Wraps, an accessory that increases damage dealt to enemies by 5%.
7. Find a Way Through the Red Thread Barrier
The red threads block the road beside the waterfall, so you will need to find another route.
Look to the left of the obstruction and activate the Red Thread Barrier Bell. This reveals the nearby area and gives you a useful checkpoint while you explore.
Cross the gap using the chain in front of the Bell, then drop down on the left side to collect more Remnant Dust. Climb back to the upper route and follow the floating red thread.
The path leads through elevated wooden platforms. Search behind the furthest Maskwalker to find Solvent, a general weapon-upgrade material.
Continue following the red thread down into the valley. Before returning to the main route, explore the waterfall dead end in the opposite direction. You can collect an Exotic Copper Ingot, used to upgrade Martial-type Phantom Edges.
Clear the enemies near the stream
As you return from the waterfall, watch for two arsonists and three brutes. The arsonists should be your priority because their fire attacks can make it difficult to manage the melee enemies.
One arsonist is positioned on a high ledge, while the other is near the water. If you can approach them unseen, assassinations are a good way to remove the ranged threat before the main fight begins.
After clearing the area, activate the Broken Puppet Valley Bell near the stream.
8. Collect the Four Axes Case Files
Near the Broken Puppet Valley Bell, look for the collectible The Four Axes Case Files: The Four Axes Rebellion: Calamity beneath a tree.
Collecting it unlocks the Tale Four Fierce Axes.
Next, search the nearby house to find another section of the collection, The Four Axes Rebellion: Chaos.
These documents help you follow the story behind the Four Axes and are worth collecting before you move on.
Defeat the shielded enemy
Continue into the area surrounded by red threads. A shielded enemy will challenge you here.
Regular frontal attacks are not very effective against shielded opponents. Focus on defensive timing and look for blue-flash attacks you can parry. A successful counter can create an opening to attack from behind.
Once you defeat the enemy, open the chest in the nearby camp to collect your first Sha-Chi Amber Fragment.
Collecting four Sha-Chi Amber Fragments increases your maximum Sha-Chi by 10%, so make a habit of searching chests and exploring side paths.
The red-thread barrier near the Red Thread Barrier Bell will now disappear. Return to the opening and walk through it to trigger a short scene in which The Hunt tells you he is waiting farther ahead.
Continue beneath the threads and collect Wulin Tales: Captain Chen Zhu’s Secret Letter from the corpse beside a lantern. You can also speak with the dying Iron Mask near the next lantern for additional dialogue.
9. Boss Fight: Jagged Steel, the Frenzied Brute
Walk through the waterfall ahead to enter a boss encounter against Jagged Steel, the Frenzied Brute.
This fight is an important lesson in defensive timing. The boss attacks with a mixture of heavy slams, sword combos, spinning strikes, and special attacks that can cause Bleed buildup.
Attacks to watch for
- Triple slam: Jagged Steel slams his weapon down several times. Watch the rhythm and parry each hit if you are confident, or dodge sideways to get clear.
- Sword combos: He uses fast sequences of two to four slashes. Watch his wind-up and avoid attacking through the entire combo.
- Spinning slashes: He spins while striking around himself. Blocking is a safer option until you learn the timing.
- Blue-flash slash: A multi-hit sequence ends with a blue-flash attack. Be ready to parry the final strike.
- Red-flash slam: Dodge the lunge when the boss flashes red to create an opportunity for a counterattack.
- Red-flash combo: A longer series of attacks ends in a red-flash move. Watch for the visual cue and dodge the final attack.
How to win the fight
Jagged Steel’s weapon causes Bleed buildup. The meter in the lower-left corner shows how close you are to suffering the effect. If it fills, Soul loses a portion of his health, so avoiding unnecessary hits is especially important.
Do not rely entirely on blocking, since heavy attacks can drain your Sha-Chi quickly. Use well-timed dodges, parry attacks when you recognize the pattern, and attack during the boss’s recovery animations.
Your Sanguine Twin weapon is useful because switching weapons can restore Sha-Chi and help you maintain pressure. Just be ready to stop attacking when the boss recovers from a guard break. He can interrupt you if you continue a combo for too long.
The fight becomes more demanding when Jagged Steel has less than half of his health remaining, so save medicine when possible and play more patiently in the later part of the encounter.
Defeating him rewards you with Jagged Steel, a one-handed weapon that inflicts Bleed on enemies.
10. Explore Rustblade Pavilion
After the boss fight, continue forward until you reach the Rustblade Pavilion Bell.
Before climbing the staircase, crouch beneath the debris to the right and collect Twinned Metal, which is used to upgrade dual-wielded weapons.
Climb the stairs and collect the Reflections: Outposts, Rare Places of Rest document near the top.
Continue along the elevated route and defeat the group of Maskwalkers. Search the area after the fight to collect another Sha-Chi Amber Fragment.
You will also find an Ancient Timber in a nearby chest. This material is used to upgrade ranged-type Phantom Edges. Collect the additional Twinned Metal in the same area before moving forward.
Keep following the path and use the chain to cross the gap. When you reach the tall grass, look to the left for Remnant Dust on a wooden overlook.
Use stealth to clear the next camp
Crouch through the grass and assassinate the Maskwalker near the campfire. Move to the next patch of grass and repeat the process against the next enemy.
There is another campfire ahead, with more enemies gathered around it. Look along the left side of the path for additional Remnant Dust, then activate the Outpost Courtyard Bell beyond the camp.
Continue down the ledges and enter the building ahead to collect The Four Axes Rebellion: Confusion.
You will encounter another group of enemies near the next campfire. Use the elevated route to your advantage and try to begin the encounter with an assassination before fighting the remaining enemies.
11. Report to the Guards
Continue until you reach the next camp. Several Maskwalkers will attack, but nearby guards eventually recognize that Soul is not an enemy and help with the fight.
Before speaking to the guards, search the left side of the gate. You will find Remnant Dust beside a locked door. A purple item is visible beyond it, but you cannot access it yet.
Speak to the guards at the broken wall. Tell them you are a wanderer, and they will allow you to enter the outpost.
12. Explore the Outpost and Meet Forge
Inside the outpost, pick up the glowing Weapon Reforge Talisman from the broken cart. This item restores a weapon to its initial level.
Speak with the woman leaning against a post to learn more about the situation. You can also talk to the men nearby, who mention a dangerous Maskwalker bound in chains in the forest near the waterfall.
Look for Huijue, a yellow-robed monk near the bamboo. He wants to find his master, Bi Hai, in the Village of Lu. Soul offers to help, suggesting that this conversation may lead to another objective later.
A peddler near the horse sells weapon-upgrade materials. You do not need to buy anything immediately, but it is worth remembering his location.
In the building on the hill, collect three Solvent and two Phantom Reforge Talismans. Speak to the man inside to update the Four Fierce Axes Tale.
Next, climb to the roof of the neighboring building and speak with the Brooding Old Archer. This unlocks the Tale Purge the Sect. Collect the two Forged Metal beneath the roof before leaving.
Meet Forge and upgrade your weapons
Continue up the main staircase to meet Forge. She explains that Inanis sent her to help Soul and mentions her sisters, Jewel and Myst. Jewel specializes in jewelry, while Myst focuses on Phantom Arts.
Exhaust Forge’s dialogue options to unlock weapon upgrades.
At this stage, I recommend focusing your upgrade materials on one favorite weapon from each type rather than spreading them between multiple weapons of the same category. This gives you more flexibility without wasting scarce early materials.
Pick up Sanguine Reach, a two-handed weapon beside Forge, to add another option to your arsenal. Collect the four Solvent in the nearby bucket as well.
The guards across from Forge also introduce the Tale Festering Secret. Activate the Outpost Bell before continuing.
13. Find the Cell Key and Blackstone Fragment
At the top of the stairs beyond the Outpost Bell, the path splits.
Before continuing along the main route, take the path to the right and collect:
- Two Darkfire Charcoal
- Two Solvent
- Remnant Dust
- The Cell Key
Return to the locked door near the outpost entrance and use the Cell Key to open it. Inside, you can collect a Blackstone Fragment.
Blackstone Fragments contribute to permanent character improvements, so it is worth taking the detour instead of leaving this item behind.
Return to the fork in the path and take the other route to continue the main story.
14. Boss Fight: Peng Meng, the Axemaster
The next encounter is against Peng Meng, the Axemaster, who breaks free from his chains when Soul arrives.
The Axemaster is slow, but his attacks hit hard. His combos can drain your Sha-Chi meter quickly if you rely too much on blocking.
Attacks to watch for
- Heavy combos: He uses a mixture of short and longer axe combos. Dodge or parry rather than absorbing every hit with your guard.
- Red-flash grab: When he flashes red and lunges forward, dodge to avoid being caught in his high-damage follow-up.
- Blue-flash slam: He stomps before bringing his axe down. Watch for the final strike and parry when the attack connects.
- Blue-flash combos: Longer sequences end with a blue-flash attack. Do not assume the combo is over just because there is a brief pause; wait for the final swing.
- Power Surges: The screen darkens before powerful attacks such as stomps and axe strikes. Create distance and dodge when the attack is about to land.
- Final QTE: At low health, he performs a wide axe swing that leads into a button prompt. Follow the prompt to finish the encounter.
How to defeat Peng Meng
Patience is the key here. The Axemaster is not especially fast, so use his recovery animations to land your own combos.
If you are uncertain about a parry timing, dodge instead. You still need to reduce his Sha-Chi and create guard-break opportunities, but taking a heavy hit can put you in a difficult position.
Jagged Steel is useful because it inflicts Bleed, and Peng Meng’s slower movement gives you opportunities to build up damage.
Defeating the Axemaster rewards you with the Dread Axe, your first Phantom Edge. You also receive The Axemaster’s Final Request collectible.
Activate the Axemaster’s Fall Crane Bell to view a memory involving Soul, Zuo Shang, and the Ethereal Swordsman. The memory also introduces Mu Tianmiao and gives you more context for Soul’s past.
15. Use the Dread Axe to Open the Chain Barrier
The Dread Axe is more than a combat weapon. It can break chained barriers and open routes that were previously blocked.
Return to the outpost and use the Dread Axe on the chained entrance near Forge. Defeat the enemies beyond the barrier to progress Festering Secret.
Explore the house in this area and defeat the Maskwalker to obtain a Sha-Chi Amber Fragment. This is another worthwhile upgrade item, so do not rush through the room.
Return to Forge’s area and speak to Yu’er when she calls out to you. Discuss the herbs she needs to progress the Tale Apprentice Healer. You will also receive the Book Wulin Tales: Yu’er’s Medicinal Recipe.
When you have finished exploring, return to the Axemaster’s Fall Crane Bell and use the Dread Axe to break the chained barrier that blocks the main route.
16. Reach the Axemaster’s Holding Cell
Continue along the path beyond the barrier. The route is mostly straightforward, so keep moving forward and collect the Remnant Dust near the stacked boxes.
At the top of the hill, a scene introduces The Hunt again. He watches Soul from a rooftop, taunts him, and then leaves to wait farther ahead.
Explore the ruined settlement before leaving. Activate the Axemaster’s Holding Cell Bell near the middle of the area.
Collect the following items before moving on:
- Captain Wu’s Final Letter, near the campfire
- Two Forged Metal and a Weapon Reforge Talisman inside the torchlit building
- Inventory Report, in one of the nearby buildings
- Two Solvent and additional Remnant Dust along the narrow paths
- Fragments of the Mandate, beneath rubble near the beheaded corpse
Check the buildings and side paths carefully, as some of these items are easy to overlook when following the main objective.
Once you have finished exploring, leave through the eastern exit. This completes Against the Flow and leads directly into the next chapter, Steel and Steam.
Important Rewards in Against the Flow
| Reward | Where to get it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Hunter’s Insight | Defeat the dual-wielding Maskwalker near the early traversal route | Increases damage and Sha-Chi depletion against attacking enemies by 7% |
| Battle Wraps | Defeat the enemies fighting near the waterfall route | Increases damage dealt by 5% |
| Sanguine Twin | Near the ladder after meeting Yu’er | Adds a dual-wielded weapon option |
| Sha-Chi Amber Fragment | Chest after defeating the shielded enemy | Four fragments increase maximum Sha-Chi by 10% |
| Jagged Steel | Defeat Jagged Steel, the Frenzied Brute | One-handed weapon that inflicts Bleed |
| Ancient Timber | Chest along the Rustblade Pavilion route | Upgrade material for ranged Phantom Edges |
| Cell Key | Side route near the Outpost Bell | Opens a locked room containing a Blackstone Fragment |
| Dread Axe | Defeat Peng Meng, the Axemaster | Phantom Edge that breaks chained barriers |
| Blackstone Fragment | Locked cell near the outpost entrance | Contributes to permanent character improvements |
Before leaving Against the Flow, make sure you have activated the Bells along your route, explored the outpost, and spoken to Forge, Yu’er, and the Brooding Old Archer.
If you have time, collect the available upgrade materials and progress the Tales you have already unlocked. The Dread Axe opens up new paths, and the optional objectives you start here can lead to useful rewards later.
The next chapter takes you deeper into Weeping Creek Valley, where you will explore the Sha-Chi Tower, encounter more dangerous Transcended enemies, and face The Hunt again.
