Diverging Paths Walkthrough - Phantom Blade Zero Guide - IGN

Diverging Paths is the first part of the Phantom Blade Zero prologue. This part of the walkthrough is where you’ll learn a bit about our protagonist, Soul, while getting your first taste of basic movement and combat.

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You need to choose a difficulty as soon as you start a new game. There are four options available, and you can change the difficulty at any time during your playthrough.

Wayfarer is the option to pick if you want to focus on the story and fight at your own pace. This is the easiest option, described as “a gentler path through the Wulin.”

Pathbreaker is the traditional medium/normal difficulty setting, providing a challenge for those who are used to action combat. It’s described as “a true test of skill.”

Hellwalker is the hard difficulty setting, for those who want to be thoroughly tested in combat. It’s described as “the ultimate trial.”

66 Days is the hardest difficulty that can only be unlocked after beating the game on any other difficulty. It’s the same as Hellwalker, but you can only die 66 times.

I’m writing this walkthrough while playing on Hellwalker to provide the most useful and accurate tips possible for players who may need them. Some notes or details about enemy strength may not apply to those playing on lower difficulties.

The game opens on a duel between two men: Soul and Zuo Shang . They both drop to their knees after trading blows, then we jump 16 years into the past.

Walk forward along the linear path while following the movement tutorials. You can also do a few other actions, even though they’re unnecessary at this point. Here’s a quick list of a few early controls for console and PC:

Eventually, you come to a high ledge. Press X on controller or Space on keyboard to climb up. The path splits, but there’s nothing of note to the left. Keep climbing up the ledges ahead to reach a wall run section.

The scratches you see on ledges and walls indicate areas where you can use traversal techniques to proceed.

Cross the bridge and crouch under the low branch ahead when prompted. When the path splits, you can go in either direction - they lead to the same place.

To the right, you can practice chaining wall runs together, and to the left, you’ll drop down on the other side of those walls. Regardless of which way you go, follow the linear path through the bamboo to trigger a scene.

Zuo Shang is waiting for you at your destination, but Soul wonders why their Shifu still hasn’t returned. It’s time to learn combat basics in the meantime.

Press the Right Stick on controller or the middle mouse button to lock on , then land four light attacks to perform a standard combo.

Next, learn about Sha-Chi , the yellow meter under your health bar. Sha-Chi combos use heavy attacks and consume the yellow meter.

Land any two of the four Sha-Chi combos listed in the tutorial pop-up to pass this part of combat training.

Continuously guarding also consumes Sha-Chi, so you remember not to play too defensively during combat. Hold guard until Zuo Shang’s combo ends to move to the next tutorial pop-up.

You can also deplete an enemy’s Sha-Chi meter and break their guard by continuously attacking them. Hit Zuo Shang with light attacks until his guard is broken. Sha-Chi combos break enemy guards faster than normal ones.

Now, it’s time for defensive options. You can press dodge without a direction to backstep, or choose a direction to dodge that way. Dodge three of Zuo Shang’s attacks to proceed.

Parries will likely be the defensive option you use most often. Block Zuo Shang’s attacks just before they land to parry.

Parry two blue-flash attacks, and dodge two red-flash attacks before they hit to progress. Remember that blue means parry and red means dodge.

You can now unleash a Power Surge by pressing L2 or Q. Power Surges consume a Sha-Chi Essence , shown in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Power Surges are lengthy combos that wear down the enemy’s Sha-Chi meter.

The tutorial quickly turns into a sparring match against Zuo Shang. Your health seems to replenish automatically if it gets too low during this fight, but we’ll treat it like a real boss for some good practice!

He uses all the moves you just had to dodge and parry during the tutorial, and we’ve listed them all in the table below:

First, note that Zuo Shang doesn’t attack unless you’re close to him. You can back away from him if you ever need a second to collect your thoughts or slow down the battle

Use this fight to get used to parry and dodge timing, especially for blue or red flash attacks. Parry blue flashes or dodge red flashes to counterattack automatically, significantly lowering Zuo Shang’s Sha-Chi meter.

Usually, you should mix offense and defense to guard break your opponent, but try not to end this fight until you’re more comfortable with your defensive options – it’s the perfect time to practice . Your health regenerates automatically here, but you can also press Down on the D-Pad or R on keyboard to heal manually.

A cutscene plays immediately after you win. Soul drops to his knees and screams as red energy flows out of him, then we transition back to the rainy day duel from the beginning of the game. It’s time for a more intense fight.

Boss Battle: Zuo Shang, The Order’s Shadow Sovereign

Zuo Shang, The Order’s Shadow Sovereign Boss Phase 1

Use the knowledge and skills you just acquired from the sparring match flashback to defeat Zuo Shang again. You still heal automatically in this one, but his move list is different. We’ve listed his special attacks in the table below:

You aren’t in danger of dying during this fight either, but it’s a good preview of what’s to come for future boss fights. You need to learn to react quickly to attacks, or create space to evade.

Zuo Shang creates several light-based weapons that he throws at you to perform combos. This is another great opportunity to practice your defensive timing because he throws several attacks at you in quick succession.

Offensively, you should mix light and heavy attacks to create Sha-Chi combos that can break Zuo Shang’s guard. After a few combos and defensive successes, you can use Power Surge to deal solid damage and gain an advantage.

Zuo Shang, The Order’s Shadow Sovereign Boss Phase 2

Zuo Shang jumps back onto the roof when he drops below 50% HP. You need to perform a single quick-time event (QTE) by pressing Triangle or F when he launches a piece of the roof toward you.

He only has one big new move in this phase that you should watch out for – another blue-flash attack.

Zuo Shang fires several light blades at you before leaping into the air for a blue-flash attack with a giant sword. Parry as he falls toward you to counterattack.

At this point, you can continue using this fight as parry and dodge practice, or you can go on the full offensive, using Sha-Chi combos and Power Surges to finish off the boss.

Keep in mind that a Power Surge often interrupts Zuo Shang, even if you use it during his combo. Use it to get out of tough situations where you feel overwhelmed.

After the battle, you get to watch the cutscene from the beginning of the game again. This time, it continues, as you see a mysterious being named the Flesh Sculptor offer you a new heart.

They offer the Hollow Heart or the Tainted Heart. The former strips away all emotion and desire, leaving only reason. The latter keeps your heart beating with Venom, but will kill you in 66 days .

Soul chooses the Tainted Heart as this chapter ends. Next up is Reckless Pursuit .