The 10 Best Phantom Edges In Phantom Blade Zero, Ranked

Published Oct 31, 2026, 4:59 AM EDT Sam Woods is TheGamer’s Senior Reporter. He’s been in games journalism since 2020 and has undertaken a variety of roles in that time. These have included roles such as SEO Editor, Managing Editor at DualShockers, and Global Head of Gaming, and he's also been seen on the BBC. He was promoted to the Senior Reporter position in 2025 following a series of high-quality reports and exclusives for TheGamer. Since 2020, Sam has written over 3,000 articles and specializes in telling the stories of the people behind the games. He’s interviewed the biggest game directors, some of the industry’s top talents, told the stories of how indie games came to be, and spoken to players about what really makes them tick. He’s also interviewed some of the world’s biggest musical artists to find out how the medium has inspired their work, and TV and Film actors about their roles in video game adaptations. He even hosted a PAX panel in 2021 and made a documentary in 2024 surrounding the creation of a Disney game. Alongside this, Sam focuses on breaking news. He got the scoop on Perfect Dark’s cancellation, provided context on some AI drama, and revealed that Lady Dimitrescu’s actress would love to step back into the character’s giant shoes. These articles have been picked up by the biggest gaming sites, including IGN, GameSpot, and PC Gamer. He also loves to dive into the numbers behind the games. Sam’s journey in games journalism has taken him all over the world. He’s covered Gamescom in Germany, Summer Game Fest in Los Angeles, and Tokyo Game Show in Japan, each on three occasions. He’s been learning Japanese since 2024 with the intention of identifying and translating Japanese-language news and bringing it to English-language audiences first, something he’s done countless times. Sam’s first review was 2020’s Battletoads reboot, and he’s since reviewed games in The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, and Pokemon franchises. If you're anything like me, you'll spend a lot of time trying to create the best build possible in Phantom Blade Zero. There are an astounding 30 weapons to choose from, 30 Phantom Edges, a whole range of accessories, and a selection of medicines to boot. You'll likely be starting by figuring out what the best weapon is, and which one clicks with you, before working your way onto the game's many Phantom Edges. We've now put 70+ hours into S-Game's critically acclaimed wuxia adventure, and we're here to tell you the 10 best Phantom Edges in the game. 10 Iron Gauntlets Damage Guard Break Level 1 261 223 Level 30 1,018 870 I even surprised myself when using the Iron Gauntlets. Easily the least glamorous of Phantom Blade Zero's Phantom Edges, they would have been easy to overlook, but they have great utility, hitting hard and breaking guard. While they seem bulky, the Iron Gauntlets can attack three times using one Remnant Spark, and they do so pretty quickly. Their Fist Focus ability also increases damage from all main weapons for a period, and when Soul Tempered, they send crushing waves forward. Don't sleep on these. 9 Bashpole Damage Guard Break Level 1 221 237 Level 30 862 924 The Bashpole is a menace. It creates shockwaves when it hits the ground and can be used for attacks both in the air and on the floor. It really comes into its own when Soul Tempered, though. Its Whirling Advance ability allows you to spin around holding the Bashpole outwards for a really, really long time, pummeling any enemy that comes into contact with it. It's a little bit spammy, but it's also a lot of fun. 8 Fire Meteor Damage Status Effects Level 1 380 309 Level 30 1,482 1,205 The Fire Meteor is very much like the number one pick on this list, but its lack of range holds it back. What it does lose in range, it makes up for in raw, absolute power, though. It's two spiky, explosive balls on a chain that, when thrown, unleash Phosphor Flame, which damages enemies and weakens their attack power. When Soul Tempered, it also causes massive Sha-Chi depletion, making guard breaking a lot easier. This is as close as being a top-tier Phantom Edge without actually being one. 7 Kuye Temple Prayer Beads Summon Health Summon Damage Level 1 1,236 22 Level 30 14,325 80 The Kuye Temple Prayer Beads summon three Bronze Men to fight by your side (the pesky monks found in Sha-Chi Towers). They last only 15 seconds and use two Remnant Sparks unless paired with the Nuo Mask found in the Crimson Estate, but despite their drawbacks, they are fantastic. More so than most on this list, the Kuye Prayer Beads need to be upgraded. When at level 30, the summons have a, quite frankly, ridiculous amount of health and can make themselves invulnerable. When Soul Tempered, they change from Bronze Men to Gold Men, making them even more frightening. 6 One-Eyed Bow Damage Guard Break Level 1 214 162 Level 30 835 632 For some reason, the boss hiding the One-Eyed Bow in Phantom Blade Zero's Meigu Lake region gave me more trouble than most. Beating it was worth it, though, because the Phantom Edge is a monster. It has far from the best damage output and guard break ability, but its power to snipe enemies from range is unmatched. Soul Tempering allows you to charge your shots, and it also happens to fire powerful Death Rays alongside each arrow. 5 Flaming Mane Damage Status Effects Level 1 248 178 Level 30 967 694 From an item earned from one of the hardest bosses, to one earned from one of the best. The Flaming Mane is probably the coolest Phantom Edge in Phantom Blade Zero, as Soul dons a giant Fire-breathing lion head and burns those around him. It's a little more unconventional than the other Phantom Edges, letting you hold R2 until you run out of Remanant Sparks, but while you hold it, you spew flames around you. These flames cause massive damage to your enemies. If you manage to Soul Temper it, you'll unlock the Chaotic Flame ability, which turns the regular flames into Chaotic flames, dealing damage and causing Sha-Chi loss. 4 Dread Axe Damage Guard Break Level 1 309 208 Level 30 1,205 811 The Dread Axe is a MONSTER, and it's Phantom Blade Zero's first Phantom Edge. The giant axe deals huge damage and has fantastic Guard Break capabilities. It can be charged three times, allowing you to deal an ungodly amount of damage to enemies. Where it really shines, though, is in its shield-breaking abilities. You'll encounter a lot of shield-bearing enemies in Phantom Blade Zero, and this absolutely annihilates them. I carried this Phantom Edge around with me for most of my run, just in case I ran into any of those pesky buggers. 3 Thunder Spear Damage Status Effects Level 1 450 360 Level 30 1,755 1,404 Imagine my disappointment when I found out the Thunder Spear was nothing like the one in Attack on Titan and could actually summon Lightning. I got over that disappointment immediately, because this Phantom Edge has the most raw power and best status build-up of any in the game. You can swing it like a regular spear, but it also deals a whopping amount of elemental damage, too. When Soul Tempered, the Thunder Spear chains Lightning to nearby enemies, making it an easy pick for near the top of the list. 2 Flying Guillotine Damage Guard Break Level 1 380 309 Level 30 1,482 1,205 Controversially, I enjoyed using the Flying Guillotine way less than the Thunder Spear, and it's less powerful, but it has one thing the Thunder Spear doesn't: Ranged Executions. When you've beaten an enemy within range of being able to execute them, no matter where they are, a swift press of R2 will decapitate them. It's quick, saves you from getting too close to pull it off, and looks damn cool in the process. 1 Hunter's Chain Sickle Damage Guard Break Level 1 247 213 Level 30 963 831 The Hunter's Chain Sickle's stats look underwhelming, but don't let that put you off, as it is a monster at crowd control. The sickles have incredible range, swinging around the field and causing unparalleled damage to multiple enemies. You can chain together three long attacks, wiping out everything in your path. They really come into their own in a Bleed build and when Soul Tempered. The Soul Tempering makes the chains deal as much damage as the blade and builds the enemy's Bleed Gauge in the process. I used these from the moment I got them in Weeping Creek Valley until I rolled credits.