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Phantom Blade Zero tells the story of Soul, a man with only 66 days to live after a deal with The Flesh Sculptor, a being that saved him from his imminent death. The game doesn’t mess about with introducing you to the world, its main characters, and its combat systems.
If you’re here, you’re likely finding the opening moments, and what amounts to a tutorial boss fight with Zuo Shang, rather difficult. There’s no shame in that, and it’s an early indicator of the game’s difficulty and intense boss moments. By the end of the guide, you’ll know everything you need to know so you can beat Zuo Shang in Phantom Blade Zero.
How to Beat Zuo Shang in Phantom Blade Zero
Phase One
This first phase of the Zuo Shang fight is little more than the very tutorial you just completed, except it’s no longer telling you what moves to do, how to do them, and Zuo Shang is attacking you. In the first phase, his attacks, like yours, are small in nature, and focused on the swords in your hands. You’ll want to take what you just learned and apply it here.
Use standard combos to break his guard meter and stun him, don’t forget to parry or guard when he attacks you, and as a standard tip for the game, let along this boss fight, don’t let up and always keep attacking. His health in this phase drops like a stone, so if you can manage to block him into a corner, or stunlock him with your attacks, you’ll quickly get through this and onto the second phase, where Zuo Shang, sixteen years later, really shows what he can do.
Phase Two
After the simplicity of the first phase, which equates to a small training section with a handful of combos at your disposal, the game shifts in time to the scene you saw at the beginning. This is really where you’ll need your wits about you if you hope to beat Zuo Shang in Phantom Blade Zero‘s opening boss fight.
Soul and Zuo Shang are fighting in the rain, in front of the same temple you were just at, some sixteen years ago. Except this time the wooden swords are gone, replaced by metal, and the intent to teach is gone, replaced with the intent to kill.
This phase is far more hectic, intense, fast-paced and ultimately more in line with the rest of the game. Zuo Shang has several attacks you’ll need to be ready for:
- He summons both guns and daggers into the air, throwing/shooting them at you. If you guard here, your guard meter gets drained quickly, so you’re better to parry each attack. Be warned, they’re very quick, so parry in time.
- He’ll come in close and begin a combo. You can guard or parry, but wait until he’s finished before attempting to attack back.
- As you just learned before the first phase of this fight, when he uses his blue attack, you’re going to want to hold L1 to parry it
- And similarly, his red attack, hold R1. This will sometimes come in the guise of a summoned yellow ball turning red, so be prepared for that.
As the fight progresses, he’ll get more frenzied in his attempts to kill you, mixing up his combos and coming at you from different angles. Make sure you use Power Surge with L2 whenever you have it, but don’t waste it in the middle of his combo, wait till you’ve drained his own Guard meter, and he’s standing stunned, or try and time it well enough after his combos end.
The combat in Phantom Blade Zero is incredibly fast, so don’t ever let up against Zuo Shang. Standing around and moving slowly is tantamount to death in Wuxia games, and it’s no different here. Press him, get in close and don’t let up, just be careful to parry and guard as necessary. If you miss defending against a Blue or Red attack, be prepared for a combo you can’t break and a massive chunk of health taken away.
Before you leave, make sure you check out the bottom of the page for more guides for PHANTOM BLADE ZERO. We’ve got a lot more tips waiting to help you out!
If your own health bar is dropping quickly, don’t forget to use your health potions, which is down on the D-Pad.
After his own health bar drops to zero, you’ll see an extended version of the opening cutscene, and then you’ll meet The Flesh Sculptor, but now you know how to beat Zuo Shang in Phantom Blade Zero, and can continue on with Soul’s journey!
For your next read, don’t miss our guide on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s DMZ Counterfeit chapter, or our ending explanation of Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
Other Phantom Blade Zero Guides You Will Need
- How to Beat Peng Meng, The Axemaster in Phantom Blade Zero
- How to Find the Cell Key and Open the Weeping Creek Valley Cell Door in Phantom Blade Zero
- How to Upgrade Weapons in Phantom Blade Zero
- How to Beat Jagged Steel, The Frenzied Brute in Phantom Blade Zero (and get the Jagged Steel Weapon)
- How to Beat The Hunt, Hunter of the Order in Phantom Blade Zero
