Acolyte Yanru is a secret boss in the Village of Lu who appears when you touch a scarecrow with a red aura in the northern area, after collecting the petals of the Firefly Memory Flower. Almost all her damage is fire: dodge several times in a row to put yourself out, get behind her and interrupt her energy charge. She gives Yanru’s Blazing Mask, one of the four that open the Four Guardians’ Mirror.
Boss profile
Health, Sha-Chi, recommended level and elemental weaknesses
Weaknesses
Phases: 1 · Region: Village of Lu
Bars relative to the boss with the most health (Mo Yuan, 186,000) and the most Sha-Chi (Huangxing, 55,860) in the game.
Where is she and how do you get there?
Yanru doesn’t appear until you progress in the purple quest “Secrets at the Heart of the Lake”:
- Collect the petalsGather the petals of the Firefly Memory Flower in the Village of Lu. You have the list in the Memory Flowers.
- Head northA marker appears in the northernmost part of the village, next to the Engine Giant Remains. The nearest bell we use in the masks guide is Broken Puppet Pit Entrance.
- Activate the scarecrowYou’ll see a scarecrow with a red aura. Clear the enemies around it and interact with it: it takes you to a burning arena where the fight begins.
How to beat Acolyte Yanru
It’s a single-phase fight, almost all at range. The real danger is the fire, which keeps burning you almost constantly. If you keep it under control, she’s one of the easiest secret bosses.
Her attacks
- Fireball barrage: she throws several in a row at you. Vandal (Spanish guide) recommends deflecting them; if you only block them, you get burned. When she finishes she usually unleashes a long-range red attack.
- Flamethrower: up close she spits a line of fire that slowly follows you. Its frontal area is wide and can catch you from the side: attack her from behind.
- Fire mines: floating spheres that explode shortly after you get close. Run through them quickly toward her.
- Rain of flames and clones: she rises, creates copies that rush at you or shoot, and then throws large balls in a straight line while moving sideways.
- Great fireball: her final strike hurls her at Soul wrapped in a fireball. Don’t block it: leave the impact zone to one side.
- Eruption: she makes lava burst out in an area that deals damage over time. Get out of it.
- Ring of fire: after some attacks she dives down and leaves a circle of fire that ends up exploding with a red attack. Counter it with the phantom counter (dodge at the last moment) to stay close.
The key: put out the fire and punish the charge
- Several dodges in a row put out the burn. Do it as soon as you catch fire.
- Circle close to her and get behind her: she struggles to follow you.
- When she stands still charging energy to fly, that’s your window: land the full combo or a Power Surge attack to interrupt her and take a lot of her Sha-Chi.
Strategies to beat her
Pick the one that suits the way you play. We only recommend gear you can have when you reach the Village of Lu.
Strategy with fast weapons (one-handed and dual)
Yanru spends a lot of time at range, so you need weapons that make the most of short windows. The best options here are Wild Oriole Sword and White Serpent & Crimson Viper. Stick to her back during the flamethrower and the charge, and keep your other weapon in reserve: switching restores all your Sha-Chi.
Strategy with heavy weapons (two-handed)
Save the charged Sha-Chi attack for when she stands still charging energy. Try Outlaw Warblade or Tianxuan Bronze Sword. The Outlaw Warblade restores health on hit and makes up for the burn damage.
Elemental strategy (exploit her weaknesses)
She is weak to ice and water (wet). Equip:
- Ice: you won’t have gear of this element yet; if you come back later, use Whiteshadow (two-handed weapon from the Blizzard Blademaster).
- Water (Wet): you won’t have gear of this element yet; if you come back later, use You Loong’s Deluge (You Loong’s Phantom Edge in Pangzhen).
If you leave her until after Pangzhen, also equip Flameward (−50% fire and burn damage, chest at the South Gate Bridge bell).
Defensive strategy (parries and dodges)
Her most dangerous attack is the final great fireball: always dodge it sideways, never block it. Deflect the small balls and counter the reds from the ring of fire. If you’re struggling, the Counterstrike Bracers accessory (first Long Pillar) rewards deflects.
Strategy with Phantom Edges
Bring the Iron Gauntlets or the Dread Axe to punish the energy charge, and the Puppeteer’s Bell if you want a puppet to distract her while you heal. Sparks recharge when you rest at a bell: spend them freely.
If you get stuck
- Upgrade your two main weapons before going back (the boss is level 8).
- You can leave her for later: she isn’t missable and with Flameward the fight is much easier.
- Drop to Wayfarer: it doesn’t affect any trophy and you can raise the difficulty again later.
Recommended gear
- A fast weapon to stick to her back (Wild Oriole Sword).
- A breaking Phantom Edge (Iron Gauntlets or Dread Axe) for the energy charge.
- If you come back after Pangzhen: Flameward and You Loong’s Deluge.
Rewards
- Yanru’s Blazing Mask: one of the four acolyte masks that open the Four Guardians’ Mirror.
- Progress in “Secrets at the Heart of the Lake”, a purple quest for the true ending.
“Secrets at the Heart of the Lake” is one of the purple quests you lose when you cross into the Mirage Estate. Beat Yanru and the other three acolytes before that point. Check the area order and points of no return.
The other acolytes are in the four acolytes and their masks, and the whole region in the Village of Lu guide. Looking for another boss? You have the list in all Phantom Blade Zero bosses in order.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t Acolyte Yanru appear?
Because you first have to collect the petals of the Firefly Memory Flower in the Village of Lu. After that the marker and the scarecrow with a red aura appear in the north.
How do I stop burning against Yanru?
Chain several dodges: they put out the burn. Later on, the Flameward from Pangzhen halves fire and burn damage.
What is Yanru’s Blazing Mask for?
Together with the masks of Lei Ting, Guhe and Hansui it opens the Four Guardians’ Mirror at Meigu Lake, which leads to the Phantom Illusionist Ruins.
