How to beat the Blizzard Blademaster in Phantom Blade Zero (Phantom Illusionist Ruins)

Where is he and how do you get there?

He is at the end of the Phantom Illusionist Ruins, the hidden realm of the purple quest “Secrets at the Heart of the Lake”:

1. Collect the four masksThose of Yanru, Lei Ting, Guhe and Hansui. Hansui’s is in the Crimson Manor, which opens after the Mountain of Imprisonment. You have everything in the four acolytes and their masks.
2. Go through the Four Guardians’ MirrorIt is on a frozen islet in the northwest corner of Meigu Lake. Step by step in how to open the Four Guardians’ Mirror.
3. Cross the RuinsThey have no map and their seven bells do not allow fast travel between them. The last stretch is a snowy path with poor visibility.
4. Touch the bell before the bossYou find him next to the sunken ship, facing the Whiteshadow’s Fall bell. The boss scene can start early: if you can, touch the bell on the deck first so you come back there when you die.

How to beat the Blizzard Blademaster

It is a single-phase duel against a very fast swordsman. What makes it hard is the freezing: each hit adds ice to a meter (an icon above your health bar) and, when it fills, you are frozen and lose health when you thaw. Blocking also builds up ice and costs a lot of Sha-Chi, so it is better to dodge rather than block.

How to break free from the ice

• Many players report that, if he encases you in ice, quickly moving the left stick from side to side breaks the block sooner. It is the most repeated tip on the Steam forum and the xboxplay.games guide also mentions it.
• According to that same guide, while you are frozen the boss usually waits, unless he is doing his forward lunge.
• If the meter is about to fill, the Green Serpent Brew (removes status ailments) empties it.

His attacks

• Opening lunge: he opens the fight with a straight-line attack. Dodge to one side: according to xboxplay.games, even parrying it freezes you.
• Long-range horizontal slash: it covers almost the whole arena and freezes. Vandal (Spanish guide) says it can be blocked, but every block adds ice.
• Ice waves and trails: he throws ice crescents with his sword and some hits leave trails on the ground that also freeze. Do not stand on them.
• Icicles: after some close attacks, four icicles appear and explode. They deal little damage but fill the ice meter a lot.
• Leaps: if he only does a downward strike, block and counterattack. If he bounces, a blue attack follows that is easy to parry and punish.
• Red grab and spinning slash: the grab with a red flash and the red horizontal spin can take more than half your health. Always dodge them, ideally toward his back.
• Charged snow wave: a frontal wave at mid range that freezes you on impact. It is his most dangerous attack: get out of its line.
• Energy phase: after taking enough damage, he charges energy, releases an ice wave and follows with a rhythmic spinning combo that you can block. From then on he is more aggressive.

The key: dodge, parry the blues and punish with fire

• After every parry, dodge: Vandal warns that almost everything that comes next freezes.
• A parry on the blue attack knocks him down. That is the moment to land a fire Edge, which takes health and Sha-Chi.
• Switch weapons and use Sha-Chi special attacks to cancel animations and break his guard.

Strategies to beat him

Pick the one that suits the way you play. We only recommend gear you can have by the time you reach the Phantom Illusionist Ruins, which open after the Mountain of Imprisonment and the Crimson Manor.

Fast weapon strategy (one-handed and dual)

This is a fast opponent: do not chase the long combo. Land two or three hits and back off before his response. The best options here are Seamless Death and Sundering Dual Axes; the Fiend Saws also work if you got them. Punish after the bouncing leaps and after parrying the blue, and keep your other weapon in reserve: switching restores all your Sha-Chi.

Heavy weapon strategy (two-handed)

Against such a fast opponent, use heavy hits only after a parry or a perfect dodge. Try Outlaw Warblade or Juggernaut. The Outlaw Warblade restores health on hit, and its Power Surge heals you a lot when you are low on health.

Elemental strategy (exploit his weaknesses)

He is weak to fire. Equip:

• Fire: Flaming Mane (Edge Lei Dang repairs after you defeat Flame), the option xboxplay.games recommends for burning him while he is knocked down; Fire Meteor (Blaze’s Edge, in Pangzhen); Goldblaze (fire Edge Zhang gives you for the Pangzhen relics); Blazing Edge (tempering of Sanguine Reach with half of the Flaming Grip).

Do not use ice: it is his element.

Defensive strategy (parries and dodges)

His most dangerous attacks are the charged snow wave and the red horizontal spin: learn their animations and always dodge them. Parry every blue flash to knock him down, and execute as soon as he is stunned. If you struggle, the Counterstrike Bracers accessory (first Long Pillar) rewards parries.

Phantom Edge strategy

Several players report that the Kuye Temple Prayer Beads work very well here: according to them, the monks it summons are immune to his attacks and keep him busy while you hit him or heal. We have not been able to verify it, but it is a summon you already have from the Village of Lu. For breaking, bring Bashpole and, if the summon icon glows in the arena, Inanis’ Radiant Fan regenerates health and Sha-Chi. Remember that sparks recharge when you rest at a bell: spend them freely on the boss.

If you get stuck

• Touch the Whiteshadow’s Fall bell before every attempt.
• Stop blocking: it is what fills the ice meter the most.
• Upgrade your two main weapons before coming back (the boss is level 23) and upgrade your medicines with the healer at the Green Serpent House.
• Drop to Wayfarer: it does not affect any trophy and you can raise the difficulty again later.

Recommended gear

• Flaming Mane or another fire Edge.
• Outlaw Warblade to heal with its Power Surge.
• Green Serpent Brew to empty the ice meter.
• Kuye Temple Prayer Beads, if you want to try what players report.

Rewards

• Whiteshadow: two-handed ice weapon that freezes enemies. Its tempering requires the Boy’s Worn Outfit.
• The statue: after beating him, examine the statue in the arena. It unlocks an extra fight after Zuo Shang, the True Lóng, needed for the true ending.
• Progress in “Secrets at the Heart of the Lake”. The six pieces of the Blizzard Blademaster Memory Flower are spread around the Ruins (list in the Memory Flowers).

The lake’s other secret fights are in the Meigu Lake secret bosses and the whole region in the Meigu Lake guide. Looking for another boss? You have the list in all Phantom Blade Zero bosses in order.

Frequently asked questions

Kaarosu Damu Kira