Grief-Stricken Jin is an optional boss at Meigu Lake who closes the tale “A Brother Once More”. You fight seven swordsmen, but only damage to Jin, the white-haired one, counts. Take out the other six first: below half health they heal him with red threads. He gives the Embroidered Shoes.
Boss profile
Health, Sha-Chi, recommended level and elemental weaknesses
Weaknesses
Phases: 1 · Region: Meigu Lake
We don’t have verified health, Sha-Chi or level for this fight yet. 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 he and how do you get there?
Jin appears while you complete the tale “A Brother Once More”, which starts in Pangzhen:
- Get the Huang Manor keyThe merchant Niu gives it to you at Myst’s Tavern. In the manor is the flower that sets the tale in motion.
- Go to Meigu LakeYou get there on the Sha-Chi boat from the Pangzhen Docks. You have the route in how to get to Meigu Lake.
- Find the clearingVandal (Spanish guide) places it southeast of the Meigu Songhouse Dock: moor at the jetty northwest of the tale marker and head inland to a clearing. The seven swordsmen are waiting there.
How to beat Grief-Stricken Jin
It’s a single-phase fight against a formation of seven swordsmen. Six have black hair; Jin is the only white-haired one and the only one whose health bar matters. According to Fextralife, hitting the others doesn’t take health from him. Vandal considers it an easy fight.
His attacks
- Opener: the swordsmen shout and throw six sword waves. Then Jin leaps and finishes with a delayed thrust. Dodge to one side and don’t stay in line with the group.
- Formation attack: seven hits in a row: two swordsmen attack up close, two kick and three fire waves from the back. Move to one side so they can’t all reach you at once.
- Blue attacks (the most frequent): the swordsmen launch Jin into the air and he comes down with a leaping strike, or Jin bounces from one ally to another before a spinning leap at you. You can see them coming because the group gets into position first: get ready to deflect.
- Red-thread healing: when Jin drops below half health, the swordsmen still alive pass him health through red threads. That’s why the fight drags on.
The key: the six first, then Jin
- Eliminate the six black-haired swordsmen before you focus on Jin. Without them he can’t heal and the fight gets much shorter.
- Once he’s alone, he uses the moves of a regular swordsman and stops being a serious threat.
- If the group regroups around him, a blue attack is coming: don’t attack at that moment, wait and deflect.
Strategies to beat him
Pick the one that suits the way you play. We only recommend gear you can have when you reach Meigu Lake.
Strategy with fast weapons (one-handed and dual)
The swordsmen have little health and fall quickly to fast weapons. The best options here are Sundering Dual Axes and Parting Hooks. Clear the group from the flanks, punish Jin after each deflected blue attack and keep your other weapon in reserve: switching restores all your Sha-Chi.
Strategy with heavy weapons (two-handed)
Wide sweeps hit several swordsmen at once. Try Armybreaker or Outlaw Warblade. The Outlaw Warblade restores health on hit, ideal for withstanding the group’s waves.
Elemental strategy
He has no known elemental weakness. Here the element is more useful for controlling the group than for damaging Jin: the Flaming Mane (Phantom Edge Lei Dang repairs after you beat Flame) burns several swordsmen with its jet of fire, and You Loong’s Deluge (Pangzhen) also reaches several at once.
Defensive strategy (parries and dodges)
His most dangerous attack is the seven-hit formation attack: get out to one side before it closes. Deflect Jin’s two blue leaps to drain his Sha-Chi without spending yours, and execute as soon as he’s stunned. If you’re struggling, the Counterstrike Bracers accessory (first Long Pillar) rewards deflects.
Strategy with Phantom Edges
The Bashpole (wide spins) is very useful against the group, and the Kuye Temple Prayer Beads summon Bronze Men who distract the swordsmen while you deal with them one by one. Remember that sparks recharge when you rest at a bell: spend them freely on the boss.
If you get stuck
- Don’t attack Jin until you’ve cleared the group: it’s the most common mistake and makes him heal again and again.
- Upgrade your two main weapons and your medicines with the healer at the Green Serpent House.
- Drop to Wayfarer: it doesn’t affect any trophy and you can raise the difficulty again later.
Recommended gear
- A weapon with wide sweeps, or a fast one, to clear the group.
- Bashpole or Flaming Mane to damage several swordsmen at once.
- Kuye Temple Prayer Beads if you want to split the group’s attention.
Rewards
- Embroidered Shoes, one of the items that closes the tale “A Brother Once More” (the other is the Rouge Box).
- After you beat him, a piece of the tale’s Memory Flower appears on the walkway of the nearby dock. You have the list in the Memory Flowers.
The lake’s other secret fights are in the Meigu Lake secret bosses, the whole region in the Meigu Lake guide and the tale in the side quests. Looking for another boss? You have the list in all Phantom Blade Zero bosses in order.
Frequently asked questions
Which of the swordsmen is Jin?
The white-haired one. The other six have black hair and only damage to Jin counts toward ending the fight.
Why does Jin recover health?
Below half health, the swordsmen still alive pass him health through red threads. Take them out first.
Do you have to beat Grief-Stricken Jin?
No. He’s optional, but he closes the tale “A Brother Once More” and gives the Embroidered Shoes.
