Wan Jun, the Coppermaul is an optional boss in the Mandate Encampment, behind the chains you break with the Dread Axe next to the Beneath the Watchtower bell. He has a lot of health, but his hits are slow: go by the colored flashes rather than by sight (he kicks up a lot of dust) and punish when he falls flat after his triple charge. He is weak to poison and bleed and drops the Bashpole, the Edge that breaks floors.
Boss profile
Health, Sha-Chi, recommended level and elemental weaknesses
Weaknesses
Phases: 1 · Region: Mandate Encampment
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?
- Enter the EncampmentIt opens after you defeat Gu Wanyue; you have the steps in how to enter the Mandate Encampment.
- Beneath the Watchtower bellMove forward to the battlefield and rest at this bell.
- Break the chainsNext to the bell there is a wall blocked with chains. Break them with the Dread Axe (Peng Meng’s Edge) and go through: Wan Jun is right behind it.
How to beat Wan Jun
Guides agree that he hits hard but has no complicated attacks. The problem is the dust and debris he kicks up, which hide his movements. Watch for the colored flashes (blue, red and black) instead of trying to read the animation.
His attacks
- Two-hit combo: two slow hits that kick up dust and debris, usually finished with a third red grab.
- Blue finisher: if the combo does not kick up dust, it usually ends in a blue downward mace slam. Parry it.
- Sweep while backing off: after a hit he turns and sweeps the ground, throwing rocks and dust across the arena. A red crush usually follows.
- Triple charge: he plants the mace in the ground and charges at you three times. If he catches you, he chains several hits. When he finishes, he falls over and stays vulnerable for a good while.
- Spins: several spins before falling flat on his face. They can be parried, but it is safer to step aside.
- Leap combo: three quick leaps, a pause and a fourth leap that tries to land on you.
- Backward fall: he drops backward and hits behind him with the mace and his body. Standing behind him is dangerous.
- Black flash: a single downward mace slam, with no combo. If it hits you, a blue very likely follows. Always dodge it.
The key: the falls
Wan Jun only falls after the triple charge and the spins. Those are his long windows: save the charged Sha-Chi attack or the full combo for that moment. Be careful his body does not land on you.
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 Mandate Encampment.
Fast weapon strategy (one-handed and dual)
His hits are slow but punish hard: get in and out between attacks and unload during the falls. The best options here are Jagged Steel and Wild Oriole Sword. Jagged Steel also exploits his bleed weakness. Keep your other weapon in reserve: switching restores all your Sha-Chi.
Heavy weapon strategy (two-handed)
With 35,880 Sha-Chi, heavy Sha-Chi attacks are the fastest way to stun him. Try Outlaw Warblade or Armybreaker and use them after the triple charge and the spins.
Elemental strategy (exploit his weaknesses)
He is weak to poison and bleed. Equip:
- Poison: Flying Dagger (Edge Zhang gives you for the Crimson Forest relics).
- Bleed: Jagged Steel (one-handed weapon from the Valley mini-boss).
Defensive strategy (parries and dodges)
His most dangerous attack is the triple charge: get out of its path and do not stay behind him. Parry the blue finishers to drain his Sha-Chi and execute as soon as he is stunned. If you struggle, the Counterstrike Bracers (first Long Pillar) reward parries.
Phantom Edge strategy
Bring the Dread Axe or the Iron Gauntlets to break his guard during the falls, and the Puppeteer’s Bell so someone distracts him while you heal. Sparks recharge when you rest at a bell.
If you get stuck
- Upgrade your two main weapons before coming back (the boss is level 19).
- 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
- Jagged Steel (bleed) and Flying Dagger (poison).
- A heavy weapon for Sha-Chi attacks.
- Dread Axe (to get there and to break his guard).
Rewards
- Bashpole: destruction Phantom Edge (1 spark) with wide spins and a hit on release. Its ability breaks the planks that seal some floors.
In the Encampment itself there are sealed floors that only the Bashpole opens: one under a wooden house hides a Blackstone Fragment and another, reached from the Dovecote, a petal of the Seven Stars flower (Memory Flowers).
The other bosses in the area are in the Mandate Encampment bosses and the route in the Mandate Encampment guide. Looking for another boss? You have the list in all Phantom Blade Zero bosses in order.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reach Wan Jun?
Use the Dread Axe to break the chains on the wall next to the Beneath the Watchtower bell. Wan Jun is right behind it.
What does Wan Jun give you?
The Bashpole, a destruction Edge that breaks the planks sealing some floors.
What is Wan Jun weak to?
Poison and bleed. Use the Flying Dagger and Jagged Steel.
