Puppet Hunter is an anti-puppet build for Phantom Blade Zero: Fiend Saws and Crescent Blade as main weapons, Dread Axe and Iron Gauntlets as Phantom Edges, and Livingwood Talisman and Token of Pursuit as key accessories. Puppets and specters ignore normal bleed, but the Livingwood Talisman applies bleed and health steal to them. With guard-breaking weapons, the numbered puppets fall fast.
Main weapons
| Weapon | Type | What it brings | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiend Saws | Dual | Erosion that bursts; unblockable form | Iron Fiend and Jade Dancer (Mu Xiaokui’s secret phase, 5 red ribbons) |
| Crescent Blade | Two-handed | Qinglong form; instantly kills weak enemies | Yuding No. 12 |
Phantom Edges
| Phantom Edge | Category | Use | Cost | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dread Axe | Destruction | Breaks chains, shields and golden armor | — | Peng Meng, the Axemaster |
| Iron Gauntlets | Martial art | — | 1 spark per combo | Stone Hand Iron Fever |
Accessories
The two marked with ★ are the core: wear them even if you only have 2 slots. The other four come in as you level up Boundless Capacity (up to 6 slots).
| Accessory | Effect | Why it fits | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Livingwood Talisman | Bleed and health steal against puppets, specters and golden bodies | brings bleed and health steal to puppets and specters | Chest |
| ★ Token of Pursuit | +7% damage against broken guard | — | Chest |
| Ultimate Talisman | +20% Power Surge damage against broken guard | — | Tale “Don’t Forget Me” |
| Deathlock | Higher execution threshold and more damage after executing | — | Meigu Lake |
| Quick Hand Pair | +10% damage with dual weapons | boosts your dual weapon | Sold by Zhang |
| Quick Hand Might | +10% damage with two-handed weapons | boosts your two-handed weapon | Sold by Zhang (30,000 Remnant Dust) |
Medicines
You carry 2 medicines; besides healing, they give buffs that fit the build. Level them up with the medicine upgrade guide.
| Medicine | Effect (base) | Why it fits | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit-Returning Broth | +20% guard break for 30 s and 20% health (Fextralife: +10%) | breaks guards faster | Village of Lu basement |
| Ritual Wine | +50% burn, paralysis, freeze and bleed buildup for 15 s and 20% health | boosts your status effects (burn, freeze, bleed) | Pangzhen Opera House (Fextralife: Mirage Estate) |
How to get all the gear
Sorted by the point in the game where you can get each piece.
| Stage | Piece | Type | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley and Crimson Forest | Dread Axe | Phantom Edge | Peng Meng, the Axemaster |
| Valley and Crimson Forest | Token of Pursuit | Key accessory | Chest |
| Valley and Crimson Forest | Quick Hand Pair | Accessory | Sold by Zhang |
| Valley and Crimson Forest | Quick Hand Might | Accessory | Sold by Zhang (30,000 Remnant Dust) |
| Village of Lu and Pangzhen | Fiend Saws | Main weapon | Iron Fiend and Jade Dancer (Mu Xiaokui’s secret phase, 5 red ribbons) |
| Village of Lu and Pangzhen | Iron Gauntlets | Phantom Edge | Stone Hand Iron Fever |
| Village of Lu and Pangzhen | Livingwood Talisman | Key accessory | Chest |
| Village of Lu and Pangzhen | Spirit-Returning Broth | Medicine | Village of Lu basement |
| Village of Lu and Pangzhen | Ritual Wine | Medicine | Pangzhen Opera House (Fextralife: Mirage Estate) |
| Encampment, Meigu, Imprisonment and Estate | Crescent Blade | Main weapon | Yuding No. 12 |
| Encampment, Meigu, Imprisonment and Estate | Ultimate Talisman | Accessory | Tale “Don’t Forget Me” |
| Encampment, Meigu, Imprisonment and Estate | Deathlock | Accessory | Meigu Lake |
How to play it
- Wear the Livingwood Talisman whenever you go after puppets.
- Break their guard with the Fiend Saws (unblockable form) and the Dread Axe.
- Finish them with the Crescent Blade.
Strengths
Tailor-made for the numbered puppets.
Weaknesses
Performs worse against human bosses.
Bosses where it shines
| Boss | Region | Health | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuzan, No. 3 Musician Puppet | Village of Lu | 41,680 | Lightning, Fire |
| Yucong, No. 34 Twisted Puppet | Crimson Forest | 88,850 | Lightning, Fire |
| Yubi, No. 21 Swordfighter Puppet | Mandate Encampment | 125,100 | Lightning, Fire |
| Yuding, No. 12 Crescent Blade Puppet | Mirage Estate | 139,680 | Lightning |
| Dusk, the Puppeteer | Village of Lu | 26,050 | None known |
| Aberrant Three-Faced Puppet | Weeping Creek Valley | 88,830 | Lightning, Fire |
| The Puppet Scavenger and Acolyte Hansui | Weeping Creek Valley | 155,200 | Lightning, Fire, Bleed |
Related builds
- Kunlun Executioner (guard break)
- Dance of a Thousand Blades (combos)
- Loong Tide (water)
- River of Remnant Dust (farming)
Try your own combinations in the build creator or go back to all builds.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for the Puppet Hunter build?
Fiend Saws (Iron Fiend and Jade Dancer, Mu Xiaokui’s secret phase with 5 red ribbons), Crescent Blade (Yuding No. 12), Dread Axe, Iron Gauntlets, at least the Livingwood Talisman and Token of Pursuit accessories, and the Spirit-Returning Broth and Ritual Wine medicines. The “How to get all the gear” table shows where each piece is.
When can I start using Puppet Hunter?
From the Encampment, Meigu, Imprisonment and Estate stage, which is when you have the weapons, the Phantom Edges and the two key accessories.
Are the damage figures official?
The accessory percentages are the ones published by Vandal and SoloJugadores. The game does not show base weapon damage, so the build is based on their effects.
