The best weapons in Phantom Blade Zero are Jagged Steel for early boss fights, Outlaw Warblade for survivability, and Fiend Saws for aggressive damage later in the game. However, your starting Sanguine sword is also worth keeping, while weapons like Scarlet Wraithblade and White Serpent & Crimson Viper offer better options for breaking guards or fighting groups. If you're deciding which weapons to upgrade, the smartest approach is to invest in a blade that solves your biggest combat problem rather than immediately switching to every new weapon you find.
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Best Weapons Ranked by Use
Best Weapons Early
Best Weapons to Upgrade
Best Later-Game Weapons
Which Weapon Should You Use?
How to Avoid Wasting Upgrades
Best Weapons in Phantom Blade Zero
Rather than judging every weapon by damage alone, it's more useful to compare how consistently it performs against different enemies. Some weapons excel at breaking guards, others rely on status effects, and a few provide defensive benefits that can make difficult encounters much easier.
These are my recommended weapons based on their abilities, accessibility, and the types of fights they're suited for.
| Weapon | Best Use | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Jagged Steel | Early bosses and Bleed damage | Defeat Jagged Steel in Chapter 1 |
| Sanguine | Reliable all-around combat | Starting weapon |
| Sanguine Reach | Early crowd control and reach | Weapon rack after meeting Forge |
| Scarlet Wraithblade | Heavy damage and guard breaking | Defeat Hua the Bride in Chapter 1 |
| Outlaw Warblade | Healing and defensive play | Defeat the Outlaw in Chapter 2 |
| White Serpent & Crimson Viper | Fast attacks and fighting groups | Defeat Bai Chilian in Chapter 2 |
| Fiend Saws | High damage and long combos | Defeat Jade Dancer in Chapter 3 |
| Tianxuan Bronze Sword | Powerful attacks and guard damage | Defeat Master Bi Yuan in Chapter 3 |
For most players, Jagged Steel is the strongest early investment against enemies vulnerable to Bleed. Sanguine remains an excellent alternative when you want something dependable without relying on status buildup.
Best Weapons Early in Phantom Blade Zero
You don't need to reach the later chapters to find a weapon worth upgrading. Several early options have abilities that remain useful long after you obtain them.
Jagged Steel: Best Early Weapon for Bosses
Jagged Steel is obtained by defeating the Chapter 1 boss of the same name. Its main strength is applying Bleed, which builds toward an additional burst of damage when the enemy's Bleed threshold is reached.
The weapon revolves around Blood Blade stacks, which improve its Bleed capabilities as you unlock additional perks.
- Level 5: Unlocks an attack against guard-broken enemies that also grants a Blood Blade stack.
- Level 10: Improves Bleed buildup.
- Level 15: Adds a charged slash that helps build Blood Blade stacks.
Its powered-up attack also delivers repeated strikes that can rapidly build Bleed against susceptible enemies.
That makes Jagged Steel especially appealing for boss fights, where repeated attacks against one target let you take advantage of its status damage.
The weakness is that Bleed doesn't naturally affect Puppets, Golden Bodies, or Phantom Bodies. Its guard-breaking capability is also less impressive than some heavier alternatives.
I'd upgrade Jagged Steel early if you're comfortable attacking consistently and want a weapon that rewards sustained pressure against living opponents.
Sanguine: Best Starting Weapon for Consistency
Sanguine is Soul's starting sword, but there's no need to abandon it simply because you acquire something new.
Its fast combinations, solid reach, and straightforward attacks make it one of the easiest weapons to use effectively.
The Level 5 Chi-Infused Blade perk is particularly useful, providing a damage increase that lasts 40 seconds.
That's an attractive early bonus because you don't need to manage a complicated status effect or maintain a special combat state.
If you're still learning enemy attack patterns, I'd consider upgrading Sanguine before committing heavily to a weapon with more demanding mechanics.
Sanguine Reach: Best Early Two-Handed Option
Sanguine Reach becomes available from the weapon rack after your first meeting with Forge.
Its main advantage is reach. The longer attack range makes dealing with multiple enemies easier and gives you additional space to react to approaching attacks.
At Level 15, Sweeping Slash can grant a damage bonus for 25 seconds when activated through its attack conditions.
It isn't necessarily the strongest two-handed weapon you'll eventually find, but it's a practical early choice if short-range combat is giving you trouble.
Scarlet Wraithblade: Best Early Heavy-Hitting Alternative
Scarlet Wraithblade drops from Hua the Bride, an optional Chapter 1 boss.
To find her, search behind the steam tower for a hole in the ground. Descend through the broken bridges and continue through the enemies below until you reach the boss.
There's no nearby bell checkpoint in this section, so a failed attempt means retracing the approach.
The weapon itself delivers high damage and strong guard-breaking attacks. Its spider lily abilities become especially useful once upgraded, helping pressure enemies and compensate for its slower attacks.
I'd choose Scarlet Wraithblade if your biggest problem is breaking an opponent's defense rather than dealing damage after their guard is already broken.
Best Weapons to Upgrade in Phantom Blade Zero
The best weapons to upgrade aren't necessarily the ones with the highest starting damage. Upgrade perks can change how a weapon functions, and some blades gain much more from additional investment than others.
Here's how I'd prioritize upgrades depending on what you need.
First Priority: Jagged Steel or Sanguine
For your first substantial investment, I'd choose between these two weapons.
Jagged Steel is better when you're regularly fighting enemies vulnerable to Bleed and can maintain offensive pressure. Sanguine is the safer all-purpose choice because its damage bonus and straightforward combos work without needing a particular status effect.
You don't need to fully upgrade both immediately. Pick the one that fits your playstyle and use the other as an alternative when the matchup changes.
Second Priority: Outlaw Warblade for Survivability
Once you reach Chapter 2, the Outlaw Warblade becomes worth considering if you're using too many healing resources.
Its ordinary successful attacks restore a small amount of health, while its special attack can drain a substantial amount of health from enemies.
The Level 15 Survival Shield perk can also grant temporary invincibility for 10 seconds.
There are tradeoffs. Some heavy attacks consume part of Soul's health, and its health-draining abilities don't naturally work against every enemy type.
I'd prioritize this weapon if surviving long encounters is a bigger concern than dealing the highest possible damage.
Later Priority: Fiend Saws for Damage
Fiend Saws, acquired from Jade Dancer in Chapter 3, are among the strongest choices for players who prefer aggressive dual-wield combat.
The weapon features extremely quick attacks, extended combos, and additional damage through its Corrosion mechanic.
At Level 25, Corrosive Severance allows you to trigger accumulated damage manually, making it useful for extending offensive combinations and interrupting opponents.
Its powered-up state also increases damage against guard-broken enemies.
Unlike a simple damage buff, Fiend Saws reward players who understand when to build up damage and when to release it. If you enjoy maintaining pressure throughout a fight, they're an excellent long-term upgrade candidate.
Other Strong Weapons Worth Considering
Several weapons offer excellent alternatives, particularly once you've developed a preferred combat style.
White Serpent & Crimson Viper
These dual blades drop from Bai Chilian in Chapter 2.
Their spinning blade attack can deal damage around Soul, while the smaller dagger can also be thrown at enemies from a distance.
That combination gives the weapon more flexibility than ordinary close-range dual blades.
It's especially useful when facing multiple enemies, although its special attacks consume Sha-Chi quickly. I'd use it if you want mobility and area coverage without switching to a slower two-handed weapon.
Wild Oriole Sword
Obtained from Mu Xiaokui in Chapter 3, Wild Oriole Sword rewards fast, relentless attacks.
Its Oriole Song ability temporarily enhances attacks with blade waves, allowing Soul to pressure enemies from farther away.
Those attacks can also mark opponents and accelerate Sha-Chi depletion, creating opportunities to break their guard.
The drawback is the cost. Its enhanced state lasts only 10 seconds, and repeatedly using heavy attacks can consume Sha-Chi rapidly.
This makes Wild Oriole more attractive when you've developed the resources and timing needed to sustain an aggressive playstyle.
Tianxuan Bronze Sword
The Tianxuan Bronze Sword is obtained from Master Bi Yuan in Chapter 3 and offers excellent damage and guard-breaking potential.
Its attacks have impressive reach, and blocking consumes less Sha-Chi than usual.
However, there's a major catch: you cannot perform ordinary parries while using it.
The Level 25 All Things Converge perk introduces a parry-like counterattack, making higher investment particularly important.
I'd avoid making this your main weapon immediately if you rely heavily on parrying. It's better suited to a player willing to adjust their defensive habits and invest in its later perks.
The Fanatic's Broken Blade
The Fanatic's Broken Blade drops from Hua Qianxiao in Chapter 2.
Its distinctive mechanic involves drinking to enter a powered-up state that improves its attacks and reach.
The extended range is useful for keeping pressure on enemies from a safer distance, but drinking leaves Soul vulnerable and requires careful timing.
It's a strong specialist option rather than my first recommendation for someone looking for a simple weapon to upgrade.
Which Weapon Should You Use for Different Enemies?
One of the easiest mistakes is assuming that your strongest weapon will perform equally well in every encounter.
It's more useful to recognize what is making a particular fight difficult and choose a weapon that addresses that problem.
| Combat Problem | Recommended Weapon | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Boss takes Bleed damage | Jagged Steel | Repeated attacks build toward extra Bleed damage. |
| Enemy has a strong guard | Scarlet Wraithblade | Heavy strikes provide strong guard-breaking potential. |
| Multiple enemies surround you | Sanguine Reach or White Serpent & Crimson Viper | Long reach or spinning attacks help cover more space. |
| You're running out of healing | Outlaw Warblade | Successful attacks can restore health against eligible enemies. |
| You need strong damage during guard breaks | Fiend Saws | Fast combos and damage bursts capitalize on openings. |
| You want dependable combat without complicated mechanics | Sanguine | Straightforward combos and accessible damage bonuses. |
How to Make Jagged Steel Work Against Bleed-Resistant Enemies
Jagged Steel's biggest limitation is its inability to naturally apply Bleed to Puppets, Golden Bodies, and Phantom Bodies.
The Livingwood Talisman helps address this weakness. You can find it in the Village of Lu, inside a chest near the Smuggler's Tunnel.
With the accessory equipped, Bleed can affect those otherwise resistant enemy types at 50% effectiveness. Polishing the accessory can improve that to 70%.
That makes Jagged Steel a much more flexible investment once you reach the relevant area.
Until then, I'd keep another weapon available for enemies that don't respond to Bleed. Having a strong alternative is often more useful than trying to force the same damage strategy into every fight.
How to Upgrade Weapons Without Wasting Materials
Weapon perks are unlocked through leveling, so the value of an upgrade often comes from a new ability rather than a small increase in damage.
You'll find upgrade materials throughout the game, but stronger upgrades are restricted by story progression. You won't be able to fully level every weapon immediately.
Try New Weapons Before Committing to Higher Levels
Phantom Blade Zero allows you to refund previously invested upgrade materials through the forge.
However, resetting a weapon at Level 10 or higher also requires a Weapon Reforge Talisman.
That creates a useful approach to early upgrades:
- Try a newly acquired weapon and learn its basic attacks.
- Consider upgrading it to Level 5 to evaluate its first additional perk.
- Decide whether you genuinely prefer it before investing beyond Level 10.
- Use the forge refund system when you want to move invested materials into another weapon.
This lets you experiment without treating every new weapon as a permanent commitment.
Upgrade for the Ability You Need Next
I'd make upgrades based on the improvements they actually unlock.
If you're struggling with ordinary combat, Sanguine's early damage buff is immediately useful. If you want better Bleed buildup, Jagged Steel benefits from continued investment. If you need defensive tools, Outlaw Warblade becomes increasingly interesting as its survivability perks become available.
Later, weapons like Fiend Saws and Tianxuan Bronze Sword gain particularly valuable capabilities from higher-level perks, giving you a clearer reason to save some resources for them.
The important distinction is that a weapon can be strong when first acquired without necessarily offering the best upgrade value for your particular build.
Best Overall Upgrade Recommendation
For a typical first playthrough, I'd start with Jagged Steel or Sanguine, depending on whether you prefer Bleed damage or straightforward sword combat.
From Chapter 2 onward, Outlaw Warblade is worth trying if you want an additional source of healing. By Chapter 3, Fiend Saws becomes an excellent candidate for a more aggressive damage-focused build.
There's no need to abandon an upgraded early weapon simply because you've reached a new chapter. Jagged Steel can remain highly effective with the right accessory, while Sanguine provides dependable damage without demanding a specialized setup.
Ultimately, the best weapons in Phantom Blade Zero are the ones whose abilities match the fights you're actually facing. Invest in useful perks, experiment before spending heavily, and keep an alternative ready for encounters where your favorite weapon's main advantage doesn't apply.
