Phantom Blade Zero Soul Temper: how it works and where every material is
How Soul Temper works, which tools unlock the hidden materials and where every material is, region by region.
Spoiler warning. This guide names bosses, areas or story moments. Bigger reveals stay hidden in spoiler blocks until you open them.
Quick answer
Myst, who runs a tavern in Pangzhen, unlocks Soul Temper the first time you speak to her. After that you apply it at any bell through Upgrade Equipment. Applying one takes 5,000 Remnant Dust plus a material that only fits one weapon, and you cannot take it back. Many materials sit behind a Phantom Edge you do not have yet, so read the tool table below before you backtrack. The Tiger Cannon hides more of them than any other tool. It only turns up late in the story.
How Soul Temper works
You meet Myst during the main story, a few hours in. Her conversation adds a Soul Temper prompt to Upgrade Equipment, with one tab for main weapons and one for Phantom Edges. Accessories do not take it. You never have to go back to her tavern to apply one.
- Find the material for the weapon you want. If it is part of a set, collect the full set first.
- Go to any bell and choose Upgrade Equipment.
- Press the Soul Temper button and pick the tab that matches your weapon.
- Hand over the material and 5,000 Remnant Dust.
Soul Temper is permanent. The refund and reforge rules for weapons do not apply to it. Each weapon takes one, and the material you spend does not come back.
Tools for hidden materials
| Tool | What it opens |
|---|---|
| Flaming Mane | Clears the thorns blocking two of the Serpent Houses, Red and Black |
| Bashpole | Cracks the ground outside Master Lan’s home in Lu |
| Repaired Illusory Pipa | Dispels the fog over the Pangzhen theater and the Meigu Lake Songhouse, and the mist at the east dock of Meigu Village |
| Flying Guillotine | Turns the cranks and dials behind Enhanced Chainsaw and the Ritual Cauldron pieces |
| Tiger Cannon | Smashes four hidden walls, in Weeping Creek Valley, Meigu Lake, the Crimson Forest and Lu |
| All four Acolyte masks | Open the Discordance realm in Meigu Lake |
Save the Tiger Cannon for one trip. Its four walls are in four different regions, and you get the weapon right before the final stretch. Mirage Estate also reshapes the Crimson Forest. Its eastern half freezes over and the southern tower opens up. A number of the materials below wait for that.
Weeping Creek Valley
| Material and weapon | Where it is | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Alloyed Scythe Blade, Hunter’s Chain Sickle | Crimson Manor. Win the two-on-one fight against Hansui and the Puppet Scavenger | The chain hits as hard as the blade. Sickle hits strip extra Sha-Chi and fill the bleed gauge |
| Pigeon Feed, Bashpole | Past the cracked wall by the Long Pillar. Blast it with the Tiger Cannon and loot the chest in the house | Block plus Phantom Edge makes you spin forward with the pole |
phantom bodies, golden bodies and puppets shrug off the bleed from this upgrade, and from Jagged Steel’s tempering further down.
Crimson Forest
| Material and weapon | Where it is | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Serpent Rattle – Red, White Serpent and Crimson Viper | The Red Serpent House. The Flaming Mane clears the thorns at its entrance | One of four pieces of Serpent’s Memory |
| Song of Parting, Parting Hooks | Cliffside Lodge basement. One cracked wall there only gives way to the Tiger Cannon | A parried blue flash sets off a counter by itself |
| Honed Blacksteel, Sundering Dual Axes | A chest on the lowest level of the south Sha-Chi Tower, reachable after the freeze | Baleful Aura gets a second tier that powers up Sha-Chi combos |
| Supreme Order Token, Wild Oriole Sword | Talk to Mu Xiaokui on the roof of the same tower | Mu Tianmiao’s sword joins your Sha-Chi combos |
| Heel Reinforcement Part, Fiend Saws | Once you are done with Xiaokui, accept Jade Dancer’s offer to spar against her and Iron Fiend | Once Fiend-Aura Erosion bursts, hits on that enemy cannot be blocked |
| Fist Fragment – Shell, Iron Gauntlets | Iron Fist wants incense lit for his master. Ring the Burial Grounds bell, then touch the tomb close by | Half of Worldbreaker Fist, which sends a Fist Wave with each Phantom Edge attack |
Village of Lu
| Material and weapon | Where it is | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Fist Fragment – Core, Iron Gauntlets | Find every one of the five ribbons Mu Xiaokui left lying around. The chapter boss then gets a third phase and drops this | The other half of Worldbreaker Fist |
| Reinforced Bowstring, Feather Bow | The Black Serpent House, behind brambles the Flaming Mane clears | Release a charged shot as your hand glows for far more damage and Sha-Chi loss |
| Serpent Venom Sac – Black, White Serpent and Crimson Viper | Same house as the bowstring | Second piece of Serpent’s Memory |
| Border Banner, Bastion | Hit the dirt beside Master Lan’s house with the Bashpole | Reprisal Shockwave fires one extra wave |
| Border Poems, Wolfjaw | Drop down the village well and follow the Hidden Passage toward the Pangzhen bell. The wall on your right gives way to the Tiger Cannon | Attacks leave ghostfire that burns health and Sha-Chi |
The three-phase fight in the village is a good return for the ribbons. It also awards the Fiend Saws and the Wild Oriole Sword, which moves several weapons forward in one fight.
Pangzhen
| Material and weapon | Where it is | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Oath Dagger, Dread Axe | Complete Four Fierce Axes, then collect the Child of Insight’s reward at the summit of the Pavilion of Knowledge | Charges 30% faster |
| Thunder Core, Thunder Spear | With the Pipa fixed, clear the fog above the theater and open the golden chest | Lightning chains to two more enemies at full and half damage |
| Dancer’s Ribbon, Soft Snake Sword | Pick up The Star Performer, offered by the actress in Myst’s tavern, and open the chest in Tianxiang Pavilion | Hold heavy attack to burn all your Sha-Chi on a flurry |
| Illusory Pipa, Heartrend Pipa | Bring Myst every piece and she repairs it | Dispels phantom barriers and controls weak enemies |
| Kuye Temple Sutra, Kuye Temple Prayer Beads | Finish Bi Di’s quest, then return to the Daoist at the tavern | Your three Bronze Men become Gold Men and keep their upgrades |
| Quick Hand’s Manual, Flying Dagger | Zhang sells it at 9,920 Remnant Dust | More daggers per throw and stronger poison |
| Fanatic’s Fragment – Fixation, Fanatic’s Broken Blade | Gu Wanyue, the Wailing Wraith, carries it. The second piece belongs to a Meigu Lake boss | Removes the weapon’s damage loss over distance |
| Serpent Gall – Green, White Serpent and Crimson Viper | Found in the Green Serpent House | Third piece of Serpent’s Memory |
| Bronze Essence, Tianxuan Bronze Sword | Bi Di’s quest again. When it ends, search the smithy at the back of the Green Serpent House | Hold block through a guard break by paying a little HP |
| Blazing Lion Head, Flaming Mane | Found in the Lion Dance Hall | Flame Breath becomes Chaotic Flame, and burning enemies keep losing health and Sha-Chi |
Mandate Encampment
| Material and weapon | Where it is | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Sword Tassel, Ink Cut | Climb the slope above the Mass Grave, past Corpse-Eating Xue’s arena, to a tomb | With a Radiant Wheel active, Phantom Edge adds another |
| Enhanced Chainsaw, Flying Guillotine | Take down Huangxing, a Mountain of Imprisonment boss. Then turn the dial at Moji’s house with the Guillotine | Block plus Phantom Edge executes weak enemies and restores 20% HP |
| Hero’s Courage, Swordsman’s Summon | The Undying Heroic Spirit. See below | Your summons become one Twinblade Swordsman and two Baishan Sword Guardians |
Hero’s Courage starts with the Wolf Leader in purple robes at Myst’s tavern. Beat the Seven Stars Formation disciple for him, then hunt four Mandate soldiers. Each one turns hostile a few seconds after you meet it and leaves a Memory Flower when it dies. One is beside the river near the Mass Grave, one north of the encampment’s main gate, one in the bamboo grove at the back of Moji’s house and one on the cliff path northeast of the Baishan’s Fall bell.
A soldier can die without dropping a flower, and that stalls the quest. Kill them quickly, before they turn. Outlaw Warblade’s Power Surge pins an enemy in place, so bring it for this.
Meigu Lake
Meigu Lake has the most materials. Several need the Illusory Pipa, and the north-western ones are inside the Discordance, the realm you reach with the four Acolyte masks. Collecting those four Acolyte masks is part of the Perfect ending checklist.
| Material and weapon | Where it is | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Scorching Flames and Quenched Flaming Grip, Sanguine Reach | Zhu Yuan the Searing Blade waits in the lowest part of the Sha-Chi Tower and drops the flames. The eastern Long Pillar pays out the grip | Sanguine Reach becomes Blazing Edge and gets fire attacks |
| Six Paths Warrant, Outlaw Warblade | Use the Pipa on the Songhouse fog | Holding recoverable HP longer raises your damage |
| Embroidered Shoes, Scarlet Wraithblade | Win the fight against Grief-Stricken Jin on the Lu Shallows Dock | Red Spider Lilies build a gauge that explodes. Standing in them saves Sha-Chi and boosts healing |
| Golden Ammunition, Tiger Cannon | The same island as Jin. Bring down the cracked corner wall with the Cannon | Block plus Phantom Edge fires the cannon for heavy damage |
| Serpent Slough – White, White Serpent and Crimson Viper | A chest at the White Serpent House | Final piece of Serpent’s Memory |
| High-Power Pump, You Loong’s Deluge | Defeat You Loong, who holds the Blackwater camp | Hits on burning enemies add scalding steam damage |
| Rules of the Blackwater Crew, Loong Trident | Play the Pipa at the east dock of Meigu Village to scatter the mist | A timed charged throw hits far harder |
| Everlasting Flame, Fire Meteor | Head far west by boat and find the inlet with a pier and a glowing pickup | Bigger damage and Sha-Chi loss against enemies on fire from Phosphor Flame |
| Old Wooden Comb, War Wagon | With Old Man Gen’s quest line done, take your boat to the icy shoal in the north-west | The farther the Wagon travels, the more it hits for |
| Chaos Iron Fragment I, Sanguine Twin | In the Discordance, break the iron gate at the cliff base with the Dread Axe | Sanguine Twin becomes Shadowless Edge |
| Boy’s Worn Outfit, Whiteshadow | Four clothing pieces inside the Discordance. See below | Blocked hits still build the Frozen Gauge |
| Violet Blossom, Inanis’ Radiant Fans | Beat the Blizzard Blademaster, put the pair of Crystal Puppet Eyes into the statue, clear the ritual elders and talk to Inanis | A killing blow taken inside the healing field revives you with 30% HP, once per bell |
The four pieces of Boy’s Worn Outfit are all in the Discordance:
- Boy’s Shoes. Descend the cliff by hopping along coffins and ledges until a pickup glows.
- Boy’s Cap. Reach the fishing village, grapple up to the ship, then hop over the rooftops. Beside it you will see a Memory Flower plus an Amber Fragment.
- Boy’s Trousers. Cross the settlement under the thick fog and look at the large tent where it ends.
- Boy’s Shirt. Ride the zip line through the caves into the area with floating wrecks, run the wall and cross the platforms. Skip the new bridge and check the wooden ramp on the right-hand platform.
Mountain of Imprisonment
| Material and weapon | Where it is | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Butcher Mask, Jagged Steel | Beat Iron Butcher, the Frenzied Brute | Blocked hits still build the bleed gauge |
| Ritual Cauldron, Juggernaut | Three pieces. Beat Bi Feng and bring word to the Wulin Fighter, use the Guillotine on the device in his cavern, then use it on the mechanism at the first bell’s encampment | Crimson Wheel Slash stops spending Red Edge on marked enemies |
Mirage Estate
| Material and weapon | Where it is | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Oil, Goldblaze | Quick Hand Zhang’s hideout here, once you have found all his other dens | A well-timed Phantom Edge plus block triggers a strong dodge counter |
| Jade Mask, Seamless Death | In the Opera House, a glowing item shows up after the boat ride ends | Every move throws more Flying Rings |
| Bastion of Mo Mask, Sanguine | Beat the Man in Black at the Mirage Estate Long Pillar | Turns Sanguine into Infernal Rouge, the Bastion of Mo heirloom |
| Eye of Insight, One-Eyed Bow | In the courtyard past Leng Tu’s Study, fight the tethered enemies | Charge the bow up to three arrows |
| Primordial Chaos Vessel, Freezing Chaos | Survive the puppet waves inside the Perfect Vessel Estate | Threefold Shift briefly boosts damage and Sha-Chi loss |
| Alloyed Steel, Armybreaker | Same room as the Vessel | Rush attacks hit harder and cannot be interrupted |
The Mirage Estate Long Pillar is the fifth and last one. Beating the Man in Black there also closes Bloodline Awakening when the rest of your list is clear.
Mount Soulrend
| Material and weapon | Where it is | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Craftsman’s Toolkit, Bonesaw | Just left of the path near the house with the crane bell | Boss fights build the Bloodsaw gauge faster, and Bloodsaw boosts bleed |
| Statue of the Loyal Hero, Crescent Blade | Finish the Friendly Shadow Warden quest. Specter Blade leaves it behind | Equip the blade or parry a blue-flash attack to enter Qinglong Form |
| Baishan Headband, Baishan Stormsword | Finish Cui’s long quest chain. Her father Lu Jieyuan gets hurt when he joins the Crusher and Saw fight | Pulls enemies into the Lightning Storm while filling the Wind and Thunder gauges |
| Herald’s Lingering Threads, Puppeteer’s Bell | Reward for the Leng Tu and Meng Hua fights | Lets you summon a third puppet |
| The Lady’s Crown, The Lady’s Fan | Second reward from the same fights | Sigil Bursts are stronger and sustained ones last twice as long |
| Broken Long Body, Aureate | Win the extra fight on the Perfect ending route. Both items appear after the credits | Grand Design empowers the next phantom weapon you summon |
Broken Long Body is the reward the Perfect ending run leaves you with and it only exists if you finished the full checklist.
Soul Temper tips
- Match the item to its weapon. Border Banner is for Bastion, and Border Poems is for Wolfjaw.
- Finish the set. One Serpent House piece alone does nothing.
- Read the condition. Nirvana only works inside the healing field, and the two timed shots need you to release as your hand glows.
- Know the exceptions. Bleed effects skip phantom bodies, golden bodies and puppets.
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Guide by
George
George grew up on Dark Souls and Call of Duty, and he still has strong opinions about both. He also plays Arma, where he walks a very long way to get shot by someone he never saw. He says it’s part of the experience.
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