Weapons are the beating heart of Phantom Blade Zero, the kung-fu-punk action game from S-GAME, and the single question new players ask first is simple: what are the best weapons? The honest answer is that "best" depends almost entirely on how you want to fight. Phantom Blade Zero hands you a deliberately large arsenal - a spread of primary melee weapons alongside a set of secondary tools - and it is designed so that no single pick trivialises the whole game. This guide explains how the weapon system is structured, how to think about choosing weapons, and how to assemble an arsenal that genuinely suits your playstyle rather than chasing a one-size-fits-all answer. The goal is not to spoil every find but to give you a framework that holds up no matter which weapons you unlock and in what order.
How the arsenal is structured
Phantom Blade Zero splits its weapons into two broad layers: primary melee weapons - the main armaments you build your combos around - and secondary tools that add ranged options, special effects and utility. You equip a small loadout and swap between your equipped options on the fly, which means your "arsenal" at any moment is really the handful of weapons you have chosen to bring, not everything you own. That distinction matters, because the game rewards curating a focused loadout far more than hoarding one of everything.
Each weapon type carries its own moveset, reach, speed and rhythm. Fast weapons let you pressure enemies with flurries and recover quickly; heavier weapons trade speed for staggering power and are often the answer to shielded or armoured foes. Because the classes answer different problems, the smartest approach is to learn what each one is for rather than ranking them on a single scale. A weapon that shreds a lightly armoured crowd may bounce off a guarded enemy, and a slow, punishing weapon that cracks defences can leave you exposed against something fast. Treat the arsenal as a toolbox, not a leaderboard.
Why there is no single "best" weapon
It is tempting to look for the one weapon that outclasses the rest, but Phantom Blade Zero's design actively resists that. The variety exists so players can express a style, and the encounter design pushes back on any single approach by mixing enemy types, defences and attack patterns. A weapon that feels overpowered in one fight becomes a liability in the next, which is exactly the tension the game is built around.
A more useful way to read "best" is "best for a role in your hands." The best weapon for aggressive, in-your-face play is whichever fast, combo-friendly option you can wield confidently. The best weapon against heavily defended enemies is whichever one you can land clean, defence-breaking hits with. And the best weapon overall is the one you understand well enough to use instinctively under pressure. Mastery of a weapon almost always beats the raw stats of one you fumble with, so the practical path to a strong arsenal is to pick a couple of weapons that click with you and get genuinely good with them.
Matching weapons to your playstyle
Start by being honest about how you like to fight. If you enjoy relentless aggression - closing distance, chaining combos and punishing openings - lean toward faster weapons with fluid movesets and keep a heavier option in reserve for the enemies that demand it. If you prefer a measured, counter-focused style, a weapon that rewards timing and big punishes may suit you better, paired with a quicker tool for when you need to apply pressure. There is no wrong answer; the point is to build around the style you actually enjoy, because you will play better with a weapon that feels natural than with one a guide told you was optimal.
Primary and secondary tools together
The real depth of Phantom Blade Zero's combat comes from pairing your primary melee weapon with your secondary tools. Secondary options cover the gaps a melee weapon leaves - reaching distant enemies, interrupting a wind-up, or applying an effect your main weapon cannot. A well-chosen pairing lets you answer almost any situation without ever feeling stuck, and switching between your equipped weapons mid-fight is not just allowed but encouraged by the game's systems.
Think of your loadout as a small team rather than a single star. Your primary weapon does the heavy lifting of your damage and combos; your secondary tools solve specific problems and open up combinations the primary cannot reach alone. Players who treat weapon switching as a core habit, rather than an occasional panic button, get far more out of the arsenal than those who stick rigidly to one weapon. Our Sha-Chi and weapon switching guide digs into exactly why swapping mid-combo is so powerful.
| Weapon role | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Fast primary | Pressure, combos and quick recovery against agile foes |
| Heavy primary | Staggering power and breaking guarded or armoured enemies |
| Secondary / ranged tool | Closing gaps, interrupting attacks and applying effects |
| Your best weapon | Whichever one you can use instinctively under pressure |
Upgrading what you choose
Once you have settled on an arsenal, the next lever is upgrading. Like most games in this genre, Phantom Blade Zero lets you invest finite resources into improving weapons, so spreading those resources thinly across everything you own is a mistake. Concentrate on the two or three weapons you actually bring into fights, and you will feel the difference far sooner than if you dabble across a dozen. A fully improved weapon you trust will carry you further than a cabinet of half-upgraded ones.
Because upgrade materials are limited, treat each investment as a commitment to a playstyle. If you favour fast aggression, pour resources into the weapon that enables it; if you rely on a heavy guard-breaker for tough enemies, keep that one current. Our weapon upgrade guide covers how to prioritise materials, and our skill tree and build guide shows how weapons, skills and secondary tools come together into a cohesive style.
Experimenting without fear
One of the best things about a large arsenal is the freedom to experiment, and Phantom Blade Zero generally encourages you to try weapons out rather than locking you into an early choice. Give several weapons a genuine run before deciding, since a weapon's feel on paper rarely matches how it plays in your hands. Some weapons that look unremarkable turn out to suit your timing perfectly, while flashy options can prove awkward once the pressure is on.
Treat the opening hours as a testing ground. Rotate through what you unlock, pay attention to which weapons make fights feel smooth rather than frantic, and let your favourites emerge naturally. By the time the game ramps up its challenge, you want to already know which two or three weapons you reach for without thinking - and that fluency comes from early experimentation, not from committing blind on day one.
Reach, speed and timing
Beyond raw role, three physical qualities shape how a weapon actually plays: its reach, its speed and its timing. Reach decides how safely you can poke at an enemy without stepping into danger, and a longer weapon can let you punish attacks that a shorter one cannot answer safely. Speed governs how quickly you can apply pressure and, just as importantly, how fast you recover afterward - a quick weapon forgives a mistimed swing far more readily than a slow one that leaves you committed. Timing is the rhythm of a weapon's moveset, the cadence you fall into as you chain attacks, and it is deeply personal; a weapon whose rhythm matches your instincts will feel transformative while another, statistically similar, feels awkward.
When you try a weapon, pay attention to these qualities as much as to any damage figure. A fast, short-reach weapon rewards an aggressive, in-close style with constant movement; a slower, longer weapon rewards patience and spacing, landing fewer but heavier blows from a safer distance. Neither is better in the abstract - what matters is whether the weapon's physical feel suits how you naturally want to move and react. The arsenal's variety exists precisely so that players with different instincts can each find a weapon that feels like an extension of themselves, and recognising which qualities you gravitate toward is the fastest route to your ideal loadout.
Trying a loaded arsenal
Some players love the grind of unlocking and upgrading each weapon; others prefer to explore the full arsenal straight away, or to replay with everything already available so they can focus on the combat rather than the climb. There is no wrong way to enjoy a game you own, and a fully stocked playthrough feels very different from a lean first run.
If you would rather experiment with a fully kitted-out version of the game - a broad arsenal already available and upgraded - the Phantom Blade Zero modded save on the Phantom Blade Zero services hub offers that kind of head start. It is one option among many; plenty of players enjoy earning each weapon as they go, and this guide works just as well for a pure, from-scratch run. Either way, understanding the weapon roles above is what makes the arsenal click.
Related Phantom Blade Zero guides
- Phantom Blade Zero weapon upgrade guide
- Phantom Blade Zero Sha-Chi & weapon switching guide
- Phantom Blade Zero skill tree & build guide
- Phantom Blade Zero parry & dodge combat guide
- Phantom Blade Zero beginner tips
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best weapons in Phantom Blade Zero?
There is no single best weapon - the game's large arsenal is designed so each weapon type answers a different kind of threat. The practical 'best' is whichever weapon suits your style and that you can use confidently under pressure, backed by a secondary tool that covers its gaps.
How many weapons does Phantom Blade Zero have?
The game offers a deliberately large spread of primary melee weapons plus a set of secondary tools, so the exact roster is best discovered in-game. The design emphasises variety and role coverage over having one dominant option.
Should I stick to one weapon or switch?
Switching is strongly encouraged. Pairing a primary weapon with secondary tools and swapping mid-fight lets you answer situations a single weapon cannot. Treat weapon switching as a core habit rather than an occasional panic button.
Should I upgrade every weapon?
No. Upgrade materials are finite, so concentrate on the two or three weapons you actually bring into fights. A fully upgraded weapon you trust outperforms a collection of half-upgraded ones.
Can I start with a full arsenal unlocked?
You can earn every weapon through normal play. If you would rather explore a loaded, upgraded arsenal from the start - for a replay or to focus on combat - a modded save on the Phantom Blade Zero hub offers that head start, though many players prefer earning weapons as intended.