[00:05] your blade around and somersaulting every time someone takes a swing at you. make the difference between whether it's your head or that of your opponents that your head or that of your opponents that goes rolling. [00:21] and tricks to help you master combat and Phantom Blade Zero. [00:33] or Dark Souls have taught players the value of dodging, blocking, and hitting back in the windows in between. However, that's not typically the best approach here. Instead, most of your defense should come via parries. That means [00:45] timing button taps when attacks land, not holding it down and then waiting. also often the best way to chip away at an opponent's Shaqi meter, breaking their guard and opening them up to attacks. For tougher enemies, especially [00:59] bosses, this is your window to do meaningful damage. Ideally, you're lets you know you've timed your parry perfectly. [01:15] Soul can carve through basic enemies without too much trouble. However, tougher baddies and bosses lie in wait to make his day much worse, and they won't be impressed with a few basic attacks. Really putting the hurt on them [01:28] and parries to break down the enemy's guard first, [music] like we just discussed, and then go all out on the aggression. A particularly effective damage phase will look something like this. You break their guard, and then [01:41] you use L2 or the left trigger to do your powerful moves. Then you empty your Shaachi meter with your Shachi attacks, switch weapons, and use your now refilled Shaachi to do it again until the enemy stagger ends. [01:58] meter, fights against tough enemies, especially bosses, are as much about managing your Shachi meter as they are about your quick twitch combat skills. When faced with a relentless attacker, you need to keep your meter up. When it [02:10] runs empty, you're exposed to a lot of potential damage. [02:23] Shachi is greater than 30%, swing freely, including using your Shachi attacks. However, once it drops below that threshold, focus on just standard attacks until it refills. The exceptions are when you're pummeling a guard broken [02:36] you're about to switch weapons, which you're about to switch weapons, which will instantly refill your shoti. [02:50] only get to use four weapons, two standard and two phantom edges in a single fight. Use whatever tools of destruction you like. No judgment here, but do yourself a favor and make sure to always have at least one phantom edge [03:03] shields. >> The shield shall never break. >> Shielded enemies will appear fairly regularly, and most standard weapons will take forever to break through their guard, but if you have something like [03:16] dread axe or iron gauntlets equipped, you can smash through them almost instantly, saving a lot of time and effort against harder targets. [03:32] called flowingqi. The description lists a bunch of requirements, but all you need to know is that this is unlimited free usage of your phantom edges in the ability, you'll start seeing a new button prompt appear. Tap it quick [03:45] enough and soul will bust out an attack from a phantom edge without consuming any remnant sparks. When the prompt appears and what attack is used depends unlocked the weapon used in the combo, [03:58] but it can add a powerful effect to the middle of your assault. chance to generate new remnant sparks anytime you use these free attacks. [04:20] Jagged Steel, [music] the Frenzied Brute. Cut him down to get his sword, also called Jagged Steel. You'll unlock the ability to upgrade weapons soon, and make this weapon your top priority. It's by far one of the most powerful early [04:33] game weapons you can get your hands on. It has a great move set, deals solid damage, and builds up a status effect called bleed, dealing a large chunk of additional damage when it procs. Get this to level five as soon as you can to [04:45] bleed quickly on guard broken enemies and thank us later. early hours is the Scarlet Wraith Blade. However, unlike Jagged Edge, this is on [05:01] an optional boss and completely missable, but you shouldn't miss it. This massive two-handed sword cleaves through enemies quickly. It also leaves a wake of red liies behind which drain the shachi and health of any enemies [05:13] standing in them including bosses. Given how important draining shi is to set up your attack opportunities, that's a huge benefit. [05:27] need to reach the shai tower in the weeping creek valley. After dealing with floor on the back side of the building. Slide down and follow the path to the left to find Wah, deadly betrothed. You'll need to beat her to get this [05:40] sword. Be warned though, she's no pushover. There's no harm in clearing the rest of Weeping Creek Valley out, getting stronger in the next area, and manageable. It'll be well worth the [05:52] manageable. It'll be well worth the effort. accessories over his travels and can eventually equip up to six of them at a [06:06] time to maximize his combat potential. This game will often telegraph what sort of enemies you'll be facing based on the accessories that drop, like giving you the cavalry bane right before you take on a particularly nasty jerk on [06:18] horseback. As a general rule of thumb, if you get a new accessory specific to a type of enemy or negating a type of damage, consider equipping it sooner rather than later. You're probably about to encounter it. Still, some accessories [06:30] are good in almost any situation. Here's a few of our favorites. The token of pursuit increases damage to guard broken enemies. Since that's when you'll deal winner. The quickand pendant and the quickhand might boost your damage with [06:44] one and two-handed weapons, respectively. That's especially useful if you're doubling up on either weapon type. The Mother's Talisman restores broken. While we don't suggest spending a lot of time in this state, if you're [06:57] clever with your weapon switching, you can leverage this for some badly needed increases the timing window for your dodges and parries. Fully upgraded, it gives a 25% boost. That's a pretty big difference. And with how much you'll be [07:12] using these moves, it can be a literal game changer with those tight windows. It's a dangerous world out there, but if you follow these tips, you can turn the tables and become the danger yourself. If you want to take that a step further, [07:25] nine things Phantom Blade Zero doesn't tell you and find even more in our extensive Phantom Blade Zero guides on IGN.com. For that and everything gaming, pledge your blade to IGN.