Bonesaw at a Glance
- Prize for a mandatory battle. The weapon is awarded for winning against The Crusher and the Saw at The Giant’s Lair, in Mount Soulrend.
- Rewards a shattered guard. Savage Finale is a grinding strike that no block can stop, and it hits Guard-Broken enemies for bonus damage.
- Deflect or suffer. This weapon makes ordinary blocking drain extra Sha-Chi, whereas a perfect block increases the Sha-Chi Depletion of your following strike.
- Suited to drawn-out boss battles. Once Soul Tempered, Bloodsaw charges up quicker against bosses, and Bleed accumulates more swiftly on enemies inside it.
- Pick up the tool kit en route. In the same region, a chest next to the Mountain God Temple Bell holds the Craftsman's Tool Kit that the upgrade requires.
- Do the tempering ahead of The Last Chance. Myst in Pangzhen handles tempering, and crossing The Last Chance Bell means the last area cannot be exited anymore.
Overview
With its rough teeth and a blade designed to drag, Bonesaw shows its purpose: ending battles gradually, and deliberately.
Wielded in both hands, this saw-blade excels at smashing shields. Its Power Surge also becomes nastier for the victim as soon as defences drop.
You receive it in Mount Soulrend, the last region, when only The Last Chance and the final battles lie ahead. Because of that timing, it is a late option for those closing bosses or for subsequent cycles. Compared with fellow guard-breakers like Juggernaut and Armybreaker, what defines it is the aftermath of the break instead of the break itself.
Stats at Level 1
Because Phantom Blade Zero has no published 0–100 bars for stats, this page gives the weapon's numbers as they stand at level 1.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Weapon type | Two-Handed |
| Wielder | Soul |
| Damage | 312 |
| Status Effects | 142 |
| How to obtain | Located on Mount Soulrend. GamesRecon names it as the prize for beating the Crusher and the Saw; GamesDB merely places it there. |
| Added in | Base game |
These numbers are taken from values the game itself lists for level 1; they were not confirmed through play.
How to Obtain
Before you start:
- Get to Mount Soulrend by the main route
- Go into Mount Soulrend and ring the Mountain God Temple Bell. The chest next to the Bell contains the Craftsman's Tool Kit.
- Cross the wooden platforms and mountain trail to The Last Mandate Encampment, keep going to The Giant’s Lair, and light its Bell.
- Step into the arena and beat The Crusher and the Saw in a fight with two phases. Winning gives you the weapon, and this battle lies along the main route.
Availability
| Where | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ahead of The Last Chance Bell | Obtainable | Retreat becomes impossible only later than The Giant’s Lair, so you may still walk back out and get the weapon improved or tempered. |
| The Cui tale | Separate reward | If Cui is finished beforehand, the Baishan Headband is added among this fight's rewards. Bonesaw does not hinge on that. |
| New cycle | Carries over | A new cycle keeps the weapons that you already own. |
How It Plays
Treat it as a progression: shatter the guard, exploit the opening, and let the Bleed element grow stronger as the battle drags on.
Savage Finale against a shattered guard
The Power Surge uses a single Sha-Chi and unleashes a chain of unblockable, grinding saw hits. Guard-Broken enemies take more damage from it, so save it for after the guard is gone and do not start fights with it.
The Best Offense and the cost it puts on blocking
Your defensive habits need to change because of this passive. Plain blocks burn more Sha-Chi than normal, yet a perfect block gives your following attack greater Sha-Chi Depletion. Players who hold block will be drained, while those who parry consistently make every clean catch strengthen the next strike.
Using Bloodsaw against bosses
Bloodsaw unlocks as a perk at level 15, and Soul Tempering acts on it directly. Versus boss-level opponents, its gauge then fills more quickly, and enemies caught in Bloodsaw also fill their Bleed Gauge at a faster rate.
Upgrade Paths and Versions
Perks from levelling
Every upgrade adds one weapon level, and the abilities below unlock at the levels given.
| Name | Effect | Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Guard-Break Pursuit | Level 5 | |
| Cruel Advantage | Three ranks. | Levels 10, 20 and 30 |
| Bloodsaw | Level 15 | |
| Elimination | Level 25 |
Soul Tempering
Myst, whom you meet in Pangzhen, makes this possible. One tempering per weapon is the limit.
| Name | Effect | Cost | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prey on the Mighty | Bosses and similar foes make Bloodsaw charge sooner, and anything standing inside it sees its Bleed Gauge climb at a quicker pace. | Craftsman's Tool Kit ×1 and 5,000 Remnant Dust | You will find the tool kit in the chest right next to the Mountain God Temple Bell. |
Materials for upgrading
| Name | Unlock |
|---|---|
| Broadplate Metal and Solvent | +1 to +9 |
| Polished Broadplate Metal and Concentrated Solvent | +10 to +19 |
| Flawless Broadplate Metal and Universal Solvent | +20 onward |
Pros, Cons and Ideal Situations
Strengths
- Its strong shield-breaking prepares its finest move, because Savage Finale deals more to Guard-Broken enemies.
- Savage Finale ignores blocking entirely, so it still lands when a foe tries to regain composure while shielded.
- After a perfect block, your next attack has higher Sha-Chi Depletion, so skilled parries become quicker pressure on guards.
- Prey on the Mighty is aimed squarely at boss-level enemies, whose long battles give a gradual build-up time to be worthwhile.
Weaknesses
- Ordinary blocks drain additional Sha-Chi, so players depending on a held guard get penalised.
- Its start is modest and it grows stronger through a battle, meaning the best effects need time to show.
- Arriving so near the finale of the story, it gives a first run through the game scarcely any time for use.
Best used for
- Boss battles in which you parry consistently, once Prey on the Mighty has been tempered in.
- Killing enemies right after their guard shatters, by keeping Savage Finale for that instant.
- Fresh cycles, since the weapon transfers across and is usable immediately.
Weapon Comparison
| Weapon | Core loop | Power Surge |
|---|---|---|
| Bonesaw | Land a perfect parry for added Sha-Chi Depletion, smash the defence, and finish by grinding | Savage Finale: bonus damage against Guard-Broken enemies |
| Juggernaut | Perfect blocks charge Red Edge, which is spent on a single devastating slash | Bandit-Slaying Rampage: a mark on foes increases damage taken and speeds their Sha-Chi loss |
| Armybreaker | Changing weapons or parrying with a Blue-flash sends you dashing forward | Formation Breaking Art: slashes that heavily drain Sha-Chi |
| Jagged Steel | Build up the Bleed Gauge, and Blood Loss does the rest | Jagged Steel Rampage: quick slashes that add Bleed and set off Blood Loss |
Background and Look
The blade of the rider
The Saw used this blade when serving as a Shadow Warden of the Order. During the encounter, a small faceless creature seated on the Crusher's neck wields it as a bone saw, slicing him open to send him into a frenzy. According to the item description, the blade offers no quick death to anybody unable to resist, a trait that Savage Finale reproduces while you play.
Appears In
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bonesaw obtained?
Beat The Crusher and the Saw at The Giant’s Lair, in Mount Soulrend.
Can Bonesaw be permanently missed?
Never. Reaching this encounter is part of the story path, and The Last Chance Bell lies beyond it.
Is a broken guard required for Savage Finale?
Not strictly, although extra damage applies solely to Guard-Broken enemies, which makes that the right time for it.
What is the process for Soul Tempering Bonesaw?
Bring the Craftsman's Tool Kit from the chest at the Mountain God Temple to Myst, along with 5,000 Remnant Dust, and you receive Prey on the Mighty.