Flaming Mane.

The Lion Dance Grandmaster Flame is known for the Flaming Mane, a lion-head weapon and fire-based Phantom Edge.

This flamethrower is shaped as a lion's head, jaws wide. At first its fuel is gone and it can't light, so you hold a Dormant Flaming Mane that serves as a story item, not a weapon. Fixed, it turns into an Artifice Phantom Edge shooting flame out of the lion-head mask.

Its place in your loadout is justified two ways. During fights it controls crowds, engulfing groups that come at you together. Away from fights it burns dense vines and branches, opening routes in Pangzhen, the Crimson Forest and Village of Lu that stay shut otherwise.

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.

These numbers are taken from values the game itself lists for level 1; they were not confirmed through play.

Before you start:

• Beat Flame, the Mask-Bound Lion Dance Grandmaster
• Get Lei Dang to fix the Dormant Flaming Mane

1. Travel to the Lion Dance Hall in Pangzhen and beat Flame, the Mask-Bound Lion Dance Grandmaster, to be given the Dormant Flaming Mane.
2. Visit the Jingyang Hall Bell, go through the doorway and talk to Lei Dang for the repair.
3. After the repair, branches in your way can be burned, for instance on the northern path heading to Pangzhen Docks.

This weapon covers an area. It does not hit one target but puts several opponents under pressure inside its range.

Groups and tight corridors

The fire works best in cramped passageways and fights where foes are bunched up. Enemies standing beyond its range suffer far less.

Burning obstacles

Dense vines and branches are consumed by fire. That lets you get to the path beside the Pond of Fading Song, the closed entrance of Black Serpent House in Village of Lu, and the branches beyond Red Serpent House in the Crimson Forest.

Perks from levelling

Every upgrade adds one weapon level, running from level 1 to level 60. The abilities below become available at the levels shown.

Cost of upgrades

Following 59 upgrades, stats reach 6.9 times their level 1 values, meaning 1,711 Damage and 1,228 Status Effects once at level 60.

Soul Tempering

Strengths

• Flames across an area put pressure on many foes simultaneously.
• Incinerates dense vines and branches, which gives it great value for exploring.
• Handy in tight passages with enemies packed together.

Weaknesses

• Performs worse against fire-resistant enemies or those that remain beyond its range.
• Can't be used before Lei Dang fixes the dormant item.

Best used for

• Dealing with groups that advance as one.
• Returning to areas to burn obstructed paths.
• Pairing with the Bashpole.