Flying Guillotine.

Huangxing, the masked Kunlun Renegade who rules the peak of the Mountain of Imprisonment, formerly wielded the Flying Guillotine, a purpose-built throwing weapon.

Huangxing once ranked among the Pillars of Kunlun. A masked helm covers his face, and everything below his left elbow is machinery. His guillotine can cut a head off from a distance or back up his sword when fighting up close. Once he is beaten, the weapon becomes yours as an Artifice Phantom Edge.

Damage is not its only purpose. Since it can work machinery, it serves as a key to concealed passages, such as the one inside the shrine on the Mountain of Imprisonment, and later regions keep using it that way.

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 Huangxing, the Kunlun Renegade

1. Ascend to the peak of the Mountain of Imprisonment.
2. Beat Huangxing, the Kunlun Renegade. Winning the fight grants you the Flying Guillotine.
3. Throw it at the shrine's mechanism so the concealed passage opens.

Spinning blades are its means of attack, and it also turns mechanical dials. Reaping and Mechanical Mastery are among its moves, while Blood Wheel, Blood-Wheel Flight and Soul-Seizing Reaping come from its perks.

Concealed routes and contraptions

Back in the arena of the Huangxing fight, throw the guillotine to open the concealed passage, then descend to the bottom. At the Cavern Passage Bell, head down behind where you stand and use it on another concealed passage to find a table holding a collectible. The Lady’s Path Bell has one more such passage, found by following the left path downward.

Its usefulness carries on later, since one collectible at the Mandate Encampment names the Flying Guillotine as a Phantom Edge you must have.

Bleed

Bleeding is the theme of its perks. Unceasing Bleed becomes available at level 10, and levels 20 and 30 add further ranks.

Perks from levelling

Every upgrade adds one weapon level, and the abilities below unlock at the levels given.

Soul Tempering

Materials for upgrading

The first tier of level-ups consumes Mechanical Gear. After that come Precision Mechanical Gear and Ying Mechanical Gear, together with Remnant Dust.

Strengths

• Concealed passages and contraptions respond to it, which makes it useful for exploration in most regions.
• Bleeding is the focus of its perks.

Best used for

• Returning to concealed passages and contraptions in areas you already finished.
• Inflicting bleed from range with a thrown strike.