Hunter's Chain Sickle.

Hunter's Chain Sickle pairs a small sickle with a lengthy chain. As a Phantom Edge it extends Soul's range, whether against foes or over gaps in the terrain.

A heavy, curved blade is attached by an iron ring to a flexible chain that trails from the end of the handle. Sharpness belongs to the blade alone. When thrown, the chain stretches each attack into medium and long range. That makes the sickle the Phantom Edge to pick when you must close in on agile or ranged enemies and then switch to your primary weapon.

Besides fighting, it works as a key. Anchor points scattered around the valley let Soul haul himself onto ledges and roofs, and a grapple crossing that is sealed off close to the region's entrance opens up as soon as you carry the sickle. Its name and design come from the Hunt, a hunter serving the Order, who wields two sickles joined by chains.

Among the earlier edges, this one is the choice for getting around. The Dread Axe severs iron chains and smashes shields, the Bashpole smashes fragile floors, and the sickle instead reaches marked grapple spots.

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 the Hunt in Weeping Creek Valley

1. Take the Valley Sha-Chi Tower route through Weeping Creek Valley until you reach Waterfall Bridge, then cross it and walk toward the Great Waterfall.
2. Light the Bell at the Great Waterfall prior to the battle.
3. Beat the Hunt, Sixfold Scythe, in both of its phases. Winning gives you the sickle as the boss reward.
4. Should you die during phase two, the retry begins at that same phase.

Each press of RT delivers as many as three cutting strikes at medium and long distance. At level 1, a whole combo consumes 1 point of resource.

Chain leads, blade follows

Damage lives in the blade. Since the chain has just 30% of the blade's strength, think of it as a means of getting close, after which the blade gets its opening when the chain hits. For a target beyond your normal range, this is the sickle's purpose.

Hooking onto anchors while stowed

Special anchor points can be grabbed by Soul, who is then lifted to higher ground, with no need to hold the sickle. The chain pulls tight and his feet leave the floor.

Grapple spots that count

Starting at the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Summit Bell, get on the roof and swing up to the peak to collect the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key. With it you can open the gate next to the Creek Valley Plains Entrance Bell, along with the optional zone beyond.

A grapple crossing lies close to the starting area, though it cannot be used when you first get there. Once the Outpost captain has told you of Gu Lingran, go over it to find his body and the chest holding Lingran's Pendant. When you have begun Leave None Alive in the Village of Lu, go back to the Outpost and use the sickle to arrive at the last document in The Lady's Cave.

Two more uses exist: the second Long Pillar sits across a chasm on the mountain trail beyond the Iron Fever battle, and the cliff-edge route to the Mirage Estate Long Pillar Bell cannot be passed without it.

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 figures, giving 1,704 Damage and 1,470 Guard Break at level 60.

Soul Tempering

Strengths

• Its medium and long range lets you harass foes who fall back or shoot from afar before switching to your primary weapon.
• Grappling is possible even when the sickle is stowed.
• Each RT press delivers as many as three strikes.

Weaknesses

• Just 30% of the blade's strength is dealt by the chain.

Best used for

• Getting close to agile enemies, then changing over to your primary weapon.
• Revisiting the valley to fetch the key to Sha-Chi Tower and get past blocked crossings.