Sundering Dual Axes.

Sundering Dual Axes are two short axes, one wielded in each hand and suited to close-quarters combat.

Originally Heartpiercer used them himself. Their blades are brief yet still deadly, and when the Shadow Warden wielded them, both wheels turned in step with his movement, so each assault seemed to flow into the next. Every kill they make happens at close range.

Their defining trait is a rhythm of charging and then releasing. Ordinary combos fill a gauge; upon filling, the axes behave differently, striking harder, draining extra Sha-Chi from the target, and getting thrown so that they remain stuck to the enemy. From then on the short reach no longer limits you.

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:

• Defeat Heartpiercer

1. Make your way to Meigu Lake, then to the White Serpent House.
2. Beat Heartpiercer, Elite Shadow Warden. Winning that battle grants the axes.
3. For this battle, the bell to use is the one at the White Serpent House.

A single gauge, and the brief opening it creates, drive everything here.

Charging up Baleful Aura

The gauge grows as you land hits, and standard combos suffice. When it is full, you inflict more damage and more Sha-Chi Depletion.

Hurling the axes

For as long as the aura is up, combos make you fling the axes. They stick to the foe and carve away without pause, so staying within arm's reach is not required to keep the damage flowing.

Using the opening

When the effect finishes, the aura drains away. Any delay squanders all the buildup, so the wise approach is to act as soon as the window appears.

Tiansha Reaving

Unleashing the active art takes 1 Sha-Chi and produces fierce, graceful slashes that no block can stop. Used after a guard break, it exploits the whole aura window.

Perks from levelling

Every upgrade adds one weapon level, capped at level 60. Listed levels are where these abilities become available.

Soul Tempering

Strengths

• Because the axes stick and keep slicing, the aura window frees the weapon from its normal requirement of staying near the target.
• Along with damage, the aura boosts Sha-Chi Depletion, so the enemy's resource comes under pressure just like its health.
• Guarding foes cannot stop Tiansha Reaving, since it is unblockable.

Weaknesses

• With such short blades, all your play prior to the aura filling must take place at arm's length.
• Since the aura runs on a clock and drains when it expires, players who are slow to cash it in get penalised.

Best used for

• Battles where combos can be connected consistently to charge the gauge, after which you go all in.
• Chaining Tiansha Reaving right after a guard break, so that the art connects while the aura is running.

As an elite among the Shadow Wardens, Heartpiercer stood guard in front of the White Serpent House. Anyone struck by the whirling axes perished from a wound to the belly, which gave him his name. While fighting, he moved lightly while his robe and coat, blue and green, flared out like moth wings, and after countless clashes not a speck of dust marked him.