TL;DR
- Phantom Blade Zero has 30 main story missions spread across 8 regions.
- The campaign takes roughly 20 to 25 hours to finish on a normal run.
- Side quests (called “Tales”) can change the ending — there are 8 different endings.
- The final chapter is called “A Soul’s Worth.”
- A full 100% completion run takes 50 to 55 hours.
Phantom Blade Zero is finally out, and if you’re anything like me, you probably want to know exactly how far along you are in the story. The game doesn’t always make that obvious. You’re dropped into this massive, interconnected Wulin world as Soul — a framed assassin with only 66 days left to live — and the missions just keep coming.
So here’s the complete Phantom Blade Zero chapter list with every main story mission, the region it takes place in, and some context for what to expect. We’ve also covered how long each section takes and what side content you should not miss.
Before we get into it, if you’re still setting up, check out our guide on Phantom Blade Zero preload, PC requirements, and install size. And if you want to know whether the game is worth your money, read our Phantom Blade Zero review for PS5 and PC.
How Many Chapters Are in Phantom Blade Zero?
Phantom Blade Zero has 30 main story missions in total. These are divided across 8 major regions. The game starts with a Prologue at The Order’s Sanctuary and ends at The Final Horizon with a mission called “A Soul’s Worth.”
The game calls these missions rather than “chapters” in the traditional sense, but they follow a clear linear path through each region. Some regions have just 2 missions. Others have 4 or 5. The pacing is well spread out so you never feel like one area drags too long.
Phantom Blade Zero: Full Chapter List by Region
Here is the complete chapter and mission list, in story order, with each region shown. This is the main path — it does not include the 30 side Tales or optional challenge areas.
Region 1: The Order’s Sanctuary & Outskirts (Prologue)
- Mission 1 – Prologue (The Order’s Sanctuary): This is where everything begins. You see Soul as a loyal assassin before it all falls apart. Short but impactful.
- Mission 2 – Diverging Paths (Outskirts): The story jumps to the present. Soul has been framed and is now running for his life. You learn the 66-day countdown mechanic here.
- Mission 3 – Reckless Pursuit (Shadowed Ravine): Soul accepts the Tainted Heart and is granted limited time to survive. The Order’s hunters are already on his trail.
Region 2: Weeping Creek Valley
This is the first major open region. Dark cliffs, bridges, and a giant waterfall set the tone. It’s also where the game fully opens up and lets you explore.
- Mission 4 – Weeping Creek Valley (Weeping Creek): Introduction to the region. Soul arrives and begins piecing together his situation while evading enemies.
- Mission 5 – Against the Flow (Weeping Creek): Things heat up here. Soul pushes through assassins and Order forces while his clock keeps ticking.
- Mission 6 – Steel and Steam (Industrial Outpost): A shift in setting — an industrial-style zone. Soul continues his desperate journey and meets some new characters.
Region 3: Crimson District
A forest of deep red leaves. This region introduces some of the game’s more mysterious story beats. The environment is striking and the bosses here are memorable.
- Mission 7 – Crimson Manor (Crimson District): Soul enters the territory of the Crimson Forest and discovers the manor that hides some of The Order’s secrets.
- Mission 8 – Crimson Forest (Crimson District): Soul goes deeper into this blood-red region, facing off against elite Order operatives.
- Mission 9 – Illusion of Inanis (Inanis Ruins): Soul encounters the illusion of Lady Inanis, a high-ranking Order member who cannot physically enter the Waking Realm. A big lore moment.
- Mission 10 – Snake’s Reflection (Inanis Ruins): The story here starts pulling back the curtain on the conspiracy that got Soul framed. Key revelations ahead.
Region 4: Village of Lu (Lu Settlement)
A quieter area on the surface, but full of side Tales with some of the game’s most emotional storylines. Do not rush through here — the side quests in this region affect the ending.
- Mission 11 – Village of Lu (Lu Settlement): Soul arrives at the village, a key stopping point where civilians caught in the Wulin conflict live.
- Mission 12 – Heartless Remnants (Lu Settlement): Combat and chaos hit the village. Soul has to push through Order remnants to continue his journey.
Region 5: Pangzhen
This is a big region — probably the meatiest stretch of the mid-game. It’s a direct callback to the original Rainblood: Town of Death game, and longtime fans of S-GAME will feel it. The town itself is haunting.
- Mission 13 – Pangzhen (Pangzhen Foothills): Arriving at the town brings new threats and a shift in the story’s tone. Things get darker here.
- Mission 14 – Town of Death (Old Pang Town): This is a deliberate homage to the original Rainblood game. The town carries its name for a reason, and the story does not shy away from it.
- Mission 15 – The Heart’s Trail (Pangzhen Foothills): Soul follows a lead connected to the mystery of his own past and his connection to The Order.
- Mission 16 – The Four Serpent Houses (Serpent Valley): A confrontation with the powerful factions that control this region. Four distinct enemy groups, each with their own fighting style.
- Mission 17 – The Way Forward (Serpent Valley): Soul pushes out of Pangzhen and sets his sights on the next stage of his journey.
Region 6: Mandate Encampment
- Mission 18 – Mandate Encampment (Northern Frontier): A military-style zone controlled by one of the game’s major factions. Soul has to navigate through carefully.
- Mission 19 – Pillars of Kunlun (Mount Kunlun Pass): This chapter has some of the game’s most visually impressive set pieces. A mountain pass battle that raises the stakes significantly.
Region 7: Meigu Lake
One of the larger late-game regions. Meigu Lake introduces some of the game’s more intricate optional content, including hidden realms needed for the secret ending. Worth exploring thoroughly.
- Mission 20 – Meigu Lake (Meigu Basin): Arriving at the lake opens up a large area with multiple paths and secrets tucked away.
- Mission 21 – Sha-Chi Powered Boat (Meigu Waters): One of the more unique missions in the game — Soul uses a Sha-Chi-powered vessel to navigate the waters and reach a new area.
- Mission 22 – Secrets at the Heart of the Lake (Sunken Pavilion): A mystery beneath the water. This mission is also tied to the perfect ending requirements — you’ll need to find all four Acolyte Masks here.
- Mission 23 – Allure of Vanity (Pavilion Depths): Soul goes deeper into the lake’s hidden structures. This is where some of the best optional bosses in the game are found.
- Mission 24 – Illusory Pipa (Mist Plateau): A dreamlike stretch of the journey. The Mist Plateau has a very different visual feel from the rest of the game.
Region 8: The Final Stretch (Mountain of Imprisonment & Mount Soulrend)
The endgame. Missions get longer and more intense here. If you want the true ending, make sure your side quests are done before you hit the point of no return.
- Mission 25 – Mountain of Imprisonment (Iron Bastion): A brutal fortress section. Soul has to fight his way through one of The Order’s key strongholds.
- Mission 26 – Whence the Weeping (Cavern of Lament): A heavy story chapter. The name says it all — expect some big emotional moments.
- Mission 27 – Mount Soulrend (Mount Soulrend Summit): The climb to the summit. High-stakes combat and major story reveals packed into this one.
- Mission 28 – The Herald’s Illusion (Celestial Gateway): A gateway to the final confrontation. The Herald is one of the last major obstacles Soul faces.
- Mission 29 – Bloodline Awakening (Inner Sanctum): This mission is directly connected to the secret ending. Completing specific side Tales beforehand changes what you experience here.
- Mission 30 – A Soul’s Worth (The Final Horizon): The final chapter. How it ends depends on the choices you made throughout the game. There are 8 possible endings in total.
How Long Does Each Region Take to Beat?
Here’s a rough breakdown of how long each major stretch of the game takes, based on a normal story playthrough:
- Prologue / Outskirts: About 1 to 2 hours
- Weeping Creek Valley: Around 2 to 3 hours
- Crimson District: Around 3 hours
- Village of Lu: About 2 hours (more with side Tales)
- Pangzhen: Around 4 to 5 hours — the largest mid-game zone
- Mandate Encampment: About 2 hours
- Meigu Lake: Around 3 to 4 hours
- Final regions (Mountain of Imprisonment onward): About 3 to 4 hours
In total, the main story runs 20 to 25 hours for most players. Add in side content and you’re looking at 35 to 40 hours. A full 100% run — every collectible, every Tale, every hidden area — sits around 50 to 55 hours.
Do the Side Quests (Tales) Matter?
Yes, and this is important. Phantom Blade Zero doesn’t use a traditional honor system, but the side quests — called “Tales” — do directly influence the main story. Your choices throughout the Tales can change which of the 8 endings you receive at the end.
Some Tales are also time-sensitive. A few become unavailable if you advance the story too far without completing them. The general advice from the community is: clear the Tales in each region before moving to the next one.
The side quests are not just filler either. Several of them reveal backstory about Soul, The Order, and the wider Wulin that the main missions simply don’t cover. If you care about the lore, do the Tales.
What Are the 8 Endings in Phantom Blade Zero?
The game has 8 distinct endings, with one being a secret “perfect” ending that requires specific conditions. Getting the true ending means completing key side Tales, finding all four Acolyte Masks during the Secrets at the Heart of the Lake mission, and clearing certain optional challenge locations.
If you miss these steps on your first run, you’re not locked out forever. After the credits roll, you can either start New Game+ or load back to just before the point of no return and finish up what you missed.
Is There a New Game Plus Mode?
Yes. Completing your first run unlocks New Game+ mode and a special post-game difficulty called 66 Days. In 66 Days mode, you have exactly 66 lives to complete the entire game. Die 66 times and it’s over — that’s a permadeath run in disguise, and it’s not for the faint-hearted.
You cannot start 66 Days mode without finishing the game at least once, so don’t try to rush into it right away.
Where to Buy or Preload Phantom Blade Zero
The game is available now. You can grab it from the following official stores:
Final Thoughts
Phantom Blade Zero is a meaty game with a well-paced story across 8 distinct regions. The 30 missions flow well and each region has its own personality — from the red-leaved Crimson Forest to the eerie sunken pavilions of Meigu Lake. The fact that your side quests can change the ending gives the whole thing real replay value too.
Whether you’re going for a clean story run or chasing that perfect ending, knowing the chapter list helps you plan and avoid missing anything important. Don’t skip the Tales — they’re more connected to the main story than they appear at first glance.
For more on the game, check our full Phantom Blade Zero review and our guide to PC requirements and install size.
