TL;DR
- Soul Tempering is unlocked by speaking with Myst in her tavern in Pangzhen.
- Each upgrade costs 5,000 Remnant Dust plus one unique weapon-specific material.
- Some materials are boss drops, others are hidden behind Phantom Edge-locked routes, quests, or chests.
- Soul Tempering is permanent — you cannot reverse it once applied.
- Some weapons fully transform into a new weapon; others gain a powerful new effect.
- There are 43 tempering materials spread across all regions, including late-game areas.
Soul Tempering is one of the most rewarding systems in Phantom Blade Zero, but also one of the most spread out. Materials are scattered across every region in the game — some hidden behind Phantom Edge-locked routes, some from bosses, some from quests you might not have noticed yet.
This guide lists every known Soul Tempering material, which weapon or Phantom Edge it upgrades, where to find it, and what the upgrade actually does to the weapon.
How Soul Tempering Works in Phantom Blade Zero
Soul Tempering is a separate upgrade track from the regular level-based weapon upgrades. Where regular upgrades raise damage and guard break step by step, Soul Tempering applies a permanent, unique effect to a specific weapon — sometimes transforming it into an entirely new form.
To use it:
- Reach Pangzhen and speak with Myst in the Order’s underground tavern (accessible during the Town of Death quest).
- After unlocking it, you can Soul Temper from any Bell — no need to return to Myst each time.
- Select Upgrade Equipment at a Bell, choose your weapon, then press the switch prompt to enter the Soul Temper mode (the screen turns purple).
- Cost: 5,000 Remnant Dust + 1 weapon-specific material.
Soul Temper is irreversible. Unlike regular upgrades which can be reverted with a Reforge Talisman, Soul Tempering is permanent. Make sure you want the upgrade before applying it. For a full breakdown of the regular upgrade system, see our weapon upgrade guide.
Soul Tempering Materials for Main Weapons
These materials upgrade your primary blades. Some transform the weapon into a new named form; others add a new combat ability on top of the existing weapon.
Jagged Steel → Open Wounds
Material: Iron Butcher Mask
Where to find it: Defeat Iron Butcher, the Frenzied Brute, in the Mountain of Imprisonment region. The mask drops from this boss.
Effect: Attacks still build the enemy’s Bleed Gauge even when blocked. No effect on Puppets, Golden Bodies, or Phantom Bodies.
Sanguine → Infernal Rouge (Transformation)
Material: Bastion of Mó Mask
Where to find it: Complete the final Long Pillar challenge in Mirage Estate. This is a late-game area.
Effect: Fully transforms Sanguine into Infernal Rouge, the heirloom weapon of the Bastion of Mó. Can trigger Bloodline Rebirth and Bloodline Awakening abilities.
Sanguine Reach → Blazing Edge (Transformation)
Material: Flaming Grip (requires two fragments: Scorching Flames + Quenched Flaming Grip)
Where to find it:
- Scorching Flames — Defeat Zhu Yuan, the Searing Blade at the bottom of the Pangzhen Sha-Chi Tower.
- Quenched Flaming Grip — Complete the Midlake Long Pillar challenge in Meigu Lake.
Effect: Fully transforms Sanguine Reach into Blazing Edge, a fire-infused version with new abilities.
Sanguine Twin → Shadowless Edge (Transformation)
Material: Chaos Twin Daggers (requires two Chaos Iron Fragments)
Where to find it:
- Chaos Iron Fragment I — Defeat the Gold-Masked One in the Phantom Illusionist Ruins.
- Chaos Iron Fragment II — Obtained through the Triple Threat optional challenge route (Crimson Forest, late-game return).
Effect: Fully transforms Sanguine Twin into Shadowless Edge, which summons a temporary phantom double that joins Soul’s attacks.
Scarlet Wraithblade → Lingering Grudge
Material: Embroidered Shoes
Where to find it: Found in Meigu Lake — collected from the Green Serpent House during the Serpent questline.
Effect: Attacking enemies within Red Spider Lilies builds their Red Flower Gauge. Filling it triggers an explosion. While you or allies are within Red Spider Lilies, all Sha-Chi Consumption is reduced and healing received is increased.
Outlaw Warblade → Ruthless Outlaw
Material: Six Paths Warrant
Where to find it: Clear the fog at Meigu Lake’s Songhouse using the Illusory Pipa. The material is found inside.
Effect: The longer Recoverable HP is retained, the greater the damage dealt — up to 25%.
White Serpent & Crimson Viper → Hundred-Knot Serpents
Material: Serpent’s Memory (requires three Serpent pieces)
Where to find it:
- Serpent Rattle: Red — Return to the Red Serpent House in Crimson Forest after getting the Flaming Mane Phantom Edge to burn the blocking branches.
- Serpent Venom Sac: Black — Found in the Black Serpent House in Village of Lu.
- Serpent Slough: White — Found in the White Serpent House in Meigu Lake after defeating Heartpiercer.
Effect: When recalling Crimson Viper, summon Hundred-Knot Serpents to attack. The longer the short blade remains away from Soul, the more Serpents are summoned.
Fiend Saws → Endless Fiend Form
Material: Heel Reinforcement Part
Where to find it: After speaking with Mu Xiaokui on the rooftop in Village of Lu, challenge the Jade Dancer and defeat her alongside Iron Fiend in the extended boss fight. This is missable — you must collect all five of Mu Xiaokui’s ribbons to unlock the additional phase.
Effect: After Fiend-Aura Erosion erupts on an enemy, all attacks against them become unblockable for 3 seconds.
Tianxuan Bronze Sword → Effortless Action
Material: Bronze Essence
Where to find it: Found in Pangzhen — interact with the furnace near the relevant area after progressing through the region. Also connected to the Sword and the Way quest.
Effect: Even while Guard-Broken, hold the block button to block at the cost of a small amount of HP.
Soft Snake Sword → Final Gambit
Material: Dancer’s Ribbon
Where to find it: Accept The Star Performer quest from the Leading Opera Actress in Myst’s Tavern in Pangzhen. Investigate Tianxiang Pavilion and open the chest there.
Effect: Hold heavy attack to spend all Sha-Chi on a sequence of powerful sword strikes.
Armybreaker → Relentless Rush
Material: Alloyed Steel
Where to find it: Found in Pangzhen.
Effect: Adds a charging rush attack to the weapon’s moveset.
Crescent Blade → Sundering Stroke
Material: Statue of the Loyal Hero
Where to find it: Found in Pangzhen.
Effect: Enhances the weapon’s cleaving strikes for greater damage and Guard Break.
Baishan Stormswords → Unending Storm
Material: Baishan Headband
Where to find it: Found in Mandate Encampment — collected during the Baishan sect questline.
Effect: Enhances the weapon’s storm-based combo attacks.
Wild Oriole Sword → Tianmiao · Wild Oriole
Material: Supreme Order Token
Where to find it: Speak with Mu Xiaokui on the Crimson Forest Sha-Chi Tower rooftop after the relevant story progression.
Effect: Adds Mu Tianmiao’s sword to Sha-Chi combos for dual-blade attacks. While Oriole Sword is active, Tianmiao’s sword produces stronger blade waves.
The Fanatic’s Broken Blade → The Fanatic’s Drunken Sword
Material: Fanatic’s Obsession (requires two Fanatic’s Fragments)
Where to find it:
- Fanatic’s Fragment: Fixation — Found in Meigu Lake, dropped by Yan Qiansui, the Zither Maiden in the sunken opera house.
- Fanatic’s Fragment: Obsession — Found separately in Meigu Lake.
Effect: Restores the complete sword and removes the distance damage penalty from its flying attacks.
Bonesaw → Prey on the Mighty
Material: Craftsman’s Tool Kit
Where to find it: Found in Mount Soulrend.
Effect: Enhances damage output against high-HP enemies.
Aureate → The Grand Design
Material: Broken Lóng Body
Where to find it: Late-game material tied to the Lóng encounter chain.
Effect: Triggers the weapon’s grand technique, a powerful enhanced attack sequence.
Soul Tempering Materials for Phantom Edges
Phantom Edges have their own Soul Temper materials, separate from main weapon materials. Same cost: 5,000 Remnant Dust plus one specific item.
Hunter’s Chain Sickle → Gleaming Hook
Material: Alloyed Scythe Blade
Where to find it: Defeat the duo boss Puppet Scavenger and Acolyte Hansui in the depths of the Crimson Manor in Weeping Creek Valley (requires return visit). Also awards an Acolyte Mask contributing to Discordance access.
Effect: The chain’s damage is raised to match the sickle blade. Hitting enemies depletes more Sha-Chi and builds the Bleed Gauge. Full gauge triggers Blood Loss. No effect on Puppets, Golden Bodies, or Phantom Bodies.
Bashpole → Whirling Advance
Material: Pigeon Feed
Where to find it: Return to Weeping Creek Valley after obtaining the Bashpole. Find the weakened wall near the Long Pillar and smash through it with the Bashpole. Pigeon Feed is inside.
Effect: Press Phantom Edge and block together to advance while spinning the Bashpole in a whirling attack. For more on the Bashpole, see our Bashpole Phantom Edge guide.
Dread Axe → Rapid Charge
Material: Blood Oath Dagger
Where to find it: In Pangzhen, collect all the books required for the Four Fierce Axes tale, then speak with the Child of Insight in the Lan Manor to receive the reward.
Effect: Increases charge speed by 30%.
Iron Gauntlets → Fist Wave
Material: Worldbreaker Fist (requires two Fist Fragments)
Where to find it:
- Fist Fragment: Core — Defeat the final boss of Village of Lu in the extended three-phase encounter by interacting with all child puppets beforehand.
- Fist Fragment: Shell — Complete the Heart of the Fist quest in Crimson Forest.
Effect: Each Phantom Edge attack releases a Fist Wave forward.
Bastion → Fierce Reprisal
Material: Border Banner
Where to find it: In Village of Lu, near the Young Master Lan’s Hideout Bell. There is cracked ground nearby — use the Bashpole to break through it and open the chest inside.
Effect: Reprisal Shockwave releases one additional shockwave on activation.
Kuye Temple Prayer Beads → Golden Formation
Material: Kuye Temple Sutra
Where to find it: In Pangzhen, first use Bronze Essence to temper the Tianxuan Bronze Sword, then return to Daoist Bi Di near Myst’s Tavern Bell and speak with him to receive the Sutra.
Effect: Upgrades the three summoned Bronze Men into a Fist Gold Man, a Staff Gold Man, and a Blade Gold Man. They retain all weapon upgrades previously applied.
Fire Meteor → Bone-Eating Ghostfire
Material: Blazing Lion Head
Where to find it: In Pangzhen, found in a small nook after clearing the fire blocking a passage near the Lion Dance area.
Effect: Enhances all moves. Against enemies burning with Phosphor Flame, greatly increases damage and Sha-Chi Depletion. Puppets, Golden Bodies, and Phantom Bodies are immune.
Puppeteer’s Bell → Abyssal Bell
Material: Herald’s Lingering Threads
Where to find it: Found in Village of Lu — tied to the Firefly Memory Flower interactions and the Dusk the Puppeteer secret boss chain.
Effect: Soul Tempers the Puppeteer’s Bell into the Abyssal Bell, allowing you to summon a powerful third Puppet.
Flaming Mane → Chaotic Flame
Material: Everlasting Flame
Where to find it: Found in Meigu Lake.
Effect: Flame breath transforms into Chaotic Flame. Ignited enemies continuously lose HP and Sha-Chi.
You Loong’s Deluge → Enhanced Water Pressure
Material: High-Power Pump
Where to find it: Found in Meigu Lake.
Effect: Increases water stream power and damage output.
War Wagon → Free Rein
Material: Old Wooden Comb
Where to find it: Interact with the flower next to Old Man Gen, northwest of Meigu Lake, after completing his quest chain. Old Man Gen will hand it over before departing.
Effect: Increases damage dealt based on the distance War Wagon travels, up to 50%. Distance resets after hitting an enemy.
Ink Cut → Twin Radiant Wheels
Material: Plain Sword Tassel
Where to find it: Found in Mandate Encampment, near the Corpse-Eating Xue boss arena.
Effect: While a Radiant Wheel is active, press the Phantom Edge button to create another one simultaneously.
Tiger Cannon → Soul-Siphoning Hunt
Material: Song of Parting
Where to find it: Found in Village of Lu — near the Hidden Passage to Pangzhen Bell. Drop off to the right and use the Bashpole or Dread Axe to break through a wall.
Effect: Press block and Phantom Edge together for a ranged execution on weaker enemies or heavy damage against stronger ones.
Multi-Part Materials That Combine Into One
A few Soul Temper materials require collecting multiple fragments before the full item is assembled. These are worth planning around early:
- Worldbreaker Fist (Iron Gauntlets) — Combine Fist Fragment: Core + Fist Fragment: Shell
- Serpent’s Memory (White Serpent & Crimson Viper) — Combine Serpent Rattle: Red + Serpent Venom Sac: Black + Serpent Slough: White
- Flaming Grip (Sanguine Reach → Blazing Edge) — Combine Scorching Flames + Quenched Flaming Grip
- Chaos Twin Daggers (Sanguine Twin → Shadowless Edge) — Combine Chaos Iron Fragment I + Chaos Iron Fragment II
- Fanatic’s Obsession (The Fanatic’s Broken Blade) — Combine Fanatic’s Fragment: Fixation + Fanatic’s Fragment: Obsession
- Boy’s Worn Outfit (Whiteshadow) — Collect all four clothing pieces in Phantom Illusionist Ruins: Boy’s Shoes, Boy’s Cap, Boy’s Trousers, and Boy’s Shirt
Tips for Collecting Soul Temper Materials
- Revisit old regions — many materials are behind Phantom Edge-locked routes. Once you have the Bashpole, Flaming Mane, or Dread Axe, check earlier maps for newly accessible areas marked in green.
- Don’t skip the Serpent questline — three of the Serpent pieces for White Serpent & Crimson Viper are spread across Crimson Forest, Village of Lu, and Meigu Lake. Collect each one as you pass through.
- Check quest rewards carefully — several materials like Blood Oath Dagger and Kuye Temple Sutra come from finishing side quests, not just from chests or enemies.
- Soul Temper is permanent — once applied, it can’t be undone. Test your weapon thoroughly before committing.
Related Phantom Blade Zero Guides
- How to Upgrade Weapons in Phantom Blade Zero
- All Weapons List
- All Phantom Edges List
- Bashpole Phantom Edge Guide
- All Accessories Locations
- All Bosses Guide
- All Long Pillar Locations
- Four Fierce Axes Quest Walkthrough
- Secrets of the Baishan Sect Guide
- Perfect Ending Guide
Phantom Blade Zero is available on PlayStation 5, Steam, and Epic Games Store. Official site: pbz.s-game.com.
