TL;DR
- The Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank is a key item found inside a cave in the Crimson Forest region.
- Start from the Outlaws Trap bell — the cave is directly nearby.
- Defeat the Maskwalker Butcher inside the cave to access the crank.
- Pick up the crank from near the pile of bodies and metal cages.
- Use the crank on the floor hatch mechanism near the Outlaws Trap bell to open a hidden underground area.
- This is required for Quick Hand Zhang’s treasure quest and unlocks an optional exploration zone.
What Is the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank in Phantom Blade Zero?
The Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank is a key item in Phantom Blade Zero that you pick up during your time in the Crimson Forest region. It does one specific thing — it opens a locked floor hatch near the Outlaws Trap bell, giving you access to a hidden underground tunnel area below the forest.
Without this crank, that hatch stays locked. You will literally walk past it and have no way to open it. So if you are stuck at that small circular mechanism and wondering what to do, this guide will sort you out quickly.
It is also connected to Quick Hand Zhang’s treasure quest, which makes it even more important to grab early during your Crimson Forest run. Check out our full chapter list if you want to know where Crimson Forest fits in the game’s overall structure.
Where to Find the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank
The process is simpler than it sounds, but the cave entrance is easy to miss if you rush through this part of the map. Here is a step-by-step breakdown.
Step 1 — Reach the Outlaws Trap Bell
Your starting point is the Outlaws Trap bell in the Crimson Forest. This is a fast travel bell, so once you find it, you can always return here quickly. The bell sits on a raised area near a wooden bridge and a cliff face.
If you have already gone past Quick Hand Zhang’s cage earlier in the cave section, you are heading in the right direction. Just keep progressing until you hit this bell. From here, the cave you need is very close.
Step 2 — Enter the Cave Near the Bell
Once you are at the Outlaws Trap bell, look for a cave entrance directly nearby. Depending on your direction, it may be to the north or directly behind the bell. Enter the cave and start moving deeper inside.
You will pass a few enemies as you go in. Clear them out so you are not fighting the main enemy in bad conditions. Keep following the path — the cave is fairly linear at this point.
Step 3 — Defeat the Maskwalker Butcher
This is the only real challenge standing between you and the crank. Deep inside the cave, you will find a Maskwalker Butcher enemy. This is a heavy-hitting, slow enemy that deals serious damage if you get caught off guard.
The Butcher will be standing over a pile of bodies — it is a grim but unmistakable landmark inside the cave. There may also be dogs or lesser enemies alongside it, so deal with those first to avoid being surrounded.
Once the Butcher is down, the area is clear and you can safely loot.
If you want to sharpen your combat builds before this fight, take a look at our guides on the Feather Bow Phantom Edge and the Tiger Cannon Phantom Edge — both are solid options in close cave fights.
Step 4 — Pick Up the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank
After the Butcher falls, look around the spot where it was standing. Near the pile of bodies and metal cages, you will find the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank sitting on or near the butcher’s chopping block area. It is a glowing item, so it should be visible once the fight is over.
Pick it up and it goes into your key items. You cannot miss it at this point as long as you look in the right spot.
How to Use the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank
Go back out of the cave to the Outlaws Trap bell. Just next to the bell, there is a small mechanism with a circular indent in the floor — this is the hatch control. Interact with it and use the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank on it.
The wooden floor panel opens up, revealing a trapdoor into the underground area below. Drop down, descend the ladder, cross the wooden bridge, and you will find yourself in a separate underground section with more enemies, loot, and an optional path to explore.
Inside this underground tunnel, you will also find the second half of the Preservation Talisman Fragment, which combines with the first fragment to create the Preservation Jar accessory. That alone makes this detour worth your time.
For more hidden items in the Crimson Forest region, our guides on the Rusted Loong Key and the Cell Key location are also worth a read.
Why the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank Matters
Beyond just exploring, this crank is tied to several things that can impact your playthrough.
Quick Hand Zhang’s Treasure Quest
After you free Quick Hand Zhang from his cage earlier in the Crimson Forest cave, he sets you on a quest to find hidden relics and treasures throughout the region. One of those treasures — the Sect Leader’s Snuff Bottle — requires you to first use the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank to open the underground path. Without opening the hatch, you cannot complete this leg of the quest.
For a full breakdown of all Zhang’s relics and quests in the region, check our Deep in the Valley quest guide.
Preservation Jar Accessory
The tunnel you unlock leads to the Preservation Talisman Fragment II. Combine it with the first fragment you find in the same cave area, and you get the Preservation Jar — a useful accessory worth having. This is entirely missable if you skip the crank.
It Is Not the Only Crank in the Area
It is worth knowing that the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank is different from two other cranks in this region — the Crimson Forest Cellar Crank and the Crimson Forest Secret Chamber Crank. Each opens a different area. If you are exploring thoroughly, you will need all three at different points. The Cellar Crank, for example, comes from the Cliffside Lodge area much later.
Also, if you are working through Crimson Forest side quests, our Whence the Weeping walkthrough, Festering Secret walkthrough, and the Four Fierce Axes quest are all helpful companions for this region.
Common Mistakes When Looking for the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank
- Going too far on the main path: It is easy to rush toward the main story objectives and skip the cave entirely. The crank is in an optional-feeling cave branch, but it matters a lot for side content.
- Looking for it before defeating the Butcher: The crank only becomes clearly accessible after the fight. Do not try to grab it mid-fight — clear the enemy first.
- Confusing it with the Cellar Crank: These are different items. The Tunnel Crank opens the floor hatch near the Outlaws Trap bell. The Cellar Crank opens an entirely different underground section accessed from the Cliffside Lodge later.
- Missing the floor mechanism: The hatch control near the bell is small and easy to walk past. If you are at the bell and looking for somewhere to use the crank, check right next to the bell for a circular slot in the ground.
Other Things to Do in Crimson Forest While You Are Here
Since you are in the area, a few things are worth doing:
- Talk to Lanlan on the big bridge near Thieves’ Camp to start the Secrets of the Baishan Sect side tale — this is missable if you defeat the end-region boss first.
- Check in with Yu’er for the healer side quests. Our guides on Apprentice Healer herbs and the Flesh Lily location cover both.
- Look for the Red Thread Barrier — our Red Thread Barrier guide explains how to deal with it.
- If you want to work on your weapon options here, read our Hunter’s Chain Sickle guide for a solid early weapon pick.
You can also find the Gold Masked One boss in this stretch of the game. If you need help with that fight, check our Gold Masked One boss guide.
Want to see all available outfits before you progress further? Our all outfits unlock guide covers everything in one place.
If you haven’t picked up the game yet, you can find Phantom Blade Zero on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Epic Games Store. You can also check our PC requirements and install size guide and our full Phantom Blade Zero review if you want a complete picture of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank in Phantom Blade Zero?
It is inside the cave near the Outlaws Trap bell in the Crimson Forest. Go into the cave, defeat the Maskwalker Butcher enemy inside, and pick up the crank from near the pile of bodies and metal cages where the Butcher was standing.
What does the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank do in Phantom Blade Zero?
It opens the locked floor hatch near the Outlaws Trap bell. Once you use the crank on the mechanism beside the bell, a wooden panel opens in the ground and you can drop down into an underground tunnel area with loot and enemies.
Is the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank required to complete the main story?
No, it is not required for the main story. However, it is important if you want to complete Quick Hand Zhang’s treasure quest and find the Preservation Talisman Fragment II, which gives you the Preservation Jar accessory.
Can you miss the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank?
Technically yes — if you skip the cave and push through the main path, you might not come across it naturally. But since the cave is in the same area as the Outlaws Trap bell and Quick Hand Zhang’s route, most players who explore even slightly will find it. You can always go back to the bell and find the cave from there.
What is the difference between the Tunnel Crank, the Cellar Crank, and the Secret Chamber Crank in Crimson Forest?
These are three separate key items that each open different locked areas in the Crimson Forest. The Tunnel Crank opens the hatch near the Outlaws Trap bell. The Cellar Crank — found at the Cliffside Lodge later on — opens the underground cellar in that section. The Secret Chamber Crank opens a separate hidden room further inside the same cellar area. You will need all three if you want full exploration of the region.
