TL;DR
- The Forest Outpost Courtyard Key is found in the Crimson Forest region.
- You reach the locked courtyard door after meeting Yu’er at the Thieves’ Camp and pushing through the caverns.
- From the locked door, go directly opposite and defeat enemies who are already fighting each other.
- Head up the stairs to the elevated area, deal with more enemies, then enter the building at the top.
- The key is sitting on a table next to the bonfire inside that building.
- A Blackstone Fragment is also in a chest right next to the stairs — grab it before you leave.
- Use the key to unlock the courtyard door and progress deeper into the Crimson Forest main story.
What Is the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key in Phantom Blade Zero?
The Forest Outpost Courtyard Key is a key item in Phantom Blade Zero that unlocks a large locked gate in the Crimson Forest region. Unlike some other keys in the game that lead to optional loot rooms, this one is directly tied to your main story progress. You have to find it to move forward.
The good news is that the key is not hidden deep in some hard-to-reach area. It is close to the locked door itself — you just need to know which way to go when you arrive at the courtyard. Most players get confused because the area around the door has enemies fighting each other, which makes it feel like a diversion rather than the actual path to the key.
If you have been exploring the Crimson Forest and want to track your overall progress, our full chapter list guide is a useful reference for where you are in the story.
Where to Find the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key in Phantom Blade Zero
Here is the full step-by-step path from the point where most players get stuck.
Step 1 — Progress Through the Caverns After Thieves’ Camp
You will encounter the locked Forest Outpost Courtyard door after meeting Yu’er at the Thieves’ Camp and making your way through the caverns that follow. The caverns lead you out into an open area, and right ahead you will see a locked gate with a courtyard on the other side.
If you have not met Yu’er yet, make sure you complete her initial interaction at the Thieves’ Camp before pushing forward. She is tied to several Crimson Forest side quests, and you will want to talk to her while you are here. Our guides on the Apprentice Healer herbs and the Flesh Lily location for Yu’er cover what she needs from you later.
Step 2 — Go Directly Opposite the Locked Door
When you are standing in front of the locked Forest Outpost Courtyard door in Phantom Blade Zero, do not try to find a way around it. Turn and go in the opposite direction from the door.
You will see a group of enemies already fighting each other in this area. This is not a scripted event you have to watch — walk in, deal with all of them, and clear the space. Once they are down, the path forward becomes clear.
Step 3 — Climb the Stairs to the Elevated Area
After clearing the enemies on the ground level, look for a stairway beside you. Head up these stairs and you will arrive at an elevated section of the area. There are more enemies waiting up here, so be ready for another short fight.
Take them out before you start exploring the upper area. This keeps things clean and lets you loot without being interrupted. If you want a solid secondary weapon for these kinds of close, multi-enemy fights, our Hunter’s Chain Sickle guide is worth a read.
Step 4 — Enter the Building and Grab the Key
Once the elevated area is clear, go up the second set of stairs leading to a building at the top. Enter it and look around inside — the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key is on a table right next to the bonfire inside the building.
It is a glowing item, so it should stand out immediately once you walk inside. Pick it up and it goes straight into your key items.
Before you head back down, check the area right next to the stairs outside the building. There is a purple chest containing a Blackstone Fragment — a useful upgrade material that is easy to miss if you rush straight for the key and leave.
Step 5 — Unlock the Forest Outpost Courtyard
Head back down to the locked gate. Interact with the door and Soul will automatically use the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key in Phantom Blade Zero to unlock it. On the other side is the Red Serpent House bell, which acts as your fast travel point for this next stretch of the Crimson Forest.
From here, the main story path opens up further into the region. This is one of those keys that feels like a small thing but gates a significant chunk of content ahead.
What You Find After Using the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key
Unlocking the Forest Outpost Courtyard does more than just let you progress the main story. It opens up a new section of the Crimson Forest map with fresh exploration opportunities, enemies, and collectibles.
Right past the gate, you will find the Red Serpent House bell — activate it immediately so you have this area as a fast travel point. From here, the Crimson Forest branches out further and connects to areas that become important for several side quests.
If you are working on side quests in this area, our walkthroughs for the Whence the Weeping quest and the Festering Secret quest are both relevant to what comes next in this region.
Other Keys and Cranks in the Crimson Forest
The Forest Outpost Courtyard Key is one of several key items you will collect in the Crimson Forest. Knowing which ones exist helps you stay organized and avoid missing locked areas during your first pass through.
- Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank — Opens the floor hatch near the Outlaws Trap bell. Found after defeating the Maskwalker Butcher in a nearby cave. See our full Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank guide for the exact steps.
- Crimson Forest Cellar Crank — Found at the Cliffside Lodge. Opens the underground cellar section with more loot and story-related content.
- Crimson Forest Secret Chamber Crank — Found inside the same cellar. Opens a hidden room further below, connected to a side quest chain.
- Rusted Loong Key — A separate key used in a different part of the Crimson Forest. Our Rusted Loong Key guide covers that one in detail.
Each key opens a different locked section, and none of them can be swapped in for another. If you have a key and cannot figure out where to use it, always check the nearest locked door or mechanism in the area where you found it.
What Else to Do in This Part of the Crimson Forest
Since you are in the Forest Outpost area, a few things are worth doing before you push further into the main quest.
- Talk to Lanlan on the bridge near the Thieves’ Camp to start the Secrets of the Baishan Sect side tale. This is a missable quest — if you defeat the final boss of Crimson Forest before accepting it, you lose access permanently.
- Look for the Red Thread Barrier in this region if you have not dealt with it yet. Our Red Thread Barrier guide tells you exactly what to do with it.
- Check your outfit collection — the Crimson Forest has several unlockable cosmetics. Our all outfits unlock guide lists everything available and how to get each one.
- If you are going for 100% completion, also deal with the Four Fierce Axes quest — much of its collectible hunting happens in and around this outpost area.
If you are about to take on the Gold Masked One boss, read our Gold Masked One boss guide first. And if you want to experiment with different Phantom Edges before the fight, our guides on the Feather Bow Phantom Edge and the Tiger Cannon Phantom Edge cover two strong options.
You can get Phantom Blade Zero on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Epic Games Store. If you are still deciding whether to pick it up, check our full Phantom Blade Zero review, and for PC players our PC requirements and install size guide covers what your system needs to run it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key in Phantom Blade Zero?
It is inside a building in the Crimson Forest, near the locked courtyard gate. From the locked door, go the opposite direction, defeat the enemies on the ground and upper levels, then climb to the top building. The key is on a table next to the bonfire inside.
What does the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key unlock in Phantom Blade Zero?
It unlocks the large gate leading into the Forest Outpost Courtyard in the Crimson Forest. On the other side is the Red Serpent House bell and the next section of the Crimson Forest main story path.
Is the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key required for the main story?
Yes. Unlike some keys in the game that lead to optional areas, this one is part of the main path through the Crimson Forest region. You need it to progress the story forward.
Is there loot near the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key?
Yes. Right next to the stairs that lead up to the building where the key is found, there is a purple chest containing a Blackstone Fragment. Make sure you grab it before heading back to the locked door.
Can you miss the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key?
Not permanently — since it is a main story key, the area stays accessible. But you might spend time confused at the locked gate if you do not know where to look. The key is close by, just up the stairs in the opposite direction from the locked door.
