TL;DR
- The Crimson Manor is located in Weeping Creek Valley, beneath the Sha-Chi Tower — but the door is locked until late in the game.
- To reach it, use a Powderkeg enemy to blow open a cracked metal wall near the bottom of the Sha-Chi Tower, then take the elevator down.
- The door requires the Puppet’s Tongue key item, obtained by completing The Herald’s Illusion quest.
- This quest requires entering three portals spread across the game — in the Village of Lu, the Mandate Encampment, and the Mountain of Imprisonment.
- After entering all three portals, speak to the hanging puppet to receive the Puppet’s Tongue.
- Return to the Crimson Manor, use the Puppet’s Tongue on the door, and head inside.
- Inside you will find Acolyte Hansui and the Puppet Scavenger, and earn the Alloyed Scythe Blade, Crystal Puppet Eye [Yang], and Hansui’s Frost Mask.
What Is the Crimson Manor in Phantom Blade Zero?
The Crimson Manor is a hidden, optional area tucked beneath Weeping Creek Valley’s Sha-Chi Tower in Phantom Blade Zero. You will likely spot the door to it early in the game when exploring the lower levels of the tower — but no matter what you try, it will not open. A small “Mute” prompt is all that greets you. The manor is locked behind significant story progress and a multi-step quest.
The Crimson Manor is entirely optional and is not part of the critical path to finish the main story. However, it is connected to late-game quests including Secrets at the Heart of the Lake, contains an acolyte boss fight needed for the Acolyte Mask questline, and rewards you with the Alloyed Scythe Blade — the Soul Tempering material used to upgrade the Hunter’s Chain Sickle. If you care about completions, builds, or the true ending, this area matters a lot.
If you want to see how all the game’s regions connect and where you are in the overall structure, our full chapter list is a useful reference before diving into this guide.
How to Reach the Crimson Manor Door
Before you even worry about unlocking the door, you need to know how to physically reach it. The Crimson Manor is not directly accessible from the normal paths through Weeping Creek Valley.
Find the Sha-Chi Tower Base Key
The first step is getting the Sha-Chi Tower Base Key, which grants access to the northeastern section of the Weeping Creek Valley map. This key opens the path that leads down to the lower sections of the Sha-Chi Tower. You will need to complete the Deep in the Valley quest to explore this section of the zone fully — including the lower tower area where the manor sits.
Use a Powderkeg to Blow Open the Cracked Metal Wall
Once you are in the lower section of the Sha-Chi Tower, look for a cracked metal wall. Nearby, you will find a Powderkeg enemy — a walking explosive. Get the Powderkeg’s attention and lead it toward the cracked wall. When it detonates, it will blast open the wall and reveal the path beyond. This is a common environmental puzzle in Phantom Blade Zero, but easy to miss here if you are not looking carefully.
Take the Elevator Down to the Crimson Manor
Behind the destroyed wall is an elevator. Ride it down and you will arrive at the Crimson Manor. In front of the manor is a bell — activate it immediately. This gives you a fast travel point here so you can return easily once you have the Puppet’s Tongue. Interact with the manor door and you will see it is sealed. Come back when you are ready with the key item.
How to Get the Puppet’s Tongue — The Herald’s Illusion Quest
The Puppet’s Tongue is the key item that opens the Crimson Manor door. You get it by completing The Herald’s Illusion — a multi-part quest that requires entering three separate portals spread across different regions of the game. This is late-game content, so do not expect to complete it on your first pass through Weeping Creek Valley.
Portal 1 — Village of Lu (Region 3)
The first portal is found near the Puppet Testing Grounds bell in the Village of Lu, the game’s third region. When you arrive in the Village of Lu, this portal is one of the first unusual things you will notice. Entering it starts The Herald’s Illusion quest and transports you into a strange realm where a giant hanging puppet waits. You cannot fight or defeat the puppet here yet — you are just opening one of its eyes. Exit and continue the story.
Portal 2 — Mandate Encampment (After Village of Lu Boss)
The second portal is found at the end of the Mandate Encampment area, after defeating the region boss there. Once the boss is down, the second portal opens. Enter it to progress The Herald’s Illusion and open the second eye of the hanging puppet. Again, exit and carry on with the story after.
Portal 3 — Mountain of Imprisonment (Region 7)
The third and final portal is in the Mountain of Imprisonment, the seventh region of Phantom Blade Zero. This is the furthest point in the game at which the quest can be completed, which is why getting into the Crimson Manor is firmly late-game content. Find and enter the third portal in this region.
Once you step through the third portal, speak directly to the hanging puppet inside. With all three of his eyes now open, he will hand over the Crystal Puppet Eye [Yin] and, most importantly for the manor, the Puppet’s Tongue. With the Puppet’s Tongue in your inventory, you can finally open the Crimson Manor.
How to Open the Crimson Manor Door
Fast travel back to the Crimson Manor Bell in Weeping Creek Valley. Walk up to the sealed door and interact with it. You will be prompted to use the Puppet’s Tongue — do so and the door opens. Head inside and the Crimson Manor is yours to explore.
What’s Inside the Crimson Manor
The Crimson Manor is a compact but meaningful area. It is not a massive dungeon — but what it holds is worth the journey.
Puppet Scavenger and Acolyte Hansui Boss Fight
Deep inside the manor you will face two enemies: the Puppet Scavenger and Acolyte Hansui. You need to defeat both. Hansui is one of the four acolytes connected to the late-game Acolyte Mask questline, which is tied to quest progress in Meigu Lake and the game’s broader ending content. Prepare for a serious fight — this is not a pushover enemy pair.
For combat builds heading into this fight, our guides on the Feather Bow Phantom Edge and the Tiger Cannon Phantom Edge can help you think through your secondary weapon options.
Rewards from the Crimson Manor
After defeating Hansui and the Puppet Scavenger, you will receive three significant drops:
- Alloyed Scythe Blade — A Soul Tempering material used to upgrade the Hunter’s Chain Sickle. If you have been using the sickle for traversal and combat, this is the item you need to push it further. Our Hunter’s Chain Sickle guide covers everything about the weapon and how upgrades work.
- Crystal Puppet Eye [Yang] — One of the Crystal Puppet Eyes connected to a separate questline. Combined with the Yin eye from the puppet encounter during The Herald’s Illusion, these are needed for late-game quest resolution.
- Hansui’s Frost Mask — One of the four acolyte masks collected as part of the end-game mask questline. This is a key collectible for players going for full completion or the true ending.
Memory Flower and Extra Loot
On the second floor of the manor, on a balcony, there is a Memory Flower to collect. If you are tracking all Memory Flowers for 100% completion in Weeping Creek Valley, this one requires the manor to be open first — so it is only accessible after you have the Puppet’s Tongue.
Is the Crimson Manor Required to Finish Phantom Blade Zero?
No — the Crimson Manor and The Herald’s Illusion quest are entirely optional for the standard ending. You can complete the main story without ever entering the manor.
However, if you are working toward the true ending, or want to collect all four acolyte masks, or want to upgrade the Hunter’s Chain Sickle with the Alloyed Scythe Blade, then the Crimson Manor is something you cannot skip. The crystal eyes and Hansui’s Frost Mask are directly tied to content that affects the game’s full resolution.
Other Things to Do in Weeping Creek Valley While You’re Here
Since returning to Weeping Creek Valley for the manor is a late-game trip, it is worth tying up anything you may have missed from your earlier visits.
- If you still need to open the western side of the Outpost, our guide on how to unlock the western Outpost explains the story trigger you need.
- The Rusted Loong Key is in Creek Valley Plains — our Rusted Loong Key guide covers its exact location.
- Check whether you have collected the Preservation Talisman Fragments back in the Crimson Forest if you missed them earlier.
- The Cell Key and its locked cell near the Outpost entrance are still there if uncollected — the Blackstone Fragment inside is worth grabbing.
If you are still working through Crimson Forest side content too, our walkthroughs for the Festering Secret quest and the Four Fierce Axes quest are both worth checking. The Gold Masked One boss guide is there if that fight still needs clearing. And for anything cosmetic, our all outfits unlock guide covers the full list across the game.
Phantom Blade Zero is available now on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Epic Games Store. Check our PC requirements guide if you are on PC, or read our full review for a complete take on the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Crimson Manor in Phantom Blade Zero?
The Crimson Manor is in the Weeping Creek Valley, beneath the Sha-Chi Tower. To reach it, use a Powderkeg enemy to blow open a cracked metal wall near the bottom of the tower, then ride the elevator down. Activate the bell in front of the manor so you can fast travel back later.
How do you unlock the Crimson Manor door in Phantom Blade Zero?
You need the Puppet’s Tongue, which comes from completing The Herald’s Illusion quest. This requires entering three portals — one near the Puppet Testing Grounds in the Village of Lu, one at the end of the Mandate Encampment, and one in the Mountain of Imprisonment. After entering all three, speak to the hanging puppet to receive the Puppet’s Tongue, then return to the manor door and use it.
What is inside the Crimson Manor in Phantom Blade Zero?
Inside you will fight the Puppet Scavenger and Acolyte Hansui. Defeating them rewards you with the Alloyed Scythe Blade (Hunter’s Chain Sickle upgrade material), the Crystal Puppet Eye [Yang], and Hansui’s Frost Mask. There is also a Memory Flower on the second floor balcony.
Can you enter the Crimson Manor early in Phantom Blade Zero?
No. You can physically find the manor door during Weeping Creek Valley, but it stays sealed with a “Mute” prompt until you complete The Herald’s Illusion quest — which requires reaching the Mountain of Imprisonment, the seventh region of the game. There is no shortcut or early access method.
Is the Crimson Manor required for the true ending in Phantom Blade Zero?
The Crimson Manor itself is optional for the main story, but the rewards inside — particularly Hansui’s Frost Mask and the Crystal Puppet Eyes — are connected to late-game questlines that influence the full ending. Players going for the true ending or full completion will need to enter the manor as part of that process.
