TL;DR
- There are two Preservation Talisman Fragments in Phantom Blade Zero — both found in the Crimson Forest region.
- Fragment I is inside the cave near the Outlaws Trap bell — on a table behind the Maskwalker Butcher enemy.
- Fragment II is underground — use the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank (found in the same cave) to open the floor hatch near the bell, then cross the wooden bridge below.
- Pick up both fragments and they automatically merge into the Preservation Jar accessory.
- The Preservation Jar reduces poison damage taken by 30% — very useful in poison-heavy areas of the game.
- Neither fragment is missable in the long run, but you need to do both steps in the same area to get the full accessory.
What Are the Preservation Talisman Fragments in Phantom Blade Zero?
The Preservation Talisman Fragments are two collectible key items in Phantom Blade Zero. On their own, neither fragment does anything. But once you collect both, they automatically combine into a single accessory called the Preservation Jar.
The Preservation Jar is a defensive accessory that reduces all poison damage you take by 30%. It is one of the more useful passive accessories in the game’s early-to-mid sections, especially during stretches where poison zones and poison enemies become more common.
Both fragments are located in the Crimson Forest, which is the second major region in Phantom Blade Zero. You can pick up both during your first proper visit to the area if you know where to look. If you want to check where Crimson Forest fits in your overall run, our full chapter list breaks it all down.
Preservation Talisman Fragment I Location in Phantom Blade Zero
The first fragment is the easier one to find. Here is exactly how to get it.
Start at the Outlaws Trap Bell
Your reference point for both fragments is the Outlaws Trap bell in the Crimson Forest. This is a fast travel bell, so it is easy to return here if you need to. Once you have this bell, the cave you need is directly nearby.
If you have already passed Quick Hand Zhang’s cage earlier in the cave area, you are heading in the right direction. Just push on until you hit the Outlaws Trap bell and look for the cave entrance close to it.
Enter the Nearby Cave and Defeat the Maskwalker Butcher
Go into the cave near the Outlaws Trap bell and follow the path deeper inside. You will pass some weaker enemies along the way — deal with them and keep moving.
Eventually you will come face to face with a Maskwalker Butcher — a large, powerful enemy standing over a pile of bodies. This is the main obstacle before you can safely loot the area. The Butcher hits hard, so do not rush in without preparing your combat approach first.
If you want to sharpen your kit before this fight, our guides on the Feather Bow Phantom Edge and the Tiger Cannon Phantom Edge cover two solid secondary weapon options that work well in tight cave spaces.
Pick Up Preservation Talisman Fragment I
Once the Butcher is down, look for the Preservation Talisman Fragment I on the table behind where the Butcher was standing. It is a glowing item, so it should be visible once the area is clear.
Also in this same cave spot: the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank. Pick that up too — you will need it immediately for Fragment II. It is located near the pile of bodies and metal cages in the same area. For a full breakdown of how the crank works, see our dedicated Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank guide.
Preservation Talisman Fragment II Location in Phantom Blade Zero
The second fragment requires one extra step compared to the first. You cannot just walk to it — you need to open a hidden path using the crank you just picked up.
Use the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank to Open the Floor Hatch
Go back out of the cave to the Outlaws Trap bell. Right next to the bell, there is a small mechanism on the ground with a circular slot. This is the floor hatch control.
Interact with it and use the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank on the mechanism. A wooden floor panel opens up, revealing a hidden underground section beneath the forest. Drop down into the hole and descend the ladder that follows.
Cross the Wooden Bridge Underground
At the bottom, you will find yourself in an underground mining-style area. There are enemies here too, so stay alert. Once you deal with them, look for the wooden bridge on your right and cross it.
After crossing the bridge, continue along the path. You will come across the Preservation Talisman Fragment II on a dead body lying beside the wall. As with the first one, it glows so it is easy to spot once you are in the right area.
The Two Fragments Merge Automatically
The moment you pick up the second fragment, both pieces combine on their own. You do not have to open any menus or manually combine them — it just happens. Your inventory will now show the Preservation Jar in place of the two separate fragments.
Equip it in your accessory slot and you will benefit from the 30% poison damage reduction for the rest of your run.
What Is the Preservation Jar and Is It Worth Using?
The Preservation Jar is a defensive accessory classified under the Talisman type in Phantom Blade Zero. Its single effect is straightforward — it cuts incoming poison damage by 30%.
Whether it is worth equipping depends on where you are in the game. If you are moving through areas with frequent poison attacks or lingering poison zones, the 30% reduction can make a meaningful difference — especially on harder difficulty settings where letting poison tick can end a fight quickly.
In areas without much poison threat, you are better off swapping it out for something that matches the enemies you are fighting. Accessories in Phantom Blade Zero are most powerful when matched to the content ahead, so rotate the Preservation Jar in when you know poison is coming rather than wearing it constantly.
For more on how accessories and equip choices fit into your broader build, check our full Phantom Blade Zero review which covers how the game handles progression and loadout depth.
Can You Miss the Preservation Talisman Fragments?
Not permanently. Both fragments stay in the Crimson Forest and can be collected at any point during your time in the region, even after completing the main story objectives there. You can fast travel back to the Outlaws Trap bell at any time and run through the cave and underground area to pick them up.
That said, there is no good reason to delay. The cave is right next to the bell, and the whole process of getting both fragments only takes a few minutes once you know the route. Get them during your first pass through the region and you will have the Preservation Jar ready for whatever comes next.
Other Things to Do in This Section of the Crimson Forest
Since you are already in this part of the Crimson Forest working through the cave near the Outlaws Trap bell, there are a few other things worth handling here.
- Free Quick Hand Zhang — Earlier in the same cave, there is a crank that lowers a cage trapping Quick Hand Zhang. Freeing him unlocks his shop and starts his multi-region treasure quest. Do not skip past this on your way to the Butcher.
- Find the Sect Leader’s Snuff Bottle — After using the Tunnel Crank to open the underground area where Fragment II is located, continue past the wooden bridge. Defeat the second Butcher and dogs, then take the left path up the slope to find a chest with the Sect Leader’s Snuff Bottle inside — one of Zhang’s relic items.
- Check for the Cavalrybane accessory — From where you used the crank to free Quick Hand Zhang, drop down to the lower scaffolding platform to find a chest containing the Cavalrybane accessory.
- Talk to Yu’er at the Thieves’ Camp — She has multiple side quests here. Our guides on the Apprentice Healer herbs and the Flesh Lily location cover both her quests in detail.
After clearing this section, you will be heading toward the Forest Outpost Courtyard. Our Forest Outpost Courtyard Key guide covers exactly how to get that key and what comes next.
If you are also working through side quests in the wider Crimson Forest region, our walkthroughs for Whence the Weeping, the Festering Secret, and the Four Fierce Axes quest are all useful companions.
Other key items in the Crimson Forest worth tracking down include the Rusted Loong Key and the Cell Key. And if you are dealing with the Red Thread Barrier in this region, we have a guide for that too.
For weapon variety during your Crimson Forest run, the Hunter’s Chain Sickle is a great pick, and our Gold Masked One boss guide is there if you need help with one of the tougher fights in the region.
You can also browse all available cosmetics with our all outfits unlock guide.
Phantom Blade Zero is available on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Epic Games Store. PC players can also check our PC requirements and install size guide before downloading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Preservation Talisman Fragment I in Phantom Blade Zero?
It is inside the cave near the Outlaws Trap bell in the Crimson Forest. Defeat the Maskwalker Butcher inside the cave and pick up the fragment from the table directly behind where the enemy was standing.
Where is Preservation Talisman Fragment II in Phantom Blade Zero?
It is underground. Use the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank on the mechanism next to the Outlaws Trap bell to open the floor hatch. Drop down, descend the ladder, cross the wooden bridge, and pick up the second fragment from a dead body lying beside the wall.
Do the Preservation Talisman Fragments merge automatically in Phantom Blade Zero?
Yes. As soon as you collect the second fragment, both pieces automatically merge into the Preservation Jar accessory. You do not need to do anything manually — it just combines on its own the moment you pick up Fragment II.
What does the Preservation Jar do in Phantom Blade Zero?
The Preservation Jar is a defensive accessory that reduces poison damage taken by 30%. It is most useful in areas with heavy poison enemy presence or poison environmental hazards. In areas without poison threats, swapping it out for a more combat-relevant accessory is usually the better call.
Can you miss the Preservation Talisman Fragments in Phantom Blade Zero?
No, not permanently. Both fragments are in the Crimson Forest and remain accessible even after you complete the region’s main story objectives. You can return to the Outlaws Trap bell at any time and collect both fragments during free roam.
