TL;DR
- The western side of the Outpost in Weeping Creek Valley is blocked by two guards on your first visit — you cannot get past them yet.
- To unlock it, you must complete the Crimson Forest region by defeating the final boss, Bai Chilian, The Sacrificial Serpent.
- After that, reach the Village of Lu for the first time and interact with a bell there.
- Fast travel back to the Outpost Bell in Weeping Creek Valley — the NPCs will have transformed into enemies.
- Defeat the transformed enemies and the path to the western side is now open.
- Inside you will find a new bell that clears the fog in the western part of the map, plus loot and quest-related content including the seventh Four Fierce Axes document.
Why Is the Western Side of the Outpost Locked in Phantom Blade Zero?
When you first arrive at the Outpost in Weeping Creek Valley in Phantom Blade Zero, things seem fairly normal. You rest at the Outpost Bell, meet the Blacksmith, and explore the camp. But when you look to the left of the bell, two guards are standing near a barricade blocking the path west. Talk to them and they will deny you access — no matter what you do at this point, the western side stays shut.
This is not a bug or a locked door waiting for a key. It is a story-gated area. The western section of the Outpost only becomes accessible after you have made significant progress through the next region of the game. The game does not tell you this clearly, which is why so many players get confused and spend time hunting for a workaround that does not exist yet.
If you want an overview of the full story structure and how the regions connect, our full chapter list guide is a good place to start.
How to Unlock the Western Side of the Outpost in Phantom Blade Zero
The process involves completing a full region before you can come back. Here is exactly what you need to do, step by step.
Step 1 — Complete the Crimson Forest Region
Leave the Outpost and continue through the main story. You will eventually enter the Crimson Forest, which is the second major region in Phantom Blade Zero. Work through this entire region, completing the main path and defeating the bosses along the way.
The critical unlock condition is defeating the final boss of the Crimson Forest — Bai Chilian, The Sacrificial Serpent. You have to beat this boss to trigger the change that eventually opens the western Outpost. Do not skip side quests in the Crimson Forest before this boss, as several are missable after this point.
Worth noting: defeating the earlier Crimson Forest boss also drops the Hunter’s Chain Sickle, which you will need for other exploration in Weeping Creek Valley. Our Hunter’s Chain Sickle guide covers everything about that weapon.
While you are in the Crimson Forest, make sure you pick up the key items and collectibles worth getting before leaving. Our guides on the Preservation Talisman Fragments, the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank, and the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key cover the most important ones.
Step 2 — Reach the Village of Lu
After beating Bai Chilian, the story will naturally move you toward the Village of Lu — the third region of Phantom Blade Zero. Simply follow the main path until you arrive there and interact with the first bell in the Village of Lu. This interaction is the trigger that changes the state of the Weeping Creek Valley Outpost.
You do not need to explore the full Village of Lu or do anything else there. Just finding and activating that first bell is enough to set things in motion back at the Outpost.
Step 3 — Fast Travel Back to the Outpost Bell
Once you have activated the Village of Lu bell, open your fast travel menu and head back to the Outpost Bell in Weeping Creek Valley. When you arrive, you will immediately notice something is wrong. The NPCs and villagers you met earlier have transformed into enemies — hostile versions that attack on sight.
This is intended. The game’s story has progressed to a point where things in the Outpost have changed dramatically. Do not be alarmed — this is the shift you were waiting for.
Step 4 — Defeat the Transformed Enemies
Fight through the enemies that have replaced the NPCs. Clear out the Outpost area, including the transformed guards and villagers. This is not an especially difficult fight compared to what you have been doing in the Crimson Forest, but stay focused since multiple enemies may come at you at once.
Once the enemies in the area are defeated, look toward where the two guards were standing near the barricade. The path to the western side of the Outpost is now open. Head through it.
What to Find on the Western Side of the Outpost
The western section is worth exploring properly. Here is what is waiting for you inside.
A New Bell That Clears the Western Fog
The most important thing in the western side is a new bell. Activating it clears the fog covering the western portion of the Weeping Creek Valley map, which means the full western area is now visible and explorable. This is how Phantom Blade Zero handles map reveal — bells clear the fog in their surrounding area, and this one covers a section you cannot access any other way.
If you are going for full map completion, this bell is required. Do not skip it.
The Seventh Four Fierce Axes Document
If you have been working on the Four Fierce Axes side quest, the seventh and final evidence document is located inside the western section of the Outpost. This is why the quest is impossible to complete on your first visit to the area — the document is literally locked behind the story gate.
After defeating the transformed enemies and heading into the western section, climb to the upper area where the final document is waiting. You will be able to collect it now that the barrier is gone. Our Four Fierce Axes quest walkthrough covers all seven document locations and the full quest resolution in detail.
Prayer Beads Key Item
Returning to the Outpost after reaching the Village of Lu also allows you to pick up the Prayer Beads — another key item tied to a side quest in the Village of Lu. The Prayer Beads come from the Outpost area after the transformation event. If you are tracking this item for a quest, this is the moment to grab it. Do not leave the area without checking for it.
Extra Loot and Exploration
Beyond the major items above, the western side of the Outpost has general loot worth collecting and some additional enemy encounters. The transformed enemies can also drop useful materials, so fight through everything rather than rushing to the bell.
Common Questions About the Western Outpost
Why Can’t I Get Past the Guards at the Outpost?
Because the western side is story-locked. You need to complete the Crimson Forest region and reach the Village of Lu first. There is no key, item, or trick that bypasses this — you simply have to progress the main story to the right point. If you are still in Weeping Creek Valley on your first visit, come back later.
What Happened to the NPCs at the Outpost?
When you return after the Crimson Forest story events, the NPCs in the Outpost have transformed into hostile enemies. This is a deliberate story beat. The Outpost has changed as a result of everything that has happened in the Crimson Forest. You fight through these enemies to clear the area and access the western section.
Do I Need to Do Anything in the Village of Lu Before Going Back?
No. You only need to reach the Village of Lu and activate the first bell there. That single action triggers the state change at the Outpost. You can immediately fast travel back to the Outpost Bell afterward if you want.
Other Things to Do in Weeping Creek Valley While You’re Back
Since you are returning to Weeping Creek Valley anyway, this is a good time to tie up any loose ends from your first visit. A few things that may still be waiting:
- The Cell Key and its locked door — If you have not already opened the cell near the Outpost entrance, our Cell Key location guide shows exactly where to find it and what is inside.
- The Rusted Loong Key — Needed for accessing part of Creek Valley Plains. Our Rusted Loong Key guide covers the location.
- Creek Valley Plains bells — There are four bells in Creek Valley Plains that require the Hunter’s Chain Sickle to access. If you have not activated all four, do it now while you are in the region.
- The Red Thread Barrier — If there is still a barrier you have not dealt with, see our Red Thread Barrier guide.
- Deep in the Valley quest — If you are working on this, our Deep in the Valley quest guide covers it fully.
If you want to check all of your cosmetic progress too, our all outfits guide lists everything available across the whole game and how to unlock each one.
Need help with a boss you might have skipped the first time around? Our Gold Masked One boss guide is there if that fight gave you trouble, and our Whence the Weeping walkthrough covers one of the longer side quest chains connected to this region.
Phantom Blade Zero is available now on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Epic Games Store. If you want to know how it runs on your PC before jumping in, our PC requirements and install size guide has everything you need, and our full review gives a complete picture of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you unlock the western side of the Outpost in Phantom Blade Zero?
You need to complete the Crimson Forest region by defeating the final boss Bai Chilian, The Sacrificial Serpent, then reach the Village of Lu and activate the first bell there. After that, fast travel back to the Outpost Bell in Weeping Creek Valley. The NPCs will have turned into enemies — defeat them and the path to the western side of the Outpost will be open.
Can you get past the Outpost guards early in Phantom Blade Zero?
No. The two guards blocking the western side of the Outpost cannot be bypassed, fought, or tricked during your first visit. The area is story-locked and only opens after you complete the Crimson Forest and reach the Village of Lu. There is no workaround.
What is inside the western side of the Outpost in Phantom Blade Zero?
Inside you will find a new bell that clears the western fog on the Weeping Creek Valley map, the seventh Four Fierce Axes evidence document needed to complete that side quest, the Prayer Beads key item tied to a Village of Lu quest, and general loot from the area’s transformed enemies.
Why did the Outpost NPCs turn into enemies in Phantom Blade Zero?
This is a story event. After you complete the Crimson Forest region and first reach the Village of Lu, returning to the Weeping Creek Valley Outpost shows that the people there have transformed into hostile enemies. It is tied to the events of the main story and is not reversible. Fight through them to clear the area and open the western section.
Do I need the Hunter’s Chain Sickle to access the western Outpost?
Not for the western side itself — you only need to have completed the Crimson Forest and reached the Village of Lu. However, you will need the Hunter’s Chain Sickle to access other parts of Weeping Creek Valley like Creek Valley Plains, so make sure you have it from the boss fight before exploring the full region.
