How many bosses are in Phantom Blade Zero
At least 50. Soulframe, the founder of S-Game and director of the game, told 4Gamer that there are more than 30 bosses, and that with the rule "as many bosses as weapons" the count comes to at least 50. He added that in reality there may be even more. You get each of the 30 main weapons and roughly 20 secondary weapons by defeating a boss (details in the weapons guide).
This is "at least 50", not "exactly 50". Sources differ on the number of secondary weapons (about 20 from Liang, 25 Phantom Edges in the State of Play), so 30 + 25 would give 55. No one has said how many of the bosses are story bosses and how many are mini-bosses.
The scale is far bigger than the 2024 demo, which had three bosses in a row and no exploration. Insider Gaming adds that the team struggled to stop itself from adding more bosses.
Bosses shown officially and in hands-on reports
The table lists only what the developers' materials and open reports confirm. The game is not out yet, so this is not a full list.
| Boss | Where and when shown | Weapon and style | What we know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tie Sha the Frenzy | 2024 demo (first boss) | huge axe | Fast and brutal, his explosive projectile can be deflected |
| Commander Cleave | 2024 demo (second boss) | jagged crystal sword | Long-range shockwaves; during the fight you pick up his weapon |
| Huangxing, the Sunken Pillar of Kunlun | 2024 demo (third boss) | not described in our sources | The boss AI example, see below |
| Chief Disciple of the Seven Stars | Year of the Snake Trailer (January 21, 2025), 2025 demo | seven swordsmen | Two phases; the second one is the "puppet boss" |
| Flame, the Mask-Bound Lion Dance Grandmaster | State of Play (August 17, 2026) | lion dance, fire, pillars | Drums and cymbals in the background; the fight has several acts |
| The Hunt | IGN gameplay (October 13, 2026) | disputed (see below) | Early in the game, fought on a moving cart |
| Peng Meng, the Axemaster | CGMagazine preview (October 9, 2026) | axe | Great strength and reach; one of the first bosses |
| Bai Chilian (also spelled Bai Jielian) | Inven Global preview (October 9, 2026) | chain-like weapon that extends at will | The reviewer's most memorable fight |
| The Flower Bride / The Deadly Betrothed | PCGamesN and Press Start previews | flower attacks on a huge plate | An optional boss early in the game |
Chinese names are spelled differently across outlets (Bai Chilian or Bai Jielian), so check the spelling in the game after launch. The list is also incomplete because not every boss has been shown. The State of Play also mentions a duel with Zuo Shang and Mó Yuan (played by Donnie Yen), whom you meet more than once, but we skip further details to avoid spoilers.
The Hunt: what he fights with
IGN published the first full fight with The Hunt on October 13, 2026. According to the description of that video, the boss uses a pair of one-handed axes joined by a chain, and in the second phase he grows two extra arms with more axes. Everyeye (Italy), writing about the August 11, 2026 trailer, described "double scythes". To be fair: sources differ, and the IGN gameplay description is the more precise one. The name "The Hunt" is certain.
The puppet boss: Chief Disciple of the Seven Stars
The phrase "puppet boss" refers to the second phase of the fight with the Chief Disciple of the Seven Stars. In S-Game's material, the first phase is a formation of seven swordsmen who alternate between group and individual attacks and adapt in real time. In the second phase, called String Puppet, the surviving disciples manipulate their leader like a marionette suspended on crimson threads. His moves become frantic and harder to predict.
Press Start described a different character "suspended from strings" in its preview: a three-faced woman. That is not the String Puppet boss, so don't mix up the two fights.
The "new double boss fight": where the phrase comes from
This is the double fight from the 2025 S-Party demo. The official video from July 28, 2025 (over 22 minutes) shows a one-hour demo on extreme difficulty, "including a hidden two-boss battle". Fans titled it "new double boss fight 4K demo". According to hands-on reports, the fight combines the Chief Disciple of the Seven Stars with an earlier opponent. So it is not a separate boss of the final game, only a part of the demo.
Phases and what happens after you die
Most bosses have two phases: Insider Gaming writes "every boss", other previews say "usually two", so don't assume exactly two. More important, after dying you don't restart the fight from the beginning. Inven Global: after reaching a new phase you can restart directly from it. Insider Gaming: if you die in the second phase, you skip the first on return. You also don't lose currency on death, and ordinary enemies don't respawn. More on parrying and resources: combat system.
Boss AI and difficulty levels
On Hellwalker (the difficulty with advanced AI), Liang says bosses react to your spacing, punish whiffed attacks and adapt to your habits in real time. Higher difficulties also bring "completely different attack patterns", not just more health. The difficulty names from the State of Play are Wayfarer, Pathbreaker, Hellwalker and Sixty-Six Days; the Inven Global preview used other names, probably from the preview build. Details: difficulty levels and game length.
Huangxing is the example. Liang explained in PC Gamer Magazine that on normal difficulty he has fixed combos, while on the hardest he "analyses the situation" and picks attacks based on the result of the previous one, borrowing from fighting games.
Boss music
The composer and music director is Caisheng Bo. In an interview with PCGamesN he said that for some fights he wrote the music first, and Soulframe then designed the boss to match. The style blends traditional Chinese instruments with rock, metal and electronic music. A single fight can have three musical stages, and the music shifts clearly at phase changes. There is no official OST release yet; the Deluxe Edition includes a digital soundtrack and an in-game music player.
Boss rush? There is no such mode
No official source has announced a boss rush mode. The game is built from levels with exploration and bosses as a burst of speed; three bosses in a row was only the 2024 demo. After the first playthrough you get New Game Plus and the 66 Days mode (66 attempts, then permanent death when they run out). The developers say at least the last 10 weapons give a brand-new experience in those modes.
Mandatory, optional and hidden bosses
There are story bosses as well as optional and hidden ones: back in 2023 Liang spoke of "secret bosses concealed in the deepest corners of dungeons", and reviewers ran into optional fights they were too weak for. No exact split has been given. Weapons from optional bosses may be missing on your first playthrough.
The final boss
The identity of the last boss has not been revealed, so every name online is a guess. All we know is that young developers fresh out of university designed it, and its weapon is just a collectible in a single run because it drops too late to use. When someone writes "final boss" about a demo, they mean the demo's last boss, not the game's finale.
FAQ
How many bosses does Phantom Blade Zero have?
At least 50, according to Soulframe on October 9, 2026; there may be more. No exact number has been given.
What is the puppet boss in Phantom Blade Zero?
The second phase (String Puppet) of the fight with the Chief Disciple of the Seven Stars, when the leader is controlled like a marionette on crimson threads.
Does Phantom Blade Zero have a boss rush?
Not in any known material. After the first playthrough you unlock New Game Plus and 66 Days.
Do bosses restart from the beginning after you die?
No. You return to the phase you died in, according to the previews.
Who composed the boss music?
Caisheng Bo; no OST is out yet, and the Deluxe Edition has a digital soundtrack.
