Are there classes
No. You have one hero, Soul, a warrior with 66 days left to live (Steam's description). Game Rant's hands-on preview says the game may not have character classes, but the huge variety between weapons still invites experimentation. Instead of a class, you pick a build: a set of weapons, Phantom Edges (secondary weapons), potions and accessories. The director said you should develop different builds for different bosses and elite enemies.
At the same time you carry 2 main weapons, 2 Phantom Edges, 2 potions and 2 accessories (Liang, RPG Site). Details and the list of known weapons are in the weapons article.
Can you level up
There are no character levels and no experience points. In December 2025 Liang said "we are not going to do a leveling system", and that each step of progression should mean something rather than being a plain number bump.
One mention of a "player level" appeared in an IGN China preview (as relayed by a secondary site). English-language sources do not confirm it, so we treat it as disputed until launch.
What does level up is each weapon, separately. In a long post Liang explained that the same weapon at level 1 and at level 30 can call for a different playstyle, so the scale is probably 1-30 (to be checked in the final version). According to Game Rant, a weapon gains a new ability every five levels.
How your character grows
- Skill tree. You unlock it at bells, the checkpoints where you recover health. According to Game Rant, most of the tree raises health, stamina and attack power, but there are less obvious abilities too, such as healing from executions. The names of individual nodes are not yet known from the materials we checked.
- Weapon upgrades. Every main weapon and every Phantom Edge has its own upgrade system and an "evolution" that grants new skills and movements (Liang, RPG Site). You pay with materials and currency.
- Accessories. Two slots per loadout. Known from the materials: Treasure Basin (+10% Remnant Dust drops, see below) and Hunter Insight (+15% damage and guard break against attacking enemies, per TheSixthAxis).
- Memory Flowers. Steam lists them in the game description. The director linked them to raising total health, but the number of flowers is unknown.
- Getting weapons. You get new weapons mainly by defeating bosses (Liang: there are at least 50 bosses).
Remnant Dust, the currency
The currency is Remnant Dust. According to press previews you spend it on new abilities and on weapon upgrades. It is finite: enemies do not respawn and map resources are limited, so per the 4Gamer interview you have to explore the world thoroughly to get stronger. Cost figures are not officially confirmed.
Reforging Talisman: upgrades can be undone
The official PlayStation Blog promises that if you regret an upgraded weapon, you can reforge it, get the materials back and reinvest them in another one. In the State of Play narration, the Reforging Talisman resets a weapon's level and refunds all spent materials. That gives you freedom to change your build, for example when you are stuck on a boss. Resources are still finite, so what you do not find in the world you cannot buy.
Armor
Armor in the classic sense is not confirmed. Steam does not mention it. The press talks about outfits (Legacy, Wulin Legend, Blood-Steel Form), which are cosmetic, not a source of stats. If armor shows up, we will check it after launch.
New Game Plus (NG+)
New Game Plus exists. Liang told DualShockers there is not strictly "new content" in it, but it is absolutely a new experience. What matters:
- NG+ adds no new story.
- The Platinum trophy can be earned in a single run, on any difficulty.
- At least the last 10 weapons give a fresh experience in NG+ or in 66 Days mode.
- What exactly carries over into NG+ (weapon levels, materials, Remnant Dust) is not yet known.
Difficulty levels and game length: difficulty and length.
What develops your character and how
| Element | What it gives | How you develop it |
|---|---|---|
| Skill tree | Health, stamina, attack power, special abilities | At bells, with Remnant Dust |
| Weapon level | New forms and techniques (an ability every 5 levels per Game Rant) | Materials and currency, undo with the Reforging Talisman |
| Phantom Edges | Secondary weapons and opening paths | Their own upgrades, earned from bosses |
| Accessories | Build bonuses (e.g. +10% Remnant Dust) | 2 slots, found in the game or from the pre-order |
| Memory Flowers | More health (per the director) | Number unknown |
| Armor | Not confirmed | Outfits are cosmetic |
To get started, read the beginner's guide; combat mechanics are explained in the combat system article.
FAQ
Does Phantom Blade Zero have character classes?
No. There is one hero, Soul, and you change your fighting style through weapon and accessory choices.
Can you level up?
There are no character levels, only weapon levels and the skill tree. The director rejected a leveling system.
Does the game have a skill tree?
Yes, unlocked at bells. We do not know the node names yet.
Is there New Game Plus (NG+)?
Yes, with no new story. You can earn Platinum in a single run.
Can I undo weapon upgrades?
Yes, with the Reforging Talisman: all materials are refunded.
