Difficulties
Phantom Blade Zero has 4 difficulties: Wayfarer, Pathbreaker, Hellwalker and 66 Days. Wayfarer and Pathbreaker lower some enemy stats; 66 Days also limits how often Soul can die.
| Difficulty | In-game description | Enemy stats |
|---|---|---|
| Wayfarer | Take Your First Steps into the Wulin. A gentler path through the Wulin. Focus on the story, take in the world, fight at your own pace. | Max Sha-Chi x0.5, Sha-Chi depletion by enemy attacks x0.33, Attack x0.7 |
| Pathbreaker | Carve your own path through the Wulin, without losing yourself to the blade. A true test of skill. For those who've swung a blade before and are ready for a real fight. | Sha-Chi depletion by enemy attacks x0.66 |
| Hellwalker | Defy heaven's will. Death waits around every corner. The ultimate trial. Enemies strike without mercy, adapt without warning, and hold nothing back. | Unchanged (x1) |
| 66 Days | 66 days only. Every step could be your last. Same difficulty as "Hellwalker," but deaths are limited to 66 times. Unlocked after completing the game on any other difficulty. | Unchanged (x1) |
| Rule | What the game does |
|---|---|
| Start | A run starts with 66 days. |
| Death | Each death costs one day. |
| Story and Bells | 14 more events cost one day each, on 66 Days only: the first touch of 7 Bells, 3 story scenes at Bells and 4 story spots. The table below lists them. |
| No days left | With no days left, the next death is "Death's End: Lost to the Wulin" and the run ends with the ending Undying Grudge. |
| Saves | 66 Days has 3 save slots of its own. A manual save at a Bell writes straight to the run's own slot. |
| Unlock | Unlocked after completing the game on any other difficulty. |
What costs a day besides dying
| Bell | Region | What costs the day |
|---|---|---|
| Lóng Pillar Overlook | Weeping Creek Valley | The first touch of the Bell |
| The Axemaster's Fall | Weeping Creek Valley | The first touch of the Bell |
| Crimson Forest | Crimson Forest | The first touch of the Bell |
| Thieves' Camp | Crimson Forest | The first touch of the Bell |
| The Lady Grounds | Village of Lu | The first touch of the Bell |
| Puppet Testing Grounds | Village of Lu | The first touch of the Bell |
| Myst's Tavern | Pangzhen | The first touch of the Bell |
| Place of Awakening | Village of Lu | The scene at this Bell in the quest Whence the Weeping |
| Hidden Storehouse | Pangzhen | The scene at this Bell that ends Heartless Remnants and starts Town of Death |
| Mountain God Temple | Mount Soulrend | Entering the Mountain God Temple, where a cutscene plays |
| Weeping Creek Valley | The opening scene of the game; its later-Cycle version costs the day as well | |
| Crimson Forest | Reaching a set spot in the forest | |
| Meigu Lake | Reaching a set spot in the Phantom Illusionist Ruins | |
| Mountain of Imprisonment | Reaching a set spot on the mountain, where a cutscene plays | |
| Case | What the game allows |
|---|---|
| During a playthrough | Wayfarer, Pathbreaker and Hellwalker can be switched in the settings, but not during combat. |
| 66 Days | A run on 66 Days cannot switch to another difficulty, and no other run can switch to 66 Days. |
| New Cycle | The difficulty picker of a new Cycle offers Pathbreaker, Hellwalker and 66 Days; Wayfarer is not offered. |