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Unofficial guide · Launch edition · Last checked Confirmed Reported Conflict After unlock

Phantom Blade Zero Side Tales: every side quest, where it starts and what you can miss

Side quests are called Tales in game. This page lists 48 of them by region, with the place each one starts, the point after which it closes, and the Steam achievements they unlock. Reported · PowerPyx

The short version

The game launched hours ago and no guide has a finished Tales list. We built this one from PowerPyx's region and trophy pages, Fextralife's Wulin Tales pages, Game8 and Game Rant, and Steam's achievement text. A tale sits in the main tables only when two sources name it. The rest are listed apart, with one source each.

Side Tales at a glance · sources
Tales listed here
48: 25 named by two or more sources, 23 by one
Reported · PowerPyx
Flagged missable
18 tales have a source flagging them as missable; 4 more are disputed between pages
Reported · PowerPyx
Steam achievements
11 tales are named in Steam achievement text (9 achievements)
Confirmed · Steam Community
Why they matter
Endings depend on side-quest completion (and the player's choices/items along the way), not one final choice; the developer says the game will give clues when something affects the ending.
Reported · PlayStation Blog
PowerPyx tally
30 Side Tales among its 564 collectible locations (a different, narrower count than our list)
Reported · PowerPyx

Tales two or more sources name

Where and when are the places the sources agree. The Missable column says who flags it; "not flagged" means no source we read says so, not that we checked in game.

Weeping Creek Valley

Weeping Creek Valley · sources
Tale Where it starts When Missable Reward and achievement Status
Flesh Lily Yu'er, at the ravine before the valley (she moves to the Mandate Outpost). Ask how to save her father. Pick up the Twin Flesh Lilies at Hua's lair before leaving the valley; part 2 is in Pangzhen. Against the Flow Disputed. PowerPyx's trophy page says the Flesh Lily must be collected before Bai Chilian; its Weeping Creek Valley page says not missable. Fextralife does not say. A Flesh Lily item (Fextralife). Counts toward The Healer's Legacy. Steam: The Healer’s Legacy Confirmed Reported · PowerPyx
Apprentice Healer Yu'er at the Mandate Outpost, after the Peng Meng fight; ask about gathering herbs. Before you defeat Jing Ye in Crimson Forest. Steel and Steam Yes. PowerPyx (both pages): fails once Jing Ye is beaten. Fextralife does not say. Medicine Case accessory, also missable (PowerPyx). Counts toward The Healer's Legacy. Steam: The Healer’s Legacy Confirmed Reported · PowerPyx
Purge the Sect Brooding Old Archer on a roof at the Mandate Outpost. Before the Crimson Forest region boss (Bai Chilian). Steel and Steam Yes. PowerPyx: fails after the main boss at the end of Crimson Forest. Fextralife does not say. Feather Bow Phantom Edge (Fextralife). Reported · PowerPyx
Festering Secrets Fextralife spells it Festering Secret. Listen in on the guards near Forge's smithy at the Mandate Outpost. Before the Crimson Forest region boss (Bai Chilian). Against the Flow Yes. PowerPyx: fails after the main boss at the end of Crimson Forest. Fextralife does not say. A Sha-Chi Amber Fragment (Fextralife). Reported · PowerPyx
Four Fierce Axes Fextralife's list spells it Four Firece Axes. Pick up the case-file book near the Broken Puppet Valley Bell. Starts on your first visit; PowerPyx also has a Pangzhen hand-in. Against the Flow Not flagged. No source flags it. Dread Axe from the Axemaster plus a Blood Oath Dagger tempering material at the Pangzhen hand-in. Reported · PowerPyx
Triple Threat Enter the Sha-Chi Rift next to The Lady's Rift Bell. First visit, but the boss is too strong then; PowerPyx suggests returning after the Mirage Estate Bell. Not flagged. No source flags it. Not stated by either source. PowerPyx's trophy page ties it to The Four Freed through Yucong. Reported · PowerPyx
A Severed Mindseal Game8's trophy page calls it Severing the Mindseal. Shadow Warden at the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Summit Bell. PowerPyx's trophy page: do the first objective before leaving the valley, then finish it later in Meigu Lake and Crimson Forest. Steel and Steam Disputed. PowerPyx's trophy page says missable (no exact failure point); its valley page says not. Fextralife does not say. Spectral Blade achievement. Steam: Spectral Blade Confirmed Reported · PowerPyx
Deep in the Valley Panicked Mandate Disciple at the Creek Valley Plains Entrance Bell. Most of it comes after The Hunt; finish before Mirage Estate. Steel and Steam Yes. PowerPyx lists it in the purple-icon quests to finish before Mirage Estate. Fextralife advises finishing it before the next chapter. Not stated. Reported · Game8
Crimson Manor Open the manor door with the Puppet's Tongue (PowerPyx); Fextralife says interacting with the door during Deep in the Valley unlocks it. Finish before Mirage Estate. Yes. PowerPyx lists it in the purple-icon quests to finish before Mirage Estate. Alloyed Scythe Blade, Crystal Puppet Eye [Yang] and Hansui's Frost Mask from the boss fight (PowerPyx). Reported · PowerPyx

Crimson Forest

Crimson Forest · sources
Tale Where it starts When Missable Reward and achievement Status
Honor Among Thieves Defeat the man at the campfire on the hill past the cave exit and take his note. Before the pre-boss checkpoint in Crimson Forest. Yes. PowerPyx: fails after the region's main boss. Fextralife does not say. Silent Wrap accessory, also missable (PowerPyx); both sources name it. Reported · PowerPyx
Secrets of the Baishan Sect Game8's trophy page calls it Baishan Mysteries. Lanlan on the giant wooden bridge near the Thieves' Camp Bell. Accept it before Bai Chilian; in Mandate Encampment, do the body-in-the-flowers step before beating the Training Grounds boss. Yes. PowerPyx (trophy page and Mandate Encampment page): fails if you push past those bosses first. Fextralife does not say. The Last of Baishan achievement. Steam: The Last of Baishan Confirmed Reported · PowerPyx
A Healer's Mercy Yu'er at the Thieves' Camp Bell. Before the Crimson Forest region boss; Fextralife says progressing to the Village of Lu fails it. Yes. PowerPyx and Fextralife both flag it, with slightly different wording for the failure point. Calming Gourd accessory, also missable (PowerPyx). Counts toward The Healer's Legacy. Steam: The Healer’s Legacy Confirmed Reported · PowerPyx
Quick Hand's Requests PowerPyx also writes it as The Wily Hare's Three Dens. Quick Hand Zhang, after you free him near the Trail of Cages Bell. Spread across Crimson Forest, Village of Lu, Pangzhen, Meigu Lake and Mirage Estate. Snake's Reflection Not flagged. No source flags it. Fine Thread (Village of Lu), Sha-Chi Blood Catalyst (Meigu Lake), Thundermoon Lantern (Mirage Estate), per PowerPyx. Steam: Lost and Found Confirmed Reported · PowerPyx
Heart of the Banyan Starts after the second meeting with the Illusion of Inanis (PowerPyx); Game8 starts it with the Burial Grounds lamp scene. Five Banyan Tree Challenges across the regions. Snake's Reflection Not flagged. No source flags it. Even Trees Know Sorrow achievement. Steam: Even Trees Know Sorrow Confirmed Reported · PowerPyx
Illusion of Inanis Lamp scene in the Burial Grounds. Finish before Mirage Estate. Snake's Reflection Yes. PowerPyx lists it in the purple-icon quests to finish before Mirage Estate. Not stated. Reported · Game8

Village of Lu

Village of Lu · sources
Tale Where it starts When Missable Reward and achievement Status
Leave None Alive Wounded Thief near the door in the Village of Lu; give him the Thief's Manual. Do it early; PowerPyx says the thief dies if you progress too far. Yes. PowerPyx's Village of Lu page flags the Arrowward hand-off to the same thief as missable. Fextralife does not say. Arrowward accessory (PowerPyx). Reported · PowerPyx
The Journey Home Old Man Gen at his hideout Bell. Return to him after the Smuggler's Tunnel (Master Bi Hai) opens; the finish is in Pangzhen. Heartless Remnant Disputed. PowerPyx's trophy page says missable (no failure point); its Village of Lu page does not flag it. Fextralife does not say. War Wagon Phantom Edge from Gen at the Frozen Lake Dock (PowerPyx). Together Till the End achievement. Steam: Together Till the End Confirmed Reported · PowerPyx
Young Master Lan Young Master Lan (Lan Shaodi) at his hideout Bell. Return to him after the Smuggler's Tunnel opens; the finish is at Lan Manor in Pangzhen. Heartless Remnant Disputed. PowerPyx's trophy page says missable (no failure point); its Village of Lu page does not flag it. Fextralife does not say. A Wanderer's Honor achievement. Steam: A Wanderer's Honor Confirmed Reported · PowerPyx
Young Mistress Red ribbon on a tree past the Zhuo Bi arena gate; four more ribbons follow. Finish before taking the elevator to Mu Xiaokui. Heartless Remnant Yes. PowerPyx and Game8: skip it and you miss the secret third phase and its rewards. Third phase fight with Iron Fiend and Jade Dancer; Fiend Saws and Fist Fragment: Core (PowerPyx, Game8). Reported · PowerPyx
A Puppet's Wooden Heart Songstress Puppet by a small shrine. First visit; the Wooden Heart comes from the puppet at the Temple of Blue Fireflies Bell once done. Not flagged. No source flags it. Wooden Heart accessory (PowerPyx). Reported · PowerPyx
Secrets at the Heart of the Lake Pick up one of Firefly's Memory Flowers in the Village of Lu (PowerPyx). Needed for the True Ending; PowerPyx lists it among the quests to finish before entering Mirage Estate. Yes. PowerPyx: missable, and required for the True Ending. Violet Blossom tempering material (PowerPyx). Forbidden Arts Beneath the Lake achievement. Steam: Forbidden Arts Beneath the Lake Confirmed Reported · PowerPyx

Meigu Lake

Meigu Lake · sources
Tale Where it starts When Missable Reward and achievement Status
Bloodline Awakening Accepted at the first Long Pillar you find. Five Long Pillar fights in a fixed order; PowerPyx says the tale completes after the fifth, in Mirage Estate. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable, but it is required for the True Ending. Quenched Flaming Grip material from the Midlake pillar (PowerPyx). Phantom and Blade achievement. Steam: Phantom and Blade Confirmed Reported · PowerPyx
Allure of Vanity Pick up any of Yan'er's Memory Flowers. Collect all six memories, then fight Yan Qiansui at the Meigu Songhouse Dock; a True Ending quest due before Mirage Estate. Yes. PowerPyx lists it in the purple-icon quests to finish before Mirage Estate. Fanatic's Fragment: Attachment and Illusory Pipa Strings (PowerPyx). Reported · PowerPyx
Illusory Pipa Myst at Myst's Tavern in Pangzhen repairs the pipa. Bring all five pieces; due before Mirage Estate (PowerPyx). Yes. PowerPyx lists it in the purple-icon quests to finish before Mirage Estate. Illusory Pipa Phantom Edge. Reported · PowerPyx
Whence the Weeping Hear the crying in Weeping Creek Valley (Game Rant); play the pipa at the Weeping Mistgate (both). Late; due before Mirage Estate according to PowerPyx. Yes. PowerPyx lists it in the purple-icon quests to finish before Mirage Estate. Opens Mountain of Imprisonment; PowerPyx links Inanis' Radiant Fan to it. Conflict · PowerPyx

What closes, and when

The cut-offs sources give, grouped by the boss or area that closes them. We do not infer any beyond what a source says.

Disputed between pages

PowerPyx's trophy page marks Flesh Lily, A Severed Mindseal, The Journey Home, Young Master Lan as missable, but its region pages do not flag them. PowerPyx lists seven missable PS5 trophies: With Heart and Blood, Forbidden Arts Beneath the Lake, The Last of Baishan, Together Till the End, A Wanderer's Honor, Spectral Blade and The Healer's Legacy. We show both claims and do not pick one. Reported · PowerPyx Our trophies page has the full list.

The True Ending quests

PowerPyx lists these as the quests to clear before entering Mirage Estate. Whence the Weeping is the odd one out, since Game Rant files it with the main story. Reported · PowerPyx

Bloodline Awakening completes later, after the fifth Long Pillar fight in Mirage Estate. The ending itself is covered on the endings page.

Tales only one source covers

All of these come from a single guide, and none has been checked against a second one. Treat the details as provisional.

One source each · sources
Tale Region Where it starts When Missable Reward Status
Dahuang Fextralife lists a bedridden weaver in the same house as A Dream of Motherhood (Mother's Talisman); PowerPyx does not give that name. Village of Lu NPC on the bed in the building past the Survivors' Courtyard Bell. First visit. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Not stated. Reported · PowerPyx
Cui PowerPyx's Mountain of Imprisonment page has a separate multi-stage Cui chain; it does not say it is the same tale. Village of Lu Crying child puppet at the Puppet Testing Grounds. First visit. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Not stated. Reported · PowerPyx
A Dream of Motherhood Village of Lu Sleeping weaver on her bed in a house with red banners. First visit. Not stated. Fextralife does not say. Mother's Talisman after the mansion fight (Fextralife). Reported · Fextralife
The Sword and the Way Pangzhen Daoist Bi Di in the Myst's Tavern. After the Cavalrybane fight. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Not stated. Reported · PowerPyx
The Undying Heroic Spirit Pangzhen Purple-Robed Wolf Leader past the Myst's Tavern Bell. Do the Pangzhen clean-up before pushing on in Mandate Encampment; do not kill the Memory Flower enemies there until done. Not flagged. PowerPyx warns some enemy-dropped flowers are buggy, so do not kill those NPCs first. It does not call the tale missable. Shattered Hero's Courage key item; Hero's Courage tempering material at the end. Reported · PowerPyx
The Star Performer Pangzhen Leading Opera Actress in Myst's Tavern. Needs Star Performer Objective 1 first. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Dance Fan accessory. Reported · PowerPyx
The Cube Pangzhen Fisherman in the Myst's Tavern basement, then Myst upstairs. First visit. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Remnant Spark Cube accessory. Reported · PowerPyx
A Brother Once More Pangzhen A room in Huang Manor with the Manor Medicine Pot. Needs four Medicine Pot fragments; PowerPyx also marks a Village of Lu Shallows Dock part complete after Grief-Stricken Jin. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Rouge Box accessory. Reported · PowerPyx
Kin Against Kin Pangzhen Past the Lion Dance Hall Bell, grapple up to the bridge. First visit. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Longevity Tonic (completes at the Bitter Kin memory in Meigu Lake). Reported · PowerPyx
A Mother's Heart Pangzhen Past the Black Hill Pavilion, after using the Backstreet Cellar Crank. First visit. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Not stated. Reported · PowerPyx
Xue, Admirer of Heroes Mandate Encampment Xue, after you defeat Corpse-Eating Xue at the arena. Starts right after that fight; PowerPyx also lists a Pangzhen hand-in for the Sha-Chi Headscarf. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Sha-Chi Headscarf (not tied to the tale by PowerPyx). Reported · PowerPyx
Daughter of the Dark Sect Mandate Encampment Woman near the Dovecote Bell. First visit. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Not stated. Reported · PowerPyx
Don't Forget Me PowerPyx's Meigu Lake page describes the Pangzhen end of it (woman with the ribbon on her face). Mountain of Imprisonment Commander's Platform: push the tree and free the man from the cage. Three stages; finish in Pangzhen at the Marketplace. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Ultimate Talisman accessory. Reported · PowerPyx
Cui (Mountain of Imprisonment) Mountain of Imprisonment Iron Butcher's Camp: open the cage holding an old man. Four stages ending at the Shrine Outer Gate. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Cui's Red Ribbon and Crude Radiant Heart accessory. Reported · PowerPyx
Hero's Lament Mountain of Imprisonment Hanging Cage Cavern: lower the cage and speak to the man inside. Two stages. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Ink Cut Phantom Edge. Reported · PowerPyx
The Broad Saber Mountain of Imprisonment Hanging Cage Cavern: man calling from the cell. After the cavern boss. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Ritual Cauldron Fragment III. Reported · PowerPyx
Ledger of Atonement Mountain of Imprisonment Commander's Platform: the non-hostile Maskwalker near the puppet. Two stages. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Sha-Chi Amber Fragment, Bloodstained Necklace and Backstreet Courtyard Key. Reported · PowerPyx
The Herald's Illusion Mountain of Imprisonment Portal near the Training Grounds Depths Bell (Mandate Encampment) and a door in the Puppet Cell. Entering the portal is enough for now; PowerPyx lists it among the purple-icon quests due before Mirage Estate. Yes. PowerPyx lists it in the purple-icon quests to finish before Mirage Estate. Puppet's Tongue and Crystal Puppet Eye [Yin]. Reported · PowerPyx
Sha-Chi Powered Boat Meigu Lake Not given. PowerPyx lists it among the purple-icon quests due before Mirage Estate. Yes. PowerPyx lists it in the purple-icon quests to finish before Mirage Estate. Not stated. Reported · PowerPyx
Pillars of Kunlun Meigu Lake Not given (bundled with Illusory Pipa and Whence the Weeping). PowerPyx lists it among the purple-icon quests due before Mirage Estate. Yes. PowerPyx lists it in the purple-icon quests to finish before Mirage Estate. Not stated. Reported · PowerPyx
Use It Against Them Mirage Estate Jade Dancer on the Crimson Forest Sha-Chi Tower, 6th Floor. Spar using only Fiend Saws and the Iron Gauntlets edge. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Heel Reinforcement Part. Reported · PowerPyx
Heart of the Fist Mirage Estate Iron Fiend on the same tower floor. Finish at the large gravestone southwest of the Burial Grounds bell. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Fist Fragment: Shell (two fragments make Worldbreaker Fist). Reported · PowerPyx
The Way Forward Mirage Estate Bell at Green Serpent House. Do every other quest before progressing it. Not flagged. PowerPyx does not mark it missable. Not stated. Reported · PowerPyx

Tales that unlock a Steam achievement

These are the tales Steam's own achievement text names. The tale names here are the official English ones.

Steam achievements tied to tales · Steam
The Healer’s Legacy
Complete Flesh Lily, Apprentice Healer, A Healer's Mercy
Confirmed · Steam Community
Spectral Blade
Complete A Severed Mindseal
Confirmed · Steam Community
The Last of Baishan
Complete Secrets of the Baishan Sect
Confirmed · Steam Community
Lost and Found
Complete Quick Hand's Requests
Confirmed · Steam Community
Together Till the End
Complete The Journey Home
Confirmed · Steam Community
A Wanderer's Honor
Complete Young Master Lan
Confirmed · Steam Community
Forbidden Arts Beneath the Lake
Complete Secrets at the Heart of the Lake
Confirmed · Steam Community
Phantom and Blade
Complete Bloodline Awakening
Confirmed · Steam Community
Even Trees Know Sorrow
Complete Heart of the Banyan
Confirmed · Steam Community

The full achievement and trophy lists are on the trophies page. Quick Hand's Requests, the tale behind Lost and Found, is broken down hideout by hideout on the merchants and NPCs page. Game8's trophy page ties 11 trophies to Tales and also names two hidden ones, With Heart and Blood and All Dreams Must End, without a tale.

Sources and checks

Official and store pages

Press, reviews and data sites