The protagonist is Soul, a warrior of The Order accused of killing his master, who has 66 days left to live. Around him are Zuo Shang (his rival and almost a brother), Mu Xiaokui (childhood friend), Lei Dang, The Hunt, Inanis and Mo Yuan, played by Donnie Yen.
Soul’s circle
Allies, rivals and mentors
Allies and close ones
- Mu Xiaokui (childhood friend)
- Lei Dang (former comrade)
- Yu’er (healer)
- Myst and Forge (forge)
Rivals and pursuers
- Zuo Shang (rival and almost a brother)
- The Hunt (Hunter of the Order)
- Leng Tu (Herald of the Veil)
- Meng Hua (Lady of the Blossom Veil)
Main characters
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Soul | Protagonist. Former warrior of The Order, accused of his master’s death, with a shattered heart and 66 days to live. |
| Zuo Shang | Raised and trained alongside Soul. The Order’s Shadow Sovereign. Rival in the prologue and boss of the true ending. |
| Mu Xiaokui | Daughter of The Order’s former leader and Soul’s childhood friend. Boss in the Village of Lu. |
| Mo Yuan | Leader of the Bastion of Mo. He hides behind The Gold-Masked One. Donnie Yen gives him his face and movements. |
| Inanis | Mysterious lady who appears as an illusion; she steps in against Meng Hua and opens the New Cycle. |
| Lei Dang | Soul’s former comrade and an elite warrior of The Order. He repairs the Flaming Mane and is a boss in the Mirage Estate. |
| The Hunt | Hunter of the Order who pursues Soul. |
| Meng Hua | The Merciful Lady of the Blossom Veil, a figure talked about throughout the game. Final boss. |
| Leng Tu | Herald of the Veil, the cause of the Wulin’s suffering. |
Merchants and important NPCs
- Forge: blacksmith at the Mandate Outpost; she upgrades your weapons.
- Myst: the third sister of the forge, in her tavern in Pangzhen; she handles the Soul Temper.
- Quick Hand Zhang: merchant you rescue in the Crimson Forest; his requests count toward the true ending.
- Yu’er: healer; her three tales give The Healer’s Legacy trophy.
- Old Man Gen, Jewel and Young Master Lan: tale givers in the Village of Lu.
- Xie Qiudong: the Divine Healer; he upgrades medicines.
Factions
The Order and its Shadow Wardens, the Baishan Sect, the Tianxuan Sect, Kuye Temple, the Blackwater Crew, the Bastion of Mo, the Seven-Star Formation, the Pillars of Kunlun and The Four Serpent Houses.
See also: where every merchant is, what they sell and which quests they give in Phantom Blade Zero NPCs and merchants.
Frequently asked questions
Who killed Soul’s master?
It’s the great mystery of the story and it’s solved in the true ending. We don’t reveal it here.
Who does Donnie Yen play in the game?
Mo Yuan, Leader of the Bastion of Mo, who hides behind The Gold-Masked One in the Long Pillars.
Kaarosu Damu Kira is a soulslike player with 13 platinum trophies, from Dark Souls and Bloodborne to Elden Ring and Black Myth: Wukong, and the author of PBZ Guide. Kaarosu earned the Phantom Blade Zero platinum on 14 Nov 2026 in a single playthrough and turns every fight into clear, fact-checked guides.
