The best summon in Phantom Blade Zero for most players is the Puppeteer’s Bell, which calls a Sword-and-Shield Puppet and a Spear-and-Shield Puppet to tank hits and pull a boss’s attention off you. The Swordsman’s Summon is the better pick against groups, and Inanis’ Radiant Fan, which heals instead of fighting, is the best support option late in the game.
Summons are one of the five types of Phantom Edge, the secondary weapons Soul takes from fallen foes, and S-GAME’s PlayStation Blog post lists using “summons to assist you in battle” among the game’s options. Below is how summoning works, the four Summoning Phantom Edges ranked, where to get each one, how to upgrade and temper them, and when they are worth the slot.
How Summoning Works
Summoning Phantom Edges follow a few rules, as players quote the in-game skill text:
- You fire them like any Phantom Edge. R2 on PS5, RT on an Xbox controller and Left Ctrl on keyboard.
- Only where Sha-Chi is dense. The three that call allies only work “in areas dense with Sha-Chi (when the icon emits a special glow).” Watch the Phantom Edge icon: when it glows, you can summon. Inanis’ Radiant Fan has no such limit.
- Up to 15 seconds. Summoned allies fight for up to 15 seconds and disappear early if they are defeated. Upgrades stretch that duration.
- One group at a time. Summons cannot stack. Using it again replaces the allies already on the field.
- They cost Remnant Spark. Each use spends two Remnant Spark, so a summon competes with your other Phantom Edge for the same resource.
The Steam version has an achievement for it, A Friend from Thin Air, which our trophy list covers along with the rest.
Every Summon, Ranked
| Rank | Summon | What it calls | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puppeteer’s Bell | A Sword-and-Shield Puppet and a Spear-and-Shield Puppet | Bosses, distraction, guard breaks |
| 2 | Swordsman’s Summon | A Swordsman Captain and two Swordsman Disciples | Groups of enemies, damage |
| 3 | Inanis’ Radiant Fan | A healing field around Soul | Long boss fights, survival |
| 4 | Kuye Temple Prayer Beads | Three Fist Bronze Men | Early crowd control |
1. Puppeteer’s Bell. The tankiest summon, with the most health of the three that call allies at every level, according to the numbers players list. Its two shield puppets soak up attacks, and the upgrades are all about that: players quote Level 5 as greatly increasing their shield durability, Level 15 as letting them counterattack after blocking, and Level 25 as greatly increasing the Guard Break of every puppet. Players rate it the best summon for defense and for pulling a boss off you, and they use it against bosses such as Flame, the Lion Dance Grandmaster, once his guard breaks.
2. Swordsman’s Summon. Three swordsmen instead of two puppets, and more aggressive. Players quote Level 5 as letting the Captain unleash blade waves, Level 15 as adding a formation technique when all three are on the field, and Level 25 as giving the three swordsmen significantly more damage against guard-broken enemies. Players rate it the strongest for clearing crowds.
3. Inanis’ Radiant Fan. The odd one out. It deals no damage and calls nobody. Instead, players quote it as creating a field around you for 8 seconds in which health and Sha-Chi gradually recover. Its upgrades add more Attack and Damage Reduction inside the field at Level 5 and make enemies inside it spend more Sha-Chi when blocking at Level 15. It also works anywhere, not only where Sha-Chi is dense. If medicines are your bottleneck, this is the summon to take.
4. Kuye Temple Prayer Beads. The first summon most players find. Its three Fist Bronze Men can turn invulnerable with Golden Body at Level 5, form a battle formation at Level 15, and drain Sha-Chi from enemies that hit them while invulnerable at Level 25. It has the least health of the group, and players move on once a better summon arrives.
Where to Get Each Summon
Spoiler note: most summons are boss drops, so this section names bosses.
| Summon | Region | How you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Kuye Temple Prayer Beads | Village of Lu | Defeat Master Bi Hai of Kuye Temple |
| Puppeteer’s Bell | Village of Lu | Defeat Dusk, the Puppeteer, a hidden boss behind Firefly’s Memory Flowers |
| Swordsman’s Summon | Mandate Encampment | Defeat the Chief Disciple of the Seven-Star Formation at the Three Towers |
| Inanis’ Radiant Fan | Mountain of Imprisonment | From Inanis, after the optional fight with Huangxing, the Kunlun Renegade |
The Village of Lu gives you two summons, so most players try the Prayer Beads and the Bell back to back. Dusk only appears once you have collected all six of Firefly’s Memory Flowers in that region, and his pit is behind the Temple of Blue Fireflies bell. The Mountain of Imprisonment is an optional region, which is why many players never see the Radiant Fan. Our guide to how many bosses there are places every one of these bosses by region.
Upgrades and Soul Tempering
Summons upgrade at any bell like every Phantom Edge, to Level 30. Players report Summoning Phantom Edges use Incense Ash, then Illusory Incense Ash, then Incense Ash for the Lady, which Quick Hand Zhang sells; our guide to how to upgrade weapons has the full list by type. Every level raises the summons’ health and damage, and Levels 10, 20 and 30 extend how long they stay.
Soul Tempering, which opens in Pangzhen, changes each summon. As players describe it:
| Summon | Tempering material | What it becomes |
|---|---|---|
| Kuye Temple Prayer Beads | Kuye Temple Sutra, from The Sword and the Way tale in Pangzhen | Fist, Staff and Blade Gold Men |
| Puppeteer’s Bell | Herald’s Lingering Threads, from a late-game boss | The Abyssal Bell, which adds a random Elite Puppet: an Alloy Cannon, Golden Assassin or Iron Umbrella Puppet |
| Swordsman’s Summon | Hero’s Courage, from the Memory Flowers of Mandate Leaders | A Purple-robed Twinblade Swordsman and Baishan Sword Guardians |
| Inanis’ Radiant Fan | Violet Blossom | Players report it revives you once, at 30% health, if you fall inside the field |
Hero’s Courage is the one to watch. Players report the Memory Flowers of Mandate Leaders drop from Mandate captains and guardians in the Mandate Encampment and Pangzhen, and that a flower is lost for good if you do not defeat its carrier before they turn hostile. If one does not drop, reload your last manual save, as our guide to how to save explains.
When a Summon Is Worth the Slot
- Against bosses that punish you for staying close. A pair of shield puppets gives you seconds to heal, reset your Sha-Chi or line up a parry.
- Against crowds. Three swordsmen thin out a group faster than most Phantom Edges.
- With the Fine Thread. Players quote this accessory as boosting the damage and Sha-Chi depletion of summons by 50%. It comes from Quick Hand Zhang’s treasures.
- Not when you need Remnant Spark for damage. Two Remnant Spark per summon is a lot if your other Phantom Edge is your main damage, so pair a summon with a cheap opener such as the Dread Axe.
For the rest of your loadout, see our guide to the best build. Every other guide is on our Phantom Blade Zero hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best summon in Phantom Blade Zero? The Puppeteer’s Bell for most players, since its shield puppets tank hits and distract bosses. The Swordsman’s Summon is better against groups.
What are summons called in Phantom Blade Zero? Summoning Phantom Edges. They are one of the five Phantom Edge types.
Why can’t I use my summon? The summons that call allies only work in areas dense with Sha-Chi, when the Phantom Edge icon glows. You also need two Remnant Spark.
How many summons are there? Four Summoning Phantom Edges: the Kuye Temple Prayer Beads, the Puppeteer’s Bell, the Swordsman’s Summon and Inanis’ Radiant Fan.
How long do summons last? Up to 15 seconds at first, longer with upgrades. They disappear early if defeated.
Where do you get the Puppeteer’s Bell? From Dusk, the Puppeteer, a hidden boss in the Village of Lu who appears once you have all six of Firefly’s Memory Flowers.