You get the Blazing Edge in Phantom Blade Zero by Soul Tempering the Sanguine Reach with the Flaming Grip. The Sanguine Reach is the two-handed sword on the weapon rack behind Forge’s smithy at the Outpost in Weeping Creek Valley, and the Flaming Grip is assembled from two pieces at Meigu Lake: Scorching Flames from Zhu Yuan, the Searing Blade, and The Quenched Flaming Grip from the Gold-Masked One’s Midlake Long Pillar duel.
There is no chest or boss that drops the Blazing Edge on its own, which is why it is easy to miss. Below is each step in order, where the pieces are, how to temper the sword, and what the finished weapon does.
The Four Steps at a Glance
| Step | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pick up the Sanguine Reach | Weapon rack behind Forge’s smithy, the Outpost, Weeping Creek Valley | The first region |
| 2. Unlock Soul Tempering | Myst’s tavern in Pangzhen | Pangzhen |
| 3. Collect both halves of the Flaming Grip | The Sha-Chi Tower by the Pangzhen Docks, and the Midlake Long Pillar | The Meigu Lake leg |
| 4. Temper the Sanguine Reach | Any bell | Once you hold the Flaming Grip |
Step 1: Get the Sanguine Reach
The Sanguine Reach is one of the Sanguine weapons from Weeping Creek Valley, the two-handed one. It sits on the weapon rack behind Forge’s smithy at the Outpost, and it deals 200 damage at Level 1. If you have been ignoring it in favor of a boss weapon, it is still in your inventory: nothing about the tempering requires you to have used it. Our guide to the best early weapons covers the rest of the starting options.
Step 2: Unlock Soul Tempering
Soul Tempering is the second upgrade system, separate from regular weapon levels. It opens when you meet Myst at her tavern in Pangzhen. After that, it is in the Upgrade Equipment menu at any bell. Our guide to how to upgrade weapons explains how it differs from leveling a weapon. The short version: each weapon can be tempered only once, and some, like the Sanguine Reach, transform into a different weapon entirely.
Step 3: Collect the Flaming Grip
The Flaming Grip is the Soul Tempering material for this sword. Its in-game text reads: “Collect every fragment to restore the Flaming Grip, used to Soul Temper the Sanguine Reach.” Both fragments are on the Meigu Lake leg of the story, and they combine on their own once you hold both.
- Scorching Flames. Beat Zhu Yuan, the Searing Blade, one of the Two Blade Masters, at the Sha-Chi Tower reached from the Pangzhen Docks. He is optional and off the main route.
- The Quenched Flaming Grip. Beat the Gold-Masked One at the Midlake Long Pillar, on an island at the eastern edge of Meigu Lake, reached by boat. It is the third of his five duels in the Bloodline Awakening tale.
Our guide to how to get to Meigu Lake has the route to the docks, and our guide to how to get the Flaming Grip breaks down both fights. The Long Pillar duel is the harder of the two: the Gold-Masked One punishes free attacks, so our guide to how to beat the Gold-Masked One is worth reading before you sail out.
Step 4: Temper the Sanguine Reach
- Rest at any bell.
- Open Upgrade Equipment and choose Soul Tempering.
- Select the Sanguine Reach. Tempering it costs the Flaming Grip plus Remnant Dust, so have both before you confirm.
- Confirm. The sword becomes the Blazing Edge.
Because a weapon can be tempered only once, there is no second step later. Tempering also counts toward A Tempered Ten, the trophy for tempering ten weapons, which our trophy list covers.
What the Blazing Edge Does
Its description sums it up: “A long blade that transforms Sha-Chi into raging flame. It can shatter shields and burn enemies to ash.” It is still a two-handed sword, now with fire built into its kit:
- More damage. It deals 312 damage at Level 1, up from the Sanguine Reach’s 200, and climbs to about 1,217 at Level 30.
- Fire on Sha-Chi attacks. Its Sha-Chi Combo sets enemies alight, and Block plus Heavy sends out a Flame Wave.
- Burning Blade. Landing hits fills a Burning Energy bar. When it is full, the blade burns for 15 seconds and every attack inflicts Burn.
- Sunderflame. A Power Surge you hold to charge up to three times, spending Sha-Chi Essence. It cannot be blocked and ignites enemies.
As you level it, it picks up the two-handed skill set, including Whirlwind Slash at Level 5 and Tempest Wheel at Level 25, plus stronger Fatal Executions at Levels 10 and 30. Upgrading it takes Broadplate Metal.
Weapons to Pair It With
Whiteshadow, the freezing two-hander from the Blizzard Blademaster at Meigu Lake, makes a natural partner for it: freeze with one, burn with the other. Our guide to the best weapon combo covers that pair and the others worth building around, and our best weapons list ranks it against the rest of the arsenal. Every other guide is on our Phantom Blade Zero hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get the Blazing Edge in Phantom Blade Zero? Soul Temper the Sanguine Reach at any bell, which costs the Flaming Grip plus Remnant Dust. Soul Tempering unlocks when you meet Myst in Pangzhen.
Where is the Sanguine Reach? On the weapon rack behind Forge’s smithy at the Outpost in Weeping Creek Valley.
Where do you get the Flaming Grip? It combines from Scorching Flames, dropped by Zhu Yuan, the Searing Blade, and The Quenched Flaming Grip, the reward for the Gold-Masked One’s Midlake Long Pillar duel.
Is Zhu Yuan optional? Yes. He waits off the main route at the Sha-Chi Tower by the Pangzhen Docks, but you need him for the Blazing Edge.
Can you temper the Sanguine Reach more than once? No. Each weapon can be Soul Tempered only once.
Is the Blazing Edge good? Yes. It hits harder than the Sanguine Reach from Level 1, adds Burn to your attacks, and pairs well with Whiteshadow: freeze with one, burn with the other.