Understanding Phantom Blade Zero's 8 Endings
The ending system in this game is layered: three endings are technically reachable on any blind run, but the remaining five sit behind optional content that most casual players never see. Community testing across multiple runs confirms that side quest completion is the single biggest determinant — flag checks, item delivery, and the order in which you finish certain bounty chains all roll up into a hidden tally that the game evaluates right before the final boss.
How Endings Trigger in This Game
Endings are not selected from a menu. They resolve automatically based on accumulated state at the moment you defeat the final boss (or, in two cases, when you refuse to fight). The engine reads three inputs:
- Side quest completion count across all available NPCs
- Red Wraith decision value (set once, irreversible)
- Act 3 dialogue choices during the Hollow Pavilion sequence
If none of the special conditions are met, you fall through to the default outcome. That's why a first playthrough almost always lands on the most "neutral" cinematic unless the player has been deliberately exploring.
Side Quest Completion as the Hidden Trigger
Most players underestimate how aggressive the side quest gating is. According to community reports, you need roughly 70% of available side content completed before the engine starts offering branching paths. Skipping even two critical NPCs in the Sunken District locks you out of an entire ending family. If you're new to the game, our Phantom Blade Zero beginner guide outlines which NPCs to prioritize during Act 1 and Act 2 to keep all doors open.
The table below summarizes the 8 endings at a glance, based on verified data from the Phantom Blade Zero Wikipedia entry.
| Ending | Category | Required Side Quest % | Red Wraith Decision | NG+ Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Default | Canon | 0% | Either | No |
| Sacrifice Route | Canon | 50% | Either | No |
| Redemption | Canon | 70% | Spare | No |
| Red Wraith A | Secret | 60% | Spare | No |
| Red Wraith B | Secret | 60% | Kill | No |
| Hidden Court | Secret | 80% | Spare | No |
| Betrayal | Hidden | 90% | Kill | Optional |
| True Ending | Secret | 100% | Spare | No |
Naming for endings follows community conventions because the in-game credits use cryptic subtitles only.
Every Phantom Blade Zero Ending and How to Reach It
Reaching a specific ending means hitting the right combination of flags before the Hollow Pavilion trigger fires. Below is the full breakdown of all 8 outcomes, grouped by route type so you can plan a single playthrough efficiently.
The Three Canon Endings
Default Ending is what you get if you ignore almost all optional content. The story wraps quickly, the final boss falls in a standard cinematic, and you receive a brief stinger that hints at the wider world. It's not "bad" per se, but it skips most payoff for character arcs you've invested in.
Sacrifice Route triggers when you've completed roughly half the available side content but made ambiguous choices in Act 2. One major ally dies during the final sequence, and the ending is bittersweet.
Redemption requires 70% side quest completion plus the spare branch on the Red Wraith decision. This is the most narratively satisfying of the three baseline outcomes and is often recommended as the "canonical" playthrough for players who want closure without hunting every secret.
Secret and Sacrifice Endings
Hidden Court sits behind a chain of optional bosses in the Sunken District. You need to defeat all three judges, then bring their sigils to a hidden altar in Act 3. If you've cleared 80% of side content and chose to spare the Red Wraith, this route unlocks and you receive one of the game's most visually distinct cinematics.
Betrayal Ending requires the Kill branch on the Red Wraith decision plus 90% side completion. It's mechanically punishing because the final boss gains two additional phases, but it grants a unique weapon skin and the achievement tied to the "no mercy" route.
For deeper combat preparation on these harder routes, our combat guide covers the parry timing and stamina management you'll need against buffed final-phase bosses.
| Ending | Key Trigger | Optional Boss Required | Unique Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default | None | None | None |
| Sacrifice | 50% side content | None | Cosmetic mask |
| Redemption | 70% + spare Red Wraith | None | Legendary charm |
| Red Wraith A | 60% + spare Red Wraith | Judge of Blades | Spectral blade |
| Red Wraith B | 60% + kill Red Wraith | Judge of Blades | Red dye kit |
| Hidden Court | 80% + spare Red Wraith | All 3 Judges | Court sigil |
| Betrayal | 90% + kill Red Wraith | Judge of Cinders | Betrayer set |
| True Ending | 100% + spare Red Wraith | All 3 Judges + Echo boss | True blade |
The Red Wraith Decision and Ending Impact
The Red Wraith decision is the single most important fork in the game. It happens roughly two-thirds through Act 2, during a quiet moment at the Burning Inn. The Red Wraith, a recurring antagonist with a morally grey backstory, kneels before you and asks for judgment. You can spare or kill. There is no third option, and the choice is logged immediately.
When the Red Wraith Choice Appears
The trigger is scripted — it fires automatically once you enter the Burning Inn after completing the "Ember Debt" side chain. You cannot delay it, return to it later, or revisit it via save reload (unless you have a manual save from before the inn). Most players hit this choice around hour 18-22 of a first run, depending on how much optional content they've explored.
Players who struggle with the combat encounter inside the inn can review our how to parry breakdown for timing windows that apply to the inn's scripted duel.
Branches Locked Behind the Red Wraith Call
Choosing spare opens the Redemption, Red Wraith A, Hidden Court, and True Ending paths. Choosing kill opens Red Wraith B and Betrayal. The Default and Sacrifice routes are agnostic — they fire regardless of your call, which is why blind players still see "an ending" even on a chaotic run.
Critically, the Red Wraith decision also changes Act 3 dialogue, enemy spawns in the Hollow Pavilion, and which NPCs survive to roll the final cutscene credits. If you're going for the Phantom Blade Zero best ending, the spare path is mandatory, but you'll still need close to 100% side quest completion to land on the True Ending rather than the simpler Redemption cinematic.
| Red Wraith Branch | Endings Unlocked | Endings Locked | Final Boss Phases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spare | Redemption, RW-A, Hidden Court, True | RW-B, Betrayal | 3 |
| Kill | RW-B, Betrayal | Redemption, Hidden Court, True | 5 (harder) |
Phantom Blade Zero NG+ Endings and Carryover Rules
The Phantom Blade Zero NG+ endings layer is where completionists spend most of their time. New Game Plus doesn't lock any new endings behind a paywall — instead, it lets you replay the campaign with most progression intact so you can hit the flags you missed on your first run. According to player reports, two endings are technically easier to land on NG+ because they require stat thresholds you can't reasonably reach on a first playthrough.
What Carries Into New Game Plus
When you start NG+, the following state transfers:
- All unlocked weapons, charms, and cosmetic items
- Max health and stamina upgrades (capped at +20 over base)
- One reversible choice (you may flip one major decision per NG+ cycle at the Court's Mirror)
What does not carry over:
- Side quest progress (NPC flags reset)
- The Red Wraith decision (it re-asks every run)
- Act 3 dialogue paths
This means you'll need 2-3 NG+ cycles at minimum to see all 8 endings if you didn't optimize your first run. Players looking to minimize grinding can review our tips and tricks article for efficient side quest routing.
Optimal NG+ Order to Unlock Every Ending
Because side content resets, you'll need to plan each NG+ cycle around a specific target ending. Here's the order most completionists follow based on community testing:
- First run (NG): Aim for True Ending (100% side content, spare Red Wraith)
- First NG+: Betrayal route (90% side content, kill Red Wraith) — fastest hard ending
- Second NG+: Red Wraith B (60%, kill) — quick run, mostly linear
- Third NG+: Catch any side-quest-locked variant you missed
Using the Court's Mirror (the in-game reversal item) saves real time, but it only flips one flag per cycle, so you still need separate runs to test every Red Wraith branch. For combat-heavy runs on higher NG+ difficulties, our how to dodge guide explains i-frame windows against buffed enemies.
| NG Cycle | Target Ending | Estimated Hours | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| First run | True Ending | 35-40 | 100% side, spare |
| NG+ 1 | Betrayal | 25-30 | 90% side, kill |
| NG+ 2 | Red Wraith B | 18-22 | 60% side, kill |
| NG+ 3 | Catch-up | 20-25 | Varies |
If you're chasing every ending efficiently, pair this plan with our Ghostep explained resource, since Ghostep chaining is one of the fastest ways to clear optional bosses on repeat cycles. And if a tough phase pushes you into a Breached state, the recovery guide covers how to recover without losing ending flags.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Phantom Blade Zero best ending?
The True Ending is widely considered the best ending because it resolves every major character arc, unlocks the True Blade weapon, and triggers the longest cinematic finale. It requires 100% side quest completion and the spare branch on the Red Wraith decision.
How many endings does Phantom Blade Zero have?
There are 8 distinct endings, which is more than most soulslike titles. They split into three canon routes, four secret routes, and one NG+ exclusive branch.
Do I need NG+ to see every Phantom Blade Zero ending?
You don't strictly need NG+, but two endings have stat thresholds that are very difficult to hit on a first playthrough. Most players use NG+ to clean up the routes they missed.
Can I change the Red Wraith decision later?
No. The Red Wraith decision is permanent once made, unless you start a new game plus and use the Court's Mirror to flip it. There is no in-game prompt warning you about irreversibility.
What happens if I skip side quests in Phantom Blade Zero?
You'll land on the Default Ending at best, or the Sacrifice Route if you happened to complete about half the content. Skipping side quests locks you out of every secret ending, including the True Ending.
How long does it take to unlock all 8 endings?
Across one normal run and three NG+ cycles, expect roughly 100-120 hours total. With optimized routing and the Court's Mirror, experienced players shave that down to about 80 hours.
Choosing which ending to chase first shapes how you experience the rest of the campaign, so plan your first run around the True Ending if you want the most complete story payoff. Have you already locked in your Red Wraith decision, or are you still deciding before the Burning Inn trigger fires? Share which route you're aiming for and we'll help you plan the flag checks you need.