How to beat the Phantom Blade Zero Gold-Masked One

Phantom Blade Zero Gold-Masked One holding baby in cutscene — (Image credit: S-GAME)

Fighting the Phantom Blade Zero Gold-Masked One is tricky as this mysterious recurring boss is a lethal swordsman. Found at Long Pillars throughout the game as part of the Bloodline Awakening quest, his boss fights are extreme tests of Phantom Blade's combat mechanics, from parrying and dodging to Power Surges and guard breaking. Ultimately, that means there's not much advice to impart other than – I'm going to say it – getting good. But I still have some wisdom to impart when it comes to beating the Gold-Masked One in Phantom Blade Zero.

Phantom Blade Zero Gold-Masked One boss fight tips

Phantom Blade Zero Gold-Masked One punching Soul in the face — (Image credit: S-GAME)

Defeating the Gold-Masked One at the first Long Pillar essentially comes down to your ability to perfectly parry and dodge his attacks. It's like the Phantom Blade Zero Three-Faced Puppet boss in that it's testing your understanding of the game's basics of combat, so here's how you beat him:

Learn his blue and red-flash attacks and play defensively: The Gold-Masked One uses all sorts of rapid sword combos that you can easily block but also throws in a lot of blue and red-flash attacks to end them – parry the former and dodge the latter, then quickly go on the attack to wear down his Sha-Chi and break his guard. Crucially, you need to be highly reactive when he's attacking as many of his blue and red-flash moves are similar-looking jumping overhead attacks, so you can't easily predict what's coming.
Avoid his grab attack as best as you can: This is much easier said than done as it feels like your reaction to this barely telegraphed red-flash attack must be instant. Mess it up and you'll get a beating that shreds Soul's health. You can at least heal easily afterwards while the Masked One collects his sword, but getting hit by this repeatedly is a surefire way to rapidly chew through your medicine. Unfortunately, this attack is even longer and more damaging in the final Long Pillar.
Use the Ancient Armor Fragment and Medicine Case Accessories: Both of these can be obtained in Weeping Creek Valley. The Ancient Armor Fragment found outside the Phantom Blade Zero Crimson Manor gives you damage resistance based on how full your health is. And the Medicine Case, which you get from completing Yu'er's Apprentice Healer quest, improves the amount of health your medicine restores. Together, these make any boss fight much more forgiving, especially making the Gold-Masked One's grab attack far less deadly, and are among the best Phantom Blade Zero Accessories.
Avoid using Phantom Edge attacks: I've found that most Phantom Edge weapons are generally too slow to be any more effective than Soul's normal weapons. Importantly, the Gold-Masked One can continue attacking even when you're hitting him with a Phantom Edge, so don't use one when his Sha-Chi guard is intact.

Phantom Blade Zero Gold-Masked One diving down with blue-flash sword attack — (Image credit: S-GAME)

Successfully dodge and parry your way through the fight and you'll eventually overcome the Gold-Masked One… for now. Bear in mind that the same advice applies whenever you fight him, but he also gains different moves or mechanics at each Long Pillar throughout Phantom Blade Zero - these are in Weeping Creek Valley, the Crimson Forest, Meigu Lake, the Four Guardians' Mirror also in Meigu Lake, and the Mirage Estate in Pangzhen.

For example, at the second Long Pillar, the Gold-Masked One employs Sha-Chi draining strikes, forcing you to also master switching your weapons. At another, he constantly recharges his Sha-Chi making it extremely difficult to break his guard.