Phantom Blade Zero: Use It Against Them?

Yes, in Phantom Blade Zero, the phrase “use it against them” refers to the core combat mechanic of deflecting and countering enemy attacks with your own weapons and skills. You do not literally turn an enemy’s blade back on them, but you can turn their aggression into a fatal opening, and this guide explains exactly how that works, what tools you have, and how to master it.

What “Use It Against Them” Actually Means in Combat

Phantom Blade Zero is a fast-paced action RPG where enemies, especially bosses, have long combo strings and hyper-armor (they don’t flinch from your light attacks). The “use it against them” philosophy is built around three core mechanics:

• Perfect Parry – pressing the parry button at the exact moment an attack lands. A successful parry negates all damage, staggers the enemy, and opens a brief window for a heavy counter.
• Dodge and Punish – if you dodge through an attack (not away from it), you get a slow-motion effect and a guaranteed critical hit on the enemy’s exposed back or side.
• Phantom Blade Skills – these are special moves that consume a resource (often called “Focus” or “Phantom Energy”). Many of these skills have built-in counter properties – for example, a skill that triggers a dash-forward slash if you are hit during its start-up frames.

In practice, “using it against them” means you are not just blocking or dodging – you are converting every enemy attack into a resource for your own offense. The game rewards aggressive defense.

How to Master the Counter System

Mastering this takes practice, but the game gives you clear tools to learn. Here is the progression most players follow:

1. Learn the enemy’s tells – every attack has a wind-up animation. Bosses usually have a flash of light or a sound cue just before a strike. Spend your first few attempts just watching, not attacking.
2. Practice parry timing in the training room – the game has a practice mode with a dummy that attacks in set patterns. Start with the slowest attack and parry it 10 times in a row.
3. Use the “Dodge-Through” for unparryable attacks – some attacks (usually red or orange glowing ones) cannot be parried. For those, dodge forward into the attack. The i-frames will protect you, and you will get the slow-mo punish.
4. Chain counters into Phantom Skills – after a successful parry, do not just press light attack. Use a heavy attack or a Phantom Skill to maximize the damage window. A common combo is: Parry → Heavy Slash → Phantom Skill (the one that lunges forward).
5. Manage your Focus meter – Phantom Skills consume Focus. You build Focus by landing attacks and successful parries. If you spam skills, you will run dry at the worst moment. Save at least one bar for a boss’s second phase.

Common Mistakes That Make “Use It Against Them” Fail

Even experienced action-game players make these errors when first picking up Phantom Blade Zero:

• Parrying too early – the parry window is tighter than it looks. You need to press the button when the attack is about to connect, not when the wind-up starts. If you keep parrying early, try delaying your input by a quarter of a second.
• Dodging backward – dodging away from an attack rarely gives you a counter window. The enemy recovers quickly and starts another combo. Dodge forward or to the side, through the attack.
• Ignoring the enemy’s posture bar – many bosses have a hidden posture or stagger meter. When it fills, they become stunned for a long time. Focus on parries and heavy attacks to fill it, rather than just light attacking.
• Using Phantom Skills at the wrong time – skills have long animations. If you use one while the boss is mid-combo, you will get hit. Only use them after a successful parry or dodge-through.

Comparing Counter Styles: Parry vs. Dodge vs. Block

The game offers three defensive options, and each has a different risk/reward profile. Understanding which to use against which enemy is the heart of “using it against them.”

• Parry – Highest risk (tight timing), highest reward (big stagger, full counter window). Best against humanoid enemies with telegraphed slashes. Does not work on all attacks.
• Dodge-Through – Medium risk (i-frames are generous), medium reward (slow-mo + one guaranteed critical). Works on almost everything, including unparryable attacks. The most versatile tool.
• Hold Block – Low risk (no timing required), low reward (chip damage, no counter window, drains stamina). Use only as a panic option or to learn attack patterns safely. Blocking does not build Focus.

In practice, you will use all three. The best players parry the attacks they know, dodge-through the ones they don’t, and block only when they are out of stamina or Focus.

Costs and Risks of the Counter Playstyle

Choosing to play aggressively with counters is not free. The game imposes several costs that you need to manage:

• Stamina – parrying and dodging both consume stamina. If you run out, you cannot do anything for a second or two, which is often fatal. Do not spam parry; wait for the attack.
• Focus – Phantom Skills cost Focus. You generate Focus by landing hits and successful parries. If you use a skill and miss, you have wasted a resource that took time to build.
• Health – a failed parry does not just miss; you take full damage. In boss fights, that can be half your health bar. The risk is real, so practice on regular enemies first.

The reward for managing these costs is a much faster kill time. A player who only dodges and light-attacks might take 3 minutes to kill a boss. A player who parries and uses Phantom Skills can do it in 90 seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I parry every attack in Phantom Blade Zero?

No. Some attacks, typically those with a red or orange glow, are unparryable. You must dodge through them. The game usually teaches this in the first boss fight. If you try to parry an unparryable attack, you will take full damage and be staggered.

What is the best Phantom Skill for countering?

There is no single best skill, but skills that have a dash or lunge built in are generally the most useful after a parry, because they close distance and deal heavy damage. Look for skills that say “counter” or “punish” in their description. The exact best one depends on your weapon and playstyle.

How do I build Focus faster?

Focus builds by landing attacks and successful parries. Parries build it significantly faster than normal hits. Some equipment and skill tree nodes increase Focus gain. If you are struggling to build Focus, focus on parrying rather than attacking.

Is blocking ever useful?

Yes, but only as a learning tool or a last resort. Blocking prevents damage but does not give you a counter window and drains stamina. If you are learning a new boss, block to see their patterns without dying. Once you know the patterns, switch to parrying and dodging.

Does the counter system work the same on normal enemies and bosses?

Mostly yes, but normal enemies have much smaller posture bars and die faster, so you can afford to be more aggressive. Bosses have larger posture bars and more unparryable attacks, so you need to be more selective with your parries.

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