Phantom Blade Zero Endings Explained: Annihilation, Lóng's Roar, Final Battle and Undying Grudge

Phantom Blade Zero has multiple endings. Kung Fu Punk counts four in-game endings, and the conditions are mostly about which side content you finished before the last stretch of the story. This guide explains each one and how they lead into New Game Plus. We avoid story spoilers and describe only the conditions and the final fights.

Overview

• Annihilation: the default outcome if you skipped a key quest.
• Lóng's Roar: a better ending that requires one quest line but not all the pillars.
• Final Battle: the full, best ending.
• Undying Grudge: a special failure ending that exists only on the 66 Days difficulty.

Annihilation

AllThings.How explains that you get Annihilation if you reach Mount Soulrend without completing Secrets at the Heart of the Lake. The story ends after you defeat Meng Hua. If you have been playing only the main story, this is the ending you will see. The th.gl guide notes that the Annihilation results screen offers a New Cycle.

Lóng's Roar

Lóng's Roar requires completing Secrets at the Heart of the Lake, including the conversation with Inanis about the Violet Blossom, according to AllThings.How. However, you have left at least one Lóng Pillar trial unfinished. This ending continues past Meng Hua and finishes after you defeat Zuo Shang. Inanis offers a New Cycle afterwards.

The Violet Blossom is also the Soul Tempering material for Inanis' Radiant Fan, according to TechWiser, which fits with Inanis' role in this quest.

Final Battle

The Final Battle is what most guides call the true or perfect ending. AllThings.How and games.gg say you need Secrets at the Heart of the Lake and all five Lóng Pillar trials (Bloodline Awakening), together with the purple quests and Quick Hand Zhang's requests. In the final sequence you face Leng Tu, Meng Hua and a transformed Zuo Shang. Our true ending guide contains the full checklist and the points of no return. The Meng Hua guide covers the fights.

Undying Grudge

This ending exists only on 66 Days. The th.gl difficulty guide describes 66 Days as Hellwalker difficulty with a limit of 66 deaths; every rebirth costs one day. If all sixty-six days are used up, the playthrough ends with Undying Grudge, described in-game as failing to uncover the truth and find the Heart before the end of your sixty-six-day lifespan. Choosing New Cycle from that results screen restarts the same cycle from the beginning, still on 66 Days. Read more in difficulty modes explained.

Which ending should you aim for?

If you want the whole story, plan for the Final Battle from the start. The requirements are spread across the entire game, and several have hard deadlines. The most practical approach is:

1. Do side quests as soon as they appear, especially purple ones.
2. Touch every Lóng Pillar you find so the quest is tracked; see Lóng Pillar locations.
3. Collect Acolyte masks as they become available.
4. Before the Green Serpent House door in Pangzhen, review your quest log.
5. Before The Last Chance bell, review it again.

New Cycle after an ending

th.gl explains that New Cycle carries equipment, progression items, Ability Training and Archives into the next run, while quests, maps, Key Items and remaining days reset. Because quests reset, you can go for a missed ending on the next cycle. Details are in our New Game Plus guide.

Trophies

The two Gold story trophies, With Heart and Blood and All Dreams Must End, are tied to story milestones, and Bloodline Awakening gives Phantom and Blade. See the trophy guide for how they fit into a platinum run.

Related guides

For more help, use these related pages on this site, each built from published guides:

• Beginner tips: parry colours, Sha-Chi and early priorities.
• Missable items: side quests and drops with a cut-off point.
• True ending guide: the purple quests and Acolytes you need.
• All bosses in order: every main and optional boss by region.
• Phantom Edges database and accessories database: stats and locations in sortable tables.
• Interactive map and collectibles tracker to tick off pickups as you go.