Zuo Shang Boss #1 of 74 · Prologue
- Base HP
- 2,900
- Attacks
- 15
- Blue / red tells
- 2 / 0
- Weakness
- None
- Author
- Dakota Chinnick
- Methodology
- Data Methodology
Zuo Shang has 15 attacks: 2 flash blue (parry them) and 0 flash red (dodge them). Base HP 2,900, Sha-Chi 1,400.
How to beat Zuo Shang
Our strategy, built from the fight's numbers, followed by the game's own codex entry.
- Parry the blue flashes: 2 of Zuo Shang's 15 attacks flash blue before they land, and a timed parry stops them.
- The tightest tell is Diving Sword Plunge: only 0.47s from the flash to the hit, so react to the flash, not the swing.
- Bleed builds up 16% faster on Zuo Shang.
- Zuo Shang's Sha-Chi bar is 1,400: perfect parries and Guard Break attacks drain it, and an empty bar opens the boss to a finisher.
Bring Bleed. Zuo Shang builds Bleed 16% faster than normal, while Lightning hits him 30% softer and Shock builds 30% slower, so leave Lightning weapons out of this bout. With only 2,900 base HP, 1,400 base Sha-Chi and no special Sha-Chi resistances, Standard Combos and clean Parries break his guard at the normal rate.
This is the opening fight of the Prologue, and his exact level is not recorded. The codex describes light, agile movement and graceful, refined technique, so expect him to move around you rather than trade blows.
He returns right away as Zuo Shang, the Order's Shadow Sovereign (boss #2), and again much later as Zuo Shang, the True Lóng (boss #74). No drops are recorded for this encounter.
Zuo Shang moves & attack patterns
Game dataEvery attack Zuo Shang can use, read from its ability data. The cards show the in-game animation with its timing: wind-up, the red or blue flash, the hit window and recovery.
- Attacks
- 15
- Red flash (dodge)
- 0
- Blue flash (parry)
- 2
- Tightest tell
- 0.47s
Sweeping Backflip Combo
Blue flashSkillBlue flash at 1.88s → hit at 2.7s (0.82s to react) · 3 hits · Normal hitDiving Sword Plunge
Blue flashSkillBlue flash at 0.81s → hit at 1.28s (0.47s to react) · 1 hit · KnockbackSweeping Sword Thrust
SpecialFirst hit at 0.9s · 1 hit · Normal hitHopping Horizontal Slash
SpecialFirst hit at 0.64s · 1 hit · Normal hitEmpowered Hopping Slash
SpecialFirst hit at 0.65s · 1 hit · Normal hitRaised Overhead Cut
SpecialFirst hit at 0.85s · 1 hit · Normal hitSomersault Slash
SpecialFirst hit at 1.1s · 1 hit · KnockbackFlying Kick Slash
SpecialFirst hit at 0.77s · 1 hit · Heavy hitCrouching Lunge Thrust
SpecialFirst hit at 0.84s · 2 hits · Normal hitTurning Rising Cut
SpecialFirst hit at 0.98s · 1 hit · Normal hitFlourish and Palm Strike
SpecialFirst hit at 1.27s · 1 hit · KnockbackCartwheel Sword Slash
SpecialFirst hit at 1.34s · 1 hit · Normal hitAll 15 attacks
| Attack | Tell | Hit timing | Hits | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweeping Backflip Combo Skill | Blue flash | 0.82s after flash | 3 | Whole fight |
| Diving Sword Plunge Skill | Blue flash | 0.47s after flash | 1 | Whole fight |
| Sweeping Sword Thrust Special | No flash | first hit 0.9s | 1 | Whole fight |
| Hopping Horizontal Slash Special | No flash | first hit 0.64s | 1 | Whole fight |
| Empowered Hopping Slash Special | No flash | first hit 0.65s | 1 | Whole fight |
| Raised Overhead Cut Special | No flash | first hit 0.85s | 1 | Whole fight |
| Somersault Slash Special | No flash | first hit 1.1s | 1 | Whole fight |
| Flying Kick Slash Special | No flash | first hit 0.77s | 1 | Whole fight |
| Crouching Lunge Thrust Special | No flash | first hit 0.84s | 2 | Whole fight |
| Turning Rising Cut Special | No flash | first hit 0.98s | 1 | Whole fight |
| Flourish and Palm Strike Special | No flash | first hit 1.27s | 1 | Whole fight |
| Cartwheel Sword Slash Special | No flash | first hit 1.34s | 1 | Whole fight |
| Sword Grab ThrowAttack | No flash | first hit 1.52s | 1 | Whole fight |
| Mid Sword SlashAttack | No flash | first hit 0.72s | 1 | Whole fight |
| Mid Sword ThrustAttack | No flash | first hit 0.69s | 1 | Whole fight |
Attack names are ours: the game doesn't name boss attacks. Times are seconds from the start of the attack; the reaction time runs from the flash to the first hit after it.
Parry Trainer
Test your timing on Zuo Shang's real attacks: parry the blue flashes, dodge the red ones.
Weaknesses and resistances
Game dataExtra damage (+) or reduced damage (−) per element, and how fast each status effect builds up.
| Element | Damage taken |
|---|---|
| Lightning | −30% |
| Status effect | Build-up |
|---|---|
| Bleed | +16% |
| Shock | −30% |
Zuo Shang HP and stats
Game dataBase attributes from the boss's config, and the same values at the level the fight runs at.
| Attribute | Base |
|---|---|
| HP | 2,900 |
| Sha-Chi | 1,400 |
| Attack | 100 |
| Sha-Chi damage | 60 |
| Stagger threshold | 1,200 |
The game files do not record an area level for this fight, so only the base values are shown.
Other forms of this fight
The same character appears as these boss entries (phases, rematches or story versions).
| Boss | Base HP | Sha-Chi |
|---|---|---|
 Zuo Shang, the Order's Shadow Sovereign | 8,000 | 2,400 |
 Zuo Shang, the True Lóng | 13,000 | 3,000 |
Zuo Shang lore
The codex entry the game unlocks for Zuo Shang.
In-game codexIn his youth, Zuo Shang was Soul's closest friend and fellow adopted son of Sovereign Mu. Exceptionally gifted and gentle in temperament, he possessed a composure far beyond his years, along with a depth of thought rare among his peers. Compared to Soul's impulsiveness and unrestrained nature, Zuo Shang was already remarkably steady and measured.
In his spare time, Zuo Shang enjoyed reading intelligence reports, forming his own insights into the affairs of the Wulin. His martial prowess was on par with Soul's. His movements were light and agile, his techniques graceful and refined. Even when sparring with a wooden sword, he moved with the elegance of one who rode the wind and followed the clouds.
From the days they spent together among the streets to the years they trained side by side within the Order, Zuo Shang and Soul had witnessed each other at their lowest and seen each other grow. Their bond only deepened with the passage of time... Who could have imagined that one day, they would turn their blades against each other?
Boss order
Boss #1 of 74: the first fight of the game. The next one is Zuo Shang, the Order's Shadow Sovereign.
Data: Phantom Blade Zero 26367565 (CL-302256, UE 5.7.4). How we source this
Zuo Shang is boss #1 of 74 in Phantom Blade Zero, fought in Prologue with 2,900 base HP and 1,400 Sha-Chi. Its moveset has 15 attacks: 2 blue-flash attacks that can be parried and 0 red-flash attacks that must be dodged. It has no elemental weakness, so raw Damage and Guard Break matter most.
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Zuo Shang FAQ
How do you beat Zuo Shang?
Bring Bleed. Zuo Shang builds Bleed 16% faster than normal, while Lightning hits him 30% softer and Shock builds 30% slower, so leave Lightning weapons out of this bout. With only 2,900 base HP, 1,400 base Sha-Chi and no special Sha-Chi resistances, Standard Combos and clean Parries break his guard at the normal rate. Parry the blue flashes: 2 of Zuo Shang's 15 attacks flash blue before they land, and a timed parry stops them. The tightest tell is Diving Sword Plunge: only 0.47s from the flash to the hit, so react to the flash, not the swing.
What attacks does Zuo Shang use?
Zuo Shang has 15 attacks in its ability data: 2 with a blue flash (parry) and 0 with a red flash (dodge). The moves section shows each one with its in-game animation and timing.
What do the red and blue flashes mean on Zuo Shang?
Zuo Shang's 2 blue-flash attacks can be parried. None of its attacks flash red.
Does Zuo Shang have a second phase?
The fight continues as Zuo Shang, the Order's Shadow Sovereign, Zuo Shang, the True Lóng.
What is Zuo Shang weak to?
Zuo Shang has no elemental weakness; focus on Damage and Guard Break.
How much HP does Zuo Shang have?
Zuo Shang has 2,900 base HP before the area level and difficulty raise it.
Where is Zuo Shang in Phantom Blade Zero?
Zuo Shang is fought in Prologue. It is boss #1 of 74 in story order, after —.
Which boss comes after Zuo Shang?
Zuo Shang is the first boss of the game; next is Zuo Shang, the Order's Shadow Sovereign.