Phantom Blade Zero follows a different system for upping your attack prowess, as well as capacity to inflict guard break on enemies. These don’t level up, or increase through skill points – but, by collecting Blackstone Shards. Also, you need to collect 4 shards before they can be combined into a single Blackstone, that then grants you a permanent increase in.
Given the combat mechanics in Phantom Blade Zero, these are essential items to help you take on tougher and tougher bosses in the game. Here’s how to locate the 4 Blackstone Shards in Weeping Creek Valley, the first region in the game.
Blackstone Shard #1
You get the first Blackstone Shard in the game by opening up the locked door, on the left of the Outpost. To get the key, from the Outpost Bell, before going straight ahead past the red shrine to the boss area, take the right path that winds upwards. The Outpost is a mini-hub that you will come across in your first chapter – Against The Fall.
Here, jump through the window to collect the Cell Key. You can now unlock the door, and collect Blackstone Shard #1.
Blackstone Shard # 2
You get the second Blackstone Shard on defeating a specific archer in the Ruthless Archer Camp. The search for this very closely aligns with the Purge the Sect side quest, so it makes sense to do both of these together.
After defeating Peng Meng, proceed on the main path, defeat the enemies with the shield, till you get to the part where The Hunt taunts you again. Next, you will enter into an area with a lot of enemies. Proceed ahead to see 2 ladders on your left. Take either of those, and clear out the archers and melee attackers.
Once done, go up on the right, to come across an archer next to a chest. Defeat him to get Blackstone Shard # 2. He also drops The Broken String Bow, needed to complete the Purge the Sect quest, and get the Feather Bow. The Feather Bow is one of the 7 weapons and Phantom Edges in the Weeping Creek Valley. Get the Token of Pursuit accessory from the treasure chest next to it.
Blackstone Shard # 3
To get the next Blackstone Shard, you have to wait till you open up the door past the Creek Valley Plains Entrance. To get this key, you have to first defeat The Hunt, which gets you The Hunter’s Chain Sickle Phantom Edge.
With this, you go to the Valley Sha-Chi Summit, and use the Phantom Edge to grapple to the previously unreachable orange shiny, which happens to be the Sha-Chi Tower Base Key.
Now, enter the Plains, and make your way up, defeating the enemies on the way. You will eventually arrive at the point shown in the image above. From here, continue straight, and take the steps at the end to lead you into a factory (after an interaction with a Haggard Mandate Disciple just before it).
There will be a group of Monks to defeat here, and that will get you Blackstone Shard #3 for the Weeping Creek Valley Region.
Blackstone Shard # 4
Return to the Creek Valley Plains Entrance, take the path winding upwards, but, instead of sticking to the left to get into the factory as we did for the previous Shard, this time, take a right. This will lead you to a bridge and the Long Pillar Overlook Bell.
From here, take the path on the right. If you have been tracking the Apprentice Healer side quest, you should now be at a place where you can pick up the Congealeaf. After having done so, you will see an open area below you, which, on the right, leads to a waterfall.
Jump down, and keep clearing out enemies as you progress towards the right. Finally, when you arrive there, you will be able to grapple to a platform above you, which has a chest with Blackstone Shard # 4
Getting this one will automatically fuse the 4 Shards now with you, into a Blackstone, and your attack + guard break will increase permanently by a precious 10%. With this, your hunt for Blackstone Shards in the Weeping Creek Valley region in Phantom Blade Zero is complete.
