A Dread Axe Is Key to Defeat Jing Ye the Outlaw in Phantom Blade Zero

Handle the mounted phase

Jing Ye circles the arena on horseback, using his long-reaching naginata and retreating to prepare ranged attacks. He can send out homing blood projectiles or throw a spinning blade, so be ready to parry; the blood attacks may arrive in multiple waves.

Stay close when possible and watch for the color signals: parry blue strikes and dodge red ones. Jing Ye’s mounted swings can leave room to attack from his left side, helping you reduce his Sha-Chi before he is stunned.

His leap attacks are often easiest to dodge, though some can be countered. Stunning him twice and punishing the stuns can knock him off his horse and start the next phase.

Break the spiked shield

On foot, Jing Ye uses a durable spiked shield that makes direct attacks risky. Parrying alone will not break it, and hits against the shield deal damage to Soul, so avoid using Sha-Chi Essence while the shield remains active.

Use the Dread Axe, which should have up to three uses at this point. Charge it fully to perform its three-hit combo; two such combos should be enough to shatter the shield, though preparing them may cost some health.

Make sure each axe swing connects with the shield. If Jing Ye has his back turned or is on the ground, further swings will not damage it, wasting one of the weapon’s limited uses.

Watch for follow-up attacks

After Jing Ye is dismounted, he can kick dust into Soul’s face and disable target-lock before following with a strike. Prepare to perfect-parry or dodge the attack. Destroying the shield makes some of his later maneuvers interruptible. Watch his movements and use openings carefully rather than spending the Dread Axe’s remaining swings without a clear target.