Dread Axe has 7 listed skills and upgrade unlocks in the game’s text, including Base Phantom Edge Action, Full-Power Charge, Armored Resilience Lv. 1 / Lv. 2 / Lv. 3, Rushing Axe, Crushing Force.
Dread Axe skills and upgrade unlocks in the launch game
Skill
Unlock tier
What it does
Base Phantom Edge Action
Base move (R2)
Hold R2 to charge the attack, up to stages. Release R2 to unleash a crushing cleave. Higher charge stages deal more damage. Consumes Remnant Spark
Full-Power Charge
Level 5
Double-tap R2 to consume additional Remnant Spark and immediately perform a fully charged strike.
Armored Resilience Lv. 1 / Lv. 2 / Lv. 3
Level 10
Slightly reduces / Moderately reduces / Greatly reduces damage taken while charging.
Rushing Axe
Level 15
Press R2 after dodging or while sprinting to charge the attack while running.
Crushing Force
Level 25
Releasing a fully charged attack while running unleashes a more powerful leaping cleave.
Rapid Charge
Soul Tempering
Increases charge speed by.
Iron Chain Breaker
Exploration / Terrain
Once obtained, Dread Axe can break iron chains blocking the path, even when not equipped.
How to get Dread Axe and Soul Tempering
Phantom Edge · PhantomEdges_001
Dread Axe
Chinese name, not yet confirmed: 巨凶斧
In the launch game’s weapon list, Dread Axe is described as: “A thick-bladed great axe once wielded by the Axemaster, Peng Meng.” You Soul Temper Dread Axe at the forge using Blood Oath Dagger.
Dread Axe key facts and Soul Tempering
Weapon name
Dread Axe 巨凶斧
Category
Phantom Edge (carried in one of two Phantom Edge slots; uses Sha-Chi / Remnant Spark)
Blood Oath Dagger — Used to Soul Temper the Dread Axe.
Level 1–30 upgrades
Upgrades in three tiers (Lv. 1–10 with Twinned Metal & Solvent, Lv. 11–20 with Polished Twinned Metal & Concentrated Solvent, Lv. 21–30 with Flawless Twinned Metal, Universal Solvent & Blackstone). A Reforging Talisman resets the level to 1 and refunds 100% of materials. Counts toward Phantom Arsenal & Skill Over Strength.
Blood Oath Dagger item lore: “The dagger used by the Four Axes when they swore brotherhood in blood. They entrusted it to the Pavilion of Knowledge as proof of their bond.
The Four Axes were infamous throughout the Wulin, feared and reviled by all. Yet their reputation was built upon slander spread by the Mandate after a single act of justice years ago. Peng Meng, eldest of the four, later repeated that same mistake. His three sworn brothers were hacked to death by Mandate fighters, while he alone escaped. Whatever faith he still held in the Mandate died with them that day.”
In-game description and combat role
“A massive, weighty axe capable of splitting mountains and cleaving through armor in a single blow. It has high Shield-Breaking power.”
In-game weapon text for Dread Axe, Phantom Blade Zero launch build
Dread Axe is a phantom edge in the launch build of Phantom Blade Zero. A huge axe that breaks shields and armour.
Demo and trailer footage notes
Class Phantom Edge, in CGMagazine’s words
A charged heavy axe that also clears obstacles in your path.
First shown: Chapter 1 of the final build, in the October 2026 previews.
What it does
CGMagazine: “a heavy weapon known as a Phantom Edge that acts much like an ultimate attack”, with “an extremely satisfying ring that grows in intensity until the charge button is released and the giant axe comes down on the unfortunate enemy or area-blocking obstacle in your path”.
gcores (January 2025 demo): slow and hard-hitting, it can be charged and holds only five uses (our translation).
Gamersky: after an upgrade, the big axe gains a follow-up strike from an extra input in the combo (our translation).
Maybe Man-Cutter. See Man-Cutter: possibly one weapon under two names; no source says so.
Recommended against
Chains in the way. “This Phantom Edge can cut chains in the environment, giving it a role in exploration as well as combat.” gcores says the same.
PendingUpgrade path: filled in after launch (29 Oct 2026)
Dread Axe FAQ
How do you get Dread Axe in Phantom Blade Zero?
In the launch game’s weapon list, Dread Axe is described as: “A thick-bladed great axe once wielded by the Axemaster, Peng Meng.” You Soul Temper Dread Axe at the forge using Blood Oath Dagger.
What skills and upgrades does Dread Axe have?
Dread Axe has 7 listed skills and upgrade unlocks in the game’s text, including Base Phantom Edge Action, Full-Power Charge, Armored Resilience Lv. 1 / Lv. 2 / Lv. 3, Rushing Axe, Crushing Force. A huge axe that breaks shields and armour.
What is Blood Oath Dagger used for in Phantom Blade Zero?
You Soul Temper Dread Axe at the forge using Blood Oath Dagger. Dread Axe is a phantom edge in the launch build of Phantom Blade Zero.
Weapon name, description and skillsOfficial Phantom Blade Zero launch build localisation tables (PhantomEdges_001, PhantomEdgesDes_001, and PhantomEdges_Function_001_*), read 29 October 2026.
Wielder and summaryOfficial In-game equipment summary (PhantomEdgesDes_UI_001), launch build, 29 October 2026.
Soul Tempering materialOfficial In-game item text for Blood Oath Dagger (Item_Weapon_TierUp_017 and Item_WeaponFunc_TierUp_017), launch build, 29 October 2026.
Chinese name, not yet confirmed: 巨凶斧