You Can Upgrade Phantom Blade Zero’s Weapons Past Their Level Cap In NG+
Phantom Blade Zero offers a massive variety of builds. With 30 weapons, 30 Phantom Edges, plus accessories and medicines, the number 30 becomes the key limit: on a first playthrough you can raise weapons and edges to level 30.
Many players worry that a second playthrough will lock equipment levels, but the game actually lets you exceed the cap in New Game+. The catch is that you must obtain the items again during the new run.
Having earned a perfect 5/5 review and completed the game twice, I compiled a list of the 10 best weapons and 10 best Phantom Edges. It wasn’t until I started my second run that I discovered they could be upgraded beyond level 30.
I began that run using my favorite weapon, the Crescent Blade, paired with the Blazing Edge—the Soul‑Tempered version of the Sanguine Reach. When I first checked the upgrade screen at the initial Bell, the options were locked, so I expected to feel underpowered later on.
After reaching the first Mandate Outpost in Weeping Creek Valley and speaking with the blacksmith, I collected another version of the Sanguine Reach. Checking the upgrade menu again, I found the Blazing Edge could finally be upgraded. In short, you can upgrade any weapon or Phantom Edge on New Game+ once you have located the item on the second playthrough.
This mechanic also applies to accessories: you can raise them by +1, often preserving their original bonus while granting a 3% boost to a random stat such as attack power or Sha‑Chi. The only items that retain their first‑playthrough cap are medicines.
These subtle upgrades are easy to miss, but they can make a decisive difference when facing the challenging Maskwalkers in any subsequent run.