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Overview
Phantom Blade Zero has over 28 named characters confirmed through trailers, demos, and developer interviews. The cast ranges from assassins and martial artists to political schemers and outright monsters. Nearly all of them connect back to The Order in some way, whether as members, enemies, or people caught in its shadow. S-GAME's CEO Soulframe Liang has compared the overall setup to "a Chinese version of John Wick": the best killer in an organization is cast out, and now everyone he used to work with is either hunting him or waiting for him to die.
The characters are not clean archetypes. Liang has said that relationships in the game are not declared loudly but suggested through small gestures. Love, loyalty, and betrayal all play out in the space between what characters say and what they actually do. This section covers the major figures and the full confirmed roster.
Soul (Protagonist)
Soul is the protagonist and player character. He is the youngest person to hold the rank of "Will," one of the senior leadership positions within The Order. He is also the youngest son of the Dark Castle of Mo, though his upbringing was shaped more by his adoptive father, Mu Tianmiao, than by his birth family.
Soul stands 172cm tall, has long white hair, and wears grey and red clothing. His English voice actor is Jay Maksenuk. His face and motion capture performance come from Yucheng, a Shanghai-based model. S-GAME used real fight-intensity motion capture for all combat animations, which means Yucheng's physical performance is reflected directly in how Soul moves during gameplay.
In combat, Soul has two distinct fighting styles. Infernal Blade is fire-based, while Dark Raider draws on darkness. Both styles change his moveset and visual effects. His personal weapon is the Sanguine, a sword forged specifically for him. For full details on his weapons and combat options, see those articles.
Zuo Shang (Main Antagonist)
Zuo Shang is the primary antagonist and Soul's former best friend. Their bond shattered because of what the developers describe as Zuo Shang's "endless ambition." The specifics of what drove them apart have not been fully revealed, but the trailers make clear that Zuo Shang's goals and Soul's survival are fundamentally incompatible.
Zuo Shang's strategy is patience. He knows Soul has only 66 days to live and is content to wait out the clock rather than confront him directly. This creates an unusual antagonist dynamic. Zuo Shang does not need to defeat Soul. He just needs Soul to run out of time. Whether Soul can force a confrontation before the 66 days expire is one of the central tensions of the plot.
Mu Xiaokui
Mu Xiaokui is the daughter of The Order's leader and Soul's childhood friend. She is portrayed by actress Zhang Jinzhi. Mu Xiaokui has appeared prominently in trailers and promotional material, and her relationship to both Soul and her murdered father places her at the emotional center of the conspiracy. Her exact role in the story has not been fully disclosed, but she is clearly one of the most important characters outside of Soul himself.
Mu Tianmiao
Mu Tianmiao is Soul's adoptive father and the patriarch of The Order. His murder is the inciting event of the entire game. Soul is framed for his death, poisoned, and given 66 days to live. Everything that follows springs from this moment. Mu Tianmiao's leadership held The Order together, and his death destabilizes the entire organization. See the story and lore article for more on how this event drives the plot.
Xuanyu
Xuanyu is described as Soul's "true love" and romantic relationship. Details about her are limited, but she represents one of the emotional stakes that give Soul's 66-day countdown personal weight beyond just survival. Whether she plays an active role in the plot or appears mainly in flashbacks and dialogue is not yet confirmed.
Forge
Forge is the craftsman who created weapons for Soul, including the Sanguine Twine short swords. He is a behind-the-scenes figure rather than a fighter. His role ties into the game's weapon system. The Sanguine Twine swords are one of the confirmed Blades in the game, built for speed and rapid combo attacks.
Confirmed Bosses
Several boss characters have been shown in gameplay demos and trailers. All bosses revealed so far are side content. S-GAME has stated that main story bosses have not yet been shown.
Wan Jun "Coppermaul" - A boss shown in early demo footage.
Red Wraith - A boss encounter confirmed in demos.
Chief Disciple of Seven Stars - Connected to a larger boss formation.
The Seven Judgments + Tyrannical Decree - A multi-boss encounter based on the Big Dipper formation. The disciples sacrifice their own health to heal their leader, forcing players to make tactical decisions about target priority.
Huangxing - On higher difficulties, this boss uses fighting game-style AI that analyzes the player's patterns and adapts. See the difficulty and progression article.
Other Named Characters
The following characters have been confirmed through trailers, demo footage, or developer materials. Their exact roles range from allies to enemies to figures whose allegiances shift depending on the story path.
The Chord - Carries a stringed instrument that plays music during his boss fight.
Tang Bing
Ning Zhi
Bi Taotao
Shao Baiyan
Shao Xuandiao
Guizhi
Tang Li
Dinghai
Dugu Linghe
Shao Zhanpeng
Xie Huichun
Sire Evilsmite
Inanis
Jade Demon
Motian
Old Beggar
Utilitina
Yin Yue
The Shao family (Shao Baiyan, Shao Xuandiao, Shao Zhanpeng) appears to be a connected faction within the story. Names like Sire Evilsmite and Tie Sha the Frenzy suggest boss-tier encounters. Others, like Old Beggar, may fill NPC or quest-giver roles.
Narrative Approach to Characters
Soulframe Liang has said he wants characters to feel grounded even in a world saturated with supernatural martial arts. The "John Wick" comparison he returns to is about tone: people with histories, debts, and grudges, forced into violent situations. He has also described the storytelling as direct rather than cryptic. Instead of scattering lore fragments for players to piece together, Phantom Blade Zero tells its character stories through dialogue, cutscenes, and visible interactions. See the world and setting article for how the world shapes these characters.