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Commander Cleave
May 8, 2026 at 09:02 AM
Applied Title Case to body headings
Commander Cleave is a boss in Phantom Blade Zero who fights with a distinctive curved blade. His defining characteristic is the use of delayed and erratic attack timings designed to throw off players who have developed rhythm-based parry habits from earlier encounters.
Commander Cleave's attacks intentionally break the timing expectations established by the game's other enemies. Where most foes attack in consistent rhythms that can be learned and predicted, Commander Cleave introduces deliberate pauses, feints, and variable-speed swings that punish muscle memory.
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Delayed swings | begins an attack motion, pauses mid-swing for a variable duration, then completes the strike |
Double feint | starts one attack, cancels into another, then executes a third unexpected strike |
Variable combo speed | alternates between fast and slow strikes within the same combo chain |
Counter-bait | performs a deliberately slow attack to lure the player into attacking, then punishes with a fast follow-up |
Do not rely on rhythm-based parrying against Commander Cleave. Instead, watch the blade itself rather than the wind-up animation. The actual strike can be identified by the blade's acceleration in the final moment before impact. This is a fight that trains visual reaction over pattern memorization.
The Ghostep is particularly effective here because its activation window is generous enough to handle the delayed timings. When in doubt, Ghostep rather than parry, as the cost of a missed parry against Commander Cleave is much higher than the cost of a Ghostep that triggers slightly early.
Action | Key/Button |
|---|---|
curved blade | |
Signature mechanic | delayed and erratic attack timings |
Design purpose | counters rhythm-based parry habits |
Recommended counter | visual reaction and Ghostep over parry timing |
