Sanguine

Overview

Sanguine is Soul's signature weapon and the first primary blade available in Phantom Blade Zero. Forged from a mysterious metal, Sanguine is shaped like a sword but carries the weight and impact of a cleaver. As a Will of the Order, Soul has personally ended many lives with this weapon. Its heavy strikes reflect both its lethal purpose and Soul's brutal efficiency.

Bleeding and Hemorrhage

Sanguine's defining combat mechanic is its ability to fill the target's Bleeding meter with each hit. When the Bleeding meter reaches its threshold, it triggers Hemorrhage a devastating sustained damage-over-time effect that continues dealing heavy damage even when you're not actively striking. This makes Sanguine particularly effective in longer fights where consistent pressure accumulates into massive total damage.

The Bleeding/Hemorrhage loop rewards aggressive, relentless play. Players who maintain pressure and land consistent hits will trigger Hemorrhage faster, creating a snowball effect where the enemy takes mounting damage from both direct strikes and the status effect simultaneously.

Combat abilities

Polearm form

Sanguine also has a polearm variant: a longer weapon modeled after the original blade. The polearm form sacrifices attack speed for extended reach and increased damage per hit. This gives players a choice between the standard sword's balance of speed and power, and the polearm's commitment to range and raw damage.

Lore

Sanguine is more than just a weapon, it is a symbol of Soul's role within the Order. The mysterious metal from which it is forged has properties that are not fully explained in the game's opening, hinting at a deeper connection to the setting's supernatural elements. The name "Sanguine" itself (meaning blood-red) reflects the weapon's association with violence and the Bleeding mechanic.

Playstyle

Sanguine is the quintessential all-rounder primary blade. Its Bleeding buildup provides consistent supplementary damage, its standard attacks hit hard enough for sustained DPS, and its L2 tumbling attacks offer burst potential. It pairs well with Phantom Edges that complement its mid-range combat style, heavy hitters like the Savage Axe for Sha-Chi damage, or the Flaming Mane to stack Burning on top of Bleeding for dual status pressure.

Key details