Dread Axe Phantom Blade Zero: Location, Stats, and Effects
Updated
The Dread Axe is a Destructive Phantom Edge that charges a crushing cleave and breaks shields and iron chains; defeat Peng Meng the Axemaster in Weeping Creek Valley to get it. The Fextralife fan wiki places the reward at Mandate Outpost, while Game8 names the Against the Flow chapter. The dread axe Phantom Blade Zero has a two-stage charge, and the weapon’s route leads to Peng Meng in Weeping Creek Valley.

Dread Axe Phantom Blade Zero Stats and Effects
The Dread Axe charges its swing through up to two stages. Higher charge stages deal more damage, and the attack consumes one Remnant Spark. Fextralife and Game8 list a starting Damage of 309 and Guard Break of 208; the Phantom Blade Zero Database fan site lists 618 and 416 at weapon level 11 and also describes the two charge stages and the Iron Chain Breaker perk. Its high shield-breaking power gives the weapon a clear combat role, while its chain-breaking perk also applies when the Phantom Edge is not equipped.
The Dread Axe also has two named uses beyond its charged attack: breaking shields and breaking iron chains that block paths. The chain-breaking effect remains available when the weapon is not equipped, so the Axe can matter while navigating a blocked route as well as during combat. The table lists every entry the three guides give; a dash marks an entry that a guide does not list.
| Entry | Fextralife wiki | Game8 | Phantom Blade Zero DB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Destructive | Destructive | Destructive |
| Starting Damage / Guard Break | 309 / 208 | 309 / 208 | 309 / 208 |
| Damage / Guard Break at weapon Lv 11 | — | — | 618 / 416 |
| Charge | Hold R2, up to 2 stages | Hold Phantom Edge Button, up to 2 stages | Hold R2, up to 2 stages |
| Release cost | Consumes 1 Remnant Spark | Consumes 1 Remnant Spark | 1 Remnant Spark |
| Full-Power Charge | Double-tap R2: 1 extra Remnant Spark, immediate fully charged strike; weapon Lv 5 | Double-tap: 1 extra Remnant Spark, immediate fully charged strike; no level given | Double-tap R2: 1 extra Remnant Spark, immediate fully charged strike; weapon Lv 5 |
| Armored Resilience | Lv 1 at weapon Lv 10: slightly reduces damage taken while charging | Lv 1 to 3: slightly, moderately, then greatly reduces damage taken while charging | Lv 1 at weapon Lv 10: slightly reduces damage taken while charging |
| Rushing Axe | Press R2 after dodging or while sprinting to charge while running; weapon Lv 15 | Press after dodging while sprinting to charge while running; no level given | Press R2 after dodging or while sprinting to charge while running; weapon Lv 15 |
| Crushing Force | Weapon Lv 25: a fully charged attack while running unleashes a more powerful leaping cleave | A fully charged attack while running unleashes a more powerful leaping cleave; no level given | Weapon Lv 25: a fully charged attack while running becomes a stronger leaping cleave |
| Iron Chain Breaker | Breaks iron chains blocking the path, even when not equipped | Breaks iron chains blocking the path, even when not equipped | Breaks iron chains blocking the path, even when not equipped |
| Soul Temper: Rapid Charge | Increases charge speed by 30% | Increases charge speed by 30%; Soul Tempering through Myst in Pengzhen after Chapter 4 | Increases charge speed by 30%; at level 16 for 1 Blood Oath Dagger and 5,000 Remnant Dust |
| Shield breaking | High Shield-Breaking power | — | Breaks shields with its charged attack |
| Boss type (Peng Meng) | — | Maskwalkers | — |
| Pairs with (2025 demo loadouts) | — | — | Juggernaut (parry and cleave loadout) and Jagged Steel (blood loss loadout); the demo called the axe Man-Cutter |
| How to get | Reward for defeating Peng Meng the Axemaster at Mandate Outpost, Weeping Creek Valley | Defeat Peng Meng in Weeping Creek Valley during Against the Flow | Peng Meng the Axemaster drops it in Weeping Creek Valley; its card appears when he falls |
How to Get Dread Axe
The Dread Axe location is Weeping Creek Valley, where defeating Peng Meng the Axemaster awards the Phantom Edge. Game8 places the encounter during Against the Flow, and the Fextralife fan wiki identifies Mandate Outpost as the reward location. A GamersBeacon guide calls the encounter The Axemaster's Fall. Together, these names point to the same acquisition: defeat Peng Meng in the Weeping Creek Valley area to receive the Axe. The Method guide describes the river area beyond the Weeping Creek Valley Outpost as the place to find the Axemaster.
To follow the how to get Dread Axe route, use the chapter and location details to reach the encounter, then defeat the named boss. The listed sources describe the prize as a reward or drop from Peng Meng, rather than as an item found separately along the route. The steps below keep the location names together so the destination is easy to identify.
- Travel to Weeping Creek Valley during Against the Flow.
- Find Peng Meng the Axemaster at Mandate Outpost; the encounter is also identified as The Axemaster's Fall.
- Defeat Peng Meng to receive the Dread Axe Phantom Edge.
Using the Dread Axe on Shields and Chains
The Dread Axe is suited to players who want a charged attack for breaking shields and a tool for clearing chained barriers. Its crushing cleave builds through two stages, and the higher charge deals more damage; the attack spends one Remnant Spark either way. The Method guide describes Peng Meng as being in the river area beyond the Weeping Creek Valley Outpost and notes the Axe can break chained barriers. The weapon's listed effects support those uses directly: shield-breaking power, a charged cleave, and the ability to break iron chains.
For a route blocked by iron chains, the Dread Axe can break the obstacle even while unequipped. That detail separates its path-clearing effect from the need to use its attack in a fight. For combat, the two-stage charge gives a choice: use the cleave at a lower stage, or charge to a higher stage for more damage; the attack spends one Remnant Spark either way. The stated description does not give a separate weapon pairing or additional playstyle, so the practical uses here stay focused on the cleave, shields, and chains.
Our take on the Dread Axe Phantom Edge
The Dread Axe details point to two useful roles: its charge attacks break shields, and its chain-breaking ability helps open blocked paths. Those effects make the weapon relevant beyond a single attack, since the chain perk works even while the Axe is unequipped. The two-stage charge also gives a straightforward choice between a lower charge and a more damaging strike, and the attack consumes one Remnant Spark either way.
The clearest way to understand the Dread Axe is to keep its two jobs distinct. Its charged cleave is described as an attack that gains damage at higher charge, while its chain-breaking perk applies to iron chains blocking paths. The acquisition details are also consistent across the named locations: Peng Meng is the target, and Weeping Creek Valley is the area tied to the reward. That makes the Axe's appeal concrete without needing to assume a particular build or weapon combination.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you get the Dread Axe Phantom Blade Zero?
Defeat Peng Meng the Axemaster in Weeping Creek Valley to get the Dread Axe. The encounter is placed at Mandate Outpost and is also called The Axemaster's Fall.
How to get Dread Axe in Against the Flow?
Defeat Peng Meng during the Against the Flow chapter in Weeping Creek Valley. The Dread Axe is the reward for defeating the Axemaster, and the location descriptions also place the fight at Mandate Outpost or The Axemaster's Fall.
What are the Dread Axe stats?
The Dread Axe charges its cleave through two stages, with higher stages dealing more damage; the attack consumes one Remnant Spark. It also has high shield-breaking power, and its Iron Chain Breaker perk works even when the weapon is unequipped.
Can the Dread Axe break iron chains when unequipped?
Yes, the Iron Chain Breaker perk lets the Dread Axe break iron chains blocking paths even when it is not equipped. The Axe can also be used on chained obstacles, and its chain-breaking effect is described as useful for clearing blocked paths.
What does the Dread Axe Phantom Blade Zero do?
The Dread Axe unleashes a crushing cleave after charging and can break shields and iron chains. The Dread Axe Phantom Blade Zero is obtained by defeating Peng Meng in Weeping Creek Valley, and its two-stage charge makes higher stages deal more damage; the attack consumes one Remnant Spark.
Sources
- Dread Axe | Phantom Blade Zero checked 2026-11-01
- How to Get Dread Axe | Phantom Blade Zero (PBZ)|Game8 checked 2026-11-01
- Dread Axe: Phantom Blade Zero Phantom Edge Guide checked 2026-11-01
- Phantom Blade Zero: Weapons & Phantom Edges Locations & Directions | GamersBeacon checked 2026-11-01
- How to complete Four Fierce Axes in Phantom Blade Zero checked 2026-11-01
- Peng Meng Boss Fight in Phantom Blade Zero: Moveset, Attacks and Tips checked 2026-11-01
- Phantom Blade Zero: How to Complete the Four Fierce Axes Quest & Beat Axemaster Peng Meng checked 2026-11-01