How To Repair The Illusory Pipa In Phantom Blade Zero

Are you eager to repair the Illusory Pipa in Phantom Blade Zero? This musical instrument is obtained a few hours into the campaign, but it’s going to take a long time before you can fully utilize its functions as a Phantom Edge weapon. We’ve got all the info for you right here, though there are some minor spoilers, too.

The Illusory Pipa location and quest NPC

The Phantom Blade Zero Illusory Pipa is acquired once Soul wakes up in the Village of Lu, the game’s third region. The broken item will be in your inventory and the only person who can repair it is in Pangzhen, the next zone in the campaign.

Assuming you’re able to reach Pangzhen, progress through the main quest until you arrive at Myst’s Tavern. The proprietor, Myst, says that she can restore the instrument for you. However, you need to collect three components, namely the Illusory Pipa Head, Illusory Pipa Backplate, and Illusory Pipa Strings.

Myst in Pangzhen will be able to restore the Illusory Pipa.

Where to find the Illusory Pipa Head

The Illusory Pipa Head is dropped by a secret boss in the Village of Lu. This opponent, Dusk the Puppeteer, is in the dark pit in the eastern part of the settlement. You have to gather all the Firefly Memory Flowers to gain access to the area. Dusk summons puppet minions, including shielded ones and creepy aunties that are out for blood. He also creates a clone once he’s low on health, making the battle more hectic.

If you manage to beat him, he’ll drop the quest item, as well as the Puppeteer’s Bell. It’s a Phantom Edge that lets you summon a Sword-and-Shield and a Spear-and-Shield Puppet.

Where to find the Illusory Pipa Backplate

The next component for the Phantom Blade Zero Illusory Pipa is the Backplate, which comes from the Mandate Encampment. Your goal is to tackle the objectives until you reach the Training Grounds in the northern part of the map. There, you must eliminate Yubi, No. 21 Swordfighter Puppet.

Yubi drops a dual-wield weapon, the Baishan Stormswords, along with the Illusory Pipa Backplate. Moreover, if you check the back of the building/pavilion, you’ll notice a portal. Pass through it and interact with the hanging puppet. This action is actually part of a quest arc that leads you to the Crimson Manor.

Where to find the Illusory Pipa Strings

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. The third and final component is the Illusory Pipa Strings, a reward for defeating Yan Qiansui, the Zither Maiden. She resides in the ruined songhouse in the southern part of Meigu Lake.

Like other zither/musician puppet enemies, you must block the blue projectiles and avoid the red ones. Reflecting the blue orbs depletes her sha-chi, allowing you to hit her normally. Unless her meter is depleted, you won’t be able to damage her at all. Oh, and the fight becomes nastier since Yan Qiansui periodically screeches, triggering a quick-time event (QTE). Mash the button repeatedly so you can deftly sidestep an incoming area-of-effect bombardment.

Assuming you’re victorious, you’ll receive the Illusory Pipa Strings, as well as the Fanatic’s Fragment. Having both fragments nets you the Fanatic’s Obsession, a Soul Temper item for the Fanatic’s Broken Blade.

From left to right: The locations of the Illusory Pipa Head, Backplate, and Strings.

Illusory Pipa functions in combat and exploration

Once you have all three components, it’s time to repair the Illusory Pipa in Phantom Blade Zero. Just return to Myst to complete the quest, causing the Heartrend from earlier to turn into an enhanced/tempered version.

The Illusory Pipa is an artifice type Phantom Edge. In combat, it shoots two blue sonic blades and one red sonic blade--the former deals damage and sha-chi depletion, while the latter has increased damage. Both projectiles are also unblockable. Additionally, if a red sonic blade hits an enemy whose guard is broken, it’ll get mind-controlled, causing it to attack its former cohorts.

You no longer need to worry about impenetrable barriers once you have this instrument.

That said, this musical instrument has an even more important use in exploration. When you play it in certain areas, it can clear out mists and strong winds. For instance, the Meigu Lake songhouse has two impenetrable barriers that you can dispel. Likewise, there’s a spot in northwestern Pangzhen that’s buffeted by strong winds, which you can nullify with this instrument. Lastly, it can even be used to gain access to the Mountain of Imprisonment.

That does it for our Phantom Blade Zero Illusory Pipa guide. If you plan on unlocking other Phantom Edges, you can check our articles about the War Wagon and the Ink Cut.

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Join Soul as he faces numerous threats in the Wulin and be sure to check out more tips in our Phantom Blade Zero guides hub.