Phantom Blade Zero Missable Side Quests
Eight side quests in Phantom Blade Zero can be permanently failed, and the true ending depends on them. Each one has a trigger, a failure condition and a point where you can still recover it. Together with the true ending, that makes nine achievements you can lose — and this is the list that decides whether you finish the run with a Platinum.
How a quest fails
Every missable quest triggers on a specific conversation, pickup or fight. If you trigger the story past it, the quest disappears from the journal permanently. The game flags failed quests in red. There is no in-game way to restore them — you have to load an earlier save.
The one rule that prevents most losses
Clear every side quest in an area before you push the main story past it. The game gives you 20 manual saves plus 3 automatic ones, so save at the start and end of every region. If a quest is already red in the journal, only an earlier save can recover it.
Every quest in detail
Awakening of the Lineage
The Shadow Sentinel at the top of the Sha-Chi Tower · 1st region, 2nd region, Meigu Lake ×2, Pangzhen
Return the 1st stone to the Shadow Sentinel before leaving the 1st region.
Return the first stone to him before leaving the region. If you leave the region first, the sequel takes place at Meigu Lake and then in the snowy forest of the endgame.
The Secrets of the Baishan Sect
Lanlan · 2nd region
Talk to Lanlan on the large bridge near the bandit camp in the 2nd region, before Bai Chilian is defeated.
Talk to Lanlan (large bridge near the bandit camp) before defeating Bai Chilian, then inspect the body in the flowers after the fight against Wu Lengshuang.
The Journey Home
Gen · Lu Village / Pangzhen
Accept the quest from Gen at Lu Village and complete its first objective before you enter Pangzhen.
Accept it from Gen at Lu Village and fulfil its first objective before entering Pangzhen, then bring him what you find in his house in Pangzhen.
Young Master Lan
Lu Village · Lu Village / Pangzhen
Accept the quest at Lu Village before you leave the village.
Same acceptance rule as The Road Home — accept it at Lu Village.
A Severed Mindseal
A Shadow Sentinel at the top of the Sha-Chi Tower · 1st region
Return the first stone before leaving the 1st region.
Return the 1st stone to him before leaving the region; the sequel takes place at Meigu Lake and then in the snowy forest of the endgame.
Flesh Lily, Apprentice Healer and A Healer’s Mercy
Yu’er · 1st region, 2nd region
Pick up the Flesh Lily in Hua’s arena — it is useful for this quest. The bell on the 1st floor of the Sha-Chi Tower leads to a hole behind the tower that opens her arena.
Return the 3 herbs of the 1st region before defeating Jing Ye, heal the 4 bandits of the 2nd region and give the Flesh Lily before defeating Bai Chilian.
Quick Hand’s Requests
Zhang / Quick Hand · 5 regions
Accept the requests from Zhang / Quick Hand as you go.
Return every one of the 17 treasures to Zhang across the 5 regions.
Secrets of the Lake’s Heart
Lu Village · Lu Village
Pick up a memory flower at the Village of Lu.
Starts by picking up a memory flower at the Village of Lu; part of the conditions for the true ending.
Heart of the Banyan
Banyan challenges · Banyan challenges
Take on the five Banyan challenges.
Not missable — but you resume from the wave you died on, so partial progress is not lost.
9 side quests are tracked here, 8 of which can fail permanently.