How to Beat the Gold-Masked One in Phantom Blade Zero (Hellwalker)

Hellwalker Difficulty: Why the First Encounter Is the Real Test

If you are struggling to beat the Gold-Masked One on Hellwalker difficulty, you are not alone. This fight is a genuine wall the first time you run into him, and the game gives you very little room for error. The good news is that this guide covers a strategy specifically for beating him on your first encounter, which is by far the harder of his two appearances.

By the time you reach the second encounter, you will have had much more time to upgrade your gear, so that rematch should not be a problem. The first fight is the one that demands a proper plan, and that is exactly what we are going to build here. Before jumping into the arena, though, we need to talk about loadout, because the right setup makes this battle dramatically more manageable.

Recommended Gear and Loadout

Primary Weapon: Jagged Steel

For this fight, the recommended primary weapon is the Jagged Steel. It is one of the best early game weapons in the game — arguably the best — and it pairs beautifully with the punish-based strategy this boss demands.

Once you upgrade it to level five, you gain access to Blood Vein. From that point on, whenever you break the Gold-Masked One's guard, you can press F or Y to perform Blood Thirsty Slash, which deals some really good damage. The overall flow of this combo is amazing, and it turns every guard break into a major damage opportunity instead of a minor one.

On top of that, if your Sachi Essence is ready when an opening appears, you can also trigger Jagged Steel Rampage to squeeze even more damage out of the same window. Stacking these tools on a single opening is the core of an efficient kill.

One important caveat: in this game, being comfortable with your weapon matters a great deal. If another weapon simply feels better in your hands, go for it. Comfort and confidence win fights on Hellwalker. That said, Jagged Steel is really good, so give it a try before dismissing it.

Secondary Weapon

Your second weapon can be anything you like. Since it mainly serves to keep your options open and help manage resources during the fight, personal preference is perfectly fine here.

Accessories: The Flex Device

For accessories, the Flex Device is very important for this encounter. It helps a lot with the timing in this fight, which is exactly the skill this boss tests. If you can, make sure you pick it up beforehand so you walk into the arena with it equipped.

He Is Invincible to Normal Attacks

Here is the detail that trips up most players the first time they face him: simply attacking the Gold-Masked One does not deal damage. He is effectively invincible to your normal offense. If you walk up and swing away, nothing happens, and the fight will feel impossible.

The trick is to create an opening first, through one of three tools:

1. A parry that catches his attack.
2. A dodge — ideally a perfect dodge.
3. A guard break that shatters his defense.

Only after you force one of these openings does he become vulnerable. Everything about this fight flows from that rule, so build your entire game plan around creating and exploiting openings rather than raw aggression.

The Two Red Attacks to Watch For

The most reliable way to create openings is to wait for his red attacks. There are two in particular you want to watch for:

1. The overhead grab — his red attack from above.
2. The ground attack — the one he performs from the ground.

These two moves are your best friends in this fight, because they are much easier to anticipate than the rest of his kit. Once you learn to recognize these two attacks on sight, the entire fight becomes easier. Instead of reacting to everything he does, you have two clear, identifiable signposts to play around.

Keep yourself constantly ready for the perfect dodge when either of these comes out. The moment you land that perfect dodge, you have earned your damage window — start attacking immediately.

Damage Windows: Attack, Then Stop

Once you get an opening, the rules are simple but strict. Deal your damage during the window. The moment he stops taking damage, stop attacking. Do not keep spamming attacks into an invincible boss hoping something sticks — you are just exposing yourself to punishment for zero gain.

Instead, respect the rhythm of the fight:

1. Wait patiently for the next opening.
2. Confirm the opening — a perfect dodge, a parry, or a guard break.
3. Attack until he stops taking damage.
4. Disengage, reset, and go again.

Players who master this loop find the fight becomes much more manageable. Players who rush him and try to force damage outside of windows get destroyed. Patience is not optional on Hellwalker; it is the strategy.

Punishing Guard Breaks

Guard breaks deserve special attention because they are your biggest payoff moments. Whenever you break his guard, treat it as your chance to use Blood Thirsty Slash — press F or Y and unload on him while his defense is down.

If your Sachi Essence happens to be ready at the same time, layer Jagged Steel Rampage on top of it to get even more damage out of that single opening. A guard break with both tools available is where huge chunks of his health bar disappear, so always know before the break happens whether your essence is charged and ready.

Watch Your Sachi Bar

One more important thing that is easy to forget mid-fight: keep an eye on your Sachi. Whenever you are parrying or holding the guard button, that bar is being drained. This fight asks you to defend a lot, which means the bar is constantly under pressure.

The correct habit is to keep switching your weapons to manage it, rather than clinging to one weapon until the bar is completely drained. If you wait until it is empty, you are defenseless at the worst possible moment — and against a Hellwalker boss, defenseless usually means dead. Rotate weapons proactively and you will always have a defensive answer ready.

The Core Loop: Red Attack, Perfect Dodge, Punish, Reset

Everything in this guide compresses into one repeatable loop. Do not rush him. Watch for the two red attacks — the overhead grab and the ground attack — stay ready for the perfect dodge, punish the window with everything you have, then reset and wait for the next one. Layer Blood Thirsty Slash on guard breaks, Jagged Steel Rampage when your essence is up, and keep your Sachi bar healthy through constant weapon switching.

Do that patiently, and the Gold-Masked One goes from an impossible wall to a very winnable fight on Hellwalker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my attacks deal no damage to the Gold-Masked One?

He is invincible to normal attacks. The only way to hurt him is to create an opening first through a parry, a dodge, or a guard break, and then attack during the window that follows.

Which attacks should I watch for in this fight?

Focus on his two red attacks: the overhead grab and the one he performs from the ground. They are much easier to anticipate than his other moves, and perfect dodging either one gives you a reliable damage window.

What weapon should I use against him?

Jagged Steel is the recommended pick — one of the best early game weapons. At level five it unlocks Blood Vein, letting you use Blood Thirsty Slash with F or Y on every guard break. That said, comfort with your weapon matters a lot, so if another weapon feels better to you, use it. Your second weapon can be anything you like.

When should I use Blood Thirsty Slash and Jagged Steel Rampage?

Use Blood Thirsty Slash every time you break his guard. Use Jagged Steel Rampage during those same openings whenever your Sachi Essence is ready, to get even more damage out of the window.