All 5 Long Pillar Challenge Trial Locations in Phantom Blade Zero

Long Pillars are the giant chained structures standing around the world of Phantom Blade Zero, each one marked with a flaming red dragon eye. They are not scenery — walk up and interact with the face on one, and it pulls you into a challenge trial against a fighter waiting inside. There are exactly five of them scattered across the game, and hunting down every last one is what the Bloodline Awakening side objective asks of you. This guide covers all five locations, including the exact route from the nearest bell to each pillar and what each trial demands once you step in.

How Long Pillar Trials Work

Every Long Pillar trial is a duel governed by its own special rule. In the first trial, for example, the enemy can only be damaged by parries and perfect dodges — nothing else will hurt him. Each challenge has some kind of gimmick like this, and the game displays the current rule at the top right of the screen. The moment a trial begins, glance up there first: it tells you exactly how you are allowed to deal damage this time, and playing around that rule is the whole fight.

All Five Long Pillar Trial Locations

Trial 1: Weeping Creek Valley

The first Long Pillar sits in Weeping Creek Valley, all the way over on the right-hand side of the map. To reach the area, pass through the gate at the Creek Valley Plains entrance and work your way through the lower area until you arrive at the Long Pillar Overlook bell. That bell is your starting point.

From the Long Pillar Overlook bell:

1. Head outside and turn right, crossing the bridge. You will see a tower off in the distance — that is your landmark.
2. Run across while sticking to the right-hand side. A big cave opens up ahead of you, and that is exactly where you are headed.
3. Run across the wall toward the cave entrance and go through the door. The cave only runs in one direction, so there is no way to get lost — simply follow it all the way through.
4. On the far side you will emerge in front of the giant chained structure with the flaming red dragon eye: the trial itself. On the map, this spot sits right next to the Weeping Creek Long Pillar bell.

Interact with the face and you will be taken to the fighter holding the trial. His gimmick is the one described above: only parries and perfect dodges deal damage to him. Anything else is wasted effort, so do not chase him around swinging — wait until he commits to one of his attacks, and answer it with a parry or a perfect dodge to get your damage in.

Trial 2: Crimson Forest

The second Long Pillar is in the Crimson Forest, toward the right-hand side of the region, near the Mirror Wood Long Pillar — if you already have that bell, you already have the area unlocked. If not, you will reach this region naturally by progressing the story to the Mirror Wood entrance bell.

From the Mirror Wood entrance bell:

1. Climb down the two sets of ladders, going all the way to the bottom.
2. At the bottom, head to the left. If you have not explored this area yet, feel free to look around first.
3. Down in the ravine, take the first right-hand turn available to you — there is a blue flower marking the spot.
4. That path leads to a spot where you use your hook to grapple up to the ledge above.
5. As you proceed upward, the challenge pillar appears on your left-hand side. That is your second trial.

Trial 3: Meigu Lake at the Mid Lake Long Pillar Dock

The third Long Pillar sends you to Meigu Lake. If you have not reached the lake region yet, the path is: travel to Pang Zhen, finish the main boss there — at least the first version of the fight — and then head to the Pang Zhen docks, where a boat gives you access to the lake.

Once you are out on the water:

1. Sail for the island — the land on the far right-hand side of the lake — labeled Mid Lake Long Pillar Dock.
2. Guide your boat through the gap to reach it. Along the way, you can stop at the various islands scattered across the lake to uncover the map.
3. As you close in on the dock, simply sail up to it and press the button prompt to park.
4. Run onto the land and the challenge pillar is right there, ready for you to challenge it.

Trial 4: Meigu Lake at the Four Guardians Mirror

The fourth Long Pillar is also found in Meigu Lake, but unlike the others it is tied to a quest: you must collect four masks from certain enemies, which means defeating a whole set of bosses along the way. Only when all four masks are in hand can you reach this pillar.

How to get there:

1. After collecting all the masks, go all the way to the left-hand side of Meigu Lake and progress along that stretch of land until you reach the bell called Four Guardians Mirror.
2. Up at this location stands the broken mirror, and the way through only opens once you have the four masks from the enemies you defeated.
3. Pass through the mirror and traverse to the first bell beyond it. If this is your first time here, you will simply start at the beginning of the area anyway.

From there, the route down to the pillar runs as follows:

• Cross the wooden structure over to the platform at the bottom, then jump down.
• Go across and push through the little sliding room — or sliding rock, more accurately.
• Up on the right, climb all the way to the top.
• Move over to the right-hand side, then swing back to the left.
• Jump onto the row of objects that almost look like coffins (they are not) and proceed across them until you can actually get down.
• Double back the way you came, then grab hold of the thing along the wall and hang on, continuing like this until you reach the bottom.
• From there, go around in this direction and slide once more, all the way to the bottom.
• Look at the wall over there, fall down onto the little single platform, and then slide down the wall to the very bottom.
• At the bottom, proceed in this direction through the wooden fence. Just around it is where the challenge is located — you should see the glowing red waiting for you. Go ahead and start the challenge here.

Trial 5: Pang Zhen at the Mirage Estate

The final Long Pillar brings you back to Pang Zhen — but not the early-game Pang Zhen. This one is in the later-game area, the Mirage Estate. Make your way to the Covered Corridor bell at this location; the pillar lies all the way to the left of it.

From the Covered Corridor bell:

1. Go up the stairs and slip into the little corridor on the right.
2. Follow that corridor all the way to the end — it curves around, and at the turns you keep going straight. Just stay with it.
3. Eventually it lets out onto a little stretch of land where you can jump down. Use the spot to drop down.
4. Proceed along the path from there; it takes you up through this location.
5. In one section, use the button prompt to jump across, then climb the little wall.
6. Keep proceeding along the pathway — it leads you more or less directly toward where the challenge is, visible ahead of you.
7. This is the very final one, so run up to the pillar and begin it.

Tips for the Long Pillar Trials

• Read the rule first. Every challenge has some kind of gimmick, and it is always shown at the top right of the screen. Before committing to any strategy, check what the current trial actually allows.
• Be patient in the first trial. That fighter only takes damage from parries and perfect dodges, so the fight is about waiting him out and punishing his attacks rather than pressing the offense.
• Do not fear the Weeping Creek cave. It only goes in one direction, so you cannot get lost inside it.
• Explore the Crimson Forest ravine. If the area past the Mirror Wood entrance bell is new to you, the ravine at the bottom of the ladders is worth a look around before you head straight for the pillar.
• Uncover the lake as you sail. On your way to the Mid Lake Long Pillar Dock, swing by the islands you pass to reveal more of the Meigu Lake map.

Rewards

Clearing the fifth and final Long Pillar trial completes the Bloodline Awakening questline. On top of that, you will earn the associated achievement or trophy, depending on the platform you are playing on.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Long Pillar challenge trials are there?

Five in total. You have to find and clear all five of them to complete the Bloodline Awakening side objective.

How do I know how to beat each trial enemy?

Every challenge has some kind of gimmick, and it is displayed at the top right of the screen. Keep your eyes on that prompt — it tells you how to defeat the fighter, such as the first trial only accepting damage from parries and perfect dodges.

How do I unlock Meigu Lake?

Reach Pang Zhen and finish its main boss, at least the first version of it. Then go to the Pang Zhen docks, where a boat allows you to travel to the lake.

What do I get for finishing all five Long Pillar trials?

Completing the fifth and final trial completes the Bloodline Awakening questline and grants you the achievement or trophy, depending on the platform you are playing on.