Phantom Blade Zero: All 5 Gold-Masked One and Long Pillar Locations

The Gold-Masked One encounters are tied to five Long Pillars in Phantom Blade Zero's Bloodline Awakening questline. The routes span Weeping Creek Valley, Crimson Forest, Meigu Lake and Mirage Estate. Most require a key, field ability or optional-area unlock before you can reach the statue.

Spoiler note: This guide covers optional routes and progression requirements. Finding a pillar does not mean you must attempt its fight immediately.

1. Weeping Creek Valley

The first pillar is reached through the optional eastern route. You need two different keys; the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key and Rusted Loong Key open different barriers.

1. Defeat The Hunt to obtain the Hunter's Chain Sickle.
2. Use the traversal ability to reach the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key and open the gate into the eastern section.
3. Continue to the cabin with the Long Pillar Overlook Crane Bell. Look for the nearby gold chest containing the Rusted Loong Key; the key is not inside the bell itself.
4. Follow the route across the rope bridge and onward toward the locked cave entrance, using the required traversal actions.
5. Unlock the cave door with the Rusted Loong Key and follow the tunnel to the pillar.

2. Crimson Forest

From the Stone Hand Iron Fever encounter, follow the main route until it divides near a Memory Flower. Take the right-hand route and use the Hunter's Chain Sickle at the grapple point to cross toward the second pillar.

The region is Crimson Forest, not “Crimson Desert.” Use the screenshot as a regional reference and confirm your current bell before retracing the route.

3. Meigu Lake's eastern island

Use the boat to travel toward the eastern island area of Meigu Lake. Continue along the available route and use the Hunter's Chain Sickle where prompted to reach the pillar.

This is separate from the pillar inside Phantom Illusionist Ruins. If you are checking off encounters, record the island and ruins as two different destinations.

4. Phantom Illusionist Ruins

This optional Meigu Lake route requires the Acolyte Masks and access through the mirror. Collect the required masks, return to the mirror and follow its interaction prompt to enter the ruins.

Bring the Dread Axe for the relevant field obstacle inside. If the mirror remains inactive, review the masks in your inventory and the associated quest progress rather than searching for a second entrance.

5. Mirage Estate, Pangzhen

Enter Mirage Estate through the Green Serpent House route and reach the Covered Corridor Bell. Continue along the corridor, turn toward the lower area on the right and look for the grapple route down to the pillar.

Move carefully near the edge and watch for the interaction prompt. The map image locates the general destination; it does not replace checking the actual ledge and grapple point.

Before starting a pillar fight

Activate nearby checkpoints and prepare supplies before interacting with the statue. These encounters emphasize reacting to the boss's attack cues and creating a vulnerability window; simply attacking into the intact defense is ineffective.

Practice the response to blue and red attack cues as taught by the game. If you cannot deal useful damage, inspect the Sha-Chi gauge and the encounter feedback rather than assuming the weapon is broken. You can return after improving your equipment or timing.

If a route is blocked

• Eastern valley gate: Check the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key.
• Locked cave: Check the separate Rusted Loong Key near Long Pillar Overlook.
• Unreachable gap: Confirm you have the Hunter's Chain Sickle and are at a usable grapple point.
• Inactive mirror: Recheck the Acolyte Masks and optional quest requirements.
• Ruins obstacle: Inspect the field ability required, including the Dread Axe.

For additional route detail, compare the Long Pillar walkthrough and five-location reference. Follow your current quest log if a requirement differs after an update.