The blocked rock walls in Weeping Creek Valley can make it look like you've missed an early unlock. You haven't. Tiger Cannon arrives late in the main story, then lets you return to those barriers and clear them. It also works as a chargeable combat Phantom Edge, with additional techniques earned through upgrades and a separate Soul Tempering attack.
When can you get Tiger Cannon?
Tiger Cannon becomes available late in the main story, during The Way Forward. You must reach Mirage Estate and defeat Lei Dang before you can use it. Searching Weeping Creek Valley for the cannon won't bring that unlock forward.
Those early wall markers give you a reason to return later. Your next step depends on how far you've progressed:
| Your progress | Is Tiger Cannon available? | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Exploring Weeping Creek Valley early | No | Continue the main story and remember the blocked paths |
| Reached Mirage Estate but haven't defeated Lei Dang | Not yet | Find Perfect Vessel Pond and defeat the boss |
| Defeated Lei Dang | Yes | Revisit Tiger Cannon map markers and clear weakened walls |
Still working through Weeping Creek Valley? The Phantom Blade Zero best early weapon guide gives you an equipment goal for the stretch before Tiger Cannon becomes available.
Phantom Blade Zero Guide: How to Get Tiger Cannon
Where is Lei Dang, and how do you claim Tiger Cannon?
The location you need is Perfect Vessel Pond, inside Mirage Estate in the Pangzhen region. Mirage Estate becomes accessible during a late main-story quest, so story progression is your route to the boss.
Follow the unlock route
Use this sequence to keep the destination clear:
- Progress through the main story until you can enter Mirage Estate in Pangzhen.
- Reach the Perfect Vessel Pond area.
- Fight Lei Dang, the Tiger Cannon.
- Defeat him to receive the Tiger Cannon Phantom Edge.
Lei Dang is a two-phase boss, so the opening phase isn't the entire encounter. Keep Soul's equipment and stats upgraded before taking him on. Defeating Lei Dang is the requirement that awards the cannon.
Phantom Blade Zero Guide: How to Get Tiger Cannon
How do you break walls with Tiger Cannon?
After obtaining Tiger Cannon, fast travel to earlier regions and look for its icon on the map. Weeping Creek Valley is an early example of a region with paths that require the cannon, making it a useful place to begin your return trip.
The wall-breaking process is straightforward:
- Find a Tiger Cannon icon on the map.
- Travel to the marked location and approach the weakened stone wall.
- Use the interaction prompt when it appears.
- Tiger Cannon clears the barrier, opening the blocked route.
Does Tiger Cannon need to be equipped?
Stone-Clearing Shot lets Tiger Cannon destroy weakened stone walls once you own it, even when it isn't equipped. You can keep your preferred combat Phantom Edges equipped while returning to these exploration obstacles.
If you're pairing these return visits with completion goals, keep the Phantom Blade Zero trophy list alongside your map checklist.
Phantom Blade Zero Guide: How to Get Tiger Cannon
What else can it affect?
Tiger Cannon's Firearm skill can ignite explosive objects and shatter Frozen enemies. Elite enemies are excluded from that shattering effect. These functions sit alongside Stone-Clearing Shot, which specifically handles weakened stone walls.
How does Tiger Cannon work in combat?
Tiger Cannon is a Destructive Phantom Edge with a charged shell attack. Its starting equipment stats are:
| Attribute | Starting value |
|---|---|
| Damage | 310 |
| Status effects | 208 |
| Phantom Edge subtype | Destructive |
Hold the Phantom Edge button to charge Tiger Cannon through up to 3 stages, then release it to fire. Higher charge stages increase damage, and firing the shell consumes 1 Remnant Spark. The 310 damage value is its starting equipment stat.
Which techniques do upgrades unlock?
Blacksmith upgrades improve Tiger Cannon's stats and add combat techniques at particular levels. These techniques change how you move, follow up a shot, and respond to incoming attacks.
| Technique | Unlock level | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Tiger Step | 5 | Press the Phantom Edge button after dodging to move quickly while firing |
| Spreading Blaze Lv. 1 | 10 | Explosions leave flames on the ground that damage and Ignite enemies |
| Double Roar | 15 | Press the Phantom Edge button immediately after firing to rapidly charge and fire a second shot, consuming 1 Remnant Spark |
| Tooth for Tooth | 25 | Precisely time the Phantom Edge button at close range to counter a Red-flash Attack or Blue-flash Attack with Tiger Cannon |
Spreading Blaze Lv. 2 slightly increases the damage of the lingering flames, while Spreading Blaze Lv. 3 moderately increases it. These upgrades improve the flames left by explosions.
Double Roar's follow-up costs another 1 Remnant Spark, so account for that extra shot when managing your uses. Phantom Edge uses are restored at Bells. Tiger Cannon is also effective against shields carried by enemies, giving it another combat role beyond dealing damage.
Should you upgrade or Soul Temper Tiger Cannon?
Owning Tiger Cannon already grants its wall-breaking exploration function. Blacksmith upgrades and Soul Tempering are investments in its combat capabilities, with different consequences for your materials.
Blacksmith upgrades and material recovery
A blacksmith can improve Tiger Cannon using Phantom Edge Upgrade Materials. Upgrading increases its stats and unlocks the techniques described above. Before dividing materials between Tiger Cannon and your main weapons, compare your options with the Phantom Blade Zero weapons and unlocks guide.
Reforge Talismans let you reset ordinary upgrades and recover the invested materials. That gives you a way to move those resources into another Phantom Edge if you decide Tiger Cannon doesn't suit your combat setup.
How do you unlock Full Blast?
Visit Myst for Soul Tempering after the feature unlocks in Chapter 4. Tiger Cannon's enhancement requires its specific material, Golden Ammunition, along with Remnant Dust.
Soul Tempering unlocks Full Blast. Press Block and the Phantom Edge button together to launch Tiger Cannon itself forward, dealing massive damage at a cost of 2 Remnant Sparks.
| Investment | Main benefit | Can you reverse it? |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary blacksmith upgrades | Higher stats and additional combat techniques | Yes, using Reforge Talismans to recover materials |
| Soul Tempering | Unlocks Full Blast | No, Soul Tempering is permanent |
For exploration, simply owning Tiger Cannon is enough. Spend blacksmith materials for its combat techniques, and commit to Full Blast when you want the 2-Remnant-Spark attack in your late-game setup.
