The White Serpent and Crimson Viper is a dual-sword weapon in Phantom Blade Zero that allows you to fight with two swords while giving serious damage output. It can be unlocked towards the end of the second map in the game. There are several ways of fighting with this weapon, but it needs good timing and proper Shachi management. In this guide, we’ll explain how to use White Serpent and Crimson Viper, unlock its abilities, and get the most damage out of it.
How to Use White Serpent and Crimson Viper
“White Serpent and Crimson Viper” is a double-blade Phantom Blade weapon that you can unlock at the end of the second map of Phantom Blade Zero. The gameplay may seem tricky at first glance; however, the rules associated with using the weapon are not difficult to figure out. You will primarily have to learn how to use both swords at once, apply the unique abilities of Crimson Viper, and control the amount of Shachi essence.
Each sword has unique attacks. To attack using Crimson Viper (short sword), press Square; to attack using White Serpent (long sword), press Triangle. You can perform their combos independently, but the key to success lies in using Square and Triangle alternately.
The activation of this will initiate the Twin Serpent Dance combo, which allows you to continuously attack until you run out of Shachi essence. The more you sustain this combo, the higher your damage output becomes. It is, therefore, very helpful in boss battles, particularly when they become stunned and cannot retaliate.
It is important for you to always be switching between the two buttons whenever you use the weapon. The passive skills of the weapon at levels 10, 20, and 30 also allow you to build your damage output faster during the Twin Serpent Dance.
Crimson Viper Orbit
The unique feature of Crimson Viper allows you to toss the sword and make it circle around you. In order to use this special ability, press L1 and Triangle. The spinning sword deals damage to all enemies nearby and even to the bosses if you can position them within the range of the attack.
The ability to make the sword circle around you is especially helpful when you are surrounded by many enemies or need to deal additional damage to a boss during the battle. Nevertheless, there is one major disadvantage of using this special ability. As long as Crimson Viper circles around you, it will not be able to attack, meaning that you will have access to White Serpent only.
Viper Mark
When you upgrade both White Serpent and Crimson Viper to level 5, there is another technique that you will be able to utilise with Crimson Viper. You press Circle when aiming at an enemy, and then the blade flies towards them, remaining in their body, thereby dealing additional damage and Shachi loss. Thus, Viper Mark is a valuable technique against bosses and powerful enemies.
Nonetheless, similarly to Crimson Viper Orbit, Viper Mark also causes you to become unable to use Crimson Viper in your normal combos as a result. Until the blade returns to you, you will be forced to use White Serpent only, and you won’t be able to perform Twin Serpent Dance. Luckily, this can be eliminated with the weapon’s level 15 upgrade.
Ethereal Viper
At level 15, the skills White Serpent and Crimson Viper will be able to obtain the Ethereal Viper skill. In other words, this skill allows one to have a ghost of the sword Crimson Viper in hand when the actual blade is thrown out. It means that one can use the Twin Serpent Dance skill even if the sword is twirling around or stuck into the enemy. It is a big advantage since one does not have to give up the combo anymore.
Relentless Bite
With the 25th level comes the skill Relentless Bite that gives you an opportunity to have active Crimson Viper Orbit and Viper Mark while switching to another weapon. The advantage of this feature lies in the fact that you can continue doing damage or affecting enemies with Viper Mark while using another weapon. However, one has to be ready for the downside since both abilities will constantly drain Shachi essence from you. You need to pay attention to your Shachi and try to restore it. You can either switch to another weapon and regain Shachi essence or get it via other means.
You can regenerate your Shachi essence during executions, as well as after perfect parries and perfect dodges of corresponding attacks – blue and red. With one of the passives where you restore Shachi essence after perfectly parrying regular attacks, you will have one more option to keep the abilities active. Using this weapon requires careful management of Shachi essence. Although its special abilities allow you to do huge damage, Shachi essence shortage will prevent their continuous activation.
Hundred-Knot Serpents
When the Shachi is depleted, Crimson Viper comes back to you. This also happens when you press L1 and Triangle at the same time. Once it comes back to you, it will summon the Hundred-Knot Serpents. The more time you have used the Crimson Viper, the more serpents will come after your target. They come out of the ground and try to attack your target, like the ones that you see in the boss battle of B’Chill. Although this ability gives you some extra damage, it is not its most powerful feature.
Twin Serpent Frenzy
Twin Serpent Frenzy is the Power Surge move of this weapon. One Shachi essence will be used by this move to execute a string of powerful moves which cannot be blocked by the opponent. It is one of the most damaging moves in the game, and hence a great tool to punish the opponent once an opportunity arises.
One can use it just after breaking the opponent’s guard, especially when they have started regaining their Shachi. Using it in this way, one can deal damage to the opponent as well as pressure them with respect to their Shachi. After using this move, one should again go to Twin Serpent Dance and continue their combo, preferably in Crimson Viper state.
Ranged Execution
There is also a ranged execution move for White Serpent and Crimson Viper which helps you execute your enemies from far away, but only when their HP is very low. However, the execution move is quite inconsistent, so you will probably not use it much while using these swords alone.
It can be easier for you to perform ranged executions by using some other weapon with extended range, such as Phantom Edge or Drunken Sword. In this way, you will first damage your opponents and then execute them using White Serpent and Crimson Viper.
