Phantom Blade Zero has four difficulties: Wayfarer (story), Pathbreaker (standard), Hellwalker (adaptive, aggressive enemies) and 66 Days. 66 Days is Hellwalker with only 66 lives, unlocked by finishing the game on any other difficulty. A beginner should start on Pathbreaker: you can drop to Wayfarer from the pause menu at any time.
By Edwin Galibert · Updated
How they differ
Harder settings change behaviour rather than just numbers: Hellwalker gives enemies new moves, removes fixed boss patterns and tightens the parry window.
At the other end, Wayfarer makes enemy guards much easier to break.
Patches can also differ by setting. The first one, on November 4, 2026, made Hua, Deadly Betrothed grab less often on Wayfarer and Pathbreaker only.
On every difficulty, defeated enemies stay dead: the director confirmed in October 2026 that they never respawn.
Wayfarer, Pathbreaker and Hellwalker can be swapped from the pause menu at any point in a run, so a hard boss does not lock you out.
Launch reviews also confirm that a death in a boss's later phase restarts the fight at that phase, not from the top. On Pathbreaker, reviewers beat most bosses in one to three attempts.
What a death costs in 66 Days
In 66 Days the countdown in Soul's story becomes the run's clock: it plays with Hellwalker's intensity, and every defeat costs a day.
The death screen in the State of Play reads "Days Remaining: 37 −1" before the counter drops to 36. When it reaches zero, the death is permanent.
The counter runs on the other difficulties too, but there the story moves it, not deaths. In one Pathbreaker launch run, a day came off right after each Present Day or One Day Before card: "Days Remaining: 63 −1" at the end of Steel and Steam, and four readings later 59 on reaching the Village of Lu. Its deaths cost nothing.
All four modes
- Wayfarer
"A gentler path through the Wulin. Focus on the story, take in the world, fight at your own pace."
The story mode. Soul stays tanky; enemies give more room between attacks.
- Pathbreaker
The standard difficulty. Earlier demo builds called this tier Gamechanger: several players could not beat the first boss on it.
The Days Remaining counter still runs on Pathbreaker, but story cards move it, not deaths: one launch run lost a day after each Present Day or One Day Before card, 63 down to 59 over four readings, and none for its deaths.
- Hellwalker
"The ultimate trial. Enemies strike without mercy, adapt without warning, and hold nothing back."
Adds new enemy moves, heavier aggression and a stricter parry window.
Bosses drop fixed patterns and adapt to your habits: the studio compares it to fighting-game play.
Was locked to New Game Plus in the 2025 demos; the final menu lists it alongside the others.
- 66 Days
"Same difficulty as "Hellwalker," but deaths are limited to 66 times. Unlocked after completing the game on any other difficulty."
The State of Play menu said it unlocked after Pathbreaker or Hellwalker; the launch build's menu says any other difficulty.
Each death costs one of Soul's 66 days: the death screen counts "Days Remaining". At zero, the run ends permanently.
On Pathbreaker the same counter only follows the story: in a launch run a day came off after each Present Day or One Day Before card, and none after a death.
UnlockFinish the game once on any other difficulty, Wayfarer included.
FAQ
How do you unlock 66 Days mode?
Finish the game once on any of the other three difficulties, Wayfarer included. The launch build's menu reads: "Same difficulty as Hellwalker, but deaths are limited to 66 times. Unlocked after completing the game on any other difficulty." The 2026 State of Play menu had named only Pathbreaker or Hellwalker.
Which difficulty should a beginner pick?
Pathbreaker, the standard setting. Boss phases act as checkpoints, defeated enemies never respawn, and if a boss blocks you, Wayfarer is one pause-menu switch away and costs no trophy. Keep 66 Days for after a first clear: it is the one mode where deaths run out.
Can you change difficulty mid-game?
Yes. Wayfarer, Pathbreaker and Hellwalker can be switched from the pause menu at any time. Only 66 Days is fixed for its run.
Do you lose days when you die on Pathbreaker?
No. On Pathbreaker the Days Remaining counter falls with the story: a day comes off after each Present Day or One Day Before card. One launch run died several times without losing a day, and still went from 63 to 59 across Crimson Forest.
Can you save manually in 66 Days?
No. 66 Days keeps its own save and saves automatically when you touch a bell. Reloading an earlier save resets the death count; the 66th death plays a short ending and the run starts over.
How much harder is Hellwalker?
Not much on paper: the parry window is only two frames shorter and enemies hit a little harder. The difference is behaviour: human bosses read the fight like a fighting-game player, pressing only when their last hit landed and punishing your failed parries.
Does difficulty affect the trophies?
No. The director says every trophy can be earned on the first three difficulties, and a full Wayfarer run is enough for the Platinum: 66 Days is not required. None of the 36 trophies names a difficulty: see the full trophy list.
By Edwin Galibert · Last checked Nov 5, 2026 · How we source · Report an error