By now, the reputation that The First Berserker: Khazan has picked up for its high level of Soulslike difficulty is really no secret. While some players may feel the game delves a bit too far into difficulty for the sake of difficulty, it’s garnered positive reviews overall.
Aside from a long list of other beginner tips you can implement in order to give yourself more of a chance at survival and victory in this punishing title, there’s one more step you can take early on if you want to gain an additional advantage moving forward.
Phantoms are equippable souls of certain defeated bosses that Khazan can embolden himself with at a Blade Nexus, and each comes with various perks that can be total game-changers, especially when they’re leveled-up for even more potency.
Let’s take a look at how to get your first phantom so you can return to the rest of The First Berserker: Khazan ready to dish out some more damage.
Defeat Blade Phantom And Speak With Him At The Crevice
In order to unlock phantoms, you must first defeat the boss that may very well serve as your first real roadblock in Khazan. At the very end of your first real level, Trials of the Frozen Mountain at Stormpass, you’ll meet the Blade Phantom.
To be sure, this fight will test everything you’ve learned in the first hour or so of the game, so you’ll need to be on your A-game in order to even complete this step.
The good news is that we do have a nice, handy guide for the Blade Phantom if you need some extra support with this entire process.
As a reward for defeating Blade Phantom, you’ll also earn:
- 3,571 Currency
- 8,640 Lacrima
- Soul Eater’s Helm
- Soul Eater’s Wristguards
- Necklace of the Reclaimed
- Transmutation Mist x2
After the fight, it’s revealed that Blade Phantom is actually joining your journey as an ally and guide of sorts. You’ll be transported to the hub world of the game for the first time, simply called The Crevice.
Speak with Blade Phantom to learn some more lore and gain the ability to fast travel to other areas and levels within the game.
Defeat Keshta The Unyielding
Instead of immediately moving on to the next area of the game that’s now unlocked by defeating and speaking with Blade Phantom, you’ll want to take a quick detour.
Use the giant headstone slab next to Blade Phantom to bring up the fast travel map, select Stormpass, and then choose the mission «Stormpass’ Phantom of Combat.»
After you fast travel here, you’ll have one quick dialogue option with the same older woman NPC you met earlier in the level, so speak with her if you please.
From here, you just have one path forward, and it’s an ominous-looking boss fog gate. Prepare for another tough battle.
Beyond the fog waits Keshta the Unyielding. There’s no cutscene, and you’ll immediately be thrown into combat.
This fight will immediately feel incredibly familiar. Keshta has an identical moveset to Blade Phantom, so if you’ve already memorized his moveset, Keshta won’t throw you anything too surprising. Your same strategy will work here, as will following our same Blade Phantom guide once again.
Upon your victory, you’ll gain the ability to equip Keshta’s phantom form as stat booster, as well as:
- 2,976 Currency
- 5.760 Lacrima
- Soul-Cleaving Greatsword
- Soul Eater’s Top
- Necklace Of Blessings
- Transmutation Mist x2
Equip Keshta's Phantom At The Blade Nexus
Now back at The Crevice, head over to the Blade Nexus to gain the powers of Keshta’s phantom. You’ll now have a selectable menu option that reads «Phantom Abilities.»
Right now, you’ll only have the option to «accompany» Keshta’s phantom, but its perks are extremely helpful in the early game.
Right off the bat, your stamina recovery rate will improve by 4%, which is a massive boon in the world of The First Berserker, where endurance is arguably your most important skill in the game. This ability can also eventually be leveled up for even more stamina recovery.
You’ll also notice another phantom on this menu, Veronika the Advocate, who comes with her own set of perks. While you don’t yet have her phantom actually on your person to equip, it’s nice that the game allows you a sneak peek of what’s to come.
From here, other main levels throughout the First Berserker: Khazan will unlock these phantom fights upon completion, so make sure you’re taking the detour each and every time to earn another one of these powerful allies every time they’re available.
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The First Berserker: Khazan
Adventure Action Systems
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg:81/100 Critics Rec:82% Released March 27, 2025 Developer(s) Neople Publisher(s) Nexon Engine Unreal Engine 4 PC Release Date March 27, 2025 Xbox Series X|S Release Date March 27, 2025
PS5 Release Date March 27, 2025 Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S OpenCritic Rating Strong Wiki
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