Phantom Pain Cage (PPC) is one of Punishing: Gray Raven's most challenging and rewarding endgame modes. It's a weekly boss gauntlet where players must face powerful enemies under tough conditions to earn points, climb weekly rankings, and unlock high-tier resources like Black Cards, Vouchers, and most importantly Phantom Pain Skulls.
But unlike Warzone or Norman Revival Plan, PPC is purely a test of mechanics, team synergy, and optimization. The better your team rotations, orb management, and burst timings—the higher your score. Some players hit the weekly score cap within 10 seconds. Others make multiple attempts just to clear the boss.
Whether you’re a new Commandant or a top 1% scorer, this guide covers everything you need: how PPC works, the types of bosses you’ll face, how scoring is calculated, and the best team-building strategies for long-term progress.
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How Phantom Pain Cage Works
Phantom Pain Cage is a time-limited challenge mode that resets every week. You’ll face three bosses—each with unique mechanics, elemental weaknesses, and attack patterns. Your objective is to deal as much damage as possible within a time limit (usually 120–150 seconds).
Key PPC Rules:
- 3 Bosses per Week: Rotating bosses with different elements (Fire, Ice, Lightning, etc.)
- Team Lock: Each boss uses a separate team, and you cannot repeat constructs across fights.
- Score Matters: Your damage output and survival determine your score. Higher ranks = more rewards.
- Retry Friendly: You can retry as many times as you want, so practice until it’s perfect.
There are multiple tiers (Advanced, Ultimate, and Outlier Pain Cage) unlocked by account level and progression. The higher the tier, the tougher the enemies—but the better the rewards.
Scoring Mechanics Explained
Scoring in PPC is based on how fast you kill the weekly boss before time runs out—or how much damage you deal. Several factors influence your final score:
- Total Damage dealt (most important)
- Remaining Time (bonus points for fast clears)
- Survivability (losing characters reduces score slightly)
To maximize your score, focus on:
- Bursting during the right windows (e.g., boss stagger)
- Avoiding wasted damage (i.e., misplaced QTEs and random orb pinging)
- Keeping everyone alive and healthy.
- Using constructs with high synergy and elemental advantage
Boss Examples
PPC bosses are designed to punish sloppy play, reward mechanical precision, and fast clear. Here are the hardest bosses you may encounter:
Ballard
A Fire-weak boss with hard-hitting attacks. One of the tankiest bosses currently. Meta fire team is the most recommended team given his tankiness is no joke.
The Emperor
An Ice-weak boss with wide AoE attacks. Currently the tankiest Ice-weak boss. The ice team of Ayla, Qu, and Wanshi is highly recommended.
Cradle
Lightning weak boss. Currently the tankiest of all Phantom Page Cage Ultimate bosses. A highly invested lightning team is recommended.
Top Meta Teams (2025)
Fire Team
- Lucia: Pyroath
- Watanabe: Epitaph
- Vera: Geiravor
Lightning Team
- Alpha: Crimson
- WeaveNanami: Star Trail
- Number 21: Feral
Physical Team
- Selena: Pianissimo
- Hanying: Solacetune
- Alisa: Echo
Ice Team
- Qu: Shukra
- Wanshi: Lucid Dreamer
- Ayla: Kaleido
Dark Team
- Lilith: Daemonissa
- Lamia: Lost Lullaby
- Karenina: Scire
Weekly Prep Tips for High Scores
- Prebuild 9 Constructs – You’ll need 3 complete teams for the week. Keep at least one of each element built at all times.
- Track Boss Rotations – Communities like Reddit or GR Wiki often preview upcoming bosses.
- CUB & Memory Sync – Ensure all your active characters have synced memories, tuned slots, and CUB upgrades.
- Quick Reset Mindset – Don’t be afraid to reset a run if it’s going south. Top players often reset 10+ times to get a “clean run.”
Advanced Tips for Leaderboard Pushers
- Proper Orbing: Learn how to quickly ping the right orbs. Full orb animation gives max damage but animation canceling overall gives a better score and faster clear.
- I-frame Mastery: Most bosses have predictable attack cycles. Learn which attacks can be dodged without skills.
- Proper Rotation: Learn who to use first and when to swap in and swap out. Also, practice animation canceling.
- Team Buff Chaining: Use Amplifier QTEs and Field buffs before launching your DPS’s Signature.
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Rewards Breakdown
Black Cards – Weekly and milestone bonuses
Phantom Pain Scar – The most important reward. Can be used to buy S Rank Shards
- Memory/Weapon Upgrade Items – For strengthening future runs.
- Nameplates – Cosmetic nameplates for leaderboard players.
Even if you don’t top the charts, reaching the “Target Score” each week guarantees solid returns.
Why Phantom Pain Cage Is Worth Playing
Unlike other content, PPC demands perfection and rewards mastery. It’s where you truly feel the payoff of building your teams well. Whether you're chasing the Top 10, flexing for your Dorm friends, or just trying to get your weekly pull’s worth of Black Cards—PPC is where meta knowledge becomes gameplay execution.
It also future-proofs your account. Once you’ve built strong trios for each element, you’re ready for Warzone, Norman, new bosses, and beyond.
Conclusion
Phantom Pain Cage is more than just a boss rush—it’s Punishing: Gray Raven’s ultimate test of mechanical skill, resource management, and team-building discipline. It’s where top players refine their craft, experiment with strategies, and earn premium rewards week after week.
By learning boss mechanics, syncing your rotations, and crafting the right team synergies, you’ll rise through the ranks and enjoy the benefits of a well-prepared account. Whether you're here to casually clear or challenge the leaderboard elites, Phantom Pain Cage has something for everyone.
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