Bloodborne is a gothic horror action RPG from FromSoftware, renowned for its challenging combat, intricate world design, and rich lore. This complete Bloodborne walkthrough provides every area, boss, weapon, Blood Gem, NPC interaction, and shortcut — everything you need to survive the nightmare of Yharnam.
Table of Contents
- Introduction & Tips
- Area Walkthroughs
- Boss Strategies
- Weapons, Blood Gems, and Upgrades
- NPCs & Quests
- Shortcuts & Map References
Introduction & Tips
- Upgrade Weapons Early: More effective than leveling stats at the start.
- Master Dodging & Parries: Observe enemy patterns; timing is crucial.
- Use Fire/Bolt Paper and Molotovs: Most bosses are weak to elemental attacks.
- Collect Insight: Unlocks NPC help, co-op, and special items.
- Explore Thoroughly: Shortcuts, hidden items, and lore are everywhere.
- Rally Mechanic: Hit immediately after taking damage to regain lost health.
Area Walkthroughs
| Area | Boss | Boss Strategy | Boss Drop | Shortcut | Key Enemies | Key Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter’s Dream | None | Safe hub; upgrade weapons & level | N/A | N/A | None | Blood Vials, Quicksilver Bullets, Starter Weapons |
| Central Yharnam | Cleric Beast | Dodge side-to-side; attack after swings; Fire Paper boosts damage | Twin Blood Stone Shard | Bridge near boss to first lantern | Watchdogs, Snatchers | Hunter Axe, Torch |
| Cathedral Ward | Father Gascoigne | Phase 1: Parry with firearm; Phase 2: dodge wide swings | Beast Blood Pellet | Ladder behind Grand Cathedral | Church Servants, Snatchers | Blood Vials, Quicksilver Bullets |
| Old Yharnam | Blood-Starved Beast | Fire damage; dodge limbs; poison resistance helps | Twin Blood Stone Shard, Rare Blood Gem | Ladder behind abandoned building | Frenzied Villagers, Molotov throwers | Twin Blood Stone Shards, Blood Gems |
| Forbidden Woods | Shadows of Yharnam | Focus one shadow at a time; Fire Paper + Molotovs | Twin Blood Stone Shard | Ladder behind first snake camp | Snakes, Ambush Hunters | Fire Paper, Bolt Paper |
| Hemwick Charnel Lane | Witch of Hemwick | Kill minions first, then attack boss | Twin Blood Stone Shard | Ladder near entrance | Hex Witches, Summoned Minions | Fire Paper, Hunter Tools |
| Yahar’gul | Rom, the Vacuous Spider | Clear spider minions first; attack Rom when clear | Twin Blood Stone Shard | Ladder near entrance | Brainsuckers, Hunters | Fire/Bolt Paper |
| Cainhurst Castle | Martyr Logarius | Dodge telegraphed swings; ranged attacks on jumps | Blood Gem, Special Weapon | Secret doors connect boss & loot | Armored Knights, Elite mobs | Reiterpallasch, Rare Blood Gems |
| Nightmare of Mensis | Micolash | Chase through rooms until vulnerable | Twin Blood Stone Shard | Multiple ladders | Brainsuckers, Ghosts | Fire/Bolt Paper |
| Nightmare of Mensis | Mergo’s Wet Nurse | Aggressive; dodge constantly; attack in bursts | Twin Blood Stone Shard | Ladder near entrance | Brainsuckers, Ghosts | Fire/Bolt Paper |
| Chalice Dungeons | Varies | Strong enemies; use Fire/Bolt Paper | Rare Blood Gems, Weapons | Procedurally-generated | High-level enemies, Unique bosses | Fire/Bolt Paper, Blood Gems |
| Endgame | Gehrman | Dodge timing; attack in bursts; Molotovs & Fire/Bolt Paper | Twin Blood Stone Shard, Hunter Lore Items | N/A | None | Blood Vials, Molotovs |
| Endgame | Moon Presence | Aggressive; attack in bursts; predict attacks | Special Rewards (Beast Claw, Lore) | N/A | None | Fire/Bolt Paper, Blood Vials |
Boss Strategies (Quick Reference)
| Boss | Phase Notes | Weakness | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleric Beast | Single phase | Fire | Dodge side-to-side; Fire Paper; attack after swings |
| Father Gascoigne | Phase 1 & 2 | Fire, melee parry | Use firearm to stagger; terrain can block attacks |
| Blood-Starved Beast | Poison | Fire | Wear poison-resistant gear; dodge limbs |
| Shadows of Yharnam | Multi-enemy | Fire | Kill one at a time; Molotovs/Fire Paper |
| Witch of Hemwick | Summons minions | N/A | Kill minions first |
| Rom | Spider minions | Fire/Bolt | Clear minions before attacking boss |
| Martyr Logarius | Single phase | N/A | Dodge telegraphed attacks; ranged attacks on jumps |
| Micolash | Chase | N/A | Patience; avoid direct damage |
| Mergo’s Wet Nurse | Aggressive | Fire/Bolt | Dodge constantly; short bursts |
| Gehrman | Multiple phases | Fire/Bolt | Observe patterns; attack after dodge |
| Moon Presence | Multiple phases | N/A | Predict attacks; use Fire/Bolt Paper |
Weapons, Blood Gems, and Upgrades
| Area | Key Weapons | Weapon Upgrade Notes | Blood Gems |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter’s Dream | Hunter Axe, Saw Cleaver | Upgrade at Workshop | Starter Blood Gems none |
| Central Yharnam | Hunter Axe | Twin Blood Stone Shard from Cleric Beast | Twin Blood Stone Shard |
| Cathedral Ward | Saw Spear, Hunter Axe | Twin Blood Stone Shard from Father Gascoigne | Twin Blood Stone Shard |
| Old Yharnam | Saw Cleaver | Fire Gems for boss fights | Rare Blood Gem |
| Forbidden Woods | Ludwig’s Holy Blade (optional) | Twin Blood Stone Shards | Twin Blood Stone Shards |
| Hemwick | Kirkhammer | Twin Blood Stone Shard | Twin Blood Stone Shard |
| Cainhurst | Reiterpallasch | Rare Blood Gems & boss drops | Rare Blood Gems |
| Nightmare Areas | Any carried weapon | High-level Blood Gems | Twin Blood Stone Shard from bosses |
| Chalice Dungeons | Varies | Gems & shards upgrade | Rare Blood Gems |
| Endgame | All upgraded weapons | Blood Stone Chunks & Blood Rocks | Various Blood Gems |
NPCs & Quests
| NPC | Location | Quest / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gehrman | Hunter’s Dream | Mentor, final boss if Moon Presence not triggered |
| Doll | Hunter’s Dream | Level up stats |
| Eileen the Crow | Cathedral Ward | Optional hunter quest; unlocks weapons |
| Annalise | Cainhurst | Optional quest; provides rare weapon & Blood Gems |
| Messengers | Hunter’s Dream | Upgrade Blood Echoes, sell items |
Shortcuts & Map References
| Area | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Central Yharnam | Bridge back to first lantern |
| Cathedral Ward | Ladder behind Grand Cathedral |
| Old Yharnam | Ladder behind abandoned building |
| Forbidden Woods | Ladder behind first snake camp |
| Hemwick Charnel Lane | Ladder near entrance |
| Yahar’gul | Ladder near entrance |
| Nightmare of Mensis | Multiple ladders between rooms |
| Chalice Dungeons | Procedurally-generated shortcuts |
