Embarking on the treacherous hunt in Bloodborne? As a new hunter venturing into the gothic city of Yharnam, you’ll need every advantage you can get. This guide will provide you with essential tips to navigate the dangers and mysteries that await in this acclaimed action RPG.
Starting Strong: Character Background & Stats
When you begin your Bloodborne journey, you’ll be prompted to choose a “background.” Don’t overthink this initial choice. Unlike some RPGs, your starting class, or background, has minimal long-term impact. It primarily serves as a slight initial handicap or boost. What truly matters are the stats you’ll develop throughout your playthrough.
Focus on understanding the core stats: Health and Stamina are crucial for survivability, allowing you to withstand attacks and execute your own maneuvers. Attack stats, tied to Strength and Skill, and Arcane will enhance your offensive capabilities and access to unique tools. It’s worth noting that magic, while present in Bloodborne, takes a backseat to visceral combat. Spells are fewer and more specialized, but can still be incredibly useful when employed strategically.
Exploration and Combat: Be Cautious & Dodge
Bloodborne demands vigilance. Always be aware of your surroundings and anticipate ambushes. The enemy placements are generally consistent, meaning if you fall victim to a trap, you can learn from it and avoid it on subsequent attempts. However, Bloodborne introduces the Insight mechanic, which subtly alters the game world as you progress, sometimes changing enemy layouts.
Without a shield to rely on for passive defense, dodging becomes your primary survival tool. Keep your finger poised on the dodge button. Bloodborne is designed for aggressive, action-oriented combat. Stamina management is more forgiving than in some similar games, and there’s no encumbrance system – your dodge speed remains constant regardless of your equipment. Master the art of dodging early on, utilizing the brief invincibility frames it grants to evade enemy attacks. While a shield exists, it’s more of a novelty item than a viable defensive strategy. Instead, equip a gun in your off-hand. Guns in Bloodborne are not for direct damage but serve a crucial role in interrupting enemy attacks and setting up visceral attacks, effectively replacing the riposte mechanic found in other games.
Movement and Looting: Fast Climbing & Suicide Runs
For quicker traversal, remember you can fast-climb or descend ladders by holding down the run button (Circle on PlayStation controllers). This can save valuable time when backtracking or escaping danger.
“Suicide loot runs,” a tactic familiar to veterans of similar games, are not only viable in Bloodborne but even more effective. Death in Bloodborne doesn’t penalize you with a health-reducing “Hollow” or “spirit” form. This means you can aggressively dash into dangerous areas to grab valuable items without the persistent drawback of reduced health. Furthermore, Bloodborne often allows you to pick up items even in your dying moments. So, if a loot run goes awry, frantically mash the interact button – you might just snag that crucial item before succumbing.
Shop and Economy: Starting Shop & Regain Mechanic
The fountain area near your starting point serves as your initial shop, offering a wide array of essential items. As you progress through the game and encounter new items, the shop’s inventory will expand. Be aware that prices will scale with your level, becoming more expensive as you grow stronger.
The “Regain” system is a unique and vital mechanic in Bloodborne. After taking damage, you have a short window to reclaim lost health by attacking enemies. This applies even to damage from environmental sources like falls. Crucially, many enemies in Bloodborne have an “active” corpse even after they appear dead. Continue attacking fallen foes to regain additional slivers of health. This tactic can be employed roughly every 30 seconds and is a significant way to sustain yourself in combat.
Weapon and Progression: Weapon Specialization & Shortcuts
Bloodborne features a more curated selection of weapons compared to some similar titles. This encourages specialization. Choose a weapon that resonates with your playstyle and commit to it. Avoid upgrading multiple weapons beyond +5 until you’ve solidified your preferred loadout. Once you’ve found your weapon of choice, prioritize upgrading it to +10 as quickly as possible to maximize its effectiveness.
Shortcuts are paramount in Bloodborne. More so than in previous games of its kind, Bloodborne emphasizes interconnected level design and shortcuts. Always prioritize unlocking shortcuts, especially elevators. Elevators in Bloodborne almost invariably lead back to previously explored, often safer, areas, creating crucial pathways and reducing lengthy backtracking.
Resource Management: Leveling & Blood Vials
Wondering how to best spend your Blood Echoes (Bloodborne’s currency)? Leveling up your character should be your primary focus. After investing in stats, use your remaining Blood Echoes to stock up on Blood Vials, your primary healing item.
Bloodborne features an auto-storage system for items. When you acquire items beyond your maximum carry capacity (20 for Blood Vials by default), they are automatically sent to your storage. Upon death or returning to the Hunter’s Dream (the hub area), your inventory will automatically restock from your storage. It’s highly advisable to overstock on Blood Vials. Boss encounters can be Vial-intensive, potentially requiring 10-20 Vials per attempt. Having a substantial stockpile ensures you can focus on progressing without the need to grind for healing items constantly.
Boss Strategy: Farming Vials & Boss Order
Early in the game, consider farming enemies to build a healthy reserve of Blood Vials. Minimize Vial consumption when facing new challenges. Instead, focus on learning enemy attack patterns and boss mechanics. Practice dodging and positioning before committing to a full-on assault that depletes your healing resources.
Regarding boss order, while the Cleric Beast might be the first boss you encounter, it’s often strategically wiser to face Father Gascoigne first. Many players find Father Gascoigne to be a necessary progression gate, and overcoming him can provide valuable insight and preparation for the challenges ahead, including the Cleric Beast.
By heeding these essential tips, you’ll be better equipped to survive the hunt and unravel the mysteries of Bloodborne. Good luck, hunter!
