FromSoftware has released several games after the Lovecraftian action RPG. Still, I bet you’re still going back to it. So, let’s improve your character by finding the best weapons in Bloodborne.
The game is about six years old and became part of the PlayStation Plus service. Since its debut, not much has changed in Yharnam’s streets. But if you don’t know all of the secrets in the game, we can help you become a better hunter.
Remember, Bloodborne is one of the most challenging games you can play. It can chew you alive if you don’t plan your character. It may take a couple of failed runs until you get the skills and the knowledge to survive and win.
If you want to take precise steps towards the “git gud” feeling. Grinding for powerful weapons is a good first step.
Selecting the Best Weapons on Bloodborne
Bloodborne has an arsenal of horror and bizarre weapons; it can be difficult to test all the weapons you like.
One of the elements that made the game so special was the range of its arsenal. There’re various weapons types, and they come with their gameplay mechanics.
Bloodborne allows you to use swords, claws, axes, spears, firearms, and other melee weapons. There’re no shields, though. You’ll rely on dodges and parries instead. And if you’re using guns, you’ll depend on range and speed.
We’re considering as many weapon types as possible and covering choices for early, mid, and end-game characters. Also, we’re considering that weapons come in Normal, Uncanny, and Lost variants, but the Normal version is often the best.
All in all, the weapons we selected will make your character objectively powerful. These weapons also look fantastic and are pretty fun to use.
Best Weapons on Bloodborne
Here’re the best weapons we could find. Most of them are available on your first playthrough, but you need a New Game+ for others.
Also, some of these weapons are only available on the Old Hunters DLC. If you don’t have the expansion, there’re several choices available in the base game.
Lastly, while doing the list, we discovered that the best weapons on Bloodborne favor Bloodtinge and Arcane, most commonly. In any case, once you find the weapon you like, plan your characters around it.
Ludwig’s Holy Blade
Ludwig’s Holy Blade is perhaps the game’s most powerful weapon, with little to no drawbacks. The only negative thing we can say about it is its speed, as it’s not as fast as cleavers or claws.
What makes it special is its various attack types. It has a slash, a thrust rather than a Charge Attack, and a blunt attack rather than a long-form attack.
You can swap between these styles to damage different kinds of enemies without changing the weapon. That huge advantage makes the Holy Blade a sure option for high-level characters.
Lastly, you can buy the sword for 20,000 Blood Echoes in Hunter’s Dream from the Bath Messenger. So, it’s an end-game weapon.
Hunter’s Ax
The Hunter’s Axe is one of the starting weapons available, and it’s also one of the best weapons you can use in Bloodborne.
Aside from its easy availability, it will scale the damage to the end. It also has an excellent range and fills various roles. For example, it can defeat bosses, deal area damage for crowd control, and chip enemies from a safe range. It can even stagger and knock down small and medium enemies.
Moreover, it has a lot of Rally potential, the transformed mode turns it into a halberd, and you can wield it with your right or left hand. That gives you a wide variety of attack abilities.
If you don’t choose it as a starting weapon, you can buy it from the Messengers after getting the Saw Hunter Badge. You get this badge from taking down a giant pig roaming around Yharnam.
Simon’s Bow Blade
Simon the Harrowed is a friendly and recurrent NPC in the Old Hunters expansion. You can become his friend and hunt enemies together in Hunter’s Nightmare through various interactions.
If he travels with you, you’ll get his Bowblade eventually. Alternatively, you can kill the NPC for the weapon or loot it from his body next to the Lighthouse Hut.
Simon’s Bowblade is versatile, fun, and fast. It can instantly switch from melee to ranged combat, but the damage is not as significant as the other end-game weapons on the list.
In particular, the bow has a charge attack that can stagger enemies if you hit them on the back. Also, the weapon features both Bloodtinge and physical damage, which makes it ideal for hybrid builds.
Chikage
The Chikage is an end-game weapon that’s both overpowered and hard to use. Without a handicap, it would be the only weapon players use. And, still, it’s one of the most popular weapons in the game.
The weapon is a katana that comes in three variants: Normal, Uncanny, and Lost. These deal the same damage, but the location and the Gem Imprints differ.
Its benefit and drawback is the transformation. The transformation gives a massive damage bonus but siphons health from the user. You’ll need to master the weapon to use it.
The Normal version is perhaps the best, and you can buy it for 50,000 Blood Echoes at Cainhurts Castle after joining the Cainhurts Vilebloods covenant.
FromSoftware games don’t favor defensive or cautious gameplay- They want you to master their games by risking yourself in melee all the time.
Evelyn
But if you reach a certain point, you’ll start finding good firearms in Bloodborne. Evelyn is the best of its kind, as it has more damage than any other in its bracket. Moreover, you can load it with Bonemarrow Ash to defeat even the most formidable opponents.
The weapon scales with the Bloodtinge skill, but it can still deal considerable damage as an offhand weapon for non-Bloodtinge builds. Additionally, it’s able to deal damage in a small area.
To find it, go to Cainhurst Castle and fight through its corridors and rooms until you loot it. It’s inside a chest in the library room, near an elevator. You’ll need to jump from the staircase in the library to reach it.
Repeating Pistol
Repeating Pistols is a safe replacement for the Hunter Pistol, the starting firearm. They deal decent damage, and they are easy to find.
Its quirk is how it can consume two Quicksilver Bullets to double the damage. Additionally, it knocks down non-boss enemies. Also, it fires faster than any other weapon in Bloodborne’s arsenal.
If you have a low Bloodtinge character, the damage will be moderate but still higher than most weapons. And for high Bloodtinge characters, each shot will be massive.
To get the item, you can purchase it from Messengers for 3,000 Blood Echoes. You can do it after getting the Sword Hunter Badge, which you can loot from Cleric Beast after defeating it.
Holy Moonlight Sword
The Holy Moonlight Sword is ideal for Strenght/Arcane hybrid builds, and it does low physical damage with its powerful magical capabilities.
We’re looking at a one-handed weapon that’s fast and simple. In its transformed mode, it becomes a two-handed greatsword. While you use it with two hands, it can shoot laser beams that cost Quicksilver bullets. Then, the L2 button performs a thrust on the floor.
The weapon deals arcane/physical damage and awards a 50% righteous bonus to all attacks. All of these elements give this weapon an extra oomph.
You can find it by going to the Underground Corpse Pile in Hunter’s Nightmare (Old Hunters DLC). You’ll have to defeat Ludwig, The Holy Blade, to reach it. After you defeat the monster, hit the head to get the sword.
Whirligig Saw
The Whirligig Saw is another Old Hunters DLC weapon. The first thing to note is its horrifying look, and the second thing is that you can’t use it while wearing a firearm in your offhand.
The Whirligig Saw is a two-handed mace. It’s slow but deals massive damage and has a powerful transformation. When you transform it, it will turn into a “Buzzsaw-on-a-Stick,” allowing you to perform leap attacks.
The transformation mode deals with “serrated” damage, and it deals with multiple hits with a single swing. It will consume your stamina as you use it, but it will also stun-lock most enemies -even bosses.
To find it, go to the Nightmare Chruch (on the DLC) and down the stairs near the lamp. Then, drop down into a canal full of crows, and follow the path until you see a snail woman.
Burial Blade
The Burial Blade is a half-sword / half-scythe choice and looks brutal. You need to defeat the penultimate boss, or you can get it on a New Game+.
This weapon has a charge attack with the highest reach in the game and deals massive damage. It also has various attack animations, which give you some options to attack and defend.
Another quirk is its Arcane stat, which will raise its damage with your Arcane level. Like so, it will deal Arcane as a portion of its damage.
Lastly, you can get it for 60,000 Blood Eachos after taking down Gehrman, the First Hunter -and getting the Old Hunter Badge. To carry the weapon to a New Game+, you must consume 3 umbilical cords before defeating German.
Ludwig’s Rifle
Ludwig’s Rifle is a limited weapon regarding the lore information around it, but everything else is top-notch. It deals massive damage at medium range and uses pellets over bullets.
However, despite its “rifle” surname, it behaves like a shotgun. The bullets spread, but the spread is very tight, so it’s reasonably accurate. It won’t be as powerful as you’d like at longer ranges, though.
To get this Rifle, you need to find the Radiant Sword Hunter Badge, which you can find in the Cathedral Ward by defeating the Bloodstarved Beast boss.
After getting the badge, you can buy it from the Messengers for 10,000 Echoes in the Cathedral Ward lamp. Then, you can update the weapon with Bloodstone Shards and Blood Echoes.
Beast Claw
The Beast Claw is available through The Old Hunters DLC. It works like an extension of your fist, but it has a couple of secrets.
First, if you wear the Beast’s Embrace rune, the weapon gains additional attacks and behaves differently. The Beast’s Embrace Rune will transform you and turn the Beast Claw into werewolf arms.
If this happens, you’ll enjoy a unique move-set. The werewolf skills are some of the most powerful and fun abilities to use in the game. It includes leaps, frantic punches, and other beastly moves.
The beast claw is not very practical in its raw form, though. It’s also not easy to find. You’d get it from Ailing Loran Chalice on a treasure room in the dungeon’s second level. There’s a boss there: Laurence, The First Vicar.
Tonitrus
Tonitrus is a unique and hard-hitting weapon. Its special quirk is that it’s the only weapon in the game capable of dealing Bolt damage without using Bolt Paper.
Bolt damage applies lighting to the enemies. So, you can use Bolt Blood Gems to increase its attack without trading physical damage. On top of that, it deals Arcane damage that levels up your Strenght.
However, the Tonitrus don’t deal too much damage. It’s a mid-tier weapon that’s interesting.
To get it, you must defeat the Darkbeast Paarl to get the Spark Hunter Badge. Then, you can buy it from Messengers. Alternatively, you can loot it in Yahar’gul Unseen Village at the end of the road.
