Bloodborne has been out for a long and amassed such a dedicated community. We will go over some advanced Bloodborne tips and tricks that players have discovered over the years that new and old players will benefit from. This game is simpler than other FromSoft creations, but their signature depth is still present, meaning there is so much more to this game than meets the eye.
1) Shoot The Dogs
If you ever feel like the dogs in Bloodborne are too much to handle, there is a simple solution: shoot them! This tip is extremely useful cause Yharnam streets are riddled with hounds. Gunshots are scripted in the game to knock down dogs. Even a non-upgraded gun will throw these must to the ground, giving you time to breathe.
This is helpful because it’s rare to face just one dog at a time in Bloodborne. Usually, you’re up against two or more rushing towards you. Just quickdraw your pistol, shoot the whole pack and then finish them off while they are squirming on the ground.
The funny thing is, it is not locked to gunshots only; it is pegged to Bloodtinge/blood damage. That means the same knockdown will occur when you hit the dogs with weapons that deal blood damage, like the transformed form of Chikage.
2) Visceral Attacks DO NOT Scale with Weapon Level
A weapon at +6 and +9 actually deals the exact same amount of visceral damage. You would think upgrading your weapon with blood stones would also increase your visceral attack damage, but that’s not the case, excluding the gems that boost visceral attack specifically.
If you stagger an enemy with a fully charged R2, even barehanded, you can perform a visceral attack, and the damage will be the same as when using a fully upgraded weapon.
Turns out, the damage from visceral attacks scales with your Strength and Skill stats, not your weapon upgrades.
This knowledge is convenient. When your trick weapon is about to break, you can still rely on your fists and visceral attacks to hold you over until you reach the lamp. And if your build is centered around staggering/visceral attack, now you know how to maximize damage.
3) Baiting Enemies to Attack and then Parry
Here’s a solid strategy for dealing with enemies: try attacking a few times to bait them into striking back, then immediately follow up with a gunshot/parry.
You’ll often catch them right in the middle of their attack wind-up. This trick works particularly well against some wolf enemies, like the ones in the Upper Cathedral Ward or many of the beasts in Old Yharnam. Enemies that retaliate quickly after your attack usually leave themselves wide open for a parry after your combo finishes.
The Reiterpallasch, one of the most underrated weapons in Bloodborne, is excellent for this strategy. In its standard mode, you can attack a few times to bait the enemy into striking, then instantly use L1 for a quick gunshot, which will almost always catch a faster enemy mid-attack.
4) Utilize Transforming Attacks
Make sure you take full advantage of using transform attacks (that L1 button) during combos or right after dodging. Transform attacks are potent, letting you land strong hits without draining too much stamina.
This tactic is especially effective against tougher enemies and even other hunters in PvP. Serrated weapons like the Saw Cleaver and Saw Spear really shine with transform attacks, but if you’re into strength-based weapons, the Whirligig Saw and Ludwig’s Holy Blade have some seriously strong ones, too.
Don’t overlook this! Once I started using L1 more strategically, it completely changed how I played the game.
5) Know Where To Find Upgrade Materials
Here’s a tip that can really help you out: get familiar with where to find upgrade materials in the game.
For example, you can head to Cainhurst for a bunch of fixed Blood Stone Chunks, and if you know the right spots, you can collect them all before you even have to face Rom. Also, after defeating Vicar Amelia, you can grab five fixed Chunks in the Hunter’s Nightmare without fighting the area boss.
If you’re new to the game, I highly recommend doing this because you’ll definitely need every upgrade you can get your hands on.
6) Extra Quicksilver Bullets Anytime
There is a practical hidden function that either you missed entirely or didn’t use much, even if I accidentally stumbled into it very late in the game.
If you press the “up” arrow on the directional pad, you can actually sacrifice some of your health in exchange for five extra Quicksilver Bullets. Just be careful not to use it when low on HP.
This mechanic is a game-changer for Bloodtinge builds, parry builds, or when you run out of bullets for your firearm mid-journey.
7) Attribute Level Soft Cap
When investing in a stat past 25, consider whether you’d get better results putting those Blood Echoes elsewhere. The soft cap for stats starts at 25, so upgrading something like your health/Vitality from 16 to 17 will give you double the value compared to upgrading it from 26 to 27. For example, if most of your stats are already at 25 but your Skill is still sitting at 23, you’d probably get more out of putting that upgrade into Skill rather than health or stamina.
Of course, use your judgment here, and try not to overthink it. The next more severe soft cap for most stats is at level 50; after that, the returns are quite abysmal. If you are more inclined towards making a certain build like Strength, then pump it up to 50
Many players don’t know this soft cap concept. The proper point investment will reward you more instead of dumping all willy-nilly.
8) Practice Parrying
If you’re having trouble adjusting to the parry windows in Bloodborne, start by practicing on slower enemies with long wind-ups, like the ogres in Central Yharnam.
The trick to parrying is to fire your gun after the enemy starts their attack but before it actually hits. The parry window in Bloodborne is a bit more forgiving compared to other Soulsborne games, but if you’re coming straight from a Souls game, it can take a little getting used to.
To adapt, find a slow enemy and spend some time learning the rhythm of when to parry.
Also, don’t forget that backstabs in this game require you to land a fully charged heavy attack behind an enemy first. You can’t just sneak behind them and critically strike them. You’d be surprised how often even veteran Souls players overlook this detail!
9) Fight Faster and Proactively
If an enemy or boss is fast, you need to match their speed. Bloodborne thrives on fast, frantic combat rather than the slower, methodical pacing you might be used to from Souls games. This doesn’t mean playing “aggressively.” You don’t want to spam attacks on a boss five times bigger than you; that is a ticket to an early grave.
What it means is fighting proactively. You should always be doing something mid-combat, whether attacking, dodging, repositioning, or even taking a second to buff your weapon with Fire Paper. You need to stay active.
Standing still in this game is a recipe for disaster because enemies will overwhelm you with their relentless attacks. Being passive will get you killed more often than not, so keep moving and stay in control of the fight.
10) Dodge into the Attacks
Dodging in the opposite (or towards) direction of an enemy’s attack can help you avoid getting hit by their attack hitbox, giving you a much better chance of successfully dodging.
It might sound a bit weird, but pay attention to which hand the enemy holds their weapon with. For instance, if you see that an enemy has a weapon in their left hand, odds are the attack will likely come from that side. To counter this, you’ll want to dodge forward and to your right (into the incoming attack) for the best chance to evade the attack.
It is almost instinctual to dodge backward, especially when you think an enemy is about to unleash a combo, but dodging forward into an enemy’s attack often places you directly behind them, which gives you a big advantage.
If the enemy is slow, start charging an R2 right after your dodge, and you’ll likely land a backstab. Sometimes, they’ll manage to move just in time to avoid it, but most of the time, they won’t.
11) Prioritize One Combat Stat (Strength vs Skill)
Focus on investing in just one physical combat stat, i.e., Strength or Skill, and try not to spread yourself too thin. If you don’t, you’ll miss out on the benefits of having a dedicated build early on. In Bloodborne, you’ll soon realize that a jack-of-all-trades is a master of none.
Although having both Strength and Skill at the same level means you can wield every weapon, you won’t be able to use any of them to their fullest potential. Eventually, every weapon will feel the same, and your overall gameplay experience might become stale and frustrating.
I would advise creating a character for Strength and a separate one for Skill for their respective builds.
12) Memorize Boss Patterns
If you’re struggling with a boss, spend some time dodging around them. This will help you learn their attack patterns and best approach to the fight.
Your enjoyment of boss battles in Bloodborne really comes down to outlasting your opponents and not just going for trading hit competition. It’s about knowing how to dodge and understand each boss’s vulnerabilities.
If you take the time to develop a dedicated build and learn enemy patterns, the gameplay will definitely reward you.
13) Spend Blood Echoes!
I’ve seen this happen way too often with new players; spend the Blood Echoes you gathered! Buy supplies, upgrade your character, and stock up on Blood Vials. And when you’re in battle, don’t forget to use those supplies.
If you leave the Hunter’s Dream with enough echoes for several upgrades and end up dying, losing them all, you only have yourself to blame.
It’s never a smart idea to leave the Hunter’s Dream with enough Blood Echoes to level up your character or with any echoes at all. You should always spend your echoes on something, even if it’s just basic supplies.
Suppose you don’t like where you spend your echoes, no worries! That’s one of the great things about Bloodborne: cut down a few wolves around Yharnam, and you’ll have those echoes back in no time. The important thing is that none of your blood echoes go to waste!
14) Farm Blood Gemstone
For many players, farming blood gems can feel like a hassle, but the Chalice Dungeons are handy. If you grind through a full Chalice Dungeon from start to finish, you’ll definitely be swimming in Blood Gems.
Getting familiar with the item drops from each enemy is also a good idea. For example, those creepy Winter Lanterns in the Fishing Hamlet area of the DLC drop Cursed gems that can boost your attack power by as much as 20%. You can also find an 18% physical attack gem in Yahar’gul just before the boss fight.
Additionally, special gems enhance specific attack types, like thrust or blunt attacks and blood damage, which is great for firearms and fire, bolt, and arcane damage. Don’t hesitate to experiment with these gems once you’ve collected a few.
15) Learn From Your Mistakes and Grow
I know this might sound harsh and obvious, but it’s for new Hunters: Don’t hate the game when you are stuck in a dying loop! This is a soul-like game and a ferocious one at that.
Most of the time, you’re going to die because of a mistake you made yourself. Remember, you bought this game to be challenged, and part of that challenge is accepting your faults. Sometimes, you just need to take a step back, spend some time learning the enemy, and understand their patterns. Like any Souls game, Bloodborne is about figuring out how your enemies will approach you and how to endure and overcome them.
Not every single encounter in Bloodborne will require the same strategy, so don’t hesitate to try something different. Learn from your mistakes and play with a bit of discipline. In the end, the game will definitely reward you for it!
In my opinion, Bloodborne is one of the most balanced souls-like out there, where your skill matters most as opposed to your build and equipment of choice. I hope these tips and tricks help you become a better Hunter cause if you don’t, the world will keep drowning in the nightmare!