When it comes to weapons in Bloodborne, it is nothing like any other game that FromSoft has made. Not only are there transforming weapons, but they also added ranged weapons into the game. There is a lot to choose from and it can be pretty difficult to decide which one best suits your playstyle. Ultimately, it is up to you to experiment.
We have found 8 really great firearms in the game that are good in different ways. We have placed large weapons that deal a ton of damage at the cost of a lot of rounds, and we have placed smaller weapons that deal less damage, but they don’t use as many rounds as the larger ones.
As we said before, it is up to you whether you want to use any of them because you don’t necessarily have to use the ranged weapons in the game. There are a total of 16 ranged weapons Bloodborne, but not all of them are worth using. That is why we split the number of good weapons in half.
What are the best Firearms?
We have a total of 8 ranged weapons that we put on this list because they are either really good at not using as many Rounds or just the sheer amount of damage that they deal to enemies. A few of the weapons on this list are the starter weapons so it is absolutely worth sticking with your starting weapons for the entire game.
Some of them are very similar to each other, so we would recommend trying out all these weapons on this list so you can find out for yourself which ones you prefer. You can use the other weapons we didn’t put on this list, but when it comes to stats, these are much better than the other 8 weapons not on the list.
Here are the 8 best Firearms you can get in Bloodborne:
1. Hunter Pistol
Pistol made at the workshop, for hunters stalking beasts. Hunter firearms are specially crafted to employ Quicksilver Bullets fused with the wielder’s own blood, boosting damage against beasts. The pistol is a quicker draw than the blunderbuss, allowing for speedier responses to attacks.
Location: This is a starting weapon gifted to you by the messengers if you choose. Otherwise, you can buy it from the Messengers for 1,600 Blood Echoes after you find the Saw Hunter Badge in the sewers.
This is the weapon that most people choose when they start a new character. It is the cover weapon and it does live up to its hype. It is not only the best starter weapon to pick, but it is totally worth using for the entire game if you want to. If you don’t want to swap to something different, you won’t have much trouble with most enemies as long as you upgrade it.
2. Hunter Blunderbuss
A blunderbuss created at the workshop for the hunters’ line of work. Hunter firearms are specially crafted to employ Quicksilver Bullets fused with the wielder’s own blood, boosting damage against beasts. The impact of this highly-effective weapon counters beasts’ swift movements, and its wide spread is nigh-on guaranteed to hit the mark.
Location: This is a starting weapon gifted to you by the messengers if you choose. Otherwise, you can buy it from the Messengers for 1,700 Blood Echoes after you find the Saw Hunter Badge in the sewers
This is the other starter weapon that is obviously not as good as the Hunter Pistol at longer ranges. You will need to get as close as you possibly can to your enemy to deal the most damage to them. Other than distance being an issue, this weapon is one of the best in the game. Once you get this thing leveled up, there is no stopping it.
3. Evelyn
Special pistol used by Cainhurst knights. The Evelyn uses Quicksilver Bullets, just as any workshop firearm, but the Cainhurst variant relies more on bloodtinge. Lovingly named after a woman and graced with an intricate design, Evelyns were adored by Cainhurst knights.
Location: It is found inside a chest in Cainhurst Castle in the library room near the elevator shortcut filled with ghosts and barricaded behind tables. You will need to jump from a nearby library staircase to reach the chest.
This is the first weapon on this list that isn’t a starting weapon. There are a lot of people that say this is their favorite ranged weapon in the game. It is very similar to the Hunter Pistol with it relying on different methods of activation. It definitely is worth finding even if you aren’t going to use it. Just make sure you can get out of the area alive because there are a lot of enemies around it.
4. Ludwig’s Rifle
A rifle typically used by Healing Church hunters. It is said that this rifle was employed by Ludwig, the first hunter of the Church. Its long, heavy barrel makes up in range for what it lacks in reload speed. Ludwig’s Rifle exhibits several departures from the workshop’s design, suggesting that the Church anticipated much larger inhuman beasts.
Location: Can be purchased for 10,000 echoes from the Messengers once you obtain the Radiant Sword Hunter Badge after defeating the Blood-Starved Beast.
This is one of the bigger ranged weapons in the game. It is very expensive and you probably won’t get it till later on in your playthrough. Once you do get it though, you will be thoroughly surprised with the damage that it deals to basically any enemy. It also has an insane range so you don’t have to get close to the danger zones of certain enemies.
5. Church Cannon
An oversized weapon used by the Healing Church. A type of cannon that fires with a curved trajectory and creates an explosion upon impact. Originally designed for use by brawny men with deteriorated brains, not for just any ordinary hunter. But the men lacked the wits to effectively operate firearms, and the weapon was quietly ushered into permanent storage.
Location: Found after activating the altar elevator to the Research Hall with the Eye Pendant activate the new elevator to go down. They send the elevator back up, which will reveal an altar with Laurence’s Skull. Send the elevator down again via the switch and stand at the altar. This will take you down to a hidden chest that will have the weapon inside.
This is a weapon that you will use for certain enemies. It is one of the largest weapons in the game and it takes a lot of stats to wield. You will need special Rounds to fire out of it and it will create a massive explosion when you fire it at an enemy. This will deal a ton of damage, but all the work going into using it means you won’t be using it often.
6. Cannon
Large prototype firearms fashioned by the workshop heretics, the Powder Kegs. Use of this weapon is equivalent to toting a mounted cannon, complete with its ridiculous weight, staggering kick, and lavish use of Quicksilver Bullets, into battle. Such a monstrosity was doomed from the start, and indeed its development was cut short. Yet, against impossibly gigantic foes, it might be just the thing.
Location: Found in the Forbidden Woods inside a big wooden building. You will need to either fight or run past multiple enemies to get to the location. It is on a dead body in a small hole that you can drop down into.
This is very similar to the previous Cannon, but it is harder to use. It is larger, but it does deal more damage. It is probably one of the highest damage ranged weapons you can get in the game. Not only does it use a lot of Rounds, but it also is very large. It is probably not the best option to use, but if you can get good at using it, it will be worth finding.
7. Piercing Rifle
A rifle engineered by the Oto Workshop, the precursor to the workshop of the heretical Powder Kegs. Designed for hunting on narrow streets, this weapon has been optimized to cause perforation wounds, but is unfit for reliably counter attacks.
Location: Purchasable at the messenger bath after acquiring the Firing Hammer Badge.
This is a weapon to use if you like hitting enemies from far away. The name of the weapon is everything too. Not only does it deal a lot of damage to enemies, but it can pierce through multiple at once. If you can line up a bunch of enemies and time it right, you can take out multiple with one Round. It is a good weapon if you are good at timing your shots.
8. Repeating Pistol
Repeating pistol typically used by Healing Church hunters. Crafted with mostly metal parts and exhibiting a complex design, the repeating pistol fires two shots at once, making it a ravenous consumer of Quicksilver Bullets. Should be used sparingly compared to its workshop counterpart, as the trump card in one’s arsenal.
Location: Can be purchased from the Messengers for 3,000 Blood Echoes after obtaining the Sword Hunter Badge.
This weapon is very similar to the Evelyn but instead of just shooting one Round, it will fire multiple. It is great if you don’t have time to reload it during a fight. This allows you to fire, hit, run away, and reload. You can do this multiple times a fight and it makes for a great weapon to combine with a melee weapon of your choice.
Are Firearms worth using?
This is totally up to the player. Ranged weapons in Bloodborne don’t have to be used, but they can be. There are a lot of them so there has to be one that you will like to use. You can go for a full melee build if you really want to. Just make sure you know what you are doing.
Even if you have a ranged weapon equipped as a backup, they are worth using. Just make sure you have enough Rounds so if you do try to use it, you aren’t wasting any time. Every second counts in a boss fight, so you really need to be prepared for every single one of them.