I’ve beaten Bloodborne, and I can tell you first-hand that it’s no easy task. Although I would say it’s easier than the Souls games, there’s plenty of cruel punishment to be found within Yharnam’s walls.
Whether or not this is your first From Software game you might be wondering how you can brave Bloodborne‘s challenge, and take it down in a confident manner. Well, I have tips for you.
Related: Bloodborne Review – Bloodbath & Beyond
Below you’ll find 15 tips that will help you along your Bloodborne journey.
Survival Guide: 15 Tips to Endure Bloodborne's Brutal Journey
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Be patient at all times
Bloodborne isn't as much challenging as it is punishing. If you tread cautiously and always give the game your full attention, you aren't going to die as frequently as you might think. The trick is to always be patient. If you let your guard down and begin running around without thinking, that's when bad things happen.
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Pay attention to attack patterns
When people say that Bloodborne is more punishing than challenging, the reason they say this is because you can actually avoid 98%+ of the damage in the game if you have good observation skills and timing. So, think of every new encounter as a chance to learn how to read enemy attack patterns. This is especially important on bosses, because a poorly timed dodge could mean the difference between life or death.
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Equip Runes for the task at hand
Bloodborne's Rune system allows you to equip a few handy perks at any given time. They can be swapped in and out, so what you want to do is recognize the type of challenge in each area and equip Runes that assist you. For example, you may run into enemies who use Arcane magic. So, you'd want to equip a Rune or two that give you Arcane resistance. This is especially beneficial for bosses.
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Farm and grind if you need to
Attributes matter in Bloodborne. Small advantages can be big ones, so ensuring that you're constantly leveling up as the game progresses is an important element to success. So, if you find yourself struggling try to find a good grind spot and grind for 30 minutes or more. You'll be stronger afterward, and should walk away with some handy items to help you along your journey.
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Items are your best friend
Although you might not be too excited when you pick up Pebbles, Molotov Cocktails, and other items, they are actually a big deal. There are several items in the game, and they can make the game easier for you. Remember to save them for when the going gets tough.
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Keep a full supply of Blood Vials
Nothing is worse than running out of Blood Vials in the middle of an intense fight, especially a boss battle. As annoying as it is, you should farm a lower level area for Blood Vials whenever you fall below maximum capacity. You'll thank yourself later.
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Search for shortcuts and lanterns
Bloodborne's levels are cleverly designed, allowing you to open up helpful shortcuts in virtually every area. To avoid having to redo long sections of the game you should try to logically determine where they're located. In most locations you'll find an unusable elevator or door near a lantern. It'll be your job to venture through the area and wrap around to unlock that shortcut. You may find a new lantern along the way, though.
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Plan a build early and stick to it
There isn't much that feels worse than getting to the end of Bloodborne and realizing that you have several stat points wasted in attributes that you really don't benefit from. As difficult as it is to do, plan a build early and stick to it for the entire game.
If you would like to understand the attributes a little better, we have a guide that will serve you well.
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Don't assume an enemy is dead
I can't tell you how many times I've brought an enemy down to below 5% health thinking that it's dead before letting my guard down. Then, the enemy lunges at me and I take unnecessary damage. I learned after this happened a couple times to swing one more time than I think I need to just to be safe.
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Light up darkness with the torch
Bloodborne's torch is extremely useful, unlike in Dark Souls 2. You can equip it in your off-hand and light up a dark room to improve visibility.
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Read notes left by other players
Bloodborne is the first From Software game to have positive and negative feedback for notes left by players. This means that bad tips are, hopefully, rooted out. You should read notes when exploring to get a heads up about ambushes and other life-threatening situations. Just be sure to read the appraisals to make sure it hasn't been marked as a foul note.
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Sacrifice health for ammo
If you find yourself in a situation where you wish you weren't out of ammunition, just tap up on the d-pad. You'll sacrifice a little health for five bullets.
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Summon help
Bloodborne has a great co-op feature. All you need is a Beckoning Bell, an item earned early in the game. With it, you can open your game up to other players who are looking to assist others. This is one of the best ways to tackle the toughest bosses in the game.
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Upgrade ASAP
You'll find upgrade items (Blood Gems) frequently during your adventure. Once you unlock the upgrade table, you'll want to upgrade your favorite weapon as frequently as possible. Each upgrade makes a big difference in terms of your damage output.
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Remember to have fun
As any professional athlete will tell you, you'll perform worse under stress. Try to take Bloodborne slow and relax even under the toughest of situations. A calm demeanor will help you perform better.
