Conquering Bloodborne's challenging bosses requires strategy. This guide outlines optimal boss fight orders, catering to both completionists and those aiming for a streamlined playthrough. While not every boss is mandatory for game completion, defeating most unlocks valuable rewards and enhances the overall experience. This guide covers 17 main game bosses and 5 from the *Old Hunters* DLC, excluding Chalice Dungeon encounters. The DLC is accessible after Vicar Amelia, but many players prefer tackling it closer to the game's end.
Table of contents
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The Best Boss Order for Bloodborne
Best Boss Order for Non-Optional Bosses in Bloodborne
Best Boss Order for All Bosses in Bloodborne
Our Best Boss Order, Explained
Cleric Beast (Optional)
Father Gascoigne
Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)
Vicar Amelia
The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)
Shadow of Yharnam
Rom, the Vacuous Spider
Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)
The One Reborn
Martyr Logarius (Optional)
Amygdala (Optional)
Celestial Emissary (Optional)
Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
The Old Hunters Bosses
Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)
Mergo’s Wet Nurse
Gehrman, the First Hunter
Moon Presence (Ending Specific)
The Best Boss Order for Bloodborne
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Several approaches exist, as completing all boss fights isn't strictly necessary. However, doing so is highly recommended for optimal rewards. We'll present both non-optional and complete boss orders, followed by a more detailed breakdown.
The game features 17 regular bosses and 5 DLC bosses (*The Old Hunters*). This guide excludes Chalice Dungeon bosses. While the DLC can be started after Vicar Amelia, many recommend delaying it until the late game. The optimal timing for the DLC relative to Mergo's Wet Nurse is debated, potentially impacting dialogue.
Best Boss Order for Non-Optional Bosses in Bloodborne
This order focuses solely on essential boss encounters:
- Father Gascoigne
- Vicar Amelia
- Shadow of Yharnam
- Rom, the Vacuous Spider
- The One Reborn
- Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
- Mergo’s Wet Nurse
- Gehrman, the First Hunter
- Moon Presence (Ending Specific)
Best Boss Order for All Bosses in Bloodborne
This order includes all optional bosses, offering a comprehensive challenge:
- Cleric Beast (Optional)
- Father Gascoigne
- Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)
- Vicar Amelia
- The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)
- Shadow of Yharnam
- Rom, the Vacuous Spider
- Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)
- The One Reborn
- Martyr Logarius (Optional)
- Amygdala (Optional)
- Celestial Emissary (Optional)
- Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
- Ludwig the Accursed/Holy Blade (DLC/Optional)
- Laurence, the First Vicar (DLC/Optional)
- Living Failures (DLC/Optional)
- Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower (DLC/Optional)
- Orphan of Kos (DLC/Optional)
- Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)
- Mergo’s Wet Nurse
- Gehrman, the First Hunter
- Moon Presence (Ending Specific)
Our Best Boss Order, Explained
Cleric Beast (Optional)
The Cleric Beast, an early encounter in Central Yharnam, is a fast, aggressive foe. Target its hind legs to trip it, then focus on its head.
Father Gascoigne
Father Gascoigne, a frenzied hunter, presents a significant early challenge. Mastering parries is key to victory.
Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)
Found in Old Yharnam's Church of the Good Chalice, this beast hits hard. Maintain distance and utilize fire/explosive weapons.
Vicar Amelia
Vicar Amelia, a large creature, self-heals. Exploit her immobility during this process to inflict damage.
The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)
Engage the Witch of Hemwick and her henchmen. She's invisible at a distance, but visible up close. Utilize firearms.
Shadow of Yharnam
This hulking creature wields a large club. Dodge its attacks, target its head with firearms, and slash its legs.
Rom, the Vacuous Spider
Rom summons spiders. Prioritize eliminating them before focusing on Rom. Defeating Rom alters the game world, so plan accordingly.
Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)
This large beast resides in Yahar'gul, the Unseen Village. Consider this fight after Rom.
The One Reborn
The One Reborn uses physical and magical attacks. Prioritize eliminating summoned enemies before focusing on the boss.
Martyr Logarius (Optional)
Martyr Logarius inflicts Arcane damage. Mastering parries is crucial for efficient damage output.
Amygdala (Optional)
Amygdala's large size and reach pose a significant challenge. Be prepared for a difficult encounter.
Celestial Emissary (Optional)
These fast-moving creatures utilize sweeping arm attacks. Rolling towards their legs provides an opening for counterattacks.
Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
Micolash hides in fog and summons underlings. Mastering the chase and his attack patterns is key.
The Old Hunters Bosses
The *Old Hunters* DLC bosses follow a linear progression. After Ludwig, return to the Eye Pendant location to fight Laurence. Then, tackle Living Failures, Lady Maria, and Orphan of Kos.
Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)
Ebrietas uses tentacle and magical attacks. Be wary of her head slam attack.
Mergo’s Wet Nurse
Mergo's Wet Nurse utilizes tentacles and water projectiles. Focus on dodging during fog obscurations.
After Mergo, complete any remaining tasks before proceeding to the final bosses.
Gehrman, the First Hunter
Gehrman, the penultimate boss, wields a scythe and firearms. Parrying proficiency is advantageous.
Moon Presence (Ending Specific)
The final boss, Moon Presence, attacks with tails, claws, and orbs of darkness. Utilize learned strategies for a successful confrontation.
This comprehensive guide provides a strategic approach to tackling *Bloodborne's* challenging bosses. Remember to adapt your strategy based on your playstyle and build.
For more *Bloodborne* news, check out our *Bloodborne* PSX, a brutal fan-made PS1 demake. For cool FromSoftware stuff in general, check out *Armored Core VI*.
Related: *How to Access the Hunter’s Nightmare for Bloodborne DLC on Attack of the Fanboy*
Update: This article was updated on 2/3/2025 by Escapist Editorial to include more information about the various bosses, provide a high-level summary of the boss order, and to include the bosses from the Old Hunters DLC.
