Years after its release, FromSoftware's masterpiece Bloodborne still draws gamers back to the blood-soaked streets of Yharnam in search of adventure and Eldritch lore. Known for its unconventional narrative structure, intricate design, and punishing difficulty, Hidetaka Miyazaki's 2015 hit appeals to the most hardcore gamers who don't shirk from a challenge and are willing to replay bosses and dungeons beyond a single campaign in pursuit of victory.
Along the way, hunters will need all the help they can get in the form of trick weapons, tools, runes, and consumable items, and these ten notable in-game items may just make the difference between life and death during the hunt.
Shaman Bone Blade
It can be hard for a lone hunter to overcome Yharnam's challenges, but the Shaman Bone Blade consumable helps to even the odds. This item has the unique property of causing certain lower-level enemies to fall temporarily under player control and attack other nearby enemies.
The item is most notably usable on the Shadow of Yharnam boss fight, capable of turning one of the three wraiths against the other two, making the battle much more manageable.
Moon Rune
Like souls in its sister Dark Souls series, Bloodborne’s currency is Blood Echoes, used for everything from purchasing items to leveling up the player. As prices skyrocket throughout the game, players often resort to "farming" enemies and locations in the hunt for more echoes. The Moon Rune makes the process exponentially easier, giving the player as much as thirty percent more Blood Echoes from slain enemies.
The first Moon Rune can be found in the Hypogean Gaol, the second is hidden at the bottom of a winding staircase during the boss fight with Micolash, and the rarest tier rune can only be obtained by performing the “Make Contact” gesture with the deposed Brain of Mensis.
Bolt & Fire Paper
Rarity isn't everything, and Bloodborne's Bolt Paper and Fire Paper prove to be some of the most useful consumables in the game. Each of the Soulsbourne games features variations on these items—temporary elemental buffs that can be applied to weapons.
While unquestionably useful against minor enemies, Bloodborne's elemental paper is best used against more imposing foes like the Bloodletting Beast and Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos, both of which are among Bloodborne's hardest bosses.
Beast's Embrace
Bloodborne’s DLC The Old Hunters introduces numerous new and inventive items to the hunter’s arsenal, one of the most notable of which is the Beast’s Embrace Rune. Obtained after felling Laurence, The First Vicar, the Beast Embrace Rune transforms the player into a monster resembling the Cleric Beast. This dramatically increases the player's Beasthood stats, increasing physical attack damage while reducing defense.
When paired with the Beast Claw weapon, the Beast Embrace Rune opens the door to Beasthood-centered character builds for players seeking a challenging but rewarding gameplay experience.
One-Third of Umbilical Cord
During the game's final act, players can find several segments of Eldritch umbilical cords hidden throughout Yharnam. In the game's main story, the first umbilical cord is taken from the defeated Mergo's Wet Nurse. The second can be found in Cathedral Ward after Arianna gives birth to the Great One Oedon's child, and the third is tucked away in the Old Abandoned Workshop. When consumed individually, these items bestow three points of Insight, Bloodborne's ingenious sanity mechanism.
If three are consumed, it unlocks a unique ending, which prompts a boss fight with the imposing Moon Presence. A fourth umbilical cord can be found by killing Iosefka while she is possessed during the Blood Moon, but consuming this additional cord will not unlock any new content. With the Soulsbourne series renowned for its lore and secrets, be sure not to miss this key item that unlocks the game's true ending.
A Call Beyond
As with the Cathedral of the Deep in Dark Souls 3, the Cathedral of Bloodborne's Healing Church is full of secrets, many of which can be easily missed. Those brave hunters who climb to the cathedral’s peak are able to challenge one of the Church’s experiments, that being a horde of extraterrestrial-looking creatures known as Celestial Emissaries. Defeating them yields the hunter’s tool A Call Beyond, which, according to lore, summons the Great Ones’ power across space and time
This item is one of Bloodborne’s few non-firearm projectiles, notable for its homing quality that is optimal for both larger enemies and hordes of smaller enemies. Be warned, A Call Beyond consumes a whopping seven quicksilver bullets with each use, so players must plan their shots accordingly when using this top-tier tool.
Old Hunter Bone
The Old Hunter Bone is unquestionably one of the most pragmatic hunter's tools in Bloodborne. For a paltry four quicksilver bullets, players can activate a buff that increases the distance and speed with which they can roll or quickstep. In a game where stamina management is key, the usefulness of this item cannot be overstated.
Additionally, with a low Arcane level of 15, even players who haven't invested their hard-won Blood Echoes in the Arcane discipline can benefit from the boon of the Old Hunter Bone.
Chikage
The Soulsborne series is known for its stunning weapons. Hidden within the parapets of Cainhurst Castle, the Chikage is a unique trick weapon that causes damage to the player in exchange for increased damage output. The Vileblood katana’s first mode offers respectable damage output as a one-handed weapon, but its true power is realized when it transforms into a bloody, two-handed blade.
Every several seconds, the blade will sap player health and draw as much as 400 points of vitality for strong attacks. For skilled players, the increased damage output possible with the Chikage makes it well worth the risk, and this weapon shouldn’t be missed by any hardcore Bloodborne fan.
Radiance Rune
In one of the game’s more tragic side missions, players who choose to aid Alfred the Executioner in his quest to end the Vileblood lineage will be rewarded with the rare Radiance Rune. When equipped, this rune will increase the amount of health recovered by using Blood Vials by 2%. Especially when facing off against the game’s toughest bosses in NG+, this extra perk can mean the difference between success and defeat.
Blade of Mercy
The weapon of choice for the hunter of hunters Eileen the Crow, the Blade of Mercy is one of the most powerful and popular weapons in Bloodborne. Well-balanced in speed and damage output, the Blade of Mercy transforms into dual short swords in its second form, allowing the player to unleash a flurry of attacks at short range.
Though it is not particularly apt at warding off hordes of enemies, when combined with endurance builds and items like the Old Hunter Bone, the Blade of Mercy shines as one of Bloodborne's strongest weapons.