Bloodborne is a challenging game known for its formidable bosses, and navigating the optimal sequence to tackle them can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the ideal boss order for Bloodborne, detailing where and when to face each challenge.
Table of Contents
- 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
In Bloodborne, you don't have to defeat every boss to complete the game, but doing so can unlock valuable rewards. We strongly recommend facing as many bosses as possible during your playthrough. Here, we'll outline both the non-optional and complete boss orders, providing a detailed breakdown later in the article.
There are 17 regular bosses and five additional bosses in the The Old Hunters DLC. This guide does not include Chalice Dungeon bosses. While you can start the DLC after defeating Vicar Amelia, it's generally advised to tackle it closer to the game's end. Some players prefer to engage with the DLC before facing Mergo’s Wet Nurse, while others do it afterward, which can impact certain in-game dialogues.
Best Boss Order for Non-Optional Bosses in Bloodborne
Here’s the recommended sequence for the non-optional bosses:
- 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
Here’s the suggested order for facing all bosses, including optional ones:
- 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)
Area: Central Yharnam
The Cleric Beast is one of the initial bosses you'll encounter in Bloodborne, located in Central Yharnam. It's fast and aggressive, capable of inflicting significant damage if not approached cautiously. To defeat it, stay behind it, target its hind legs to trip it, and attack its head when it's down.
Father Gascoigne
Area: Central Yharnam
Father Gascoigne is a crazed hunter who presents one of the first major challenges. He's quick and frequently uses his gun. Mastering the parry timing is crucial for quickly defeating him.
Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)
Area: Old Yharnam
Located in Old Yharnam’s Church of the Good Chalice, the Blood-Starved Beast is formidable due to its hard hits and substantial health. Keep your distance and utilize fire or explosive weapons for an easier victory.
Vicar Amelia
Area: Cathedral Ward
Vicar Amelia, a large beast with melee attacks and self-healing abilities, becomes vulnerable when healing. Strike during her immobile healing phase, but watch for her glowing body as a signal to attack.
The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)
Area: Hemwick Charnel Lane
Prepare to fight the Witch of Hemwick's henchmen as well. She's invisible from a distance but visible up close, often lurking in corners. Use your firearm effectively once you spot her.
Shadow of Yharnam
Area: Forbidden Woods
The Shadow of Yharnam wields a large club and can be defeated with a strategic approach. Dodge its swings, shoot its head, and slash at its legs to expose its underbelly.
Rom, the Vacuous Spider
Area: Moonside Lake
Found at Byrgenwerth's Moonside Lake, Rom requires caution due to his poisonous and physical attacks, and his summoned spiders. Prioritize killing the spiders quickly and attacking Rom when possible. Note that defeating Rom alters the game world, potentially causing missed opportunities.
Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)
Area: Hypogean Gaol
Located in Yahar’gul, the Unseen Village's Graveyard of the Darkbeast, Darkbeast Paarl is recommended to be fought after Rom due to its challenging nature.
The One Reborn
Area: Yahar’gul Unseen Village
The One Reborn uses physical and magical attacks. Keep your distance, roll away from its raised arms, and strike when it's down. Clear summoned enemies before focusing on the boss.
Martyr Logarius (Optional)
Area: Forsaken Castle Cainhurst
Martyr Logarius is tough due to his Arcane damage. Mastering parry timing is key to dealing significant damage to him.
Amygdala (Optional)
Area: Nightmare Frontier
Amygdala's large size and reach make her a formidable foe. Her various attacks can quickly deplete your health, making this a challenging encounter.
Celestial Emissary (Optional)
Area: Upper Cathedral Ward
The Celestial Emissary is fast and dangerous even when grounded. Roll towards its legs to dodge attacks and counter swiftly.
Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
Area: Nightmare of Mensis
Micolash requires chasing through his arena, dealing with magical fog and summoned underlings. Corner him to attack, and be wary of his potent attacks. Using poison knives is a common strategy.
The Old Hunters Bosses
The Old Hunters DLC bosses follow a linear sequence. After defeating Ludwig, take Laurence's Skull to the Eye Pendant location to fight Laurence. Then, proceed to face Living Failures, Lady Maria, and the Orphan of Kos, all of which are challenging encounters.
Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)
Area: Altar of Despair
Ebrietas uses tentacles and magical attacks. Be cautious of her head-slamming move, which can deal massive damage.
Mergo’s Wet Nurse
Area: Nightmare of Mensis
Mergo’s Wet Nurse uses tentacles and fast-moving water projectiles, eventually employing fog to obscure your vision. Focus on avoiding damage during this phase. After defeating Mergo, complete any remaining tasks, including the DLC if not already done.
Gehrman, the First Hunter
Area: Hunter’s Dream
Gehrman, the final non-optional boss, wields a scythe and firearms. Mastering parry timing can make this fight manageable.
Moon Presence (Ending Specific)
Area: Hunter’s Dream
To face the Moon Presence, the true final boss, consume three of the four One Third of Umbilical Cords before fighting Gehrman. Obtain them from Mergo’s Wet Nurse, the Abandoned Workshop, the Arianna questline, or Iosefka after defeating Rom. Refuse Gehrman’s offer and defeat him to confront the Moon Presence. She uses tails, claws, and orbs of darkness but is generally less challenging than Gehrman.
And that concludes our guide on the best Bloodborne boss order!
For more Bloodborne updates, explore our coverage of the fan-made PS1 demake, Bloodborne PSX. For broader FromSoftware content, 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.
