Builds

Six paths: attributes by level, weapons, runes, gems and a guide video.

Level numbers are our own rough suggestions; adapt to your pace and check current guides.

Strength

Attributes: Vitality and Strength first

Heavy blows that break stance. For those who prefer impact over speed.

The idea

Break the enemy's stance with slow, heavy blows. You trade speed for impact: each clean hit takes far more than a quick blade's.

How to play

Hold the strong attack when the enemy whiffs, and open the guard with a shot before the heavy blow. Don't chain: one hit, back off, watch.

Strengths

High damage per hit; breaks the stance of beasts and big bosses; hammers and axes have generous reach.

Weaknesses

Slow against fast bosses; every attack costs stamina; a mistimed swing is punished.

Attributes by level

Level	Vit	End	Str	Skl	Blt	Arc
50	25	15	30	13	9	8
80	35	20	40	18	9	8
120	45	35	50	23	9	8

Recommended weapons

Runes

Clockwise Metamorphosis Lake Anti-Clockwise Metamorphosis

Gems

Tempering or Fool for physical damage, Striking for charged attacks. Adept gems pair well with hammers.

Guide video for this buildHow To Make a Build in Bloodborne (Guide) · J.M.

Skill

Attributes: Vitality and Skill first

Fast, precise attacks, pairs well with parry.

The idea

Attack often and fast, dodging at the last moment. The build rewards learning an enemy's rhythm and answering with short combos.

How to play

Stay close, dodge through the swing and return a short string. Use the shot to parry when the enemy winds up.

Strengths

Great mobility; long combos; excellent with parries and visceral attacks.

Weaknesses

Lower damage per hit; demands reading attacks; leaves little room for positioning mistakes.

Attributes by level

Level	Vit	End	Str	Skl	Blt	Arc
50	25	15	12	31	9	8
80	35	24	12	42	9	8
120	45	40	18	50	9	8

Recommended weapons

Runes

Clockwise Metamorphosis Guidance Anti-Clockwise Metamorphosis

Gems

Adept and Tempering for damage; Radiant to spend less stamina; Lethal helps regain health by hitting.

Guide video for this buildHow to Make an OP Parry Build in Bloodborne | Skill Build Guide · Thingfishy

Bloodtinge

Attributes: Vitality and Bloodtinge first

Firearms and blood; strong with lots of quicksilver.

The idea

Turn blood and bullets into damage. The firearm stops being support and becomes the main tool while the blade covers close range.

How to play

Alternate shot and strike. Visceral attacks refund bullets with the Oedon Writhe rune; the Chikage's transformed form trades health for damage, so watch your HP.

Strengths

Reliable ranged damage; good against slow bosses and flyers; frequent visceral attacks.

Weaknesses

Burns through quicksilver bullets; low durability; relies on accurate shots.

Attributes by level

Level	Vit	End	Str	Skl	Blt	Arc
50	25	15	9	10	33	8
80	35	20	9	10	48	8
120	45	40	9	18	50	8

Recommended weapons

Runes

Clockwise Metamorphosis Formless Oedon Oedon Writhe

Gems

Bloodtinge gems are rare; use Tempering and Fool until you find one. On the Chikage, Tempering pays off.

Guide video for this buildHow To Make a Build in Bloodborne (Guide) · J.M.

Arcane

Attributes: Vitality and Arcane first

Arcane damage and mystical tools; fragile but explosive.

The idea

Scale Arcane for mystical damage and strange tools. It is the most fragile and most explosive build, with weapons that bend the damage type.

How to play

Use each weapon's special forms (the Holy Moonlight Sword releases a projectile) and leave long fights early: low health charges dearly.

Strengths

Explosive damage; great against targets weak to arcane; strong mystical tools.

Weaknesses

Low health and resistance; some weapons need the DLC; arcane-resistant bosses call for a plan B.

Attributes by level

Level	Vit	End	Str	Skl	Blt	Arc
50	25	15	12	12	9	27
80	35	20	16	14	9	36
120	45	35	16	18	9	47

Recommended weapons

Runes

Clockwise Metamorphosis Arcane Lake Deep Sea

Gems

Arcane to add damage; Nourishing once you have another strong gem; Tempering to round out.

Guide video for this buildHow To Make a Build in Bloodborne (Guide) · J.M.

Quality

Attributes: Strength and Skill in balance

Splits points evenly; flexible across weapons.

The idea

Split Strength and Skill almost evenly. Nearly every trick weapon is usable, and you can swap weapons without respeccing.

How to play

Start with the Saw Cleaver and move to Ludwig's Holy Blade in the nightmares. Vary between extended and folded forms by distance.

Strengths

Versatile; good for a first run; no penalty for swapping weapons.

Weaknesses

Never the best at anything; damage per point is split across two attributes.

Attributes by level

Level	Vit	End	Str	Skl	Blt	Arc
50	25	15	20	23	9	8
80	35	24	28	26	9	8
120	45	35	36	37	9	8

Recommended weapons

Runes

Clockwise Metamorphosis Lake Anti-Clockwise Metamorphosis

Gems

Tempering and Adept on nearly everything; swap to Beasthunter or Kinhunter depending on the enemy.

Guide video for this buildBloodborne: Best Beginner Build Guide 2026! (Saw Cleaver Edition) · Your Average Gamer

Elemental (fire/bolt)

Attributes: High Arcane

Elemental gems swap physical damage; good vs beasts.

The idea

Swap part of your physical damage for fire or bolt through gems, gaining from Arcane. Pays off against beasts (fire) and bolt-weak enemies.

How to play

Swap gems per boss and finish with fire or bolt tools. Careful: high Arcane leaves health low.

Strengths

Picks the target's weakness; handles beasts quickly; lots of variation.

Weaknesses

Requires constant gem swaps; some bosses resist both elements.

Attributes by level

Level	Vit	End	Str	Skl	Blt	Arc
50	22	14	14	10	9	31
80	33	20	16	10	9	42
120	45	35	18	13	9	50

Recommended weapons

Runes

Clockwise Metamorphosis Fading Lake Dissipating Lake

Gems

Fire against beasts, Bolt against humans and armored foes; check each boss's weakness before swapping.

Guide video for this buildHow To Make a Build in Bloodborne (Guide) · J.M.

Each row sums to Level + 50 (starting from an origin like Milquetoast). Approximate, our own suggestion: the origin shifts the base, and returns drop after about 50 points in a damage attribute.

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