- Ludwig, the Holy Blade is the first required major boss of The Old Hunters DLC.
- Recommended level: 60–80 to start, 80–100+ for a comfortable first clear.
- Key rewards: the Holy Moonlight Sword and the Guidance Caryll Rune.
- Best tools: a fully upgraded weapon, Fire Paper or Bolt Paper, and heavy Blood Vial stock.
- Fight in two phases: monstrous beast first, then the sword-wielding Holy Blade form.
Ludwig Boss Overview: Location, Requirements, and Rewards
Ludwig is encountered at the Nightmare Church in the Hunter's Nightmare, the first major region of The Old Hunters DLC. To reach him, defeat Vicar Amelia in the main game, interact with the skull in the Grand Cathedral, collect the Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter from the Hunter's Dream, and let the Amygdala near the Oedon Chapel lamp grab your hunter. From there, push through the blood-soaked streets of the Hunter's Nightmare until you reach the Nightmare Church lamp.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ludwig, the Holy Blade |
| Location | Nightmare Church, Hunter's Nightmare |
| DLC | The Old Hunters |
| Boss Order | First required major DLC boss |
| Recommended Level | 60–80 minimum, 80–100+ comfortable |
| Difficulty Rating | ★★★★★ |
| Key Rewards | Holy Moonlight Sword, Guidance Caryll Rune |
| NPC Summons | Generally approached as a solo challenge |
Ludwig serves as the primary progression gate of the DLC's opening region. Entering the Hunter's Nightmare under-leveled with an unupgraded weapon makes this fight extremely punishing. Reinforce your main weapon to a high level before attempting him.
Phase 1: The Accursed Beast
In his first phase, Ludwig appears as a large, malformed beast riding a drowned horse, with fast charging attacks, wide sweeping bites, and area-of-effect body slams. This phase punishes greedy players who stand directly in front of him.
Key attack patterns to watch:
- Charge attack: He rushes across the arena. Dodge sideways, not backward.
- Sweeping bites: Wide frontal arcs. Stay near his sides or rear legs.
- Body slam with splash: Creates area damage around his landing point.
- Thrashing combos: Multiple rapid hits. Back off and let the combo finish before punishing.
| Phase 1 Attack | Tell | Recommended Response |
|---|---|---|
| Charge | Rears back, loud cry | Dodge to the side late |
| Bite sweep | Head lowers | Circle toward his flank |
| Body slam | Rises onto hind legs | Retreat, then punish recovery |
| Flail combo | Erratic thrashing | Wait it out, punish the long recovery |
Most of Ludwig's phase-one danger comes from his front. Position at his side or behind his hind legs, strike two or three times during recovery windows, then reposition before his next thrash. Fire Paper boosts damage against his beast form for most physical builds.
Phase 2: The Holy Blade
At roughly half health, Ludwig's body falls away and he rises wielding the Holy Moonlight Sword, transforming the fight into a duel against a swordsman with ranged arcane projectiles mixed into fast sword combos. This phase is faster but more readable, and his larger, deliberate sword swings open consistent punish windows.
Learn the sword combo rhythm
Ludwig chains two to three sword swings followed by a pause. Count the swings, dodge through the final one, and land a quick attack string.
Respect the moonlight projectiles
He fires arc-shaped arcane waves after certain swings. Keep mid-range spacing so you can sidestep them while staying close enough to punish.
Punish the lunge and leap
His forward lunge and leaping slam have long recoveries. These are your best windows for charged attacks or visceral setups.
Stay disciplined at low boss health
The tempo increases as he nears death. Prioritize survival over long combos; short two-hit punishes end the fight safely.
Phase-two moonlight attacks deal arcane damage. If you have attire with higher arcane resistance, equip it. Arcane-resistant gear meaningfully reduces damage from his projectile waves.
Best Builds, Weapons, and Preparation
Ludwig rewards a high-damage, well-upgraded main weapon and disciplined stamina management. Physical builds perform well throughout, while Arcane-leaning hunters can exploit elemental options.
| Build Type | Recommended Weapons | Key Items | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | Hunter Axe, Kirkhammer, Whirligig Saw | Fire Paper, Beast Blood Pellets | Charged R2 attacks stagger effectively |
| Skill | Threaded Cane, Blade of Mercy, Beasthunter Saif | Bolt Paper | Fast punishes during recovery windows |
| Quality | Ludwig's Holy Blade (base game), Saw Cleaver | Fire Paper | Balanced reach and damage |
| Arcane | Tonitrus, converted Saw Spear | Bolt/Fire gems | Exploit elemental weaknesses |
Aggressive Builds
- Beast Blood Pellets raise damage with sustained hits
- Best for Strength and Quality hunters
- Requires confident dodge timing
Defensive Approach
- Short two-hit punishes only
- Mid-range spacing against projectiles
- Safer for first attempts
Ranged Support
- Hunter tools chip damage between combos
- Useful for Arcane builds
- Never replace core melee fundamentals
Before entering the fog gate, confirm your weapon is fully or near-fully upgraded, carry 20+ Blood Vials, stock Quicksilver Bullets, and bring elemental papers. Unlock the Nightmare Church lamp shortcut so repeated attempts cost seconds, not minutes.
Rewards and Post-Fight Route
Before and After Ludwig:
- Upgrade main weapon to a high level before the fight
- Stock 20+ Blood Vials and elemental papers
- Unlock the Nightmare Church lamp shortcut
- Collect the Holy Moonlight Sword after victory
- Pick up the Guidance Caryll Rune near the arena
- Proceed to the Research Hall toward the Living Failures
Defeating Ludwig opens the route to the Underground Corpse Pile and the Research Hall, where the DLC's next required boss, the Living Failures, awaits in the Lumenwood Garden. The Guidance rune and the Holy Moonlight Sword—Ludwig's own trick weapon, scaling with Strength, Skill, and Arcane—are both significant pickups for the rest of the expansion. For broader DLC context, see the official Bloodborne page and the PlayStation Blog announcement for The Old Hunters.
FAQ
Q: What level should I be to fight Ludwig in Bloodborne?
A character around level 60–80 can begin the DLC, but level 80–100 or higher is generally more comfortable for a first Ludwig attempt. An upgraded weapon matters more than raw levels.
Q: What do I get for beating Ludwig, the Holy Blade?
Defeating Ludwig grants progress toward the DLC route and access to the Holy Moonlight Sword and the Guidance Caryll Rune, both found in or near the boss area. The fight also unlocks the path to the Research Hall.
Q: Can Ludwig be parried?
His beast phase is generally not parry-friendly, but in his Holy Blade phase, certain readable attacks can be staggered with well-timed firearm shots. Mistimed attempts are heavily punished, so practice cautiously.
Q: Is Ludwig optional in The Old Hunters?
No. Ludwig is the first required major boss of the DLC and serves as the primary progression gate for the Hunter's Nightmare region. Only Laurence, the First Vicar is a fully optional DLC boss.