- Bloodborne quest guide: Follow the intended route from Central Yharnam to Mergo's Wet Nurse
- Boss order matters: Vicar Amelia unlocks the Blood Moon and opens the mid-game
- Missable quests: Eileen, Alfred, and Cainhurst content can be lost permanently
- Three endings: Use a save backup before the final Gehrman choice
- Chalice Dungeons: Required only for the Pthumerian Queen trophy
Bloodborne Quest Guide: How Progression Works
This Bloodborne quest guide follows the intended path through Yharnam and its nightmare realms. Bloodborne does not hand you a quest log. Instead, progression is tied to defeating key bosses, which changes the world state and opens new areas. Understanding which bosses gate progression — and which side quests expire — is the difference between a clean run and a second playthrough of cleanup.
| Stage | Area | Gate | Key Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Yharnam | Cleric Beast, Father Gascoigne | Saw weapons, first Chalice |
| 2 | Cathedral Ward / Old Yharnam | Vicar Amelia | Blood Moon trigger |
| 3 | Forbidden Woods → Byrgenwerth | Shadow of Yharnam, Rom | Blood Moon, Yahar'gul access |
| 4 | Yahar'gul | The One Reborn | Lecture Building route |
| 5 | Nightmare of Mensis | Micolash, Mergo's Wet Nurse | Endgame endings |
| Optional | Cainhurst, Upper Cathedral Ward | Logarius, Ebrietas | Missable trophies, weapons |
Boss kills — not story flags — change the world. Defeating Vicar Amelia and touching the altar skull triggers the Blood Moon, which alters enemy placements in several areas and locks out some early NPC interactions. Complete Central Yharnam side content before that point.
The recommended starting route is simple: explore Central Yharnam thoroughly, unlock shortcuts back to lamps, gather Blood Stone Shards, then fight the Cleric Beast and Father Gascoigne in that order. Visit the official PlayStation Bloodborne page for platform and product details.
Main Story Walkthrough Step by Step
The main quest compresses into six decisive steps. Each step lists the bosses and items that unlock the next stage.
Clear Central Yharnam
Unlock both shortcuts, ring the bell area, and defeat the Cleric Beast on the Great Bridge, then Father Gascoigne in the Tomb of Oedon. Buy the Sword Hunter Badge with the badge Gascoigne drops to expand the merchant inventory.
Cathedral Ward and Vicar Amelia
Take the left path from Cathedral Ward toward the Grand Cathedral. Defeat Vicar Amelia, then interact with the skull on the altar to trigger the Blood Moon and reveal the path to the Forbidden Woods.
Forbidden Woods to Byrgenwerth
Navigate the snake-infested woods, open the windmill gate, and reach Byrgenwerth. Descend to Moonside Lake and defeat Rom, the Vacuous Spider. This fully activates the Blood Moon and opens Yahar'gul.
Yahar'gul, the Unseen Village
Fight through the Unseen Village, eliminate the Bell Callers during The One Reborn fight, then proceed through the Lecture Building into the Nightmare of Mensis.
Nightmare of Mensis
Run the bridge gauntlet, avoid Frenzy at Micolash's maze, and defeat Mergo's Wet Nurse to end the main nightmare crisis.
Return to the Hunter's Dream
After the Wet Nurse, speak with Gehrman to make your final ending choice. Back up your save first if you want all three endings efficiently.
Accepting or refusing Gehrman's offer at the end of the game triggers an ending and locks further exploration for that playthrough. Finish all optional quests, collect the weapons you need, and create a manual save backup in PlayStation settings before entering the final conversation.
Key NPC Quests and Missable Content
Several NPC questlines expire as the world state advances. Track them alongside the main route.
Eileen the Crow
- Meet in Central Yharnam sewer
- Follow her contract hunts in Cathedral Ward and Grand Cathedral
- Rewards the Crow Hunter Badge and Blade of Mercy
Alfred
- Found in Cathedral Ward
- Progress depends on the Unopened Summons item
- Questline connects to Cainhurst and the Vilebloods
The Suspicious Beggar
- Appears at forbidden Woods and beyond
- Choices affect Darkbeast Paarl access routes and rewards
| NPC Quest | Where It Starts | Expires When | Key Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eileen the Crow | Central Yharnam | After Rom (Blood Moon) | Blade of Mercy, Hunter rune |
| Alfred | Cathedral Ward | After Cainhurst progress | Logarius' Wheel access |
| Arianna | Cathedral Ward | After Blood Moon | Blood of Arianna, gesture |
| Adella the Nun | Cathedral Ward | Depends on blood items | Blood vial variants |
| Suspicious Beggar | Forbidden Woods | After Blood Moon | Beast rune |
Cainhurst Castle, the Upper Cathedral Ward, and Old Yharnam's Djura encounter all contain missable trophies and unique weapons. Visit them before defeating Mergo's Wet Nurse — several become far more dangerous or inaccessible after the Blood Moon fully transforms the world.
Endings and Final Choices
Bloodborne has three endings, all decided in the Hunter's Dream after Mergo's Wet Nurse falls.
| Ending | Requirement | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Yharnam Sunrise | Accept Gehrman's offer | Wake from the dream, ending the hunt |
| Honoring Wishes | Refuse and defeat Gehrman | Inherit the Dream's caretaker role |
| Childhood's Beginning | Consume three Third Umbilical Cords, then defeat Gehrman and the Moon Presence | Transform into an infant Great One |
Collect the cords from Iosefka (after sending her the right NPCs or at Blood Moon), Arianna's child after the Blood Moon, the Abandoned Workshop, and Mergo's Wet Nurse's reward. Eating three before the final fight is the only path to the hidden third ending.
For lore context on the dream cycle and the Moon Presence, the community at r/bloodborne maintains extensive discussion threads on ending interpretations.
Endgame Quests: Chalices and The Old Hunters
Before Ending the Playthrough:
- Complete Eileen, Alfred, and chapel NPC quests
- Explore Cainhurst Castle and defeat Martyr Logarius
- Clear Upper Cathedral Ward and defeat Ebrietas
- Collect three Third Umbilical Cords for the hidden ending
- Begin the Pthumerian Chalice chain from the Blood-starved Beast Chalice
- Back up your save before speaking to Gehrman
The Chalice Dungeon chain starts with the Pthumeru Chalice dropped by the Blood-starved Beast in Old Yharnam. Work through the depth levels with Ritual Blood and Arcane Haze until you reach the Pthumerian Queen — required for the platinum but otherwise separate from the story quests.
The Old Hunters DLC is its own questline. After obtaining the Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter in the Hunter's Dream, let the Amygdala near the Oedon Chapel lamp grab you to enter the Hunter's Nightmare. The DLC route runs Ludwig → Research Hall and Living Failures → Lady Maria → Fishing Hamlet and the Orphan of Kos, with Laurence as an optional boss.
A character around level 60–80 can begin the DLC, but level 80–100 is more comfortable for a first complete run. Reinforce your main weapon to a high level before entering — the DLC bosses punish underleveled weapons more than underleveled characters.
FAQ
Q: Does this Bloodborne quest guide order matter for NPCs?
Yes. Eileen's questline and several chapel NPC interactions expire once the Blood Moon fully activates after defeating Rom. Finish Central Yharnam and Cathedral Ward side quests before Byrgenwerth.
Q: What is the point of no return in Bloodborne?
Speaking with Gehrman in the Hunter's Dream after Mergo's Wet Nurse. Accepting or refusing his offer triggers an ending. Back up your save first to collect all three ending trophies efficiently.
Q: Can I do the DLC before finishing the main story?
Yes. The Old Hunters unlocks after Vicar Amelia and collecting the Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter. Most players enter around level 60–80 and finish the main game's final areas afterward.
Q: Are Chalice Dungeons required for the story?
No. Chalice Dungeons are optional except for the Pthumerian Queen trophy. The main story never requires entering a Chalice Dungeon.