- Bloodborne factions are joined by equipping an Oath Caryll Rune at the Workshop in Hunter's Dream.
- Five oaths exist: Hunter of Hunters, Vileblood, Executioner, League, and Beast's Embrace (DLC).
- Cainhurst Vilebloods vs Executioners triggers special PvP rewards when opposing members kill each other.
- The League rewards the Madara's Whistle tool after progressing Vermint issue collection via League Oath.
- Faction choice is fully reversible by simply swapping or removing the rune; no permanent lock-in.
How Bloodborne Factions Work
Bloodborne factions, called Oaths, are optional alignments tied to special Caryll Runes. Equip an Oath rune in one of your rune slots at the Workshop in the Hunter's Dream, and you are considered a member of that faction. Unlike covenants in similar games, faction membership changes only three things: rune passive effects, online multiplayer interactions, and access to certain quest rewards.
Video Highlights:
- None of the reference sources for this page included a faction-specific video, so no embed is provided
- For official Bloodborne media, see the PlayStation Bloodborne page
The system is intentionally lightweight. There is no reputation grind, no daily tasks, and no faction-specific vendors. You keep all equipment and progress when you swap oaths, which makes experimenting with different Bloodborne factions essentially free after you collect the runes.
| Mechanic | Affected by Oath | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rune passive effect | Yes | Each oath grants a unique passive while equipped |
| Online matchmaking bias | Yes | Some oaths pair you with or against members |
| PvP kill rewards | Yes | Vileblood vs Executioner exchanges crowns/dregs |
| Story progression | No | Main story is unaffected by faction choice |
| Equipment access | Partially | A few items require oath-related events |
Every Oath rune occupies one of your three rune slots. If you need all three slots for combat runes (Metamorphosis, Clawmark, Communion), you must unequip the oath and lose its faction effects until you re-equip it.
All Oath Runes and Faction Effects
Each of the five Bloodborne factions has a distinct origin, leader, and mechanical identity rooted in the game's lore of hunters, blood ministration, and the old powers beneath Yharnam.
Hunter of Hunters
- Rune: Hunter Oath
- Founder: Eileen the Crow
- Effect: Auto-restores some HP when a co-op ally dies nearby
- Role: Hunts hunters who have lost themselves to blood
Cainhurst Vilebloods
- Rune: Vileblood Oath
- Queen: Annalise, Queen of Cainhurst
- Effect: Gain Blood Dregs when killing Executioners or certain players
- Role: Nobility devoted to tainted blood
Executioners
- Rune: Executioner Oath
- Champion: Alfred
- Effect: Gain a Vermin-like crown item when killing Vilebloods
- Role: Fanatical enemies of the Vilebloods
The League
- Rune: League Oath
- Master: Valtr, Master of the League
- Effect: Crush Vermin in co-op to progress League ranking
- Reward: Impurity rune, Madara's Whistle
Beast's Embrace (DLC)
- Rune: Beast's Embrace Oath
- Source: Laurence, the First Vicar (The Old Hunters)
- Effect: Transforms your hunter into a beast form with unique moves
- Role: Embraces the beast scourge itself
No Oath
- Effect: None
- Online play: Standard matchmaking
- Recommended for: Players using all three rune slots for combat runes
| Faction | Oath Rune Found | Passive Effect | Signature Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter of Hunters | Eileen's questline (Oedon Chapel / Cathedral Ward) | HP restore on ally death | Eileen's equipment set and Blade of Mercy path |
| Vilebloods | Cainhurst Castle, after pledging to Annalise | Gain Blood Dregs on Executioner kills | Chikage badge access, queen quest outcomes |
| Executioners | Given by Alfred in Cathedral Ward | Gain crown on Vileblood kills | Alfred questline outcomes, Logarius-related events |
| The League | Valtr in Forbidden Woods hut | Summon League confederates in co-op | Impurity rune, Madara's Whistle |
| Beast's Embrace | Defeat Laurence in DLC Nightmare Grand Cathedral | Beast transformation moveset | The rune itself is the reward |
Alfred (Executioners) and Annalise (Vilebloods) sit on opposite ends of a shared questline. Advancing Alfred's story to its end permanently removes the Vileblood queen from her throne room for that playthrough unless you follow specific item-based restoration steps. Decide which faction rewards you want before progressing either NPC.
Vileblood vs Executioner: The Rivalry Explained
The most famous Bloodborne factions rivalry is between the Cainhurst Vilebloods and the Executioners. When a Vileblood-sigil player kills an opposing Executioner-sigil player (or invades under oath conditions), they collect Blood Dregs, which can be offered to Queen Annalise. Executioners gain the mirrored reward when they kill Vilebloods. This mechanic gives the rivalry real teeth in online play without affecting solo progression.
Reach Cainhurst Castle
Obtain the Cainhurst Summons from the Vileblood Registry area, then take the coach from the Hemel Charnel Lane lamp. This optional area is missable in a rushed playthrough.
Clear the Castle and Defeat Logarius
Fight through Forsaken Cainhurst Castle and defeat Martyr Logarius on the rooftop. This difficult boss gates the throne room where Annalise waits.
Pledge to Queen Annalise
Kneel before the queen and join the Vilebloods to receive the Vileblood Oath rune and access to the Cainhurst badge weapons, including the Chikage.
Collect Dregs or Swap Sides
Play online to collect Blood Dregs from kills, or instead meet Alfred beforehand to pursue the Executioner route and its separate story outcome.
Cainhurst nobility descends from a bloodline tainted by the old blood, while the Executioners rose to destroy them under Martyr Logarius. This schism parallels the broader lore conflict between Byrgenwerth scholarship and Healing Church doctrine described in our lore coverage of blood ministration and the church's founding.
Which Bloodborne Faction Should You Join?
Faction choice should follow your gameplay goals. The table below ranks each oath for common playstyles:
| Playstyle | Best Faction | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solo PvE focus | Any, or none | Oath passives are minor for solo play; three combat runes often better |
| Co-op helper | Hunter of Hunters | Ally-death healing pairs with aggressive support play |
| PvP collector | Vilebloods / Executioners | Dreg and crown collection only works online against rivals |
| Completionist | All, sequentially | League whistle and quest outcomes require each faction in turn |
| DLC build experimenter | Beast's Embrace | Unique beast moveset unavailable elsewhere |
Because oath runes can be exchanged at any lamp rest, a single character can complete every faction's rewards in one playthrough except for quest outcomes that conflict, such as Alfred's finale versus an intact Cainhurst throne room.
Use this checklist to track faction rewards before entering the endgame:
Faction Completion Checklist:
- Complete Eileen the Crow's questline for the Hunter of Hunters rune
- Reach Cainhurst Castle and pledge to Annalise for the Vileblood rune
- Meet Alfred and progress the Executioner storyline
- Join Valtr's League and earn Madara's Whistle
- Defeat Laurence in the DLC for Beast's Embrace
- Decide Alfred vs Annalise ending before triggering final story events
Faction NPCs and Related Questlines
Each faction anchors an NPC questline that rewards weapons, attire, or runes. Eileen the Crow patrols Yharnam hunting rogue hunters; Alfred preaches in Cathedral Ward before journeying to Cainhurst; Valtr waits in the Forbidden Woods hut with his League confederates; and Annalise rules from the Cainhurst throne.
| NPC | Faction | First Location | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eileen the Crow | Hunter of Hunters | Central Yharnam sewers area | Crow Hunter Badge, Blade of Mercy path |
| Alfred | Executioners | Cathedral Ward | Executioner set outcomes, Logarius events |
| Annalise | Vilebloods | Cainhurst throne room | Vileblood rune, Chikage badge access |
| Valtr | The League | Forbidden Woods hut | Impurity rune, Madara's Whistle |
| Laurence | Beast's Embrace (source) | DLC Nightmare Grand Cathedral | Beast's Embrace rune |
Several NPC quest steps disappear after defeating certain bosses, especially Rom and the Blood Moon transition. Check each NPC's dialogue before advancing major story milestones, since the Blood Moon permanently alters NPC availability across Yharnam.
FAQ
Q: What are the main Bloodborne factions?
There are five Oath-aligned factions: Hunter of Hunters, Cainhurst Vilebloods, Executioners, the League, and Beast's Embrace from The Old Hunters DLC. Each is joined by equipping its Oath rune.
Q: Can I change my Bloodborne faction?
Yes. Factions are not permanent. Simply unequip the Oath rune and equip a different one at the Workshop in the Hunter's Dream. All equipment and progress are retained when swapping.
Q: Do factions affect the story endings?
No. The three endings (Yharnam Sunrise, Honoring Wishes, Childhood's Beginning) depend on your final choices and Third Umbilical Cord consumption, not on faction membership.
Q: Which faction is best for PvP?
Vilebloods and Executioners are the PvP-focused factions, since killing rival members yields Blood Dregs or crowns. The League also supports co-op and invasions through its Vermin system.