- Ludwig's Holy Blade is a trick weapon combining a fast one-handed sword with a heavy greatsword form.
- How to unlock: Purchase it with Insight after finding the Radiant Sword Hunter Badge in the Healing Church Workshop.
- Best builds: Quality (Strength + Skill) and Strength characters get the most from its dual scaling.
- Core tip: Use the sword form for speed, transform into the greatsword for reach, stagger, and burst damage.
- Upgrade priority: A strong mid-game investment once the badge and Blood Stone materials are available.
Why Ludwig's Holy Blade Is a Top Weapon
Ludwig's Holy Blade earns its S-Tier reputation by giving hunters two effective weapons in one. The untransformed longsword delivers quick, reliable slashes with low stamina cost, while the transformed greatsword provides wide arcs, long reach, and heavy stagger potential. Few weapons in Bloodborne cover as many combat situations with a single upgrade investment.
The blade fits the Healing Church lore: it was the signature armament of Ludwig, the first hunter of the Church and the tragic first boss of The Old Hunters DLC, who also drops the Holy Moonlight Sword.
Treat the sword form as your default for mobs and quick enemies, and reserve the greatsword form for large bosses, stagger attempts, and crowd control. Transform attacks bridge the two seamlessly.
At a Glance:
| Attribute | Sword Form | Greatsword Form |
|---|---|---|
| Attack speed | Fast | Slow, heavy |
| Stamina cost | Low | High |
| Reach | Medium | Long, wide arcs |
| Stagger potential | Moderate | Excellent |
| Best use | Mobs, quick punishes | Bosses, crowd control |
How to Get Ludwig's Holy Blade
Follow this route to unlock the blade as early as possible in a playthrough.
Progress to the Healing Church Workshop
After defeating Vicar Amelia in the Grand Cathedral, take the elevator path behind the altar into the Healing Church Workshop tower and descend through its interior.
Find the Radiant Sword Hunter Badge
The badge is located on a body on the tower's lowest walkway. Reaching it requires careful navigation down the workshop's broken staircases and beams.
Return to the Hunter's Dream
The badge unlocks Ludwig's Holy Blade in the Insight Bath Messenger shop. It requires 16 Strength, 12 Skill, and 16,000 Blood Echoes to purchase.
Meet the stat requirements early
Most builds can meet the requirements within the early-to-mid game; Quality hunters naturally qualify as they raise both stats.
The Healing Church Workshop contains fall hazards and aggressive enemies. Unlock the lamp shortcuts on the way down, and avoid sprinting across beams—fall damage there can be fatal at low Vitality.
Scaling, Forms, and Combat Moveset
The weapon's dual scaling rewards characters who invest in both Strength and Skill, making it the centerpiece of the Quality build path recommended for versatile hunters.
Stat Scaling Overview:
| Stat | Scaling Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | B | Improves both forms, core for Quality |
| Skill | B | Boosts sword form, benefits visceral setups |
| Bloodtinge | None | No blood damage component |
| Arcane | None (base) | Can be converted with elemental gems |
Form Comparison:
| Feature | One-Handed Sword | Transformed Greatsword |
|---|---|---|
| Scaling emphasis | Balanced | Balanced, heavier per hit |
| Charged R2 | Solid punish | Wide, high stagger opener |
| Transformation attack | Quick slash | Powerful overhead slam |
| Stamina per swing | Low | High—watch your endurance bar |
The greatsword's charged attacks and leaping transformation slam reliably stagger large beasts, opening windows for visceral attacks. This stagger pressure is a major reason the weapon remains effective from mid-game through the endgame and into The Old Hunters DLC.
The transformed form's swings consume significantly more stamina than the Saw Cleaver or Threaded Cane. Keep Endurance around 20+ before committing to long greatsword combos, or you may run dry mid-fight.
Best Builds and Blood Gem Setups
Ludwig's Holy Blade serves several build archetypes well, but it truly shines for Quality characters pushing both Strength and Skill toward 25, then 50 each.
Quality Build
- Best fit for this weapon
- Strength and Skill to 25 by mid-game, 50 late
- Tempering or physical gems
- Handles nearly every encounter
Strength Build
- Heavy stagger playstyle
- Strength to 50, enough Skill for requirements
- Heavy physical gems
- Pairs with Kirkhammer as an alternative
Arcane Conversion
- Convert with Fire or Bolt gems
- Exploits elemental weaknesses
- Requires Arcane scaling to take over
- Advanced, resource-hungry option
Recommended Blood Gems:
| Gem Type | Best For | Source Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Up % | Standard Quality/Strength builds | Depth 3+ Pthumeru dungeons |
| Tempering (STR/SKL) | Quality hybrids | Higher-depth chalice bosses |
| Adept (Heavy/Sharp) | Single-stat specialization | Cursed FRC dungeons |
| Fire/Bolt conversion | Arcane elemental setups | Loran (bolt) / Isz and Pthumeru (fire) |
For runes, pair the blade with Clockwise Metamorphosis for health, Anti-Clockwise Metamorphosis for stamina, and Clawmark if you lean on visceral attacks created by greatsword staggers.
Reinforce Ludwig's Holy Blade consistently rather than splitting Blood Stone Shards across multiple weapons. A +6 or higher blade comfortably carries you through the mid-game and into The Old Hunters at level 60-80.
Boss Matchups and Preparation Checklist
The greatsword form excels against large, slow bosses where its stagger potential creates safe punish windows. It is slightly less ideal against extremely fast duelists like Lady Maria, where the sword form's speed matters more.
Boss Matchup Notes:
| Boss | Recommended Form | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vicar Amelia | Greatsword | Limb stagger interrupts healing |
| Shadow of Yharnam | Greatsword | Wide arcs manage multiple targets |
| Martyr Logarius | Sword | Speed matches his fast melee phase |
| Orphan of Kos | Sword | Quick punishes suit its mobility |
| Ludwig (DLC) | Greatsword | Stagger the beast form's charge |
Before Your Next Boss Attempt:
- Reinforce Ludwig's Holy Blade with available Blood Stone materials
- Stock Blood Vials and Quicksilver Bullets in the Hunter's Dream storage
- Apply Fire Paper or Bolt Paper to match the boss's weakness
- Confirm Endurance supports at least three greatsword swings
- Unlock arena shortcuts before repeated attempts
FAQ
Q: Is Ludwig's Holy Blade good for a first playthrough?
Yes. Its reliable sword form and powerful greatsword form make it one of the most forgiving weapons in Bloodborne. It suits Quality builds especially well, and one consistent upgrade investment covers nearly every combat situation.
Q: Where exactly do I get Ludwig's Holy Blade?
Find the Radiant Sword Hunter Badge in the Healing Church Workshop after defeating Vicar Amelia, then purchase the weapon from the Insight shop in the Hunter's Dream for 16,000 Blood Echoes. It requires 16 Strength and 12 Skill to wield.
Q: Should I use physical or elemental gems on Ludwig's Holy Blade?
Physical or Tempering gems are best for Strength and Quality builds. Elemental conversion with Fire or Bolt gems is only worthwhile for dedicated Arcane characters, since it replaces the weapon's physical scaling entirely.
Q: How does Ludwig's Holy Blade compare to the Kirkhammer?
Both use a fast sword base form, but Ludwig's transformed greatsword offers wider arcs and better reach, while the Kirkhammer trades that for heavier single-impact stagger. Ludwig's blade is more versatile; the Kirkhammer suits pure Strength characters.