- Bloodborne Rakuyo is a Skill-scaling dual-blade trick weapon found in the Fishing Hamlet DLC area.
- Lady Maria's weapon: its transformed mode splits into two blades with the game's fastest dual-wield moveset.
- No Bloodtinge needed: unlike Chikage, the Rakuyo deals pure physical damage and drains no health.
- Late-game pick: it only becomes available after defeating Lady Maria in the Astral Clocktower.
- Best fit: dedicated Skill builds around Skill 50 with physical gems.
Rakuyo Overview: Why Skill Hunters Love It
The Rakuyo is Lady Maria's signature trick weapon, introduced in The Old Hunters DLC. In its one-handed form it functions as a fast katana, while the transformed mode splits into two blades, unlocking relentless dual-wield combos with exceptional rally potential and some of the highest sustained damage output available to Skill characters.
Unlike the Chikage, the Rakuyo has no transformed health drain and no Bloodtinge requirement, making it the cleaner choice for pure Skill builds. Its trade-off is reach: the transformed blades are short, so the weapon rewards aggressive, close-range play with confident spacing.
The Rakuyo suits hunters who enjoy rapid, mobile combat similar to the Blade of Mercy, but want stronger range, a richer moveset, and a devastating charged transformed attack. It excels in PvE pressure play and PvP punish windows alike.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Weapon Type | Trick Weapon (katana / dual blades) |
| DLC | The Old Hunters |
| Scaling Focus | Skill primary, minor Strength |
| Damage Type | Pure physical |
| Transformed Cost | None (no HP drain) |
| Best Builds | Pure Skill, Skill-heavy Quality |
How to Get the Rakuyo: Location Walkthrough
The Rakuyo sits at the bottom of a well in the Fishing Hamlet, guarded by a pair of aggressive shark giant enemies. Reaching it requires deep DLC progression.
Unlock the Hunter's Nightmare
Defeat Vicar Amelia, trigger the Blood Moon at the Grand Cathedral skull, collect the Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter in the Hunter's Dream, and let the Amygdala near the Oedon Chapel lamp grab you.
Progress Through the DLC
Defeat Ludwig, the Holy Blade at the Nightmare Church, then clear the Research Hall and the Living Failures in the Lumenwood Garden.
Defeat Lady Maria
Beat Lady Maria at the top of the Astral Clocktower and activate the clock mechanism to open the path to the Fishing Hamlet.
Reach the Well
Follow the Hamlet's coastal route toward the Lighthouse Hut lamp. Near the cliffs, find the large well and drop down inside.
Defeat the Guardians
Two shark giants guard the Rakuyo at the bottom. Fight them one at a time, use the ladder to reset positioning if needed, then claim the weapon from the corpse.
The two shark giants hit extremely hard and can grab-attack for massive damage. Summon help if available, or lure one away and use the ladder as a safe reset point between attempts. A fully upgraded weapon and Bolt Paper make the fight considerably shorter.
Rakuyo Moveset and Combat Strategy
Mastering both forms is the key to getting full value from the weapon.
One-Handed Form
- Fast katana slashes
- Longer reach than transformed mode
- Reliable charged R2 for backstabs
- Safe poke tool in crowds
Transformed Form
- Dual-blade rapid combos
- Exceptional rally recovery
- Strong transformed L1 follow-ups
- Short reach, demands close range
Transformation Attacks
- L1 cancels extend pressure
- Great after parry-visceral sequences
- Smooth form-switching flow
- Rewards rhythmic, aggressive input
Core tactics: stay in transformed mode for boss pressure windows, switch to one-handed when you need reach or safer spacing against groups. The transformed charged attack is a strong punish after dodging through slow boss swings, and the rapid combo strings build rally healing faster than most weapons in the game.
Pair the Rakuyo with the Clawmark rune to amplify visceral damage. Its fast attacks naturally create parry opportunities with your firearm, letting a Skill hunter alternate between combo pressure and visceral bursts.
Rakuyo Build Setup: Stats, Gems, and Runes
A focused stat plan and correct gems turn the Rakuyo into one of the strongest late-game weapons.
| Stage | Stat Targets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Before DLC | Vit 30, Skill 25 | Meet requirements, survive DLC entry |
| Mid DLC | Vit 35–40, Skill 30–40 | Comfortable for Fishing Hamlet |
| Endgame | Vit 40+, Skill 50, End 20–25 | Skill soft cap maximized |
| Slot | Recommendation | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Gems | Physical % gems (Triangle, Radial) | Pure physical damage scaling |
| Rune 1 | Clawmark | Stronger visceral attacks |
| Rune 2 | Clockwise Metamorphosis | Extra HP for close-range play |
| Rune 3 | Anti-Clockwise Metamorphosis | Stamina for long combos |
| Firearm | Evelyn or Hunter Pistol | Parry setup and ranged chip |
High-level physical blood gems come from Depth 5 Chalice Dungeons. Cursed offerings improve gem quality but reduce your max HP, so farm them only after your build can survive the reduced health pool.
Rakuyo Build Checklist:
- Reach the Fishing Hamlet in The Old Hunters
- Defeat the shark giants and claim the Rakuyo
- Raise Skill to 50 and Vitality to 40
- Upgrade the Rakuyo with Blood Stone Chunks
- Equip physical blood gems from Depth 5 dungeons
- Add Clawmark and Metamorphosis runes
Rakuyo vs Other Skill Weapons
| Weapon | Strengths | Weaknesses | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuyo | Fastest combos, huge rally, no HP drain | Short reach, late availability | ★★★★★ |
| Blade of Mercy | Very fast, early-mid access, great mobility | Even shorter range, lower ceiling | ★★★★ |
| Church Pick | Long thrust reach, serrated + righteous bonuses | Slower rhythm, less combo density | ★★★★ |
| Threaded Cane | Whip range, crowd control, style | Low damage, high skill floor | ★★★ |
| Simon's Bowblade | Melee plus bow mode, Bloodtinge synergy | Split investment, weaker pure Skill | ★★★★ |
The Rakuyo generally stands at the top of pure Skill weapon rankings once obtained, combining Blade of Mercy speed with noticeably better damage and a more complete moveset.
If you are still mid-game, the Church Pick or Blade of Mercy carries a Skill build comfortably until the Rakuyo becomes available after Lady Maria.
FAQ
Q: Where is the Rakuyo in Bloodborne?
The Rakuyo is located at the bottom of a well in the Fishing Hamlet, the final area of The Old Hunters DLC. It is guarded by two shark giants that must be defeated or evaded to loot the weapon.
Q: Is the Rakuyo better than the Chikage?
For pure Skill builds, yes. The Rakuyo scales with Skill, deals pure physical damage, and has no transformed health drain. The Chikage instead scales with Bloodtinge in its transformed mode, making it better for dedicated Bloodtinge builds rather than Skill hunters.
Q: What stats does the Rakuyo need?
It scales primarily from Skill with minor Strength scaling. A dedicated build raises Vitality to around 40 and pushes Skill to its soft cap of 50 for maximum damage.
Q: Can I get the Rakuyo before beating Lady Maria?
No. The Fishing Hamlet only opens after defeating Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower and activating the clock, so the Rakuyo is strictly a late-DLC weapon.