- The Bloodborne Saw Cleaver is one of three starting trick weapons, available from the Hunter's Dream.
- Its serrated damage deals bonus damage to beasts in one-handed form.
- Best for Strength builds and Strength/Skill quality hybrids.
- Fast attacks pair well with the rally system and parry-focused gunplay.
- Upgrade it early: it stays effective from Central Yharnam through the endgame.
Saw Cleaver Overview: Why New Hunters Love It
The Saw Cleaver is the most iconic trick weapon in Bloodborne and one of the strongest starting choices for a first playthrough. It begins in its short, folded cleaver form, then transforms into an extended saw with greater reach. Both forms serve distinct roles, and its quick attack speed rewards the aggressive combat rhythm Bloodborne is built around.
Video Highlights:
- Official Bloodborne trailer showcasing hunter combat and weapon style
- Great preview of the gothic Yharnam atmosphere and fast-paced fights
- Shows the aggressive design philosophy behind trick weapons
| Attribute | Short Form (Cleaver) | Extended Form (Saw) |
|---|---|---|
| Attack speed | Very fast | Moderate |
| Reach | Short | Extended |
| Serrated bonus | Yes | No |
| Best use | Beast enemies, rally recovery | Humanoids, spacing, transform attacks |
| Scaling | Strength-leaning, with Skill support | Same |
The folded, toothed edge of the short form counts as serrated, dealing bonus damage to beasts. Keep it folded against Cleric Beast, Vicar Amelia, and Blood-starved Beast for noticeably faster kills.
Saw Cleaver vs Other Starting Weapons
All three starting weapons come from the same weapon selection in the Hunter's Dream, so the choice comes down to moveset and build direction rather than raw power.
Saw Cleaver
- Fast attacks, high serrated uptime
- Suits Strength and quality builds
- Short reach requires close positioning
- Simplest moveset for beginners
Hunter Axe
- Long reach when transformed
- Wide sweeps for crowd control
- Strong charged attacks
- Slower recovery than the cleaver
Threaded Cane
- Whip form for long-range spacing
- Natural Skill scaling
- Serrated in whip form
- Lower early damage, higher skill ceiling
| Criterion | Saw Cleaver | Hunter Axe | Threaded Cane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner friendliness | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Early-game damage | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Crowd control | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Boss burst (beasts) | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Long-term value | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Bloodborne's upgrade materials are limited early on. Focus reinforcement materials on one primary weapon rather than splitting them across several, so your damage keeps pace with boss difficulty.
Best Builds for the Saw Cleaver
The Saw Cleaver scales primarily from Strength with useful Skill scaling, making it a natural fit for Strength and quality characters. It also converts well to elemental setups for Arcane builds later in the game.
| Build | Stat Priority | Weapon Role | Recommended Gems |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | STR toward 50, VIT 40+ | Primary weapon throughout | Physical attack gems |
| Quality (STR/SKILL) | STR and SKILL toward 25-50 each | Reliable all-game primary | Tempering physical gems |
| Arcane conversion | ARC toward 50 | Elemental conversion carrier | Fire or bolt gems |
Recommended runes for Saw Cleaver users:
- Clockwise Metamorphosis for extra health during close-range fights
- Clawmark to strengthen visceral attacks after parries
- Communion for a larger Blood Vial supply on long exploration runs
- Anti-Clockwise Metamorphosis if stamina feels tight during extended combos
Elemental blood gems convert a weapon's physical damage into fire, bolt, or arcane damage. This removes all Strength and Skill scaling from the Saw Cleaver, so only convert a duplicate or a weapon you no longer need for physical builds.
Upgrade Route and Progression Steps
Follow this route to keep the Saw Cleaver powerful from the first lamp through the late game.
Claim the weapon in the Hunter's Dream
Select the Saw Cleaver during your first visit to the Hunter's Dream. Pair it with the Hunter Blunderbuss for wide parry coverage, or the Hunter Pistol for tighter timing and more damage.
Gather Blood Stone Shards in Central Yharnam
Explore Central Yharnam thoroughly before fighting the Cleric Beast. Blood Stone Shards from enemies and pickups allow the first reinforcement levels, which provide a major early power boost.
Use serrated form against early beasts
Fight Cleric Beast, Father Gascoigne's beast phase, and Vicar Amelia with the cleaver folded. Combine Fire Paper and Molotov Cocktails against beast bosses weak to fire.
Reach +6 before mid-game bosses
Twin Blood Stone Shards from Yahar'gul previews, Nightmare Frontier, and merchants push the weapon toward +6, keeping damage competitive against Shadow of Yharnam and Rom.
Finish with Blood Stone Chunks to +9
Collect Blood Stone Chunks from the Nightmare of Mensis, optional areas, and later Chalice Dungeons. One Blood Rock from a hidden location or depth-5 dungeon completes the +10 upgrade.
The Saw Cleaver excels against Cleric Beast, Vicar Amelia, and Blood-starved Beast thanks to serrated and fire synergy. It remains solid against DLC beasts like Ludwig's first phase when paired with Fire Paper.
Combat Checklist for Saw Cleaver Users
Use this checklist to build strong habits around the weapon's fast moveset.
Saw Cleaver Milestones:
- Master the transform attack between both forms
- Learn firearm parry timing on humanoid enemies
- Use rally windows to recover health after trading hits
- Keep Fire Paper stocked for beast bosses
- Reinforce the weapon before chasing character levels
- Learn which enemies trigger the serrated bonus
The transformation attack is one of the Saw Cleaver's best tools: a quick fold-into-slash that extends reach mid-combo. Practicing transform cancels makes the weapon feel faster than its stats suggest.
FAQ
Q: Is the Saw Cleaver a good weapon for the whole game?
Yes. Its fast attacks, serrated bonus against beasts, and Strength scaling keep it effective from Central Yharnam through the endgame and The Old Hunters DLC, especially when fully upgraded with physical blood gems.
Q: Which form has the serrated bonus?
The short, folded cleaver form is serrated and deals bonus damage to beasts. The extended saw form trades that bonus for longer reach and stronger transformed attacks.
Q: What stats should I raise for a Saw Cleaver build?
Raise Vitality to around 20 first, then push Strength toward 25 mid-game and 50 late-game. A quality build splitting Strength and Skill also works well if you plan to use Ludwig's Holy Blade alongside it.
Q: Should I pick the Saw Cleaver or the Hunter Axe as a beginner?
The Saw Cleaver rewards fast, aggressive play and beast fights, while the Hunter Axe offers reach and crowd control. Both are strong first weapons, but the Saw Cleaver's serrated damage makes early beast bosses noticeably easier.