- Bloodborne weapons are ranked by availability, scaling, moveset quality, and upgrade value.
- Saw Cleaver and Ludwig's Holy Blade sit in S Tier for most hunters.
- Upgrade one weapon consistently instead of splitting early Blood Stone materials.
- Serrated and fire damage melt beast bosses; bolt punishes Kin enemies.
- Best first pick: Saw Cleaver for straightforward power, Threaded Cane for Skill play.
Bloodborne Weapons Tier List Explained
Bloodborne weapons revolve around the trick weapon system: every arm transforms between two forms mid-combo, changing range, speed, and damage type. No single weapon dominates every situation. The strongest choice is the one whose moveset, range, transformation attacks, and attribute scaling match your combat rhythm.
Video Highlights:
- Official PlayStation trailer showing hunter combat and trick weapon transformations
- Fast, aggressive pacing defines Bloodborne's weapon design philosophy
The tier rankings below weigh early availability, damage growth, attribute fit, and moveset performance across both forms.
| Tier | Weapon | Best For | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Saw Cleaver | Strength / Quality, beginners | Fast serrated attacks, available from the start |
| S | Ludwig's Holy Blade | Quality / Strength hybrids | Reliable sword form plus powerful greatsword form |
| A | Hunter Axe | Strength, crowd control | Long transformed sweeps and high stagger |
| A | Kirkhammer | Strength builds | Quick sword paired with heavy hammer form |
| A | Threaded Cane | Skill builds | Whip reach and technical spacing |
| B | Chikage | Bloodtinge builds | Strong transformed blood damage |
| B | Blade of Mercy | Skill builds | Very fast dual-blade pressure |
| C | Logarius' Wheel | Dedicated Strength | High impact, slow and stamina-heavy |
| Situational | Tonitrus | Arcane hybrids | Built-in bolt damage for vulnerable enemies |
Tiers reflect overall value, not raw endgame damage. A Tier C weapon fully upgraded and matched to your build still outperforms a mismatched S Tier pick.
Weapon Comparison: Scaling, Forms, and Upgrades
Each Bloodborne weapon scales differently across Strength, Skill, Bloodtinge, and Arcane. Compare the core profile of the most popular options before committing upgrade materials.
| Weapon | Scaling Focus | Short Form | Transformed Form | Upgrade Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saw Cleaver | STR / SKL | Fast serrated slashes | Extended saw, better reach | Reinforce early; stays effective all game |
| Ludwig's Holy Blade | STR + SKL | Quick one-handed sword | Heavy greatsword with strong stagger | Strong mid-game investment |
| Hunter Axe | STR | Compact axe swings | Long two-handed sweeps | Dependable first Strength weapon |
| Kirkhammer | STR | Fast silver sword | Massive hammer slam | Worthwhile with heavy Strength investment |
| Threaded Cane | SKL | Quick cane strikes | Long whip for crowd spacing | Long-term Skill choice |
| Chikage | BLT / SKL | Fast katana slashes | Blood mode that drains health | Only after committing to Bloodtinge |
| Blade of Mercy | SKL | Single blade | Dual blades, extreme speed | Mid-game Skill investment |
| Tonitrus | ARC / STR | Mace attacks | Electrically charged buff state | Secondary weapon for bolt needs |
Early Blood Stone Shards are scarce. Reserve most of them for one main weapon until you understand its moveset and scaling. Keep a backup weapon, but upgrade it only after your primary is well reinforced.
Matching Weapons to Your Build
Weapon choice and attribute investment must move together. These four pairings cover the most common hunter archetypes.
Strength Hunter
- Weapons: Hunter Axe, Kirkhammer, Logarius' Wheel
- Playstyle: Heavy blows, stagger pressure, charged attacks
- Stat path: Vitality first, Strength toward 50
Skill Hunter
- Weapons: Threaded Cane, Blade of Mercy, Church Pick
- Playstyle: Fast strikes, visceral attacks, precise spacing
- Stat path: Skill toward 50 with solid Vitality
Bloodtinge Hunter
- Weapons: Chikage, Bloodletter, Evelyn
- Playstyle: Firearm damage and transformed blood weapons
- Stat path: Bloodtinge toward 50, manage Chikage health drain
Arcane Hunter
- Weapons: Tonitrus, Kos Parasite, elemental conversions
- Playstyle: Hunter tools and elemental damage types
- Stat path: Arcane toward 50; use fire vs beasts, bolt vs Kin
Quality builds balancing Strength and Skill toward 25 each unlock Ludwig's Holy Blade and both saw weapons at full performance, making it the most flexible path for a first playthrough.
Serrated weapons like the Saw Cleaver and Saw Spear deal bonus damage to beasts, making them exceptional against Cleric Beast, Vicar Amelia, and Blood-starved Beast. Bolt weapons punish Kin enemies such as Rom.
How to Upgrade Your Weapon: Step by Step
Weapon reinforcement happens at the workshop in the Hunter's Dream and provides a bigger early power spike than leveling.
Pick one primary weapon
Choose based on your intended build, not raw listed damage. Moveset comfort matters more than a few points of attack rating.
Gather Blood Stone Shards
Explore Central Yharnam and Old Yharnam thoroughly. Side paths and drop enemies carry the shards needed for the first reinforcement tiers.
Reinforce at the Hunter's Dream
Spend Blood Echoes and shards at the workshop. Each level raises base damage and improves scaling returns.
Add blood gems
Slot Blood Gems from Chalice Dungeons and bosses. Match gem type to your build: physical for Strength and Skill, blood for Bloodtinge, elemental for Arcane conversions.
Optimize in the endgame
Depth 5 Cursed Chalice Dungeons drop the strongest gems. Compare attack rating, secondary effects, and curse drawbacks before imprinting.
Applying Fire Paper or Bolt Paper before beast and Kin bosses respectively adds substantial elemental damage, often worth more than a full reinforcement level in the early and mid game.
Weapon Progression Checklist
Weapon Mastery Milestones:
- Choose one primary trick weapon and reach +3 before Vicar Amelia
- Learn both forms and mid-combo transformation attacks
- Collect the Sword Hunter Badge or Radiant Sword Hunter Badge for new weapons
- Reach +6 with Twin Blood Stone Shards before the mid-game bosses
- Farm depth 3+ Chalice Dungeons for quality blood gems
The starting three weapons, Saw Cleaver, Hunter Axe, and Threaded Cane, all remain viable through the entire game and DLC. Switching weapons is never required, only a matter of playstyle preference.
The Old Hunters adds standout arms including the Holy Moonlight Sword, Whirligig Saw, Rakuyo, Church Pick, and Beasthunter Saif. Enter the DLC around level 60 to 80 with a well-upgraded weapon before testing them.
Bloodborne Weapons FAQ
Q: What is the best Bloodborne weapon for beginners?
The Saw Cleaver is the top recommendation. It is available from the start, attacks quickly, deals bonus serrated damage to beasts, and remains effective through the entire game when consistently reinforced.
Q: Is Ludwig's Holy Blade worth upgrading?
Yes. It offers a reliable one-handed sword form and a powerful transformed greatsword with strong Strength and Skill scaling, making it one of the best all-purpose Bloodborne weapons for quality builds.
Q: Can I use multiple Bloodborne weapons at once?
You can equip several trick weapons, but early Blood Stone materials are limited. Focus on upgrading one primary weapon and treat others as situational backups until materials become plentiful.
Q: Which weapon is best for a Bloodtinge build?
The Chikage is the signature Bloodtinge weapon, dealing excellent blood damage in its transformed state at the cost of draining your health. Pair it with Evelyn or the Repeating Pistol for firearm support.