Best Bloodborne Boss Order Revealed: Conquer All Game Bosses

*Bloodborne* is renowned for its challenging bosses, and navigating the right order to tackle them can significantly enhance your gaming experience. This comprehensive guide outlines the optimal boss sequence for *Bloodborne*, helping you to strategically engage with each challenge throughout your journey.

Table of contents

• The Best Boss Order for Bloodborne
• Best Boss Order for Non-Optional Bosses in Bloodborne
• Best Boss Order for All Bosses in Bloodborne
• Our Best Boss Order, Explained
  • Cleric Beast (Optional)
  • Father Gascoigne
  • Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)
  • Vicar Amelia
  • The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)
  • Shadow of Yharnam
  • Rom, the Vacuous Spider
  • Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)
  • The One Reborn
  • Martyr Logarius (Optional)
  • Amygdala (Optional)
  • Celestial Emissary (Optional)
  • Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
  • The Old Hunters Bosses
  • Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)
  • Mergo’s Wet Nurse
  • Gehrman, the First Hunter
  • Moon Presence (Ending Specific)

The Best Boss Order for Bloodborne

In Bloodborne, completing all bosses is not mandatory to finish the game, but doing so can provide valuable rewards and enrich your gameplay experience. We encourage you to challenge as many bosses as possible. Below, you'll find both the non-optional and complete boss orders, followed by a detailed breakdown.

In total, there are 17 regular bosses and five additional bosses from the The Old Hunters DLC. This guide does not include the Chalice Dungeon bosses. While the DLC can be accessed after defeating Vicar Amelia, it's generally advised to tackle it near the end of the game. Opinions vary on whether to start it before or after facing Mergo’s Wet Nurse, as it impacts certain in-game dialogues.

Best Boss Order for Non-Optional Bosses in Bloodborne

Here’s the recommended sequence for the non-optional bosses in Bloodborne:

• Father Gascoigne
• Vicar Amelia
• Shadow of Yharnam
• Rom, the Vacuous Spider
• The One Reborn
• Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
• Mergo’s Wet Nurse
• Gehrman, the First Hunter
• Moon Presence (Ending Specific)

Best Boss Order for All Bosses in Bloodborne

For those aiming to conquer all bosses in Bloodborne, follow this order:

• Cleric Beast (Optional)
• Father Gascoigne
• Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)
• Vicar Amelia
• The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)
• Shadow of Yharnam
• Rom, the Vacuous Spider
• Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)
• The One Reborn
• Martyr Logarius (Optional)
• Amygdala (Optional)
• Celestial Emissary (Optional)
• Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
• Ludwig the Accursed/Holy Blade (DLC/Optional)
• Laurence, the First Vicar (DLC/Optional)
• Living Failures (DLC/Optional)
• Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower (DLC/Optional)
• Orphan of Kos (DLC/Optional)
• Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)
• Mergo’s Wet Nurse
• Gehrman, the First Hunter
• Moon Presence (Ending Specific)

Our Best Boss Order, Explained

Cleric Beast (Optional)

The Cleric Beast is one of the first bosses you encounter in Bloodborne, located in Central Yharnam. It's fast, aggressive, and can deal significant damage if you're not careful. Focus on attacking its hind legs to trip it up, then target its head for maximum damage.

Father Gascoigne

Father Gascoigne, a crazed hunter, presents an early major challenge. He's quick and frequently uses his gun. Mastering parry timing is crucial for defeating him swiftly.

Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)

Located in Old Yharnam’s Church of the Good Chalice, the Blood-Starved Beast is a formidable foe with strong attacks and high health. Maintain distance and use fire or explosive weapons to bring it down more easily.

Vicar Amelia

Vicar Amelia, a massive beast, uses melee attacks and self-healing. Strike when she's immobile during self-healing, but be wary of her glowing body as it indicates she's about to heal.

The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)

The Witch of Hemwick is tricky as she becomes visible only at close range and hides in corners. Prepare to deal with her henchmen and use your firearm effectively when you spot her.

Shadow of Yharnam

This boss wields a large club and is manageable with a solid strategy. Dodge its swings, shoot its head with your gun, and slash its legs with your knife to expose its underbelly.

Rom, the Vacuous Spider

Rom resides in Moonside Lake at Byrgenwerth. Be cautious of his poisonous and physical attacks, and quickly dispatch the spiders he summons to focus your attacks on him. Note that defeating Rom alters the game world, so ensure you've completed necessary tasks beforehand.

Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)

Found in Yahar’gul, the Unseen Village's Graveyard of the Darkbeast, Darkbeast Paarl is a hulking brute. It's recommended to face him after defeating Rom.

The One Reborn

The One Reborn uses both physical and magical attacks. Keep your distance, roll away from his raised arms, and attack when he's grounded. Prioritize taking out the smaller enemies he summons.

Martyr Logarius (Optional)

Martyr Logarius is a challenging boss who deals Arcane damage. Parrying him effectively can help you deal significant damage, though mastering the timing will take practice.

Amygdala (Optional)

Amygdala, a giant tentacled creature, is one of the toughest bosses due to her size and reach. Her numerous attacks can quickly deplete your health, making this a formidable challenge.

Celestial Emissary (Optional)

The Celestial Emissary is fast and uses its arms to attack. Roll towards its legs to dodge and counterattack, but remain vigilant as it can still grab you even when grounded.

Micolash, Host of the Nightmare

Micolash requires you to chase him through his arena, dealing with his magical fog and summoned underlings. Once cornered, be cautious of his potent attacks. A common strategy is to use poison knives.

The Old Hunters Bosses

The Old Hunters bosses follow a linear sequence. After defeating Ludwig, retrieve Laurence’s Skull to fight Laurence, the only optional boss in the area. Then, face the Living Failures, Lady Maria, and the Orphan of Kos, all of which are challenging encounters.

Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)

Ebrietas uses tentacle and magical attacks. Be wary when she slams her head down, as it can deal massive damage.

Mergo’s Wet Nurse

Mergo’s Wet Nurse is challenging but manageable. Watch out for her tentacle attacks and fast-moving water projectiles, and stay alert when she uses fog to obscure your vision.

After defeating Mergo, ensure you complete any remaining tasks in Bloodborne as you're nearing the game's end. If you haven't tackled the DLC bosses yet, now is the time.

Gehrman, the First Hunter

Gehrman is the final non-optional boss. He wields a long scythe and various firearms. Parrying him effectively can make this fight more manageable once you master the timing.

Moon Presence (Ending Specific)

To face the Moon Presence, the true final boss, you must collect three of the four One Third of Umbilical Cords before fighting Gehrman. Refuse Gehrman's offer and defeat him to encounter the Moon Presence. She uses her tails, claws, and orbs of darkness to attack, but she's less challenging than Gehrman if you apply what you've learned throughout the game.

And that's the optimal boss order for Bloodborne!

For more news on Bloodborne, check out our coverage of Bloodborne PSX, a brutal fan-made PS1 demake. For more FromSoftware content, explore Armored Core VI.

Related: How to Access the Hunter’s Nightmare for Bloodborne DLC on Attack of the Fanboy

Update: This article was updated on 2/3/2025 by Escapist Editorial to include more detailed information about the various bosses, provide a high-level summary of the boss order, and to incorporate the bosses from the Old Hunters DLC.