Best Bloodborne Boss Order: All Game Bosses Ranked

Bloodborne is a challenging game that pits players against a variety of formidable bosses. Navigating these encounters in the right order can greatly enhance your experience. This guide will outline the optimal boss sequence for Bloodborne, helping you tackle the game's challenges strategically.

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, you don't need to defeat every boss to complete the game, but doing so can unlock valuable rewards. We strongly recommend tackling as many bosses as possible during your playthrough. Below, we'll provide both the non-optional and complete boss orders, and then delve into the rationale behind this sequence.

There are 17 regular bosses and five additional bosses from The Old Hunters DLC. This guide focuses on the main game and DLC bosses, excluding those in Chalice Dungeons. You can technically start the DLC after defeating Vicar Amelia, but it's advisable to wait until near the end of the game. Some players prefer to tackle the DLC before fighting Mergo’s Wet Nurse, while others suggest doing it afterward, which can impact certain dialogues.

Best Boss Order for Non-Optional Bosses in Bloodborne

Here's the recommended order 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

Here's the recommended order for all bosses in Bloodborne:

• 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)

Area: Central Yharnam

The Cleric Beast is one of the first bosses you'll encounter in Bloodborne, located in Central Yharnam. Known for its speed and aggression, this boss can deal significant damage. To defeat it, focus on attacking its hind legs to make it stumble, then go for its head.

Father Gascoigne

Area: Central Yharnam

Father Gascoigne is a frenzied hunter and one of the game's early challenges. He's quick and uses a firearm, but mastering parry timing can help you defeat him swiftly.

Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)

Area: Old Yharnam

Found in the Church of the Good Chalice in Old Yharnam, the Blood-Starved Beast is a tough adversary with strong attacks and high health. Keep your distance and use fire or explosive weapons to take it down.

Vicar Amelia

Area: Cathedral Ward

Vicar Amelia, a massive beast with self-healing abilities, is found in the Cathedral Ward. When she heals, she becomes immobile, providing a prime opportunity to attack. Be cautious of her glowing body during this phase.

The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)

Area: Hemwick Charnel Lane

The Witch of Hemwick can be tricky as she's invisible from a distance. She's often found in corners, so approach carefully and use your firearm when you spot her.

Shadow of Yharnam

Area: Forbidden Woods

The Shadow of Yharnam 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 vulnerable underbelly.

Rom, the Vacuous Spider

Area: Moonside Lake

Located at Byrgenwerth's Moonside Lake, Rom uses poisonous and physical attacks and summons spiders. Quickly eliminate the spiders and focus on Rom. Be aware that defeating Rom alters the game world, potentially causing you to miss certain elements.

Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)

Area: Hypogean Gaol

Darkbeast Paarl resides in Yahar'gul, the Unseen Village's Graveyard. It's recommended to fight this brute after defeating Rom.

The One Reborn

Area: Yahar’gul Unseen Village

The One Reborn, also in Yahar'gul, uses physical and magical attacks. Keep your distance, dodge when necessary, and take down summoned enemies before focusing on the boss itself.

Martyr Logarius (Optional)

Area: Forsaken Castle Cainhurst

Martyr Logarius is a challenging boss with Arcane damage. Mastering parry timing is crucial for dealing significant damage to him.

Amygdala (Optional)

Area: Nightmare Frontier

Amygdala, a giant tentacled creature, is one of the toughest bosses due to her size and reach. Her varied attacks require constant vigilance.

Celestial Emissary (Optional)

Area: Upper Cathedral Ward

The Celestial Emissary is fast and dangerous, capable of grabbing you with its long arms. Roll towards its legs to dodge and counter-attack.

Micolash, Host of the Nightmare

Area: Nightmare of Mensis

Micolash requires you to chase him around his arena, dealing with his magical fog and summoned minions. Once cornered, be cautious of his powerful attacks, or use poison knives to defeat him.

The Old Hunters Bosses

The Old Hunters DLC bosses are encountered in a linear fashion. After defeating Ludwig, take Laurence's Skull back to the Eye Pendant location to fight Laurence (the only optional boss here). Then, face the Living Failures, Lady Maria, and the Orphan of Kos, all formidable foes.

Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)

Area: Altar of Despair

Ebrietas uses tentacles and magical attacks. Be wary of her head-slamming move, which can deal massive damage.

Mergo’s Wet Nurse

Area: Nightmare of Mensis

Mergo's Wet Nurse uses tentacles and fast-moving water projectiles, eventually obscuring your vision with fog. Focus on avoiding damage during this phase. After defeating her, complete any remaining tasks before the game's end.

Gehrman, the First Hunter

Area: Hunter’s Dream

Gehrman, the final non-optional boss, uses a scythe and firearms. Mastering parry timing can make this fight manageable.

Moon Presence (Ending Specific)

Area: Hunter’s Dream

To face the Moon Presence, the true final boss, you need three of the four One Third of Umbilical Cords. Refuse Gehrman's offer and defeat him to trigger this fight. The Moon Presence uses its tails, claws, and orbs of darkness, but with caution and learned skills, it's manageable.

And that's the best Bloodborne boss order!

For more Bloodborne news, explore the Bloodborne PSX, a fan-made PS1 demake. For more FromSoftware content, check out 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 information about the various bosses, provide a high-level summary of the boss order, and to include the bosses from the Old Hunters DLC.