Optimal Bloodborne Boss Fight Order

Conquering *Bloodborne*'s challenging bosses requires strategy. This guide outlines the optimal boss order, offering both a non-optional and a complete playthrough sequence, maximizing your chances of success.

The game allows for flexibility; not all bosses are required to complete the main storyline. However, defeating most, if not all, bosses unlocks valuable rewards and enhances the overall experience. This guide covers 17 main game bosses and 5 from the *Old Hunters* DLC, excluding Chalice Dungeon bosses. The DLC is accessible after Vicar Amelia, but many players prefer tackling it later in the game.

Best Boss Order: Non-Optional Bosses

This order focuses solely on the essential bosses for completing the main story:

1. Father Gascoigne
2. Vicar Amelia
3. Shadow of Yharnam
4. Rom, the Vacuous Spider
5. The One Reborn
6. Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
7. Mergo’s Wet Nurse
8. Gehrman, the First Hunter
9. Moon Presence (Ending Specific)

Best Boss Order: All Bosses

This comprehensive order includes all optional bosses, providing a complete Bloodborne experience:

1. Cleric Beast (Optional)
2. Father Gascoigne
3. Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)
4. Vicar Amelia
5. The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)
6. Shadow of Yharnam
7. Rom, the Vacuous Spider
8. Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)
9. The One Reborn
10. Martyr Logarius (Optional)
11. Amygdala (Optional)
12. Celestial Emissary (Optional)
13. Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
14. Ludwig the Accursed/Holy Blade (DLC/Optional)
15. Laurence, the First Vicar (DLC/Optional)
16. Living Failures (DLC/Optional)
17. Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower (DLC/Optional)
18. Orphan of Kos (DLC/Optional)
19. Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)
20. Mergo’s Wet Nurse
21. Gehrman, the First Hunter
22. Moon Presence (Ending Specific)

Detailed Boss Strategies

Cleric Beast (Optional)

• Area: Central Yharnam
• Strategy: Focus on attacking its hind legs to stagger it, then target its head.

Father Gascoigne

• Area: Central Yharnam
• Strategy: Master the parry timing for significant damage.

Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)

• Area: Old Yharnam, Church of the Good Chalice
• Strategy: Maintain distance and utilize fire/explosive weapons.

Vicar Amelia

• Area: Cathedral Ward
• Strategy: Exploit her vulnerability during self-healing.

The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)

• Area: Hemwick Charnel Lane
• Strategy: Utilize firearms and target her when she’s visible.

Shadow of Yharnam

• Area: Forbidden Woods
• Strategy: Dodge attacks, target the head with firearms, and slash its legs.

Rom, the Vacuous Spider

• Area: Moonside Lake
• Strategy: Prioritize killing summoned spiders and attack Rom during openings. Defeating Rom alters the game world.

Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)

• Area: Hypogean Gaol, Yahar’gul, The Graveyard of the Darkbeast
• Strategy: Recommended after Rom.

The One Reborn

• Area: Yahar’gul Unseen Village
• Strategy: Maintain distance, exploit openings, and eliminate summoned enemies.

Martyr Logarius (Optional)

• Area: Forsaken Castle Cainhurst
• Strategy: Focus on parrying for high damage output.

Amygdala (Optional)

• Area: Nightmare Frontier
• Strategy: A challenging boss with long-range attacks; requires careful dodging and strategic attacks.

Celestial Emissary (Optional)

• Area: Upper Cathedral Ward
• Strategy: Roll towards its legs to avoid attacks and retaliate.

Micolash, Host of the Nightmare

• Area: Nightmare of Mensis
• Strategy: Chase Micolash, deal with summoned enemies, and exploit openings.

The Old Hunters Bosses

The Old Hunters DLC bosses are fought in a relatively linear order. After Ludwig, return to where you obtained the Eye Pendant to fight Laurence (optional). Then proceed to Living Failures, Lady Maria, and Orphan of Kos.

Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)

• Area: Altar of Despair
• Strategy: Be wary of her tentacle and magical attacks.

Mergo’s Wet Nurse

• Area: Nightmare of Mensis
• Strategy: Avoid her tentacle and projectile attacks, and manage the fog.

Gehrman, the First Hunter

• Area: Hunter’s Dream
• Strategy: Master parrying to mitigate his attacks.

Moon Presence (Ending Specific)

• Area: Hunter’s Dream
• Strategy: Requires obtaining three One Third of Umbilical Cords and refusing Gehrman’s offer. Avoid her tail, claw, and orb attacks.

This detailed guide provides a comprehensive strategy for tackling *Bloodborne*'s challenging boss encounters. Remember to adapt your approach based on your playstyle and build. Good hunting!

For more Bloodborne news, check out our Bloodborne PSX, a brutal fan-made PS1 demake. For cool FromSoftware stuff in general, 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.