How to Obtain Blood Rocks in Bloodborne: A Comprehensive Guide
The elusive Blood Rock is the pinnacle of weapon upgrade materials in Bloodborne, essential for reaching the maximum potential of your chosen armaments. These rare stones are not easily acquired and often require players to delve deep into the game’s most challenging areas. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of how to get your hands on these precious upgrade items.
Guaranteed Blood Rock Locations
There are several ways to obtain Blood Rocks, and some are guaranteed, while others rely on chance. Understanding these methods is key to maximizing your weapon potential.
The Nightmare of Mensis
The most commonly known Blood Rock location is within the Nightmare of Mensis area. This location becomes accessible fairly late in the game. Here’s how to find it:
- Progress through the Nightmare of Mensis until you reach the moving cage elevator.
- Mid-ride, look for a broken window.
- Carefully step out of the elevator through this window.
- You will land on a bridge guarded by Winter Lanterns.
- The Blood Rock is located on this bridge.
This Blood Rock is guaranteed in your first playthrough. This is the most commonly known method of obtaining a Blood Rock within the main storyline.
The Old Hunters DLC
If you own The Old Hunters DLC, you’re in luck. A guaranteed Blood Rock can be found within this expansion:
- Progress through the DLC area until you reach the Fishing Hamlet.
- Explore the caverns underneath the Lighthouse.
- The Blood Rock is hidden within these caverns.
This location provides an alternative, yet challenging, guaranteed Blood Rock. Be prepared for tough enemies along the way.
Depth 5 Chalice Dungeons
Chalice Dungeons offer another avenue for obtaining Blood Rocks. Specifically, Depth 5 Root Chalice Dungeons can yield these rare items. There are three types of Root Chalices that can provide a single blood rock:
- Pthumeru Root Chalice
- Loran Root Chalice
- Isz Root Chalice
Each of these chalices can randomly spawn a Blood Rock in a treasure chest. Note that one Blood Rock is available in each type of Root Chalice dungeon. This means that on any given playthrough you can get a max of three via Root Chalices.
Additionally, the final boss of a Depth 5 Root Chalice Dungeon has a random chance to drop a Blood Rock, though this is not guaranteed.
Purchasing with Insight
Once you’ve defeated Mergo’s Wet Nurse, you unlock the ability to purchase Blood Rocks using Insight in the Hunter’s Dream. However, the price is steep, 60 insight each, and it is only available in NG+ and subsequent playthroughs. This method allows for endless Blood Rocks as long as you have the insight to pay for them.
Farming Blood Rocks
While guaranteed methods exist, you might want to farm Blood Rocks to upgrade multiple weapons in a single playthrough. Here’s how:
Chalice Dungeon Farming
The most reliable way to farm Blood Rocks is through Chalice Dungeons, specifically the Depth 5 Root Chalice Dungeons. By continually running these dungeons, you can obtain multiple Blood Rocks over time. Remember that one is guaranteed in each chalice type, so this is only useful if farming the final boss drop.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about acquiring Blood Rocks in Bloodborne, designed to provide a clearer understanding of the process.
1. How many Blood Rocks can I obtain in a single playthrough?
In a single first playthrough (NG), you can find two guaranteed Blood Rocks: one in Nightmare of Mensis and one in the DLC, plus up to 3 in Depth 5 Root Chalice Dungeons, for a total of 5. On NG+ and subsequent playthroughs, you can also purchase unlimited Blood Rocks with insight once you’ve beaten Mergo’s Wet Nurse.
2. Can I get Blood Rocks early in the game?
Technically the earliest way to get a Blood Rock outside of NG+ is to power your way through the DLC and defeat the bosses. This method is incredibly difficult and is not recommended unless you have vast experience with the game. For new players, a Blood Rock won’t be accessible until the late-game areas.
3. What are the easiest Chalice Dungeons for farming Blood Rocks?
There is no “easy” dungeon; all Depth 5 dungeons are extremely difficult to complete. The best bet would be to try each different Root Chalice and find the one you are most comfortable with, or has a boss you are adept at fighting.
4. Do all Chalice Dungeons have Blood Rocks?
No, only Depth 5 Root Chalice Dungeons have the potential to contain Blood Rocks either in chests or as a boss drop. Specific regular chalices do not contain blood rocks.
5. Can I farm Insight to buy Blood Rocks?
Yes, once you can purchase Blood Rocks, farming Insight is a viable way to obtain them. This method is most useful in NG+ and beyond. The snake enemies in the Forbidden Woods are good for farming in NG+ due to their high health and high echo and insight drops.
6. Is there a limit to the number of Blood Rocks I can purchase?
No, there is no limit, as long as you have the 60 insight required to buy them. This is a great way to upgrade multiple weapons in NG+.
7. What is the fastest way to get a Blood Rock?
The fastest way on a first playthrough is to go through Nightmare of Mensis and get the guaranteed Blood Rock there. For subsequent playthroughs, purchasing with insight can be very quick.
8. What is a “false depth” chalice dungeon?
A false depth chalice dungeon refers to a Root Chalice dungeon that was created using a glyph that has been manually shared online. These dungeons can allow players to access areas or content from deeper dungeons than they have progressed in the main game.
9. How do I access false depth chalice dungeons?
To access false depth dungeons, you need to defeat the Blood-Starved Beast to obtain the Pthumeru Chalice, then defeat the first two bosses in the Pthumeru Chalice to obtain the Pthumeru Root Chalice. This gives you access to any shared Root Chalice via glyph.
10. Do I need to be in NG+ to buy Blood Rocks?
Yes, you must beat the game and be in at least NG+ to purchase Blood Rocks with insight. You can still obtain the first blood rock in each playthrough via the locations provided before beating the game.
11. What is the rarest item in a chalice dungeon?
The Chalice Mole is considered the rarest enemy, and it can be found in very specific Root Chalice Dungeons. However, they do not drop any unique items of great interest.
12. How do I maximize my chances of getting a Blood Rock from a Chalice Dungeon boss?
The drop rate for Blood Rocks from Chalice Dungeon bosses is random and generally not something you can control. The best way to increase the chance is to keep challenging bosses in the correct chalices until one drops.
13. Which is the hardest Chalice Dungeon?
The Cursed and Defiled Chalice is widely considered the most difficult, due to the halved health of the player. Sinister Chalice Dungeons also add additional difficulty, as they enable invasions from other players.
14. Where can I get Blood Stone Shards in the early game?
Blood Stone Shards can be found in Central Yharnam, dropped by Large Huntsman and Scourge Beast enemies, or bought from the Bath Messengers after obtaining the Radiant Sword Hunter Badge.
15. What is the best way to spend blood echoes in Bloodborne?
Blood Echoes are best used for leveling up or buying consumable items in the shop. If you find yourself with an abundance, upgrading equipment can be helpful for bosses.
Conclusion
Obtaining Blood Rocks in Bloodborne is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. By mastering these various methods, from exploring the Nightmare of Mensis to delving into Chalice Dungeons, you can fully upgrade your weapons and become a formidable hunter. Remember, patience and perseverance are key to unlocking the full potential of your arsenal. Good luck, hunter!