How to Farm Blood Stone Chunks Early in Bloodborne
The hunt for Blood Stone Chunks in Bloodborne can be a challenging yet necessary endeavor for hunters looking to upgrade their weapons. These vital materials are crucial for bolstering your arsenal, allowing you to tackle the increasingly difficult challenges that await in Yharnam. While there are various methods to obtain them, knowing how to farm Blood Stone Chunks early in the game can significantly enhance your progression and make your experience smoother. So, the direct answer to the question is: The most effective early farming method involves strategically targeting specific enemies in the Upper Cathedral Ward.
Early Blood Stone Chunk Farming: A Detailed Strategy
The Upper Cathedral Ward is the key location for early Blood Stone Chunk farming. This area, accessible after defeating the Vicar Amelia boss and acquiring the Upper Cathedral Key, is home to blue-eyed werewolves that have a high chance of dropping Blood Stone Chunks. Here’s a breakdown of the most efficient approach:
- Unlock the Upper Cathedral Ward: Progress through the game until you defeat Vicar Amelia in the Grand Cathedral. Use the password obtained after this fight to access the path to the Upper Cathedral Ward.
- Locate the Blue-Eyed Werewolves: The blue-eyed werewolves are scattered throughout the Upper Cathedral Ward, with several located near the beginning of the area and near the elevator. These werewolves are notably aggressive, but predictable in their attacks.
- Utilize the Environment: Use the environment to your advantage. Narrow corridors and doorways are your allies, preventing you from being overwhelmed. Pick off these werewolves one by one and don’t engage multiple at the same time.
- Repeat the Cycle: Once you clear out the werewolves, use the hunter’s mark or travel back to the Hunter’s Dream and return to the Upper Cathedral Ward to reset the area. This allows you to repeatedly farm the werewolves for Blood Stone Chunks.
This method is highly efficient because:
- Consistent Drops: The blue-eyed werewolves consistently drop items upon death, unlike other enemies where item drops can be random. While the drop may not be a chunk every time, it’s far more reliable than farming other enemies earlier in the game.
- Accessible Location: The Upper Cathedral Ward is reachable fairly early in the game, enabling you to start farming Blood Stone Chunks before facing some of the more difficult later-game challenges.
- Manageable Enemies: Although aggressive, the blue-eyed werewolves are manageable with proper strategies, making them easier to farm than more challenging enemies that might drop chunks.
Alternative Early Methods
While the Upper Cathedral Ward is the most effective method, there are other less consistent alternatives available earlier:
- Cainhurst Castle Gargoyles: The gargoyles in Forsaken Castle Cainhurst also have a chance to drop Blood Stone Chunks, but their drop rates are lower compared to the werewolves in Upper Cathedral Ward. Cainhurst is also usually accessed later than Upper Cathedral Ward and is a more challenging area early in the game.
- Lecture Building Giant: The giant located in the Lecture Building has a chance to drop a chunk but this giant is a single enemy and is more of a one time kill rather than an efficient farm.
- Chalice Dungeons: While Chalice Dungeons are a viable option for farming chunks later, they are not recommended for early game farming due to the difficulty of the early chalices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which enemies drop Blood Stone Chunks consistently?
The blue-eyed werewolves in the Upper Cathedral Ward are the most consistent source of Blood Stone Chunks early in the game. While other enemies can drop them, the werewolves’ reliable drop rate makes them ideal for farming.
2. How many Blood Stone Chunks does a weapon need to upgrade fully?
Each weapon in Bloodborne requires 16 Blood Stone Chunks to be fully upgraded from +6 to +9. The final upgrade to +10 requires a Blood Rock.
3. Can I buy Blood Stone Chunks?
Yes, you can buy Blood Stone Chunks from the Insight Bath Messengers in the Hunter’s Dream after defeating The One Reborn. However, they cost a substantial 30 insight each, which can be better used for other items early in the game.
4. What is the best overall area for farming Blood Stone Chunks?
While the Upper Cathedral Ward is great for early farming, Chalice Dungeons offer more consistent and higher drop rates later in the game, especially the higher depth dungeons.
5. What are the best Blood Stone Chunk farming chalice dungeons?
Specific chalice dungeons like those with Watchers bosses are known for having a good chunk drop rate. Depth 4 and 5 dungeons often have a high percentage of drop rate for chunks.
6. How do I farm Blood Rocks in Bloodborne?
Blood Rocks are extremely rare. You can find two guaranteed in the main game per playthrough and can get three from Chalice Dungeons no matter your NG cycle. You can also obtain them from the Insight Shop for 60 insight after obtaining the last main story boss.
7. How many Blood Rocks can you get in total?
In a single playthrough, you are guaranteed to obtain two blood rocks. You can acquire three from chalice dungeons and one from the insight shop each playthrough, making for a possible total of 6 obtainable per playthrough with no chalice dungeon farming or up to 8 total if you farm all three available Chalice Dungeons.
8. Do Chalice Dungeons reset on NG+?
No, Chalice Dungeons do not reset with NG+. They remain the same and are independent from the main game cycle. This means their loot is generally the same even in new game + and subsequent runs.
9. Is it more efficient to farm chunks or purchase them with insight?
Early on, farming chunks from the Upper Cathedral Ward is more efficient than purchasing them with insight. Insight is a valuable currency for other unique items and the high cost of chunks makes it less desirable. Late game, if you have enough excess insight, it can be more beneficial to buy chunks.
10. What does Bloodstone farming mean?
“Bloodstone farming” refers to the process of repeatedly killing specific enemies or exploring specific areas in order to obtain upgrade materials such as Blood Stone Shards, Twin Blood Stone Shards, Blood Stone Chunks, and Blood Rocks.
11. Can I sell Blood Stone Shards and Chunks for Blood Echoes?
Yes, you can sell Blood Stone Shards, Twin Shards, and Chunks to the messengers in the Hunter’s Dream for blood echoes. The price, however, is rather low, making it a last resort for gaining currency.
12. How do I access Chalice Dungeons?
To access chalice dungeons, you need to obtain the Pthumeru Chalice from the Blood-Starved Beast boss. Then, you need to acquire ritual blood to start the process of creating a chalice and using it.
13. What are False Depth Chalice Dungeons?
False Depth Chalice Dungeons are Chalice Dungeons that use the glyphs of higher depth chalices but have the difficulty and loot of earlier ones. They are often used for farming.
14. Is Bloodstone related to heliotrope?
Yes, heliotrope is another name for bloodstone. It’s a dark green gemstone with red spots, though not directly related to the Blood Stones used in Bloodborne.
15. Where is the best location to farm blood echoes?
The best location to farm Blood Echoes in Bloodborne is generally considered to be the path to Mergo’s Wet Nurse in the Nightmare of Mensis, specifically the area with cages and the second group of Shadows of Yharnam. However, there are other areas that offer decent amounts depending on what stage of the game you are in.
By understanding these early farming methods and frequently asked questions, you can significantly improve your character’s progression and make your experience in Bloodborne more efficient and enjoyable. Happy hunting, fellow hunter!