Unlocking Power: Understanding Level 20 Blood Gems in Bloodborne

Level 20 Blood Gems in Bloodborne are the pinnacle of gem power, representing the highest attainable tier of stat-boosting enhancements for your weapons. Specifically, these are known as Abyssal Blood Gems, which come with a rating of 20 and are distinguished by their unique, extremely dark hue, a visual indicator of their rarity and potency. These gems are essential for maximizing your weapon’s potential, pushing your character’s damage output and efficiency far beyond what can be achieved through leveling alone. While various gems exist in Bloodborne, the Abyssal Blood Gems at Rating 20 are the ones you should be striving for in the endgame. They offer not just a flat boost to damage, but also add powerful secondary scaling effects that significantly amplify your chosen build’s damage potential, especially when paired with the right stats. Acquiring these gems requires considerable effort, typically involving advanced chalice dungeon explorations and defeating very powerful bosses. However, the effort is well worth it for those looking to dominate the challenging world of Bloodborne.

The Significance of Blood Gems in Bloodborne

Before delving further into Level 20 Blood Gems, it’s crucial to understand the overall importance of Blood Gems within Bloodborne. These gems are not mere accessories; they are a fundamental aspect of character progression and weapon customization. While leveling up your character increases base stats, it is the Blood Gems that provide the substantial, tailored boosts needed to excel in specific builds and combat styles. Blood Gems come in various shapes, each slotting into a corresponding shape on your weapon (Triangular, Radial, Waning). They also have various effects, increasing physical damage, elemental damage, or scaling certain stats. This system allows you to fine-tune each weapon to match your playstyle perfectly.

Why Level 20 Abyssal Blood Gems Stand Apart

Level 20 Abyssal Blood Gems are the most sought-after for several reasons:

• Highest Rating: The rating system indicates the power level of a gem; a rating of 20 signifies that an Abyssal Gem provides the most potent effects achievable.
• Dark Hue: Their visually distinct, extremely dark hue is a testament to their extreme rarity and potency, making them an instantly recognizable symbol of power.
• Powerful Secondary Scaling: They provide significant scaling boosts based on your character’s primary stats, such as Strength, Skill, Bloodtinge, or Arcane. This scaling can significantly increase damage as you invest further into your desired attributes. Examples like Cold Abyssals and Heavy Abyssals emphasize specific scaling bonuses. A common Abyssal might have Scaling +65, meaning if you have 99 in the relevant stat, it can provide considerable additional attack rating (AR).

Cursed Gems and Their Tradeoffs

Many of the most powerful Blood Gems, including the coveted Abyssal variants, also come with curses. These curses can impact your character or weapon in various negative ways, such as reducing maximum health, increasing stamina consumption, or decreasing weapon durability. Despite the drawbacks, the potent stat boosts of cursed gems often outweigh these negatives, making them a popular choice for experienced players. Curses to watch out for include:

• Wpn Durability Down: Increases the wear and tear of your weapons.
• Atk vs Kin Down/Atk vs Beast Down: Reduces damage against specific enemy types.
• HP Deplete/ATK% Down: Considered the worst curses due to their direct negative impact on combat.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Level 20 Gems

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Level 20 Blood Gems and related mechanics in Bloodborne:

1. What exactly is a ‘scaling’ gem?
   A scaling gem boosts damage based on a specific stat (Strength, Skill, Bloodtinge, or Arcane). The higher your stat, the greater the increase to your weapon’s Attack Rating (AR) provided by the gem. An Abyssal Gem typically has Scaling +65, but the benefits are tied to your invested stats.

2. Are all cursed gems worth using?
   Not necessarily. While cursed gems often have the highest base stats, the negative effects can be detrimental. It’s important to assess the curse against the stat boost, with some being far less punishing than others. For example, Atk vs Kin Down is generally less impactful than HP Deplete because Kin enemies are less common.

3. Where can I find Level 20 Abyssal Gems?
   The primary location for farming high-tier gems, including Abyssal Gems, is in the Chalice Dungeons. Deeper chalices, especially those with specific rites, are where you have the best chance to obtain high rating gems.

4. What are the best stats for specific Abyssal Gems?
   Cold Abyssals are best for Arcane builds due to their Arcane scaling, and Heavy Abyssals work wonders for Strength-based builds.

5. Can I remove Blood Gems once equipped?
   Yes, Blood Gems can be freely placed and removed from weapons at the workshop with no penalty, allowing you to swap them out as needed for different builds or strategies.

6. How do I unlock Gem slots on my weapons?
   Weapons have a limited number of Gem slots. If they are gray, that means you need to fortify your weapon to unlock those slots.

7. What’s the best Blood Gem setup for the Burial Blade?
   For builds with 50/50 stats (or beyond), using one Heavy Abyssal and two 21.5% Nourishing gems will usually yield the best results for the Burial Blade.

8. Are there other Blood Gems that come close to Abyssal Gems?
   While no other gem reaches the potent rating of an Abyssal Gem, Nourishing Gems can be a great alternative and are sometimes preferred for more versatile builds or weapons, particularly when paired with an Abyssal.

9. Are the Abyssal Gems the absolute best gems for all builds?
   Not necessarily. The “best” gem depends on your build. Physical builds may benefit from Tempering Abyssals, or those that have 27.2% physical damage boosts if they favor charged R2 attacks. Arcane users benefit from Cold Abyssal gems.

10. Can I obtain Abyssal Gems early in the game?
    While it’s possible to access the dungeons that drop them earlier, they are typically obtained end-game due to the difficulty of the Chalice Dungeons.

11. What is the max level in Bloodborne and does it affect gem effectiveness?
    The maximum level is 544, but leveling beyond a point does not make lower-tier gems comparable to Abyssals. Getting Abyssal gems near the end of the game doesn’t reduce their effectiveness.

12. What is the order I should do the Chalice Dungeons?
    You should follow this order to get to the depth of the dungeons needed for Level 20 gems: Pthumeru Chalice, Central Pthumeru, Lower Pthumeru, Ailing Loran, Defiled Chalice, Lower Loran/Great Isz (order doesn’t matter), then finally Pthumeru Ihyll.

13. What are the different shapes of Blood Gems?
    Blood Gems come in Triangular, Radial and Waning shapes. Each type of weapon is designed to hold specific shapes of gem.

14. What is the hardest enemy to fight in the Chalice Dungeons?
    The Chalice Dungeons have an array of difficult enemies, but many players find the Watchdog of the Old Lords and the Pthumerian Elder to be some of the toughest.

15. Are there any specific strategies for farming Level 20 Blood Gems?
    The most effective strategy for farming Level 20 gems is to delve into the deepest Chalice Dungeons and focus on defeating the dungeon bosses. Farming specific bosses that have a higher likelihood of dropping the gems you need is ideal. Make sure to use rites that increase the drop chance for certain gems.

Conclusion

Level 20 Abyssal Blood Gems represent the pinnacle of power in Bloodborne’s gem system. These gems, recognizable by their dark hue and the powerful stat boosts they provide, are essential for maximizing your build’s potential and overcoming the game’s most formidable challenges. By understanding the various gem types, their effects, and the tradeoffs of cursed gems, you can tailor your equipment to suit your playstyle and conquer the nightmarish world of Bloodborne. While obtaining these gems requires dedication and exploration of the challenging Chalice Dungeons, the reward is well worth the effort for any Hunter aiming to reach their full potential.