What Order Should I Do Chalice Dungeons in Bloodborne? A Comprehensive Guide
The Chalice Dungeons in Bloodborne are an optional but incredibly rewarding aspect of the game. They offer unique challenges, powerful loot, and a deep dive into the lore of the Great Ones. However, the sheer number of dungeons and their varying difficulty can be overwhelming. So, what’s the best approach? In short, the ideal order for tackling Chalice Dungeons is a structured progression based on their type and difficulty, starting with Pthumeru and progressing to Great Pthumeru Ihyll, while sprinkling in others to maximize loot and your character’s growth.
Here’s a more detailed recommended order:
- Pthumeru Chalice: This is where you begin. Obtain it after defeating the Blood-Starved Beast. It’s the easiest, and provides essential introductory mechanics to the dungeons. Complete all three layers.
- Central Pthumeru Chalice: This is the next logical step. It will be obtained after completing the first Pthumeru Chalice. You’ll find it a step up in difficulty but still manageable. Complete all three layers.
- Hintertomb Chalice: This chalice is available after completing Central Pthumeru. It introduces a new type of environment and enemies. Complete all three layers.
- Lower Pthumeru Chalice: Obtained from completing Central Pthumeru, this dungeon is where the difficulty ramps up slightly. Complete all three layers.
- Central Hintertomb Chalice: After completing the Hintertomb Chalice, proceed with the Central version. Like the Pthumeru progression, this will further familiarize you with the Hintertomb environments and combat. Complete all three layers.
- Ailing Loran Chalice: This Chalice is obtained from Amygdala, a boss in the main game. This dungeon is significantly harder than what you’ve seen so far, and contains very different enemies. Take your time and try to get as far as you can with each run.
- Defiled Chalice: This is where things get tough. It requires the Ailing Loran Chalice and the necessary ritual materials. It’s infamous for its halved health debuff, so be prepared for a serious challenge.
- Great Isz Chalice: Obtained from Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos, This Chalice is another deviation in dungeon theme. While it can be quite hard, it provides a good variety of challenges.
- Great Pthumeru Ihyll Chalice: The final main Chalice Dungeon, unlocked after completing the Defiled Chalice. This is the deepest and arguably the most difficult of the standard Chalice Dungeons and the end of the main dungeon progression.
After completing these, you’ll have access to Root Chalices which are procedurally generated and infinitely repeatable. These are the main source for farming rare Blood Gems and materials, and allow you to tackle very difficult areas in co-op, or solo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Bloodborne Chalice Dungeons
1. When Should I Start Doing Chalice Dungeons?
You can start exploring Chalice Dungeons as soon as you obtain the first Pthumeru Chalice after defeating the Blood-Starved Beast. A +6 weapon is highly recommended for a smoother experience, but don’t be afraid to dive in early. The initial dungeons are relatively easy and provide a good source of echoes and gems to help your progress.
2. What Makes Chalice Dungeons Difficult?
Chalice Dungeon difficulty is not directly tied to your New Game cycle. Difficulty is determined by the depth of the dungeon. Each depth significantly increases the power of enemies. Loran and Isz dungeons are often perceived as harder than Pthumeru and Hintertomb dungeons of the same depth, and Root dungeons are even harder. The Defiled Chalice is particularly notorious due to the permanent health reduction.
3. Are Chalice Dungeons Required to Beat Bloodborne?
No, Chalice Dungeons are entirely optional. However, they offer some of the best loot in the game, a wealth of Blood Echoes, and a significantly different gaming experience. Completing them also provides a significant advantage in combat, so they should not be ignored if you want to tackle all of the most difficult aspects of the game.
4. What is the Easiest Chalice Dungeon?
The Lower Pthumeru dungeon is generally considered the easiest dungeon available after completing the Central Pthumeru Chalice. The early Pthumeru dungeons are designed to be introductory, so if you are struggling, try leveling up your character, and upgrading weapons before attempting to dive deeper.
5. Can You Play Chalice Dungeons Solo?
Yes, you can absolutely play Chalice Dungeons solo. Bloodborne is designed to be challenging whether you play alone or with others. Understanding enemy patterns and using the environment to your advantage are essential for solo runs.
6. Which Chalice Dungeon Gives the Most Blood Echoes?
The most notorious area for Blood Echoe farming is located in a specific shared Chalice Dungeon, accessed using the glyph “cummmfpk”. This area will net you around 83,000 blood echoes every 20 seconds, making it a highly efficient source of wealth.
7. Do Chalice Dungeons Get Harder in New Game+?
No, Chalice Dungeon difficulty remains constant regardless of your current playthrough. They have their own difficulty scaling, not tied to the main game’s difficulty progression.
8. Can I Play Chalice Dungeons With Friends?
Yes! If you want to play cooperatively, one of you should create a dungeon and then get the glyph code. Then share it with your friend, who can use it in the “Search by chalice glyph” option at the altar in the Hunter’s Dream. This will allow you to play in the same generated area.
9. Should I Bother With Chalice Dungeons?
Absolutely! They are essential for obtaining top-tier Blood Gems and gaining a vast supply of Blood Echoes. Depth 1-3 dungeons are easier and faster to get through and give decent loot, while depths 4 and 5 are where the real challenge and rewards lie.
10. How Do You Get Arcane Haze?
Arcane Haze is used in later Chalice Dungeons. It is dropped by giant centipede-like creatures that shoot fireballs within the dungeons. The Workshop Haze Extractor is used to get significantly higher amounts of this resource.
11. Are Chalice Dungeons Infinite?
While the Root Chalice Dungeons are procedurally generated, they are not truly infinite. There are around 2300 unique combinations of room layouts. This still provides an extensive amount of content and repeatable environments.
12. How Many Blood Rocks Can You Get From Chalice Dungeons?
You can obtain three Blood Rocks from the Chalice Dungeons per playthrough, regardless of your New Game cycle. In addition to the three from the dungeons, one can be obtained from Mensis, providing a maximum of N+3, where N is your current NG level.
13. How Many Main Chalice Dungeons Are There?
There are four base Chalice Dungeon types: Pthumeru, Hintertomb, Loran, and Isz. Each has different variations, such as Root Dungeons and additional rites, further increasing the replayability and challenge.
14. What Are Chalice Dungeons Good For?
Beyond the challenge, Chalice Dungeons are great for farming Blood Echoes and various ritual materials. The items obtained through the dungeons, especially Blood Gems, can significantly improve your character’s combat ability.
15. What is the Rarest Enemy in Chalice Dungeons?
The Chalice Mole is considered the rarest enemy in Chalice Dungeons. This unusual slug-like creature is found only in these dungeons. It resembles the star-nosed mole, and is not mentioned in the in-game guidebooks.