Mastering Your Hunter: Which Bloodborne Stats to Level Up First
So, you’ve bravely stepped into the gothic nightmare that is Yharnam, and you’re understandably overwhelmed. Bloodborne is a beast (pun intended), and knowing where to invest your precious Blood Echoes (the game’s currency and experience points) can make or break your initial hours. The most direct, impactful answer? Focus on Vitality (HP) and Endurance (Stamina) initially. Pump these stats to around 30 each before seriously considering damage-dealing stats like Strength or Skill. This foundation will provide the survivability needed to learn enemy patterns, explore the environment, and avoid the constant frustration of one-hit deaths. Let’s break down why, and then delve into some frequently asked questions.
The Bedrock: Vitality and Endurance
Vitality: Staying Alive in a Cruel World
Vitality is undeniably king (or queen) in the early game. It directly affects your HP (hit points), making you more resilient to enemy attacks. Bloodborne’s combat is aggressive and unforgiving, relying heavily on dodging and trading blows. A larger health pool gives you a larger margin for error, allowing you to learn from mistakes without constantly restarting from the last lamp (Bloodborne’s version of a bonfire). Leveling Vitality significantly enhances your survivability, allowing you to withstand more hits and explore further. This makes it an invaluable asset for beginners still learning enemy attack patterns and timings.
Endurance: The Breath of Life
Endurance dictates your stamina, which is crucial for everything from attacking and dodging to running and blocking (with specific weapons). Running out of stamina at the wrong moment – say, mid-dodge against a charging beast – is a surefire way to end up back at the lamp. Prioritizing Endurance allows for more fluid and responsive combat, enabling you to chain together attacks, dodges, and repositioning maneuvers. It promotes an aggressive playstyle and prevents you from being easily overwhelmed in crowded areas. Managing your stamina is paramount; more stamina equals more opportunities to strike and evade effectively.
Secondary Considerations: Strength or Skill (Depending on Your Weapon)
Once you’ve established a solid base with Vitality and Endurance, you can begin to consider boosting either Strength or Skill. The choice depends entirely on the weapon you’ve selected and prefer to use. Examine the weapon’s stat scaling in its description.
- Strength: Weapons like the Hunter Axe and Kirkhammer benefit greatly from Strength investment.
- Skill: Weapons like the Saw Spear and Threaded Cane scale better with Skill.
- Quality Builds: Some weapons, like Ludwig’s Holy Blade, scale decently with both Strength and Skill. This allows for a more versatile build later on.
Don’t spread your stat points too thin early on. Focus on one damage-dealing stat initially to maximize your damage output with your chosen weapon. As you progress and gain more levels, you can explore a more balanced approach.
Beyond the Basics: Other Stats
While Vitality, Endurance, Strength, and Skill are the primary stats to focus on early, don’t completely ignore the others.
- Bloodtinge: Primarily affects the damage of firearms and certain specialized weapons. It’s generally not a priority for beginner builds.
- Arcane: Influences item discovery (the chance of enemies dropping items) and the effectiveness of Hunter Tools (Bloodborne’s version of magic). It’s best left for later in the game or specialized builds.
Weapon Upgrades and Blood Gems
Remember that stats aren’t the only way to increase your damage. Upgrading your weapons at the workshop using Blood Stone Shards and other materials is crucial for keeping pace with the increasing difficulty. Additionally, inserting Blood Gems into your weapons can significantly enhance their damage output and add special effects. These upgrades can dramatically increase your weapon’s damage potential, often providing a more significant boost than simply leveling up Strength or Skill.
Games Learning Society
Understanding game mechanics through careful observation, experimentation, and community engagement is a vital part of the Bloodborne experience, as well as a focus of the Games Learning Society. Find out more about how games can be used for learning and education at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best starting class (Origin) in Bloodborne?
For beginners, the Military Veteran origin is generally recommended. It offers a balanced starting stat distribution, providing a good foundation for various builds without specializing in any one area. Professional and Violent Past are also good choices, offering higher stats in Skill or Strength, respectively, but may require more focused gameplay.
2. How much Vitality should I get early in Bloodborne?
Aim for at least 30 Vitality relatively early in the game. This provides a substantial boost to your health pool and allows you to survive more encounters. Eventually, you’ll want to get Vitality to 50.
3. Is it better to level Strength or Skill first?
It depends on your chosen weapon. Look at the weapon’s stat scaling in its description. If it has a higher letter grade (e.g., B, A, S) for Strength, prioritize Strength. If it has a higher grade for Skill, prioritize Skill. Experimenting with different weapons is highly encouraged.
4. What is the most overpowered weapon in Bloodborne?
The “most overpowered” is subjective and depends on your playstyle, but Ludwig’s Holy Blade is widely considered one of the most powerful and versatile weapons in the game. It has good scaling in both Strength and Skill and can be acquired relatively early.
5. Should I raise my Insight in Bloodborne?
Insight is a double-edged sword. It can grant access to new items and insights into the game world, but it can also make enemies more difficult by giving them new abilities. Early on, it’s generally fine to accumulate Insight, but be mindful of its effects.
6. Is low Insight bad in Bloodborne?
Having zero Insight can prevent you from leveling up (as you need Insight to interact with the Doll in the Hunter’s Dream). However, it can also make certain encounters easier. Maintaining a moderate amount of Insight is generally recommended.
7. Does Insight increase difficulty in Bloodborne?
Yes, in some ways. Some enemies gain new abilities or attacks at higher Insight levels. For example, at 15 Insight, mobs will spawn in Hemwick.
8. Do you lose Insight on death in Bloodborne?
No, you do not lose Insight when you die.
9. Is it worth leveling up Arcane in Bloodborne?
Yes, but primarily for specialized builds or later in the game. Early on, focusing on Vitality, Endurance, and either Strength or Skill will provide more immediate benefits.
10. When should I stop leveling up Skill in Bloodborne?
The soft cap for Skill (and all stats) is 50. After 50, the benefits of leveling Skill diminish significantly.
11. What happens if I have 99 Insight in Bloodborne?
Having 99 Insight has no significant negative consequences. The maximum Insight attainable is 99.
12. What gun is better in Bloodborne?
The Hunter Pistol is a reliable early-game firearm with a decent firing rate and damage. The Hunter Blunderbuss is also good choice. Later on, the Evelyn (requires high Bloodtinge) and the Repeating Pistol become powerful options.
13. What happens when you get 40 Insight?
At 40 Insight, you can see the Lesser Amygdala creatures clinging to buildings in certain areas.
14. Is it better to have low or high Insight in Bloodborne?
It depends on your playstyle and goals. Low Insight can make some encounters easier, while high Insight can unlock new items and lore. A moderate amount is usually the best approach.
15. What is the easiest level in Bloodborne?
Central Yharnam, the first area you explore, is generally considered the easiest level due to its relatively low-level enemies and straightforward layout. However, don’t underestimate it, as it still presents a significant challenge for new players.
Ultimately, the best way to determine which stats to level up in Bloodborne is to experiment and find what works best for your playstyle. Don’t be afraid to respec your character later in the game if you want to try a different build. Good hunting!