Where to Find Your First Blood Rock in Bloodborne
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The quest for the Blood Rock, a crucial item for fully upgrading your weapon to its maximum potential (+10), is a significant undertaking in Bloodborne. This powerful upgrade material isn’t easy to come by, often requiring players to explore the darkest corners of the game. While several sources exist, knowing where to obtain your first Blood Rock is key to progressing your character.
The very first Blood Rock you can reliably acquire is located in the Nightmare of Mensis. Specifically, you will find it in the area after the Micolash, Host of the Nightmare boss fight. This area is fairly late into the main game, requiring you to make significant progress to even access it. The Blood Rock is not immediately available when you enter the Nightmare of Mensis, it will require an extra jump of faith.
To reach this first Blood Rock, you will need to ascend the cage elevator near the Mergo’s Loft: Base lamp checkpoint. This isn’t the main elevator which will take you to the final part of the nightmare. Instead it’s a small elevator that goes up only a short distance. As the cage elevator ascends, you’ll need to jump out through a broken window. This jump is crucial and somewhat hidden. This leap will land you onto a short walkway leading to a bridge area that is heavily guarded by Winter Lanterns.
The Blood Rock will be located on the other end of the bridge, in a lootable corpse. This entire section is perilous due to the Frenzy attacks of the Winter Lanterns. Be sure to approach the area with caution and be ready to use sedatives.
Therefore, while there are other ways to find Blood Rocks in Bloodborne, this is the very first one you can find in any playthrough, and it will usually be the first one the majority of players obtain. Now, let’s delve into frequently asked questions about Blood Rocks and how to obtain them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Blood Rocks
Where Can I Find More Blood Rocks?
Besides the one in the Nightmare of Mensis, you can find Blood Rocks in the following locations:
- The Old Hunters DLC: One is located near the end of the DLC, in the area near the Orphan of Kos, specifically in the caverns underneath the Lighthouse next to Fishing Hamlet. It’s found in the same general area as the shell-less creature.
- Chalice Dungeons: A guaranteed one Blood Rock is found in treasure chests in three specific Depth 5 Root Chalice Dungeons, being Pthumeru Root Chalice, the Loran Root Chalice, and the Isz Root Chalice. This guarantees you 3 blood rocks, every playthrough.
- Insight Shop (NG+): After defeating the Wet Nurse, Blood Rocks can be purchased in the Hunter’s Dream for 60 insight each. Note that you need to be on New Game Plus to do this.
How Do I Get Blood Rocks Early in the Game?
Getting a Blood Rock early in Bloodborne is tough. Technically, the fastest method is to push through the DLC since one is found near the end, but the DLC is extremely difficult at lower levels. It’s unlikely to find a blood rock before beating the blood-starved beast. The easiest method to obtain it earlier is by getting to Nightmare of Mensis earlier by rushing through the main campaign, and knowing where the window to jump is.
What are the “Root Chalice Dungeons” and How Do They Work?
Root Chalice Dungeons are procedurally generated dungeons that are unique and provide a different experience each time they are created. There are Pthumeru, Loran, and Isz Root Chalices that hold Blood Rocks. To get to depth 5 chalices you need to progress through the main chalices and make offerings. These are some of the hardest fights in the game, so be prepared to be challenged.
Is there a Limit to How Many Blood Rocks I Can Acquire?
While there’s only one guaranteed Blood Rock per playthrough from Mensis, you can potentially acquire more through other means. The DLC, Root Chalice Dungeons, and purchasing them with insight on NG+ are sources for more Blood Rocks. This allows players to obtain a significant number of Blood Rocks over time.
How Many Blood Rocks Can Be Found in the DLC?
The Old Hunters DLC has one guaranteed Blood Rock towards the end. But you can find a lot more through the root chalices.
Do Blood Rocks Respawn in Chalice Dungeons?
No, the Blood Rocks in chests within the Root Chalice Dungeons are one-time finds per dungeon type. Once you loot a Blood Rock from a Pthumeru Root Chalice, for example, no other Pthumeru Chalice will yield another one. You can however get 1 from each type of root chalice, so 3 in total.
What Happens If I Already Looted a Blood Rock from a Root Chalice?
If you have looted a Blood Rock from a Root Chalice, any subsequent chests in Chalices of that same type (for instance another Pthumeru Root Chalice) will contain a Great One’s Wisdom instead. This means that you cannot get more than one Blood Rock from a particular type of chalice.
Can I Farm Blood Rocks?
Yes, but not in the traditional sense of killing enemies and hoping they drop. Instead, you can “farm” Blood Rocks by obtaining them in new NG+ playthroughs. Also, by farming chalice dungeons or the insight shop. This is how most players get multiple rocks.
Which Chalice Dungeons Specifically Contain Blood Rocks?
The Blood Rocks can only be found in chests within Depth 5 Root Chalice Dungeons: Pthumeru, Loran, and Isz. If you get 1 from each, you will have 3 blood rocks.
What Other Materials are Needed to Upgrade My Weapons to +10?
To upgrade a weapon to +10, you also need Bloodstone Shards, Twin Bloodstone Shards, and Bloodstone Chunks, along with the Blood Rock. These materials are found throughout the world, with Bloodstone Chunks becoming more prevalent in later areas.
What Are Good Places to Farm Bloodstone Chunks?
Some of the best places to farm Bloodstone Chunks include:
- Yahar’gul, Unseen Village: The undead beasts here are a reliable source of chunks, especially after Rom’s defeat. Using Item Discovery runes can further improve your yield.
- Forsaken Cainhurst Castle and The Forbidden Woods also have locations where you can find a number of chunks.
- Lecture Building and Nightmare of Mensis are the late-game areas that will provide chunks through world pickups and also from enemies.
When Can I Buy Blood Rocks?
You can buy Blood Rocks after defeating the Wet Nurse, once the Hunter’s Dream unlocks the possibility of purchasing them through insight. This will only become available after entering NG+ and onwards.
Can I Buy Bloodstone Chunks?
Yes, you can buy Bloodstone Chunks at the Insight Bath Messengers in the Hunter’s Dream after defeating The One Reborn. However, they cost 30 insight per chunk, making it an expensive alternative to farming.
Is the Bloodborne DLC Worth Playing?
Absolutely. The Old Hunters DLC is considered a worthwhile addition for any Bloodborne fan. It introduces new weapons, challenging bosses, and a story that enriches the game’s lore. Moreover, it provides an additional Blood Rock, as well as two additional locations to get Bloodstone Chunks.
How Hard Are the DLC Bosses in Bloodborne?
The DLC bosses are generally regarded as some of the most difficult in the game. They have complex move sets and require players to master the game’s combat system. There are little to no exploitable tricks to beat them, making it a true test of skill.