Summary
- Experiment with different builds and combat styles to enhance gameplay in a second playthrough.
- Discover the game’s three unique endings by paying attention to lore and NPC interactions.
- Fully explore optional content like DLC, hidden bosses, and unique weapons for a complete experience.
The fact that many people hail Bloodborne as FromSoftware’s magnum opus even after taking into account the existence of both Dark Souls and Elden Ring shows just how incredible this gothic adventure is. Players control a Hunter who must deal with numerous maddened enemies and Lovecraftian horrors as they try to uncover the source of the Nightmare.
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This tight and incredible experience is full of memorable encounters, chilling boss fights, and compelling lore that will keep fans engaged long past rolling credits. Given how easy it can be to miss out on things during a first playthrough, it’s easy to see why any Bloodborne fan should check out everything they can complete in a second playthrough.
Spoiler Warning: Several list entries delve into late-game story spoilers for Bloodborne.
8
Pursue Different Builds
Players Can Approach Combat In An Entirely Different Way
As one would expect from any FromSoftware game, a player’s options in combat are entirely dependent on their build. They can specialize in Strength, prioritize Skill, opt for Quality builds, or invest in other stats they didn’t touch the first time around like Arcane or Bloodtinge.
This allows players to make the most of unique builds, giving them access to a whole host of different weapons that scale with their stats. It’s the easiest and most engaging way to enhance a second playthrough in Bloodborne.
7
Earn Another Ending
The Game Has Three Unique Endings Players Can Access
Bloodborne is a game with a deep and engrossing narrative that cooks in the background. Players must make an effort to read the lore and decipher NPC dialogue to piece together the layered elements of the story.
Chances are that players didn’t realize how important the Umbilical Cords were in their first playthrough, but they’ll be equipped with this information for a second run. This lets them deal with the Moon Presence and become a Great One, but players can choose to awaken from the dream by letting Gerhman behead them — or refuse and take him on in one of the most epic duels FromSoftware has ever developed.
6
Seek Out And Defeat All Optional Bosses In The Game
It’s recommended to go through Bloodborne blind the first time around so that players can carve their own path in this dark adventure. This enhances the wonder of exploration that FromSoftware games are known for, but players may miss out on some excellent optional content as a result.
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Areas like the Nightmare Frontier and Cainhurst Castle aren’t exactly straightforward to reach, and there’s nothing wrong with following a guide in a second playthrough to reach these locations — in fact, it’s highly encouraged! Not only will players find more useful items, unique enemies, and new lore, but they’ll also face off against powerful bosses who can tear them apart in no time.
5
Fight Through The Incredible DLC
The Old Hunters DLC Boasts Some Of The Best Content FromSoftware Has Ever Developed
It’s possible that players haven’t touched Bloodborne since its launch, which means that they’ve missed out on one of the best pieces of DLC in video game history. The Old Hunters lets players explore the past, dealing with several challenging enemies and some of the greatest FromSoftware boss fights of all time.
It’s a downright crime for players to miss out on this amazing content, with boss fights like Ludwig, Lady Maria, and the Orphan of Kos being some of the most nail-biting encounters in Bloodborne. In a second playthrough, players will be confident enough in their build and skills to take on these bosses without soiling their pants.
4
Use Arcane Powers To Spice Up Combat
Lets Players Use A Varied Array Of Otherworldly Abilities Against Their Opponents
Arcane is a stat that beginners shouldn’t level up in Bloodborne unless they’re confident about their decisions. However, the same can’t be said for veterans embarking on a second playthrough.
Leveling up Arcane lets players test out unique weapons like the Holy Moonlight Sword and the Kos Parasite. It also lets them make the most of Arcane runes and employ unique abilities in combat, further enhancing their moveset in combat.
3
Try Out A Different Weapon
The Varied Moveset Will Make A Second Playthrough Feel Fresh And Interesting
This may seem like simple advice, but Bloodborne‘s weapons don’t operate on the same wavelength as games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring. While the selection of weapons is lower, this is balanced by making every weapon feel unique and engaging to use.
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From simple Saw Cleavers to the overpowered Whirligig Saw, there’s no shortage of amazing weapons players can use in Bloodborne. Depending on their build, they can choose to main several different weapons, completely changing their strategies in combat.
2
Make Sure To Complete All Relevant NPC Questlines
Some Of The Most Unique Content In The Game Is Hidden Behind Cryptic Messages And Innocuous Actions
FromSoftware games are notorious for featuring obtuse yet urgent NPC questlines that can be a nightmare to complete without a guide. Bloodborne is no exception here, with some questlines breaking if players aren’t particular about their approach.
In a second playthrough, players can follow guides to aid Eileen in her quest to take down other Hunters and help Alfred fulfill the purpose of the Executioners, albeit with a major catch. This is highly recommended since players will enjoy more telling dialogue that fleshes out the plot and lets them engage in some truly challenging encounters.
1
Prioritize The Chalice Dungeons
Players Can Encounter Unique Enemies And Bosses While Also Getting Their Hands On Valuable Rewards
The Chalice Dungeons can become grueling to deal with by the end. The procedurally generated content means that some Chalice Dungeon layouts can be puzzling, with exploration becoming repetitive after a point.
However, players should explore these dungeons for unique rewards and special boss fights, as well as a deeper understand of Yharnam and its history. Most Bloodborne players agree that the true challenge of the game stems from its Defiled Chalices, which are no joke and will force players to be wary of every enemy. After all, a single hit can end their run in no time, which is frustrating for obvious reasons. But they’re worth muscling through for the lore revelations, unique combat encounters, and the satisfaction of earning one of the most challenging trophies in the game.
