Most Powerful Bosses In Bloodborne

Summary

• Players must adapt and learn boss patterns to secure victory, with some enemies requiring precise timing and aggressive playstyles.
• Boss fights in Bloodborne are notoriously difficult, each presenting unique challenges that test players’ skills and gear.
• FromSoftware’s title remains a fan-favorite, with many eagerly awaiting potential remasters or updates for modern systems.

FromSoftware’s games are always known for their high difficulty and unforgiving gameplay. Most of this can be attributed to the boss fights, which always put the players’ skills and gear to the test. Some of Bloodborne’s toughest bosses are just as quick (if not more) than the player. Facing off against these bosses can sometimes feel like a dance where one wrong step means players have completely lost their rhythm and they die.

It’s certainly true that difficulty is completely subjective. What one finds to be challenging, others may think it was the easiest thing they’ve ever encountered. It will be different for everyone, but certain boss fights stand out because of how grueling they are for the majority of the player base. The toughest bosses in Bloodborne, as per popular consensus, are some of the hardest challenges in the game, and downright insurmountable because of how challenging they are.

Updated on March 2025, by Gerardo Molina: The bosses in Bloodborne can be very deceiving, as some that look really intimidating aren’t that difficult, whereas others that will put players to the test might not seem like they’re a huge threat. As players progress through the game, there will be several considerable difficulty spikes that will force them to adapt or die. Although Bloodborne is not the most difficult FromSoftware game to date, it definitely takes one of the top spots due to its high difficulty and fast-paced combat. This nightmarish world has many surprises awaiting players, who will have to hone their reflexes if they mean to survive Yharnam.

26

Keeper Of The Old Lords

Pretty Fast But Can Be Staggered

• HP: 3,867
• Blood Echoes: 3,471
• Location: Central Pthumeru Chalice
• Drops: Central Pthumeru Root Chalice, Twin Blood Stone Shards (possible)

The Chalice Dungeons are some of the more contentious additions in Bloodborne, with the randomly generated environments of these additional dungeons forgoing a lot of what made the handcrafted environments of the game special. However, there are some positives of these Chalice Dungeons, with new and unique bosses present in these chambers for players to encounter.

One such boss is the Keeper of the Old Lords, a humanoid boss who is pretty swift and enhances her blade with fire after taking enough damage. She’s pretty fast and the arena that players fight her in is pretty tricky, making it important to land a series of combos and not be caught out by her counterattacks to beat this boss and progress further in whatever Chalice Dungeon she’s featured in.

25

Darkbeast Paarl

Can Be Tricky To Deal With If Faced Early On

• HP: 4,552
• Blood Echoes: 23,100
• Location: Hypogean Gaol
• Drops: Spark Hunter Badge, Bold Hunter’s Mark

Depending on when players encounter Darkbeast Paarl, this boss can either be a walk in the park or an absolute nightmare to get through. If players have been kidnapped and sent to the Hypogean Gaol, then it’s only a matter of time before players encounter this lightning-infused beast.

Without high DPS, Darkbeast Paarl will run circles around the player and flatten them with its damaging moveset. If players manage to stun this beast with a flurry of attacks, then they’ll be able to deplete its health bar consistently until it’s down for the count.

24

Pthumerian Elder

Deceptively Quick And Hard To Predict

• HP: 2,381
• Blood Echoes: 1,625
• Location: Lower Hintertomb Chalice
• Drops: Short Ritual Root Chalice

The Pthumerian Elder is one of the most deceptive bosses in the game. He may look like a wizened old man well beyond his years, but it doesn’t take players too long to realize that this first impression is anything but an accurate representation of how this boss functions. From the moment they enter the arena, it won’t take long for the Pthumerian Elder to close the distance and show players just how out of their depths they really are.

Players will need to match the pace of this boss, dodging and attacking at relevant intervals to ensure that they don’t end up taking too many unnecessary hits. As long as the Hunter puts the pressure on this boss, they should be able to take him out, although this battle will be anything but easy. A healthy stock of Blood Vials will be required in case the Pthumerian Elder’s aggression becomes too much to handle.

23

Undead Giant

A Chalice Dungeon Boss That Can One-Shot Low-Level Hunters

• HP: 3,175
• Blood Echoes: 1,425
• Location: Pthumeru Chalice
• Drops: Adept Blood Gemstone (2)

The Chalice Dungeons are a decent addition to Bloodborne, even if the randomized content can feel rather lackluster at times. During their exploration of these areas, players will stumble upon the Undead Giant, a boss that can either be ridiculously easy, or hair-rippingly hard.

This depends on the player’s level, and Hunters who aren’t strong enough can be one-shot by this beast in no time. This makes it important to either gain some levels or perfect one’s offense if this boss is giving them a tough time.

22

Celestial Emissary

A Slow Boss That Can Summon Minions

• HP: 2,764
• Blood Echoes: 24,640
• Location: Upper Cathedral Ward
• Drops: Communion

Located in the Upper Cathedral Ward, the Celestial Emissary is considered to be one of the easier bosses in Bloodborne. The only reason it’s not higher on this list, is that there are reports of some players struggling with it due to using certain builds or attack approaches.

The boss is relatively slow and has very simple attacks, and the best way to deal with this celestial being is to attack aggressively and ensure players are hitting the right Emissary. Doing that will make this fight a breeze.

21

The One Reborn

A Boss That Often Sparks Debate Among Players

• HP: 10,375
• Blood Echoes: 36,300
• Location: Yahar’gul Unseen Village
• Drops: Yellow Backbone (x3)

Represented as a grotesque, monstrous union of several corpses, The One Reborn‘s difficulty is often a subject of debate. Some players say it’s extremely tough, while others consider it to be a decent boss, but nothing to worry about. To win this boss fight, players will have to combine both melee and ranged attacks while dodging the boss’ projectiles and heavy stomps.

Good reflexes and waiting for the proper attack window openings is key to winning this boss fight. If they play their cards right, players should be able to take The One Reborn down in less than 5 tries.

20

Blood-Starved Beast

Poison Can Be Tough To Deal With For Players Who Aren’t Prepared

• HP: 3,470
• Blood Echoes: 6,600
• Location: Old Yharnam
• Drops: Pthumeru Chalice

Many people feel that the Blood-Starved Beast is far from the toughest enemy in the game but these players are well-versed in how Bloodborne‘s combat system works. For people who are getting into this fight as a relative beginner to FromSoftware games, this nightmarish beast is so fast and poisonous that most players won’t even have any time left to think.

Players need to remain on the beast’s left side, stagger the beast whenever possible, and keep a stock of antidotes ready if they don’t want to be sliced and diced over and over again by this boss. It may seem like a tough encounter, but players who decide to adhere to Bloodborne‘s combat system will find this boss to be a cakewalk, which is important since The Old Hunters DLC features this boss in a cramped environment which can be an even tougher challenge.

19

Abhorrent Beast

Covers All Bases And Is A Pain To Deal With At Any Range

• HP: 13,000-15,000
• Blood Echoes: 1,753
• Location: Ailing Loran Chalice
• Drops: Lower Loran Chalice

Most people will remember the Abhorrent Beast, who appears to be a normal beggar only to show the true extent of his depravity if players decide to attack him after he’s eaten enough of the innocents present in Oedon Chapel. He transforms into the Abhorrent Beast, a tough enemy that hits like a truck and will usually down the player if they try to take it out in a one-on-one battle.

While there are reliable ways to cheese this beast in the main game, the encounter with this boss in the Chalice Dungeons is anything but simple. Players must not get greedy with their hits no matter what angle they hit the Abhorrent Beast from, since this enemy has all his bases covered and will punish any Hunter who gets too overzealous with their offense. A few combo hits are all it takes for the Abhorrent Beast to destroy players, making this battle quite challenging indeed.

18

Pthumerian Descendant

Extremely Fast With Attacks That Can Phase Through Solid Objects

• HP: 3,437
• Blood Echoes: 4,147
• Location: Central Pthumeru Chalice
• Drops: Lower Pthumeru Chalice & Cold Blood Gem (3)

The Pthumerian Descendant is another boss that is exclusive to the Chalice Dungeons, and it’s one of the more entertaining bosses in Bloodborne that players can fight. This boss is quick and tricky to deal with, and players have to memorize its moveset if they don’t want to be killed over and over again.

Despite how aged this enemy looks, players can be ready for an epic fight as they trade blows, try to stagger this foe, and land hits during brief attack windows. Higher-level Chalice Dungeons are where this encounter truly shines, and players should be on top of their game if they don’t want to be taken out in record time.

17

Moon Presence

A Boss That Should Be Harder, But Still Poses A Challenge

• HP: 8,909
• Blood Echoes: 230,000
• Location: Hunter’s Dream
• Drops: N/A

While the Moon Presence isn’t extremely challenging compared to other bosses on this list, it’s a good thing that the developers at FromSoftware decided to make it an optional boss. This enemy is one of the Great Ones and players will have to consume three of the four available thirds of Umbilical Cord to face it and defeat Gehrman after refusing his offer.

The lore behind the Moon Presence is actually quite interesting, as it’s the being that controls everything that’s inside the Hunter’s Dream. Luckily, dying to this boss does not mean that players will have to face Gehrman again every time, which, considering how other FromSoftware games work, is a merciful act by the developer. Defeating this boss will be followed by a cutscene that ends the game and gives players the “Childhood’s Beginning” trophy. By discovering the Moon Presence, players will gain 5 Insight, and another 5 for defeating it.

Since it’s the final boss in the game, many players consider that it should be harder. However, the effort that it takes to defeat it is justly rewarded, as it drops 230,000 Blood Echoes in NG, 681,950 in NG+, and a whopping 1,704,875 in NG+6.

16

Gehrman, The First Hunter

Ultra-Aggressive And Punishes Players Who Get Too Greedy

• HP: 14,293
• Blood Echoes: 128,000
• Location: Hunter’s Dream
• Drops: Old Hunter Badge

Gehrman is potentially the final boss of the game, given how players go through their Bloodborne playthrough. He’s no slouch and will destroy players at a moment’s notice with his array of powerful moves.

Players need to be on top of their game to deal with this tough boss, whose moves get even more dangerous halfway through the fight. As long as players apply everything they’ve learned against this boss, they should be able to defeat him, if just barely.

15

Mergo’s Wet Nurse

A Faceless Creature That Can Summon A Clone

• HP: 14,081
• Blood Echoes: 72,000
• Location: Nightmare of Mensis
• Drops: One Third of Umbilical Cord

Found in the Nightmare of Mensis, Mergo’s Wet Nurse serves as Mergo’s guardian, This enormous entity that seems to have no face is armed with multiple scythes that it swings viciously to attack The Hunter. While this boss’ attack patterns are difficult to learn, once players identify how it telegraphs them, the fight gets a lot easier.

That is, until Mergo’s Wet Nurse summons a clone in an arena with reduced visibility. As with many other bosses in the Dark Souls/Bloodborne universe, Mergo’s Wet Nurse will punish players if they get too greedy with their attacks, so keeping a safe distance and only attacking when there are high-quality openings, is key.

14

Micolash, Host Of The Nightmare

A Challenging Fight That’s Made Worse By Micolash’s Minions

• HP: 5,250
• Blood Echoes: 48,400
• Location: Nightmare of Mensis
• Drops: Mensis Cage

By himself, Micolash, Host of the Nightmare can be a challenge, but he’s definitely far from being one of the most challenging bosses in the entirety of Bloodborne. When players encounter him, he is wearing the caped version of the Student Uniform and the Mensis Cage, along with two Arcane Hunter Tools, including the Augur of Ebrietas and A Call Beyond, which he will spam endlessly—especially the former.

To find him, players will have to go to the top of Mergo’s Loft Base in the Nightmare of Mensis. It’s assumed that Micolash was once a student of Byrgenwerth who went mad after contacting the Great Ones through the Mensis Cage. He can be challenging on his own, but what makes this fight a little frustrating is that there are a few of his minions that will attack The Hunter, leaving little to no windows of opportunity to land a few hits on Micolash himself.

On top of this, the fact that players have to chase him before they can even fight him makes things worse and can make this encounter feel even more repetitive than dying over and over to a Soulsborne boss can be. All in all, while he’s no Orphan of Kos, Micolash, Host of the Nightmare will give players a run for their money, no matter how experienced they are. Those looking to exploit a weakness of his might want to try Fire and Bolt, as the Student Set he wears makes him susceptible to them.

13

Amygdala

The Regular Boss Is Okay, But The Defiled Variant Is An Absolute Nightmare

• HP: 22,049
• Blood Echoes: 101,899
• Location: Defiled Chalice
• Drops: Great Pthumeru Ihyll Chalice

The Hunter’s Nightmare is a unique optional area in Bloodborne that features the patented poison swamp area that has become quintessential to the Soulsborne experience. The boss at the end of this area is one of the Amygdalas that players have been witnessing all this time in the game.

Amygdala can be a tricky foe to defeat, with its attacks landing for a ton of damage. Its legs are pretty well-guarded too, and players need to figure out the optimal time frames to unleash attacks on its vulnerable spots.

12

Living Failures

High HP And A Brutal Projectile Summon Can Take Players By Surprise

• HP: 20,646
• Blood Echoes: 22,000
• Location: Research Hall
• Drops: Astral Clocktower Key

The Old Hunters DLC is full to the brim with some great encounters, with all the boss fights in this game being a pretty hefty challenge as well. This applies to the Living Failures as well, which pales in comparison to some other high-quality boss fights in the game.

The Living Failures are pretty tanky and hit for decent damage, but they’re still manageable for the most part. The worst attack they can pull off is a move that summons giant projectiles from the sky that can easily stunlock and kill the player, although the tree in the middle of the arena helps block against this powerful attack as well.

11

Martyr Logarius

A Hard-Hitting Boss That Can Buff Itself To Become More Aggressive

• HP: 9,081
• Blood Echoes: 25,600
• Location: Forsaken Castle Cainhurst
• Drops: Crown of Illusions

Cainhurst Castle is one of the best levels in Bloodborne, and it’s mind-blowing that this area is completely optional. At the end of this level is a fight against the legendary leader of the Executioners, Martyr Logarius.

The fight against him tests everything the player has learned up till that point. He’s hyper-aggressive, hits for a ton of damage, and has a massive health pool as well.

10

Bloodletting Beast

The Headless Variant Of This Boss Is A Nightmare To Deal With

• HP: 24,287
• Blood Echoes: 155,473
• Location: Great Pthumeru Ihyll Chalice
• Drops: Pthumeru Ihyll Root Chalice

The Chalice Dungeon is one of the weaker parts of Bloodborne, even though it might theoretically lead to unlimited game time. However, the level design of these dungeons takes a massive hit due to their procedurally generated nature.

That being said, the bosses in the Chalice Dungeon are pretty challenging, with the Bloodletting Beast being a great example of the same. Players can’t take this beast lightly, who hits like a truck and can easily one-shot under-leveled Hunters.

9

Shadow Of Yharnam

These Three Enemies Hit Like A Truck And Get Harder To Deal With As Each Shadow Is Felled

• HP: 2,046, 2,602, & 3,645
• Blood Echoes: 20,460
• Location: Forbidden Woods
• Drops: Blood Rapture

The three Shadows of Yharnam that players need to face at the end of the Forbidden Forest can prove to be a massive challenge indeed. Players need to ensure that they don’t get caught off-guard by a Shadow while focusing on another enemy, making it a true test of everything the player has learned up to that point.

The Shadows get several buffs as the fight progresses, which can be pretty challenging as well. The worst power is their ability to summon snakes when only one Shadow is left, which can potentially one-shot players if they’re unable to dodge this move.

8

Ebrietas, Daughter Of The Cosmos

High HP And Damage Make This Arguably The Hardest Optional Fight In The Base Game

• HP: 12,493
• Blood Echoes: 36,300
• Location: Altar of Despair
• Drops: Great Isz Chalice

Ebrietas is one of the tankiest bosses in Bloodborne and hits like a brick as well. This boss is found at the end of the Upper Cathedral Ward area and poses a pretty substantial challenge indeed.

Players need to keep in mind that Ebrietas doesn’t shy away from absolutely pummeling players if they leave an opening.

Easily her most annoying attack is A Call to Beyond, which can deplete a player’s health entirely if they fail to dodge these vicious projectiles.

7

Vicar Amelia

In The Early Goings, This Boss Is Extremely Tricky And Frustrates Players By Healing Itself

• HP: 5,367
• Blood Echoes: 15,000
• Location: Cathedral Ward
• Drops: Gold Pendant

Vicar Amelia is basically the Cleric Beast on steroids. She hits like an absolute brick and her healing powers can prove to be a massive pain for players who weren’t expecting this move.

Players will quickly realize that staying in front of this boss is pretty much a recipe for disaster. They need to time their dodges, use Numbing Mist to prevent her from healing and remain aggressive to avoid getting blasted.