Conquering *Bloodborne*'s challenging bosses requires strategy. This guide outlines optimal boss fight orders, catering to different playthrough styles. We'll cover both essential and optional bosses, helping you navigate the game's brutal encounters.

Note: Completing every boss isn't mandatory for finishing *Bloodborne*, but it yields significant rewards. We highly recommend tackling as many as possible.

The game features 17 main bosses and 5 DLC bosses (from *The Old Hunters*). This guide excludes Chalice Dungeon bosses. The DLC is accessible after defeating Vicar Amelia, but many players prefer tackling it closer to the game's end. The timing can impact certain dialogues.

Best Boss Order: Non-Optional Bosses

This order focuses solely on the bosses required to complete the main storyline:

• Father Gascoigne
• Vicar Amelia
• Shadow of Yharnam
• Rom, the Vacuous Spider
• The One Reborn
• Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
• Mergo’s Wet Nurse
• Gehrman, the First Hunter
• Moon Presence (Ending Specific)

Best Boss Order: All Bosses

This comprehensive order includes both mandatory and optional bosses, offering a complete Bloodborne experience:

• Cleric Beast (Optional)
• Father Gascoigne
• Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)
• Vicar Amelia
• The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)
• Shadow of Yharnam
• Rom, the Vacuous Spider
• Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)
• The One Reborn
• Martyr Logarius (Optional)
• Amygdala (Optional)
• Celestial Emissary (Optional)
• Micolash, Host of the Nightmare
• Ludwig the Accursed/Holy Blade (DLC/Optional)
• Laurence, the First Vicar (DLC/Optional)
• Living Failures (DLC/Optional)
• Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower (DLC/Optional)
• Orphan of Kos (DLC/Optional)
• Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)
• Mergo’s Wet Nurse
• Gehrman, the First Hunter
• Moon Presence (Ending Specific)

Detailed Boss Strategies

Cleric Beast (Optional)

Area: Central Yharnam. This early boss is aggressive. Target its hind legs to trip it, then focus on its head.

Father Gascoigne

Area: Central Yharnam. Mastering parries is key to efficiently defeating this hunter.

Blood-Starved Beast (Optional)

Area: Old Yharnam’s Church of the Good Chalice. Maintain distance and utilize fire/explosive weapons.

Vicar Amelia

Area: Cathedral Ward. Exploit her self-healing animation for attacks.

The Witch of Hemwick (Optional)

Area: Hemwick Charnel Lane. Use firearms to combat her invisibility and deal with her minions.

Shadow of Yharnam

Area: Forbidden Woods. Dodge its attacks, target its head with firearms, and slash its legs.

Rom, the Vacuous Spider

Area: Moonside Lake. Prioritize killing summoned spiders before attacking Rom. Be wary of poison.

Darkbeast Paarl (Optional)

Area: Hypogean Gaol. A large brute; consider fighting after Rom.

The One Reborn

Area: Yahar’gul Unseen Village. Keep your distance and attack when it’s vulnerable.

Martyr Logarius (Optional)

Area: Forsaken Castle Cainhurst. Mastering parries is crucial.

Amygdala (Optional)

Area: Nightmare Frontier. A challenging boss with a large size and reach.

Celestial Emissary (Optional)

Area: Upper Cathedral Ward. Roll towards its legs to avoid attacks.

Micolash, Host of the Nightmare

Area: Nightmare of Mensis. Chase him, deal with summoned enemies, and watch out for powerful attacks. Poison knives are effective.

The Old Hunters Bosses

The *Old Hunters* DLC bosses are fought in a linear order. After Ludwig, return to fight Laurence (optional). Then, take on Living Failures, Lady Maria, and Orphan of Kos.

Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Optional)

Area: Altar of Despair. Beware of tentacle attacks and magical assaults.

Mergo’s Wet Nurse

Area: Nightmare of Mensis. A challenging boss with tentacle attacks and water projectiles.

Gehrman, the First Hunter

Area: Hunter’s Dream. The final non-optional boss; parrying is advantageous.

Moon Presence (Ending Specific)

Area: Hunter’s Dream. The true final boss; requires obtaining three Umbilical Cords and refusing Gehrman's offer.

This guide provides a solid framework. Adjust the order based on your preferred playstyle and difficulty tolerance. Good hunting!

For more *Bloodborne* news, check out our *Bloodborne* PSX demake. For FromSoftware fans, explore *Armored Core VI*.

Update: This article was updated on 2/3/2025 by Escapist Editorial to include more information about the various bosses, provide a high-level summary of the boss order, and to include the bosses from the Old Hunters DLC.