Last generation made it perfectly clear that gamers wanted a challenge in their games, and From Software's Dark Souls provided that in spades. It was only a given that a multitude of Dark Souls clones would prop up in the gaming scene… with From Software doing the same as well.
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To call Bloodborne a mere Dark Souls clone would be doing this great game a huge disservice. After all, there's a reason why most people swear by the fact that Bloodborne is one of the best PS4 exclusives around. The combat has been refined and cranked up a notch, and the Lovecraftian aesthetic & lore is truly beautiful to witness in every sense of the word.
For those enticed by Bloodborne, survival will come down to stats, but leveling up the wrong stat can doom a Hunter's career before it can start.
Updated on July 25th, 2021 by Ritwik Mitra: Bloodborne is easily one of the greatest video games of all time, with most people going so far as to say that it's the best Miyazaki game to date. The haunting atmosphere of the game coupled with stellar combat makes for an unforgettable experience that most fans won't be forgetting anytime soon. That being said, Bloodborne isn't exactly a game that is easy for beginners to get into. There are various aspects of the game that players will find it hard to wrap their heads around, with the stats present in the game being one such headache to understand. To make the entry into this game easier, here's an in-depth look into Bloodborne's best stats to level up.
6 Endurance
- Softcap: 40
- Hardcap: 99
- Useful For: Increasing Stamina and resistances
Most people will be up in arms about Endurance's low placement, but there are several arguments which prove that Endurance can sometimes be nothing more than a waste.
While having high stamina is definitely a great thing if one doesn't wish to find themselves stuck in a rut during battle, the fact of the matter is that the increase to stamina is so minor that a player needs to invest a ton of skill points for this stat to actually make a difference.
The reward for investing loads into this Bloodborne stat is the ability to fit in a few more actions into a player's moveset, which honestly doesn't feel like a great reward after sinking all your hard-earned skill points into this particular stat.
5 Bloodtinge
- Softcap: 25
- Hardcap: 50
- Useful For: Increasing damage with firearms, certain Blood Weapons, and Madara's Whistle
Out of all the abilities that can increase one's attack using certain weapons, Bloodtinge's applications in battle are so situational and muted compared to the rest of the stats that it can honestly be kept on the backburner regardless of whatever build one might wish to pursue.
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While Bloodtinge does help increase the damage of most guns and some weapons — the Chikage perhaps being the most notable example — most Bloodtinge attacks aren't all that powerful even after leveling them up, making them virtually useless in combat.
It doesn't help that most Bloodtinge abilities end up using a ton of Quicksilver Bullets, which can be quite a pain indeed. However, players who know what they're doing can increase this stat to utilize one of the best Bloodborne builds.
4 Arcane
- Softcap: 25
- Hardcap: 99
- Useful For: Dealing elemental damage and increasing the potency of most Hunter Tools
Arcane builds are painfully weak during the initial stages of the game, and it's only after around mid-game that players can actually make full use of this particular stat. That said, there's no denying the fact that Arcane builds deal insane damage with their bloodgem-infused weapons. While these weapons should definitely be in the arsenal of an Arcane build, one must keep the Hunter Tools in mind as well.
Unlike weapon scaling, there's no hard cap when it comes to Hunter Tools for Arcane, making a 99 Arcane build very much viable for players. This is the most unique facet of the Arcane stat, putting it a notch above most Bloodborne builds with stats that cap off at 40 or 50. It's only the early goings where Arcane can prove to be a difficult stat to build — after a few tough hours in Bloodborne, it's all smooth sailing… perhaps unfairly so.
3 Strength
- Softcap: 25
- Hardcap: 50
- Useful For: Increasing damage with strength-based weapons
Veterans of the series have been at odds when it comes to choosing between a Strength or Skill build in the game. It's easy to see why this is the case since both of these are considered by gamers to be Bloodborne's best stats to level up. A Strength build allows for players to wield some truly impressive and powerful weapons, although most of these are admittedly somewhat slow to use.
Players who are serious with their Strength build can equip some truly fearsome weapons, with the Whirligig Saw a standout Strength weapon that will turn the entirely of Bloodborne into nothing more than a cakewalk.
2 Skill
- Softcap: 25
- Hardcap: 50
- Useful For: Increasing damage with skill-based weapons and enhancing the potency of visceral attacks
Bloodborne prioritizes speed way more than Dark Souls, meaning that using slow weapons can prove to be a major handicap for players in combat. Thankfully, this is where the Skill stat comes into play.
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Investing in Skill allows players to wield weapons that are nimbler, allowing hunters with Skill builds to quickly nip in and out of combat to dish some serious damage while avoiding any injuries in the process.
Another benefit of raising the Skill stat is the fact that it's the only stat that increases visceral damage. Given the fact that it's easier to counter enemies in Bloodborne than any other Soulsborne game, it goes without saying that mastering counter shots to maximize damage output is of the utmost priority for Skill builds, making them one of the best Bloodborne builds.
1 Vitality
- Softcap: 30
- Hardcap: 50
- Useful For: Increasing health, bolstering defenses, and ensuring a higher rate of survival
There's no way that more health is not better than any of the benefits provided by the other Bloodborne stats. In a game where players are constantly trying to manage their health and not put themselves in a sticky situation, higher Vitality will be the difference between victory and defeat.
A character with high Vitality can take more risks in combat, wait for a longer while before using blood vials, and generally gain the ability to take more hits before having to back off. It's easily one of the most important stats that new players need to focus on… unless they like dying over and over and over again.
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