Bloodborne is a From Software game, and among many things that means it’s viciously challenging. Viciously. If you’re gearing up to play the game, you should expect many deaths, but also thoroughly gratifying triumphs.
Being successful in Bloodborne is all about making smart decisions, and one of the first decisions you’ll make is what class and weapons you start off with. We’re interested in your well-being, so let us help you start your journey off on the right footing.
A Guide to Choosing Your Starting Class and Weapons in Bloodborne:
Starting Stats
Before beginning your adventure in Bloodborne you will need to not only define the gender and appearance of your character, but also what class to play as. In Bloodborne classes are known as Origins, and they function a bit differently than in most RPGs. As with the Souls games, your Origin defines your starting stats, nothing more. There is nothing exclusive to each class, so if you choose one that you don’t like you won’t miss out on anything more than optimized stats.
Related: This Suggested Starting Build for Bloodborne is Remarkably Effective
The important thing to note here is that if you have any idea what kind of play style you want to build toward, you should choose an Origin that has as few points as possible in stats you aren’t interested in. That way there are no starting points “wasted” on something you’ll get little to no benefit from. If you’re like most players and aren’t set on how to play the game, you shouldn’t be too concerned with which class you select, and may just want to choose Milquetoast for its well-balanced nature.
Before we dive into Origins, here’s an overview of all the stats with an official description and our notes for each item.
Level – Your character’s current level, as determined by your expenditure of attribute points.
Although you will begin with 60~ stat points allocated depending on your class, you will only gain one stat per level up once you begin playing.
Blood Echoes – Blood Echoes are the game’s currency, and is used to trade with Messengers. You can buy and sell items. Obtained by killing enemies.
These are lost upon death (but can be salvaged at the spot of your death), and are the most sought after resource in the game as they are used to level up and acquire goods. Think of them as a hybrid between experience points and currency.
Vitality – The Vitality stat governs HP (hit points).
Points in Vitality make you more difficult to kill by offering you a buffer for making mistakes. It’s a great stat for all players, beginners in particular.
Endurance – The Endurance stat governs stamina and resistances.
With more Endurance you can dodge and attack for a longer period of time without running out of energy. It’s an important stat, especially if you begin equipping larger weapons or fight mobile foes that require constant dodging.
Strength – The Strength stat governs heavy physical weapon ATK. Determines whether or not you can use certain equipment.
This stat is very important for increasing attack power with Strength bonus weapons. Strength bonus weapons tend to be heavier than Skill or Arcane weapons, so prioritize this stat if you tend to enjoy using large hammers and other hard-hitting weapons.
Skill – The Skill stat governs more nuanced physical weapon ATK. Determines whether or not you can use certain equipment.
This stat is identical to Strength, but increases power with Skill bonus weapons. Skill bonus weapons tend to be lighter and faster than Strength weapons, so prioritize this stat if you enjoy attacking quickly.
Bloodtinge – The Bloodtinge stat governs power of weapons that use Quicksilver Bullets. Determines whether or not you can use certain equipment.
Your firearm is a very important part of your arsenal, and it benefits directly from Bloodtinge. Think of this as the Strength stat for firearms. Since the firearm requires ammunition it isn’t as dependable as your primary weapon, so place points into this cautiously.
Arcane – The Arcane stat governs power of Arcane ATK. Determines whether or not you can use certain equipment.
There are a few magic abilities in Bloodborne, but they aren’t as impactful or readily available for use as in the Souls games. Therefore, this magic-associated stat is most associated with bonus with magic-imbued weapons where it works similar to Strength and Skill. Since Arcane weapons aren’t found until many hours into the game, and the same can be said of magic, this is a stat reserved for second playthroughs, hardcore players, or for late game build transitions.
Origins
There are a total of nine Origins to choose from in Bloodborne. While your selection only determines your starting attributes, that has direct consequences on the battlefield. So, choose wisely.
Below you will find the names, description, stats, and our take on each class.
Milquetoast – Ordinary, happy upbringing. All attributes average.
Milquetoast is the safe choice. It has its stats evenly distributed, and as such is an excellent choice for beginners and anyone who isn’t sure what play style they would like to build toward.
- Level: 10
- Blood Echoes: 300
- Vitality: 11
- Endurance:10
- Strength: 12
- Skill: 10
- Bloodtinge: 9
- Arcane: 8
Lone Survivor – Lone survivor of lost hamlet. High life essence and vigor.
Lone Survivor is well balanced like Milquetoast, but has an emphasis on Vitality. Because of this, it is similarly a great choice for beginners.
- Level: 10
- Blood Echoes: 420
- Vitality: 14
- Endurance: 11
- Strength: 11
- Skill: 10
- Bloodtinge: 7
- Arcane: 7
Troubled Childhood – Suffered misfortune in youth. Highly resilient as a result.
Troubled Childhood has tons of Endurance, allowing it to dodge and attack without lost breath. Though, it’s short on several vital stats. It isn’t recommended as there are better options.
- Level: 10
- Blood Echoes: 360
- Vitality: 9
- Endurance: 14
- Strength: 9
- Skill: 13
- Bloodtinge: 6
- Arcane: 9
Violent Past – Terribly violent past. Rash, but stronger for it.
Violent Past is all about hitting hard with heavy weapons. It isn’t proficient with firearms, so anyone who chooses this Origin should be focused on beating enemies up in melee.
- Level: 10
- Blood Echoes: 180
- Vitality: 12
- Endurance: 11
- Strength: 15
- Skill: 9
- Bloodtinge: 6
- Arcane: 7
Professional – Born specialist, fit for sleuthing or academia.
Professional is a difficult Origin to begin as with its emphasis in Skill and Endurance. It should be reserved only for players who are focused on a Skill build and know what they’re doing.
- Level: 10
- Blood Echoes: 240
- Vitality: 9
- Endurance: 12
- Strength: 9
- Skill: 15
- Bloodtinge: 7
- Arcane: 8
Military Veteran – Experienced in war. A soldier with strength and skill.
Military Veteran is similar to Violent Past in that it specializes in melee damage. Though, it has a balance of Strength and Skill, starting it with the foundation of a good two-stat multiplier for certain weapons acquired deeper into the game.
- Level: 10
- Blood Echoes: 320
- Vitality: 10
- Endurance: 10
- Strength: 14
- Skill: 13
- Bloodtinge: 7
- Arcane: 6
Noble Scion – Scion to a respectable line with faith in your pedigree.
Noble Scion loves using firearms and Skill-based melee weapons. Since firearms have a limited supply of ammunition, this Origin is less reliable than the melee oriented ones, but if built correctly can be a powerhouse that locks down enemies with well-timed ranged attacks.
- Level: 10
- Blood Echoes: 540
- Vitality: 7
- Endurance: 8
- Strength: 9
- Skill: 13
- Bloodtinge: 14
- Arcane: 9
Related: Bloodborne – Everything You Need to Know
Cruel Fate – Faced terrible hardships, but now confident in your purpose.
Cruel Fate specializes in magic and magic-imbued weapons. Only select this Origin if you are willing to deal with being less effective until magic and magic-imbued weapons become available later in the game.
- Level: 10
- Blood Echoes: 500
- Vitality: 10
- Endurance: 12
- Strength: 10
- Skill: 9
- Bloodtinge: 5
- Arcane: 14
Waste of Skin – You are nothing. Talentless. You shouldn’t have been born.
Waste of Skin is for hardcore players who know precisely where they want to allocate their stats. It begins at a disadvantage but can be optimized better than any other class.
- Level: 4
- Blood Echoes: 310
- Vitality: 10
- Endurance: 9
- Strength: 10
- Skill: 9
- Bloodtinge: 7
- Arcane: 9
Weapons
During the tutorial of Bloodborne you’ll need to select both a melee and ranged weapon. This isn’t a game-defining decision as you’ll find new weapons along your journey, but selecting a weapon that benefits from your starting stats is important to ensure that you aren’t playing at a disadvantage from the get-go. This is a tough game, after all.
Melee Weapons
Saw Cleaver
The Saw Cleaver is one of two physical-based melee weapons to select from. While it doesn’t hit as hard as the Hunter Axe, it is faster-hitting. Choose this weapon if you like daggers, swords, and other weapons you can swing quickly.
- Physical Attack: 90
- Attribute Bonus:
- Strength: D
- Skill: E
- Arcane: D
Hunter Axe
The Hunter Axe is the second of the two physical-based melee weapons to select. It’s the heavier of the two, meaning that while it hits harder, it has a long swing time. Its secondary form is a two-handed axe that doesn’t allow you to use a firearm. Due to this and its slower attacks it is considered the least beginner friendly of the three starting weapons.
- Physical Attack: 98
- Attribute Bonus:
- Strength: D
- Skill: E
- Arcane: D
Threaded Cane
The Threaded Cane is the only starting weapon with a C in Skill bonus. It is also considered the flashiest of the three. If you plan to go with a Skill build, this is the weapon to choose.
- Physical Attack: 78
- Attribute Bonus:
- Strength: E
- Skill: C
- Arcane: D
Ranged Weapons
Hunter Pistol
The Hunter Pistol is the more standard choice of the two ranged weapons. It can hit from long distances, and serves as a better weapon for doing damage to single targets. Though, it can be difficult to land stun shots on enemies who are mid-charge. It also has lower durability, meaning you will have to repair it sooner.
Hunter Blunderbuss
The Hunter Blunderbuss is the more specialized ranged weapon of the two. It might not hit as hard as the Hunter Pistol, or have as long of range, but it’s better for stunning enemies due to its spread. Its spread also means it can hit multiple enemies at once making it a fantastic choice for multi-enemy encounters.
Our Recommendation for Beginners
If this is your first time playing a game by From Software, or just have absolutely no clue what to choose, here’s our recommendation:
Origin: Lone Survivor
Lone Survivor is well-balanced in the most important stats and comes equipped with a large health pool.
Stats: Skill, Vitality, and Endurance
These three stats are very dependable. Skill bonus weapons tend to be quicker, which is favorable with Bloodborne‘s fast-paced gameplay. Vitality will help keep you alive, and a few points in Endurance will ensure you don’t run out of energy during intense confrontations.
Related: A Guide to Choosing Your Starting Class and Race in Blade and Soul
Melee Weapon: Threaded Cane
While the Saw Cleaver has a more preferable pattern, the Threaded Cane is the only starting weapon with a decent Skill bonus rating. Try it out, and buy the Saw Spear a few hours in if you end up disliking it.
Ranged Weapon: Hunter Blunderbuss
The Hunter Blunderbuss is easier to land stuns with than the Hunter Pistol, and ultimately that’s the most important role of firearms.
