Bloodborne
Bloodborne

Hunter's Nightmare

Enter the chaotic Hunter's Nightmare in Bloodborne. Face relentless combat and challenging encounters in this twisted reflection of Yharnam.

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Hunter's Nightmare

Welcome, good hunter, to the Hunter's Nightmare, a twisted reflection of Yharnam where the most brutal hunters are forever trapped. This area is accessible after defeating Vicar Amelia and interacting with the skull on her altar, then acquiring the Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter from the Hunter's Dream. Prepare for relentless combat and challenging encounters.

Initial Exploration and First Lamp

Upon entering the Hunter's Nightmare, you'll find yourself in a familiar-yet-distorted version of the Cathedral Ward. Directly ahead is the Hunter's Nightmare Lamp. Light it immediately; this will be your primary respawn point for this initial segment.

  • From the lamp, proceed down the main path. You'll encounter several Nightmare Hunters wielding various weapons. These enemies are aggressive and can parry, so be cautious.
  • To your left, near the initial path, you can find Blood Vial x5 on a corpse.
  • Continue forward, past a large, burning pyre. You'll soon come across a large, open plaza.

The Plaza and First Shortcut

The plaza is a dangerous area swarming with Nightmare Hunters and a few larger, axe-wielding beasts. Prioritize isolating enemies to avoid being overwhelmed.

  • Strategy: Lure individual hunters away from the main group. Use charged R2 attacks or parries for visceral attacks. Be wary of their quick gunshots.
  • In the center of the plaza, near a fountain, you can collect Twin Blood Stone Shard x3.
  • To the right side of the plaza (facing away from the lamp), you'll find a set of stairs leading down. Follow these stairs.
  • At the bottom, you'll encounter a few more Nightmare Hunters. Dispatch them carefully.
  • Look for a gate on your left. This is a shortcut back to the main path near the first lamp. Open it to establish a convenient route.

Path to the Cathedral and Laurence's Arena

With the shortcut open, return to the plaza and continue exploring the left side (facing away from the lamp).

  • Head towards the large cathedral structure in the distance. As you approach, you'll likely be ambushed by more Nightmare Hunters.
  • Before entering the cathedral, explore the area around its base. To the right of the main entrance, you can find Beast Blood Pellet x2.
  • Enter the cathedral. This grand hall is the arena for the first boss of the DLC: Laurence, the First Vicar.
  • Boss Preparation: Laurence is a formidable foe, highly resistant to Arcane and Bolt damage. He is weak to Fire and Serrated weapons. Consider equipping runes like Clockwise Metamorphosis for extra HP or Anti-Clockwise Metamorphosis for stamina.
  • Optional: Before engaging Laurence, you can find Madman's Knowledge x1 in a corner of the cathedral, near the entrance.

Beyond Laurence (Post-Boss)

After defeating Laurence, a new path opens up, leading deeper into the nightmare.

  • A new lamp, Laurence's Lamp, will appear in the arena. Light it.
  • From Laurence's arena, proceed through the newly opened doorway at the back. This leads to the next major area, the Research Hall.
  • Along this path, you'll find Blood Stone Chunk x1 on a corpse.