Items & Equipment
Survival in Yharnam relies as much on your inventory as it does on your reflexes. Mastering the diverse array of tools, attire, and mystical enhancements at your disposal is essential for any hunter hoping to survive the nightmare.
Consumables & Combat Items
Consumables provide immediate tactical advantages or essential healing during the hunt. Unlike some RPGs, these are meant to be used liberally.
- Blood Vials: Your primary healing source. You can carry up to 20 by default. Unlike Estus in Dark Souls, these do not replenish at lamps; they must be looted from enemies or purchased from the messengers.
- Quicksilver Bullets: Used to fire firearms and activate Hunter Tools. Parrying (visceral attacks) is the primary use for these limited resources.
- Fire & Bolt Paper: Temporary weapon buffs that add elemental damage. Fire is devastating against beast-type enemies, while Bolt is effective against Kin and Great Ones.
- Hunter Tools: These function as the "spells" of Bloodborne. Requiring an investment in Arcane, tools like the Old Hunter Bone or Empty Phantasm Shell provide unique utility and projectile attacks.
Hunter Attire (Armor)
Armor in Bloodborne (Attire) does not feature a traditional "weight" system, meaning you can mix and match without affecting your movement speed. While physical defense is important, you should choose your attire based on specific resistances:
- Slow/Fast Poison Resistance: Essential for the Forbidden Woods and Nightmare Frontier.
- Frenzy Resistance: Crucial when facing Winter Lanterns; the Ashen Hunter Set offers some of the highest resistance in the game.
- Elemental Defense: Switch to the Henryk's Hunter Set for Bolt resistance or the Charred Hunter Set for Fire defense.
Caryll Runes
Runes are passive buffs etched into the hunter's mind. Once you obtain the Rune Workshop Tool from the Hemwick Charnel Lane boss, you can equip up to four runes (three standard and one Oath rune) at the Memory Altar in the Hunter's Dream.
- Clockwise/Anti-Clockwise Metamorphosis: Increases maximum HP and Stamina.
- Moon: Increases the amount of Blood Echoes gained from fallen enemies.
- Clawmark: Strengthens visceral attacks, perfect for skill-based builds.
- Oath Runes: Determine your faction (e.g., Hunter of Hunters, Corruption) and provide unique multiplayer benefits or minor stat boosts.
Key Items & Lore
Key items are required to progress through locked gates or trigger specific world events. Items like the Pthumeru Chalice open the way to optional dungeons, while the Tonsil Stone or Cainhurst Summons grant access to secret, high-level areas. Always read the descriptions of these items; they contain the dense lore of the Healing Church and the Old Blood that isn't told through dialogue.
Inventory Management & Acquisition
Your on-person inventory is limited, but excess items are automatically sent to the Storage Trunk in the Hunter's Dream. If you find yourself unable to pick up Blood Vials, they will be waiting for you in storage when you die or return to the Dream. To acquire the best gear, always check the Bath Messengers after defeating a boss, as they often unlock new armor sets and weapons for purchase via Blood Echoes or Insight.