Bloodborne: Every Stat From Least To Most Useful, Ranked

The last generation made it perfectly clear that gamers wanted a challenge in their games, and FromSoftware’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 FromSoftware doing the same as well. 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 the Hunter’s career before it can start. This is the case for most FromSoftware games, with stat investment taking a lot of thought and potentially causing things to go completely haywire if players don’t make the correct decisions. Thankfully, it doesn’t take a lot of research for players to figure out what build they want to pursue, and specializing in a few stats is a way better option than trying to be a jack of all trades.

Updated on May 24, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Bloodborne is one of the greatest video games ever made, with many people still considering it to be Miyazaki’s magnum opus even after all the amazing work he has done on games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Elden Ring. The gothic and Lovecraftian vibes in Bloodborne elevate the quality of this game to new heights and make it clear time and time again why people can’t get enough of this amazing game. The demands for a Bloodborne 60 FPS upgrade or PC port will never die down, with players still booting up this game from time to time to embark on another adventure as the Chosen Hunter. There are many stats that players can invest in, and players should be aware of the fact that some stats are better than others, especially for the build they wish to pursue.

6 Endurance

High Stamina Is A Nice Bonus, But Not A Necessary One To Attain

• Softcap: 40
• Hardcap: 99
• Use: Increases Stamina and resistances

Most people will be up in arms about Endurance’s low placement, but there are several arguments that prove Endurance can sometimes be nothing more than a waste. While having high stamina is great 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 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. Honestly, it doesn’t feel like a great reward after sinking all those hard-earned skill points into this particular stat. However, for weapons with long combos like the Blade of Mercy, it’s important to invest some points in Endurance to ensure that players can stunlock weak enemies into oblivion with an unending chain of attacks that will take out most foes in the most stylish manner possible.

5 Bloodtinge

Mostly Good For Ranged Builds

• Softcap: 25
• Hardcap: 50
• Use: Increases damage that the player can deal 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. It can be kept on the back burner regardless of whatever build one might wish to pursue.

Bloodtinge does help increase the damage of most guns and some weapons, the Chikage perhaps being the most notable example. However, 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. However, players who know what they’re doing can increase this stat to utilize one of the best Bloodborne builds.

4 Arcane

Only Players Who Know What They’re Doing Should Invest Here

• Softcap: 25
• Hardcap: 99
• Use: Increases the player’s elemental damage and increases the potency of most Hunter Tools.

Arcane builds are painfully weak during the initial stages of the game. It’s only after around mid-game that players can make full use of this particular stat. That said, there’s no denying the fact that Arcane builds deal incredible damage with their blood gem-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 viable. 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 in 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

Perfect For High Damage Weapons

• Softcap: 25
• Hardcap: 50
• Use: Increases damage that the player deals 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 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 entirety of Bloodborne into nothing more than a cakewalk. Of course, the best weapon is whatever feels good when the player uses it, and there are more than enough Strength weapons that will cater to a player’s personal interests in this department.

2 Skill

Most High DPS Weapons Scale With This Stat

• Softcap: 25
• Hardcap: 50
• Use: Increases damage dealt with skill-based weapons and enhances 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. 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 in 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. This reason is alone why a lot of people believe Skill is superior to Strength in Bloodborne, making it perfect for players who want to become DPS beasts.

1 Vitality

Downright Necessary For Surviving The Mid To Late-Game

• Softcap: 30
• Hardcap: 50
• Use: Increases health, bolsters defenses, and ensures 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. Even for the pros, high Vitality ensures that they can take more risks since there’s more room for error. It’s also a boon in Defiled Chalice Dungeons, where a player’s health is shaved in half.