The Tips and Tricks Thread (Minor spoilers)

I realise that the thrill of discovery -- whether it's new locations, items or a way to kill an enemy -- is one of the best aspects about these games. That said, Bloodborne, like its predecessors, has many secrets and hidden items. The starting area for instance is pretty complex and has several shortcuts and concealed pathways. To top it all, it is just as challenging as the Souls games.

So I thought we should create a 'tips and tricks' thread similar to this one, where you can share the location of a useful item, explain certain mechanics, etc. Also, don't forget to use the spoilers tag when necessary.

So, here goes.

1) The dogs in this game are more lethal and just as annoying; stunning them with the blunderbuss makes killing them easier.

2) If you chose the Hunter Axe as your starting weapon, try these combos: [default state] R1 once or twice, L1, and then R1 again. Or [transformed] R2 then R1.

3) This is more of a starting-guide type of thing, but you can find a decent "armor" set early on:

4) In the equip menu, you can use the L2 and R2 buttons to cycle through slots.

5) Look for places where you can drop from in Old Yharnam; there are several shortcuts and a secret room.

And oh, yeah, bump.

For anyone who's wondering "How do I level up?" click below

The requirements for leveling up is to have at least one Insight, which you get when meeting a boss. Or you could go to the sewers near the bridge leading to the Cleric Beast and find an item that gives you Insight allowing you to level up before the first boss.

Or you can just save up something like 5k blood echoes and buy the set from the shop in the Hunter's Dream. It's dramatically better than your starting armor, and a bit better than the set that you mentioned.

@donchipotle: Oh, ok. Thanks for the correction. Some of the mechanics are still shrouded in mystery for me.

@nophilip: I'm guessing it has better resistances? I didn't buy it because the it had slightly lower physical defence. I wish there was an easier way of comparing your equipped gear with the ones in the shop. Also, I think you can get it for 2500 echoes, so even better.

Not true. The buyable set has better "status effect" resistances but is lower defense versus most attack types. I have gotten pretty far in the game and found like 5-6 armor sets by now and they are all fairly sidegradey and none of them are clearly "better" than the others in an overall general sense.

My tip is get used to partying with the gun early. The bigger, intimidating enemies become much, MUCH easier if you successfully parry the fuck out of them

@secondpersonshooter: I've been partying with the gun early and late. Love me a good gun party no matter what the sun's doing.

A small but hopefully useful tip - once you unlock the workshop tool make sure to check that your weapons don't need repairing. I was so deep into the game that I completely forgot and right in the middle of a boss battle my whip/cane broke and it was goodnight. It doesn't cost much to repair items.

Anyone wanna give me a tip on where I'm suppose to be going? Ive beaten 4 bosses at the first headstone. I beat the witches at the second headstone. I cant find a new path to follow at this point that isnt blocked by a locked door. The second headstone I only have 2 lamps lit and yet there are no new paths to follow from what I can find.... Ive searched around 3 times.

@handlas: I assume you've beaten Vicar Amelia? If you've explored around the Cathedral Ward you may have found a locked door requiring a password. By beating the aforementioned boss, you now have that password. I think I got stuck at that same point, I didn't realize that I knew the password after the fight.

okay that sounds familiar. Thanks!

If you've beaten the Blood-starved Beast, then I'm assuming you haven't been to the Grand Cathedral. In which case, you have to buy a handkerchief from the Messengers in the Hunter's Dream that costs 10k echoes. Then go to the Cathedral Ward, and take the left door. Go up the staircase that's being patrolled by the giant enemy; you'll be able to unlock the gate.

If you've beaten Vicar Amelia, then I'm assuming that haven't been to Old Yharnam. In which case, go to the Cathedral Ward, then take the door on the left. Don't go up the stairs that lead to the cathedral; head straight. There's a staircase that leads to a tomb/chapel. You should find your way from there. However,

Edit: I forgot that Old Yharnam is an optional area.

This is something I found useful personally. From what I've heard a lot of people did these areas/bosses in a different order, so much so that the wiki sites tend to number them in the reverse order that I did it, however I think my way might actually be more ideal.

So, I beat the optional boss (boss #3 aka the blood starved beast) before I did #4 Vicar Amelia. I still found Amelia a bit too hard so I wanted to level up a bit and wound up going to an optional area close to that #4 Hemlock, off to the left before the stairs to Amelia. There I got a ton of souls from enemies I found pretty easy and beat the next optional boss the witch of hemlock and which leads to you being able to use any runes you may have found, so I got to level up and I got an item that is very useful. I have yet to go back to Amelia, but I'm hoping this will be helpful, and I can always get more echoes from that area if it isn't.

So here's something that has been helping me a lot lately, it might not be for everybody, but once I adjusted to it I couldn't go back: in the PS4 accessibility settings, switch the button mappings for L1 and O. It does mean that you'll have to use L1 to back out of menus and use O to transform your weapon, but it also allows you to run and dodge without taking your thumb off of the right stick or contorting your hand. Now that I can look around and run/dodge at the same time I feel a lot more mobile in boss fights.

Any tips for One Reborn? Ive tried just hanging out right under it and slashing its exposed giggly red bits. Works well but once it hits 1/4 health the poison floor + fireballs kill me. It seems like if I kill the enemies at the top first, the boss gets harder because when I do that I cant get it below 1/2.

@superdomino: Killing of the witches at the upper floor makes the fight way easier, as you don't have to deal with the constant fireball plinking.

Once all six of them is dead, head down and position yourself so that you hit the side of the boss. Start stabbing away, look out for the basic attacks and stuff. When the puking begin, back away, clear some distance between yourself and the boss and make sure the puke despawn before charging back in. Repeat 'till dead.

One Reborn is fairly easy. Just make sure to position yourself at the side and most of his attacks can't even reach you.

Also when he lurches over hit his weak point for massive damage (little dude on top).

@pkmango7: Hit the crab for massive damage. Got it.

If you start with the Cane, swapping it over to it's whip form and then doing the heavy lunge attack (Forward + R2) gives both ridiculous range and damage. Good way to kill a lot of the enemies you don't want to be in close proximity to, like the bagmen or the brick ogres.