Highlights

• Bloodborne is a challenging PS4 exclusive with fast-paced combat, Skill builds offer swift weapons for intense gameplay experience.
• The Best Skill Weapons in Bloodborne range from Rifle Spear to Rakuyo, each with unique strengths and weaknesses to consider.
• Choosing the right weapon, like the Church Pick or Ludwig's Holy Blade, can greatly impact a player's success in Bloodborne's world.

Bloodborne is easily one of the greatest and most challenging games on the PS4. Sony did a brilliant job of making an exclusive deal with FromSoftware to create a game that combined the core tenets of Dark Souls with fast-paced gameplay that made for such an incredible experience that a sequel wouldn't go amiss. Miyazaki's creativity was on full display with this brilliant title that is widely beloved by many for a whole host of reasons, including the ones described above.

The combat is definitely a standout, with players who opt for a Skill build signing themselves up for some truly intense combat with weapons that hit faster and provide the player with more mobility, at the cost of total damage. However, the DPS of most Skill weapons more than makes up for the lower damage per hit, and the following Skill weapons will truly let players defeat any enemy that they might encounter in the world of Bloodborne.

Updated on March 31, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Bloodborne is a video game that needs no introduction. The sheer amount of love and care put into making each and every part of this astounding game come to life is in a league of its own. To this day, many people consider Bloodborne to be the greatest PS4 exclusive of all time, which is a hefty statement indeed. Players who want to check out this love letter to Lovecraft's work will ideally want to use the best weapon possible to take out their enemies, preferably one that adheres to their build. One of the best ways for players to maximize their damage in Bloodborne is to pursue a Skill build, letting them make the most of swift weapons that can throw most enemies in for a loop as they're trapped in a combo string of swift, damaging attacks until they're down for the count.

The Best Skill Weapons In Bloodborne

If someone is simply looking for a quick breakdown of the game's greatest Skill weapons, they will find that information in the upcoming table. Please note that the weapons are listed from worst to best.

12 Rifle Spear

A Unique Hybrid Weapon That Is Fun But Tough To Master

• Stat Requirements: 10 Strength, 11 Skill, 9 Bloodtinge
• Scaling: Strength (D), Skill (B), Bloodtinge (B), Arcane (C)

The Rifle Spear is a tricky beast to use in the game. Its normal moveset is pretty decent and gets the job done, but it can't be denied that there are way better weapons that scale better with Skill and also have more utility in combat. That being said, most of these weapons don't boost the amazing transformed state of the Rifle Spear, which truly lets players maintain a distance as they land both melee and ranged attacks.

That being said, players need to invest quite a bit in Bloodtinge for these ranged attacks to actually feature some substantial damage. While most people would assume that the Rifle Spear's transformed state can be used to both stagger enemies and go in for a quick visceral attack, the timing of the shot needs to be quite precise. Unlike the Hunter's Pistol and other such firearms, the Rifle Spear's ranged attack is fairly delayed and keeps the player locked in the animation for longer.

As a result, the Rifle Spear becomes a rather situational weapon that won't really fit in with everyone's playstyle. Even if players make a build around this weapon, many would argue that the Reiterpallasch is a better fit. However, the Rifle Spear is not a complete slouch and can carry players all the way to the endgame... as long as they're willing to invest in the required stats.

11 Threaded Cane

A Starter Weapon That Relies On The Player's Skill

• Stat Requirements: 7 Strength, 9 Skill
• Scaling: Strength (E), Skill (A), Arcane (B)

A lot of players absolutely detest the Threaded Cane, especially if they weren't aware of the weapon's nature when they decided to take it as a starter weapon. It might be really cool to whack enemies around with a cane, but the base damage of this weapon is significantly weaker than the other two starters, which can make the early areas a massive challenge.

However, the Threaded Cane's greatest asset is its transformed state, which sacrifices attack speed for greater range and bonus serrated damage as well. Given how many beasts are present in the early game, this serrated damage is a huge bonus. It also lets players perform efficient crowd control, which is a must given the fast-paced and savage enemies of Bloodborne.

While it's true that there are way better weapons that players can use to maximize their Skill build, the Threaded Cane should not be overlooked either. It's a great weapon to use, and there's no denying that controlling a Hunter who canes his enemies to death is quite fascinating indeed! Still, only the most skilled players around should pick the Threaded Cane as their starting weapon in Bloodborne, since beginners may find themselves giving up if they pick this weapon only to realize just how frustrating it is in the hands of someone who can't maximize its potential.

10 Reiterpallasch

Another Gun-Weapon Hybrid That Many Consider To Be Superior To The Rifle Spear

• Stat Requirements: 8 Strength, 12 Skill, 10 Bloodtinge
• Scaling: Strength (E), Skill (A), Bloodtinge (D), Arcane (B)

The Reiterpallasch is widely ignored by most Bloodborne players since the idea of using what seems like an upgraded Rifle Spear seems like a boring thing to do, but the fact of the matter is that the Reiterpallasch is a great weapon for Skill builds once they get used to the moveset.

It allows players to shoot a bullet that can stagger enemies in a rather cool manner. It's also worth noting that Skill increases the damage of Visceral attacks, which can lead to some rather amazing gameplay moments indeed. However, staggering enemies with the built-in gun of this weapon requires a bit of effort, so players should make it a point to practice a bit with this weapon against weak enemies before deciding to tackle some of the tougher locations.

This rapier has A-tier scaling with Skill when fully upgraded, allowing it to deal great damage. It mostly has thrusting attacks, which allows players to maintain their distance for an easier time when out hunting beasts. This blade can be found in the Forsaken Cainhurst Castle or bought from the Bath Messengers after one acquires the Cainhurst Badge.

9 Saw Spear

The Skill-Based Variant Of The Iconic Saw Cleaver

• Stat Requirements: 7 Strength, 8 Skill
• Scaling: Strength (D), Skill (C), Arcane (C)

The brother of the Saw Cleaver is pretty much identical to its counterpart, with the sole difference being its transformed state and the scaling of the weapon. The Saw Spear scales better with Skill builds, making it a great starting weapon for players who wish to start off their game on a high note — even though obtaining this weapon itself might require some work. However, a Saw Spear benefits more from a Quality build as opposed to a purely Skill-based one, so players who wish to main this weapon would do well to keep this in mind.

Gaining a C-tier in both Skill and Arcane allows players to include some more ethereal attacks in their offense to become a dominating force that will make all Kin enemies quake in fear. The Saw Spear's Serration-type damage also makes it ideal for taking down bestial monstrosities. It can be picked up from the warehouse in Central Yharnam off of a corpse or purchased from the Bath Messengers after obtaining the Saw Hunter Badge.

The only negative one can saw about this weapon is that the moveset is a bit boring, which is a huge point to take into consideration in a game that prioritizes quality over quantity when it comes to the weapons. Sure, the Saw Spear is effective against the toughest foes, but most players may get bored of its boring combos and choose to try out another weapon after a point in the game.

8 Simon's Bowblade

An Incredible PvP Weapon In The Right Hands

• Stat Requirements: 8 Strength, 15 Skill, 9 Bloodtinge
• Scaling: Skill (S), Bloodtinge (S), Arcane (C)

One of the more unique weapons in the DLC that is widely reviled by most of the PvP experts, Simon's Bowblade is an excellent weapon for both close and long-range combat. While the untransformed state is nothing to write home about, the fact that this weapon turns into a bow in its transformed state makes for quite a unique combat experience. Of course, it has to be mentioned that Simon's Bowblade is one of the few weapons that has S scaling in Bloodborne.

This blade and bow hybrid gains S-tier scaling in both Skill and Bloodtinge, making it a very deadly ranged weapon, particularly at higher levels. As a bow in a world of guns, one would not expect this weapon to hold its own against the likes of rifles and shotguns, however, each arrow loosed by Simon's Bowblade deals significantly more damage than most common firearms.

7 Beasthunter Saif

A Fun, If Somewhat Simple Weapon From The Old Hunters DLC

• Stat Requirements: 9 Strength, 11 Skill
• Scaling: Strength (D), Skill (B), Arcane (C)

For the most part, one might argue that the Beasthunter Saif and the Saw Spear are pretty much one and the same. However, the fact of the matter is that there are enough differences — such as better Skill scaling — to separate it from its counterparts. The Beasthunter Saif is a pretty reliable weapon, although one must admit that its moveset isn't really the most interesting thing in the world.

Its B-tier scaling with Skill may not be impressive by itself, though it is far from a negative trait. As the Beasthunter Saif's in-game description implies, it gets outclassed by other serrated weapons. It can essentially be seen as a prototype for the Saw Spear in the lore of this dark world. One thing that it does better than its later-created counterparts is that it is a fair bit quicker and has a moveset that includes a few handy evasive attacks that can be great against faster foes.

Given how awesome the weapons added in The Old Hunters are, some people may consider the Beasthunter Saif to be the most vanilla one of the bunch. However, that shouldn't take away from its allure in the slightest, and there are some players who would love to check out this alternate take on the Saw Cleaver and Spear.

6 Ludwig's Holy Blade

A Favorite Weapon For Many And Godlike In PvE

• Stat Requirements: 16 Strength, 12 Skill
• Scaling: Strength (B), Skill (B), Arcane (A)

Ludwig's Holy Blade might suit Quality builds more than pure Skill builds, but there's no denying just how powerful this weapon is even with the latter. While this weapon might be reviled by many for being overused by many Bloodborne players, there's no denying the fact that Ludwig's Holy Blade is a great weapon regardless.

Boasting some of the best combined scaling out of all weapons, this transforming sword gains B-tier scaling in both Strength and Skill as well as an impressive A-tier scaling with Arcane. Additionally, both its longsword form and its greatsword form are Righteous weapons, which means that they gain a massive 50% damage boost versus a few kinds of foes that are considered mortal enemies of the Healing Church.

5 Church Pick

A Powerful Weapon And A Great Showcase Of How Expertly-Crafted The DLC Was

• Stat Requirements: 9 Strength, 14 Skill
• Scaling: Strength (D), Skill (B), Arcane (C)

The Church Pick is definitely a great and reliable weapon that hunters can use through their journey in the unending dream. The fact that this weapon counts as both Righteous and Serrated allows it to do bonus damage to a ton of enemies, with its Thrusting attacks making it effective against Kin enemies who normally don't tend to take as much damage as some of the other enemies in the game.

Both its longsword and warpick form offer great speed, which, as usual, is very handy in dodging attacks as well as staggering enemies with consecutive strikes. Its B-tier scaling with Skill is nothing to write home about, though it doesn't really need higher stat-related boosts as it already gets a ton of damage multipliers against enemies.

4 Chikage

A Cool Katana That Can Be Buffed With Blood Damage

• Stat Requirements: 10 Strength, 14 Skill, 12 Bloodtinge
• Scaling: Strength (E), Skill (B), Bloodtinge (S), Arcane (D)

The Chikage definitely benefits from an equal investment in both Skill and Bloodtinge, but no one can deny the effectiveness of this weapon for a Skill build regardless. However, maximizing its damage mandates the need to invest in Bloodtinge, since the payoff is more than worth it. In its transformed state, the Chikage can hit for massive damage (and look really good while doing it, too).

Appropriate for its name, which translates to something like "blood shadow" in Japanese, this katana is just as deadly as it sounds due to its ability to deal pure Bloodtinge damage. This means it can decimate many human, beast, and Kin foes alike. Furthermore, it comes with a Rapid Poison effect that pairs quite well with its attack speed, letting hunters deal great damage as well as poison adversaries.

3 Blade Of Mercy

A Dual-Wielding Weapon With An Expansive Moveset

• Stat Requirements: 7 Strength, 11 Skill
• Scaling: Skill (S), Arcane (B)

There are not many weapons in Bloodborne with S scaling in Skill. We've already talked about Simons's Bowblade, and the next weapon on this very short list is the Blade Of Mercy. The fact that this weapon is the reward of an excellent quest line makes the Blade Of Mercy all the more satisfying to use. While the range of this weapon might be less than impressive, it more than makes up for this deficit with an amazing moveset, some of the fastest combos in the game when transformed, and quickstep & rolling attacks that hit for substantial damage.

Players may be caught off guard by its natural increase in attack speed, however, they are not simply hallucinating. By repeatedly inputting light attacks while this blade is in trick mode, the slashes will progressively speed up, which makes for a rapid way to drain a foe of life. The only thing really limiting this overpowered feature is the wielder's stamina bar. Additionally, the Blade of Mercy also has a great evasive attack that slashes at an enemy horizontally before leaping backward, away from danger.

2 Burial Blade

Gerhman's Iconic Scythe Hits Like A Truck

• Stat Requirements: 10 Strength, 12 Skill
• Scaling: Strength (D), Skill (B), Arcane (B)

The Burial Blade is an easy recommendation for anyone who wishes to replay Bloodborne again in NG+. It's a shame that this weapon can't be used in a player's first run since one can only gain access to it after defeating Gehrman, who is fought at the very end of Bloodborne.

However, one can make a strong case that this weapon itself is enough of a reason to replay Bloodborne, since the Burial Blade is an absolute beast with a wide reach and strong attacks that can absolutely decimate mobs of enemies with the greatest of ease, rendering some challenging areas into a whole different ballgame.

Many consider it to be a better version of the Hunter's Axe, as its regular form is a reliable one-handed weapon while its trick mode acts as a deceptively long polearm. The Burial Blade's long reach in trick mode also lets its wielder stay out of range of many attacks by enemies while slashing at them with near impunity.

1 Rakuyo

A Beautiful Dual-Wield Weapon With Impressive Damage

• Stat Requirements: 10 Strength, 20 Skill
• Scaling: Skill (A), Arcane (C)

Lady Maria's boss fight is easily one of the highlights of The Old Hunters DLC, and it would only make sense that her blade is one of the best Skill weapons in Bloodborne. While obtaining this blade is one of the biggest challenges that any gamer will face, the end result is more than worth it. The Rakuyo is a great weapon and allows the player to be a true whirlwind of death in Bloodborne, which is saying a lot.

Strangely, the Rakuyo is not dropped by the mighty Lady Maria after (though, more like "if") she is defeated. It is found in the Fishing Hamlet, down a well. It is possessed by a Giant Fishman, which at first seems very odd, though if players read its description, they will learn of Maria's mutual love and disdain for this weapon from a foreign land that led her to eventually toss it down a decrepit well.