[HTML1]

Fact: Bloodborne is hard. That shouldn't come as a surprise, given director Hidetaka Miyazaki's reputation, but it bears repeating. Like Dark Souls and Demon's Souls before it, Bloodborne isn't a game that players can simply bash their way through. Victory in Bloodborne only comes after carefully observing enemies, coming up with plans, and not giving up after those plans inevitably go straight to hell.

So, yes, Bloodborne is hard - but that doesn't mean that it's impossible. Every enemy that plagues Yharnam can be beaten with the right strategy. To that end, From Software has filled the game with subtle hints and tips to help make your journey across the gothic metropolis a little easier. Pay close attention: sometimes, the trick to success is hidden in plain sight.

Take the game's third (or fourth) boss, for example. Dubbed "The Blood-Starved Beast," this lumbering, lanky monster seems like a formidable opponent, with his lunging attacks and close-proximity poison. Guess what? For players who know what they're doing, he's actually pretty easy. According to YouTube user Flatts, all you need to conquer the Blood-Starved Beast is an open mind and a few seconds with one particular item description…

Specifically, Flatts calls out the Pungent Blood Cocktails, which can be collected during players' journeys or purchased at the Hunter's Dream for 2,000 blood echoes (Bloodborne's in-game currency). In the Pungent Blood Cocktail's item description, the text notes that the projectile "releases an odor that attracts blood-thirsty beasts." You know who's blood-thirsty? The Blood-Starved Beast. Think about it. It's right there in his name.

With the help of a few Blood Cocktails (Flatts recommends four, although talented players can get away with only two), the Blood-Starved Beast becomes something of a pushover. Simply lob the cocktail into the distance, and the Beast will chase after it, giving players time to sneak up from behind. Unleashing a heavy attack, followed by a visceral attack, will slice off a significant chunk of the monster's health. Even better, if players act quickly, the Cocktail won't wear off during the attack, meaning the monster will still be distracted when he recovers.

That's it. Flatts also recommends arming yourself with fire paper and Molotov cocktails, as the Blood-Starved Beast seems particularly susceptible to fire, but the trick really comes down to using the Blood Cocktails correctly. If nothing else, this so-stupid-it's-amazing strategy demonstrates just how much care From Software has put into building Bloodborne's savage world, and proves that any of its many foes can be defeated with a little bit of forethought. Well, almost any: as of right now, there's still no way to conquer those pesky loading screens

Source: Flatts