When one talks about some of the best exclusives to have ever released on the PS4, it goes without saying that Bloodborne would be an inevitable part of the conversation. Sony played a brilliant move by signing FromSoftware on a single exclusive title that is considered by many to be the greatest game ever released by the studio — a rather hefty statement, considering the impressive pedigree of FromSoftware. However, getting into Bloodborne itself is easier said than done — there are several aspects that need to be researched beforehand or explored extensively in-game, including the weapons themselves.
Bloodborne's weapons are quite limited in number, especially when compared to the wealth of weapons in Dark Souls. However, each weapon has a massive moveset, making them all unique in some form or the other. This also means that pretty much any weapon is viable for a hunter as long as they've got a proper build to accompany it. However, the community still has a habit of exaggerating the effectiveness of some weapons while downplaying the usefulness of others. Keeping this in mind, here are five examples each of the most overrated and underrated weapons in Bloodborne.
10 OVERRATED: Hunter's Axe
The Hunter's Axe is the recommended starting weapon for a Strength build and an absolute beast in the first few areas of the game.
However, as the game progresses and players get more familiar with the mechanics, they'll definitely get tired of the Hunter's Axe being nothing more than a one-trick pony. Aside from the R1 spam and a charged R2 in its transformed state, there's really nothing of note when it comes to this weapon.
9 UNDERRATED: Simon's Bowblade
The Old Hunters DLC is full to the brim with some of the best weapons in Bloodborne, which makes it a shame that most people have completely ignored Simon's Bowblade as a viable option for their character.
The fact of the matter is that Simon's Bowblade is pretty much a must-have for any player who wishes to diversify their moveset and improve their combat range. Most people in PvP absolutely hate Simon's Bowblade since it has the capacity to do substantial damage from both short and long-range.
8 OVERRATED: Reiterpallasch
The Reiterpallasch is considered to be an upgraded form of the Rifle Spear... which goes to show just how much of a useless weapon the Rifle Spear really is if something as mediocre as this weapon could surpass it in terms of sheer effectiveness.
The Reiterpallasch might have the unique ability to shoot a bullet from the weapon itself, but that's pretty much the only thing this boring weapon has going for it. Player's are better off trying out any other weapon with a gun in the off-hand instead since that increases the scope for damage by quite a massive extent.
7 UNDERRATED: Kos Parasite
There aren't really any weapons in Bloodborne that scale solely with Arcane, which is what makes the Kos Parasite such a unique weapon indeed.
While it might seem fairly weak in its base state, players can make the most of this weapon by equipping the Milkweed Rune, which increases damage by quite an extent and allows players to enjoy hyper armor with all of its moves.
6 OVERRATED: Tonitrus
The Tonitrus might seem like a nifty weapon to have in the early goings, with its transformation into an electrically-charged weapon being quite welcome in a game where the majority of bosses are weak to lightning.
However, that's pretty much the only reason why one would use the Tonitrus. The fact of the matter is that this weapon has one of the most boring movesets in the entire game, making it largely forgettable when compared to some of Bloodborne's other offerings.
5 UNDERRATED: Stake Driver
The Stake Driver might seem like a run-of-the-mill fast one-handed weapon... but there's one sole reason why this weapon can prove to be such a powerhouse in combat.
Pressing L1 allows players to prime the weapon's stake, which can be unleashed with a charged R2 to dish absolutely insane damage that can definitely one-shot most enemies in the game. The only drawback to this move is the fact that the Stake Driver takes the longest time to charge out of any other weapon in the game... but the end result more than makes up for it.
4 OVERRATED: Kirkhammer
In a game where speed and mobility are of the essence, wielding an unwieldy weapon with incredibly slow windups can prove to be rather detrimental in the grand scheme.
This is the biggest problem with the Kirkhammer. It might be a brilliant Strength-scaling weapon, but the hits itself are so slow that the player is bound to absorb some damage in the process.
3 UNDERRATED: Boom Hammer
The Boom Hammer is another DLC weapon that can seem rather underwhelming at first glance... before the player realizes just how much fun it is to use this weapon.
Using L1 to light up the weapon's fuse before bringing it down in an explosive hit — quite literally — never ceases to be satisfying, making the Boom Hammer a very viable weapon for any player who's pursuing a Strength build.
2 OVERRATED: Ludwig's Holy Blade
The majority of Bloodborne players have definitely used Ludwig's Holy Blade at one point in their playthrough, and it's easy to see why this is the case. After all, the fact of the matter is that this weapon is definitely one of the more easy-to-use and effective weapons in the game.
However, one has to mention that Ludwig's Holy Blade is an extremely boring weapon to use in Bloodborne, and shows no originality on behalf of the user whatsoever. If a player really wants to use a unique weapon to personify what Bloodborne is all about, then look no further than the...
1 UNDERRATED: Beast Claw
On its own, the Beast Claw won't turn any heads. It's a fairly basic Strength weapon, with the only positive aspect being its speed. However, coupling this weapon with the Beast's Embrace rune transforms the hunter into a werewolf-like creature, with his attacks permanently causing Beasthood — a double-edged sword in every way.
Using the Beast Claw with this rune pretty much transforms every fight in Bloodborne into a nail-biting encounter, where everything needs to happen in a flash as the player screeches like a beast during combat. It's adrenaline-inducing in the best way possible, making the Beast Claw one of the most underrated weapons in the game.