Finding the Best Weapon in Bloodborne early game can change everything. The right weapon boosts damage, gives you reach, helps with crowd control, and generally makes the first few difficult bosses far more manageable. If you choose poorly, you’ll be grinding or retreating more often. This guide will show you what weapons are strong early on, where to find them, and how to decide which Best Weapon in Bloodborne fits your playstyle.
What Defines the Best Weapon in Bloodborne Early Game
The Best Weapon in Bloodborne early game isn’t just about raw numbers. Several traits mark what makes a weapon shine in those first hours. Understanding these will help you identify weapons that are worth pursuing even before you’ve leveled up a lot.
Damage vs Speed vs Transform Mode
A weapon with high damage but very slow swings might leave you open to attacks. One with great speed but low damage might struggle on tougher enemies. The trick weapons in Bloodborne transform—one form might give you fast hits, the other reach or area control. A balanced transform mode (speed + damage + reach) often marks one of the Best Weapons in Bloodborne for early game.
Reach and Crowd Control
Early enemies often come in groups. Having reach or sweeping attacks helps you knock stagger enemies or avoid being surrounded. Weapons that extend your range via the transform mode—or with thrusts—help you stay safe and damage more effectively.
Upgrade Potential
Even the strongest starting weapon doesn’t stay the best forever unless it can scale with you. Upgrading via Blood Stone Shards, Twin Blood Stone Shards, etc., means the weapon continues to remain relevant. The Best Weapon in Bloodborne is often one you can frequently improve.
Weight and Stamina Cost
Heavy weapons drain stamina and slow dodges; light weapons let you keep moving, which counts heavily in Bloodborne’s combat. The ideal early game weapon balances good damage and utility without being so heavy that every dodge or sprint feels punished.
Accessibility
A weapon that is powerful but requires late‑game progress to obtain or high stats to wield may not help you in those early hours. The Best Weapon in Bloodborne early game can often be chosen as a starting weapon or purchased / looted quite early so you can start using it before facing tougher bosses.
Top Early Game Weapon Picks
These weapons are among the most recommended by players and guides when asking “What is the Best Weapon in Bloodborne early game?” Below are some of the standouts, with what distinguishes them.
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Saw Cleaver – Very popular for a reason. Strong in both its forms, it has speed, decent damage, good crowd control. A reliable all‑rounder.
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Hunter Axe – Slower swing than the Saw Cleaver but packs more punch, especially in transform mode. Useful vs armored or larger enemies.
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Threaded Cane – Offers excellent speed and versatility, especially in its transformed whip form. Good for dexterity‑oriented builds or players who prefer mobility.
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Saw Spear – Best reach of many early weapons. Thrusts keep enemies at bay. Great when you want more space to react.
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Beast Cutter – High damage and satisfying visuals; its transform can help with clearing crowds or staggering bosses.
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Tonitrus – If you’ve invested even a little in Bloodtinge or want elemental variety, this lightning weapon gives utility and burst potential early.
Where to Find the Best Weapon in Bloodborne Early On
Knowing which weapons are good is part of the puzzle; knowing where to get them early is what makes the difference. Here are locations and conditions for acquiring some of the weapons above as early as possible.
Starting Choices and Merchant Offers
When you begin Bloodborne, you choose a starting weapon. If you pick options like the Saw Cleaver, Hunter Axe, or Threaded Cane, you immediately acquire weapons many consider among the Best Weapon in Bloodborne for early game.
After some early progression you’ll reach the Hunter’s Dream and Bath Messengers who offer weapon purchases. Sometimes you need to defeat specific bosses or unlock certain badges to access better trick weapons or firearms.
Specific Locations for Recommended Weapons
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Saw Spear becomes purchasable from Bath Messenger after you defeat Father Gascoigne.
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Tonitrus is found along the street outside Yahar’gul Chapel in a corpse at the top of a hill, through a path with enemies and skeletons.
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Beast Cutter can be received as an early drop (depending on your choices in the first Chalice Dungeon or other early adventure spots).
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Saw Cleaver, if not chosen as a starter, can eventually be bought or found via merchants or messengers once you gain certain badges.
How to Pick Your Best Weapon in Bloodborne
Even among excellent early game options, what’s “best” depends heavily on how you play. Here’s how you can decide which “best” weapon suits you:
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If you value speed and mobility, go with Threaded Cane or Saw Cleaver.
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If you want heavy hits and don’t mind slower attacks, Hunter Axe or Beast Cutter will satisfy that.
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If you want safe spacing or feel cautious, weapons with great reach (Saw Spear, transformed forms) help you avoid getting overwhelmed.
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If you plan to specialize in elemental or special builds (Bloodtinge, Arcane), then investing in Tonitrus or weapons with special buffs / gem slots gives you long‑term value.
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Upgrade early: even a +2 or +3 version of any of these tends to outperform many un‑upgraded or late‑acquired weapons, making your early game smoother.
7 Steps to Secure and Master the Best Weapon in Bloodborne Early Game
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Choose a starting weapon in Hunter’s Dream that aligns with your desired playstyle (damage vs speed vs transformation).
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Explore until you can unlock messenger purchases; save your Insight / blood echoes to afford desired weapons.
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Defeat early bosses (like Father Gascoigne) to unlock badge rewards that open up new weapons in messenger stock.
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Loot key areas properly — corpses, rooftop drops, Chalice Dungeons — as many great weapons drop early in specific spots.
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Upgrade your weapon as soon as possible; early Blood Stone Shards make huge differences.
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Practice transform mode and learn movesets; knowing when to switch forms or use heavy attack vs light will save you from hits.
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Adjust your stats slightly to meet weapon requirements without sacrificing too much vitality or stamina early—some flexibility matters.
Why These Weapons Tend to Be the Best Early Game Choices
These weapon picks are strong early because they check multiple boxes: decent base damage, useful transform modes, reasonable weight, upgrade paths, and accessibility. They let you clear mobs more safely, manage stamina and crowds, and face bosses earlier with confidence rather than fear.
Many players report that choosing something like the Saw Cleaver or Hunter Axe from the start lets them bypass much of the struggle in early stages of Bloodborne. They reduce backtracking, make exploring feel less punishing, and let you focus more on learning mechanics instead of constantly dying.
Final Thoughts
The Best Weapon in Bloodborne early game isn’t one fixed item—it’s the one that fits your style, you can access early, and you’ll invest in upgrading and mastering. For many, Saw Cleaver is the safest all‑round choice, Threaded Cane gives high mobility, Hunter Axe for power, and options like Tonitrus for special builds. Secure one of them early, keep upgrading, practice transforms and reach, and you’ll find early game significantly less brutal.
