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Bloodborne is not a particularly helpful game and it certainly won't offer any Bloodborne: The Old Hunters tips to help with it's new DLC. It won’t help you out with the most simple hints – Bloodborne never actually tells you how to equip your starting weapons, for example – but it will massively reward you if you have the initiative to see through its oft-convoluted UI and systems. You can tell it's cut from the same cloth as Dark Souls, in that respect.
Starting a whole new part of your adventure away from the main game in The Old Hunters makes you remember this fact all over again. There are hidden bits of lore scattered here, vague hints about how to progress tucked away over there. It can be exhausting, hunting for all these breadcrumbs on your own. Fret not, then, as we draw upon our very own blood, sweat and tears to bring you a definitive guide to everything you need to know in The Old Hunters.
How to start Bloodborne The Old Hunters DLC
In a move that should shock no one, Bloodborne doesn't directly tell you how to reach its new DLC area, the Hunter's Nightmare. Thankfully, it isn't too difficult. After you beat Vicar Amelia in the Grand Cathedral (you'll know her when you see her), you'll get access to the Grand Cathedral lamp. Return to the Hunter's Dream, and the messengers will be waiting for you on the steps of the workshop with an 'Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter'. That tucked into your inventory, head to the Cathedral Ward lamp and go out the leftmost door (the one that leads to Old Yarnham if you follow the path further). Under a tree to your right, there will be a dead body; stand next to it, and a giant purple orb will approach you. Let it touch you, and don't be afraid of what comes next - sit through the crushing pain, and you'll find yourself landing safely in the Hunter's Nightmare. 'Safely'.
Level up before you take on Bloodborne The Old Hunters DLC
You may get access to the Hunter's Nightmare fairly early in the game, but don't assume you're ready to tackle it right then - I personally had to double the level I was at during the Vicar Amelia fight before I felt comfortable taking on the Nightmare. The stage at which you're ready to face the beasts within obviously depends on your skill - Souls aficionados may be able to merrily traipse through the bloodbath without difficulty, but don't feel bad if you're not there yet, because you're not supposed to be. Play through the rest of the game, level up a bit, and by the time you come back, those hunters won't seem nearly as formidable.
If you start a NG+ you'll have to play a lot of the game again to get to Bloodborne The Old Hunters DLC
If you've already beaten Bloodborne at least once, you know that it immediately prompts you to start a New Game+ file that writes over your previous save. Unfortunately, if you went ahead with that new-game creation and then gave it a rest for a few months, you're in for a nasty surprise: you'll have to play all the way up to the Grand Cathedral to get access to the Nightmare again, and probably a lot further if you need those levels buffs to get by. That's a painful realization, and it may make you reconsider if you want to try out the DLC at all - that's your choice to make, but if you can stomach the extra few hours of play, the reward is well worth it.
Bloodborne The Old Hunters DLC bosses are hard and don't really have any exploits
The Old Hunters' bosses are some of the most brutal you'll encounter in all of Bloodborne, not just because they're incredibly difficult, but also because there's no real special trick to beating them. Where many boss fights in the main game can be made easier by exploiting a certain weakness - the Blood-starved Beast will be distracted by pungent blood cocktails, and The One Reborn gets weaker if you kill the bell maidens surrounding it - The Old Hunters' bosses aren't so fragile, and you'll have to take them all on the hard way. So don't feel bad if you can't figure out the secret to taking them out - just keep at it, or better yet, use our Bloodborn The Old Hunters Bosses guide.
Save your bloodstones as there are new weapons to upgrade n Bloodborne The Old Hunters DLC
After you decide which weapon is your one true love and have it fully buffed, you might be tempted to spend your bloodstones on a less-enticing backup blade, or even sell them to get a few extra blood echoes. Don't do that to yourself. The new expansion holds a whole new armory of deadly gear, from a glowing moon-sword to a sloppy but beautiful sawblade-on-a-stick, so it's entirely possible you'll find a weapon that you truly adore in the Nightmare's darkest crevices. Having no bloodstones left to upgrade your new baby is heartbreaking, especially if you haven't leveled your Arcane stat enough to increase item drops significantly (side note: do that). So instead of trying to farm low-level enemies for low returns, keep a bushel of bloodstones tucked away for safekeeping. You won't lose anything but some throwaway weapons you didn't care about anyway.
Old Hunter partners can be helpful in battle, but aren't always up to the challenge
The Old Hunters introduces more than just a challenge map that'll ruin your self-esteem and new encounters that make Rom the Vacuous Spider look like a ladybug: it also distributes summon points near most of the major bosses, giving you the opportunity to summon NPC hunters to fight alongside you. However, it's worth remembering that they won't always be on par with you in combat, because their levels don't scale with yours. In fact, sometimes they'll be so far below your current level count that you're better off treating them like a distraction device than a true partner in monster-slaughter. Consider it on a case-by-case basis, and decide if it feels like summoning them (which costs one precious Insight each time) is really worth it to you.
You can use the chalice dungeons to get quick Insight
Let's say you do decide summoning those NPC partners is worth the cost, but end up calling for help so often that you run out of Insight. While progressing through the base game will usually help you get more (unexplored areas tend to have a lot of Insight-granting Madman's Knowledge, and you'll gain a few each time you encounter a boss), the Chalice Dungeons make for a quick pick-me-up when you don't have time to wait. A vast sequence of optional dungeons filled to the stalactites with beasts, it also has plenty of bosses that will grant you Insight when you first meet in battle, and even more when you make fillets out of them. If you want to make sure you have a nice stash of Insight waiting in case of emergency, don't even bother with the dungeons until you're really in need. That way you'll be strong enough to wipe the floor with early bosses, and won't have to break your back for a few extra sprigs of currency.
Don't panic
This really goes for all of Bloodborne, but bears repeating: you can do this. As difficult as the game is meant to be - especially The Old Hunters, which is effectively a set of challenge bosses when the main game isn't tough enough for you - it's not impossible, and once you figure out how to stay calm and in control of the battle, you will get there. Take your time and figure out how to take on each encounter individually, in the way that works best for you. This game is in the bag as long as you can keep your head.
