Which Weapon Leads the Bloodborne Trick Weapons Tier List?
Compare Bloodborne trick weapons by moveset, damage potential, reach, speed, transformation value, and build requirements.
Bloodborne’s trick weapons are unusual because every option has a complete move set, two forms, and a reason to exist. A lower tier does not mean the weapon cannot finish the game. It means the weapon asks for more build commitment, matchup knowledge, or risk before it reaches the same dependable result.
Which Bloodborne Trick Weapons Belong in S Tier?
Ludwig’s Holy Blade, Saw Cleaver, and Whirligig Saw form the S tier. Ludwig’s offers a forgiving mix of speed and heavy reach. Saw Cleaver is available early and gains serrated value against beasts. Whirligig Saw combines pressure, stagger, and excellent Strength scaling once The Old Hunters content is available.
This ranking covers PvE with proper upgrades and suitable gems. It values move-set coverage, damage potential, rally, reach, stagger, and how soon the weapon becomes practical. Player-versus-player spacing and specialized gem setups would produce a different board.
How were these rankings decided?
The list measures Bloodborne trick weapons for hunters choosing weapons for a first playthrough, New Game Plus, chalice dungeons, or a focused build. Its main rule is overall PvE performance with a complete moveset, useful transformation, reasonable build support, and consistency across enemy types. Each entry is checked against the four topic-specific standards below.
Moveset quality
Fast openers, useful follow-ups, horizontal crowd control, vertical reach, and safe recovery make a weapon dependable.
Damage and scaling
Raw output matters, but it is considered alongside stat investment, gem support, stamina cost, and access during progression.
Transformation value
A great trick weapon offers two truly useful forms and strong transformation attacks without one dominant mode.
Range and matchup coverage
Reach, stagger, speed, damage type, and serrated or righteous properties can make difficult enemy groups much easier to manage.
Why does each choice belong in its tier?
Why is S tier placed here?
Saw Cleaver combines speed, serrated damage, efficient stamina use, and excellent transformation attacks from the beginning. Ludwig’s Holy Blade is accessible and flexible, while Whirligig Saw delivers extraordinary pressure and damage for Strength builds.
Entries: Saw Cleaver, Ludwig’s Holy Blade, Whirligig Saw.
Why is A tier placed here?
These weapons have deep, powerful movesets and excellent ceilings. Their stat requirements, late access, health management, or build commitment make them less universal than the S-tier choices.
Entries: Holy Moonlight Sword, Rakuyo, Chikage.
Why is B tier placed here?
B-tier weapons provide valuable reach, crowd control, or style-specific strengths. They may need more practice, careful spacing, or later access before their advantages become obvious.
Entries: Burial Blade, Threaded Cane, Beast Cutter.
Why is C tier placed here?
These remain effective in the right hands but carry more noticeable moveset gaps, stat questions, or matchup limitations. A committed player can still build an excellent run around any of them.
Entries: Kirkhammer, Reiterpallasch, Rifle Spear.
Why is D tier placed here?
Some weapons need a rune, specialized stats, strong gems, or substantial upgrade materials before their identity works. Judging them without that support produces a weak practical option, even when the completed build is much stronger.
Entries: Kos Parasite without the supporting setup, Unupgraded late-game weapons.
Why are the Saw Cleaver and Saw Spear always strong?
Both saw weapons have fast untransformed attacks and transform sequences that fit into an aggressive combo. Serrated damage helps against many beast enemies, including important early bosses. Their speed also makes them friendly to buffs and Beast Blood Pellet play.
The Spear trades some of the Cleaver’s straightforward Strength lean for thrust access and a move set many Skill hybrids prefer. The difference is small enough that comfort should decide. Both teach the close-range rhythm the game rewards.
Which weapons need the most build planning?
Chikage becomes dangerous when Bloodtinge is high and the player manages the transformed form’s health drain. Holy Moonlight Sword wants a spread that supports both physical swings and arcane waves. Logarius’ Wheel can be built around unusual multi-hit and arcane interactions, but it is less forgiving than a simple physical weapon.
These tools rise sharply in a dedicated build and fall in a first-playthrough list. Their requirements, gem needs, or health costs are real opportunity costs, not reasons to call the weapons bad.
How important is a weapon’s transformed move set?
The best trick weapons use both forms to cover different ranges or tempos. Threaded Cane switches from quick close cuts to a long crowd-control whip. Kirkhammer pairs a sword with heavy stagger. Burial Blade uses sweeping transformed attacks to control groups.
A ranking that tests only one form misses half the design. Practice transform attacks between normal strikes, because those moves often provide the smoothest path from one range to another.
What causes bad Bloodborne weapon comparisons?
- Ranking a weapon at base upgrade against one supported by endgame blood gems.
- Ignoring transformation attacks and evaluating only the default form.
- Assuming the highest displayed attack rating always creates the safest or fastest result.
- Treating a late-game specialist as a good first-playthrough recommendation without discussing access.
Which build details should be recorded with this list?
Bloodborne’s official balance is stable, but community discoveries, chalice gem routes, and different level caps change optimization discussions. State whether the list targets ordinary PvE, low-level play, or player-versus-player combat.
Turn this Bloodborne trick weapons ranking into a personal board for hunters choosing weapons for a first playthrough, New Game Plus, chalice dungeons, or a focused build with the free RespawnGuide tier list maker. If letter grades hide an important difference, choose descriptive tier labels that state this topic’s scoring rule clearly.
What are the most common questions?
What is the best Bloodborne trick weapon for beginners?
Saw Cleaver is the strongest beginner recommendation because it is fast, efficient, available immediately, and effective against many early beasts. Ludwig’s Holy Blade is another accessible all-rounder.
Is every trick weapon viable?
Yes. Bloodborne supports completing the game with every trick weapon when stats, upgrades, gems, and playstyle match the weapon. Tiers describe convenience and versatility, not basic viability.
Why is the Threaded Cane not ranked higher?
Its range and crowd control are excellent, but its early damage and spacing requirements can be less forgiving than the Saw Cleaver. Skilled cane users may reasonably place it in A tier.
Which trick weapon is best for a first playthrough?
Choose Saw Cleaver or Saw Spear for an early, fast weapon that stays powerful. Ludwig’s Holy Blade is the easiest broad recommendation once available. Players who already know their preferred stat should select the specialist that rewards it, then judge the full two-form move set before spending late upgrade materials.