Bloodborneis considered by many to be one of the greatest Soulsborne games of all time. The combination of an excellent Lovecraftian world coupled with fast-paced and deadly combat makes for an amazing combination that fans simply can’t get tired of. The selection of weapons inBloodbornemight not be anywhere near as diverse asDark Souls, but it’s the uniqueness of each weapon that keeps them fresh and exciting. This is especially true when it comes to the firearms inBloodborne, of which there are many to select from. Parrying with a gun is a ton of fun, but players who opt for an appropriate build will turn their firearms into a force to be reckoned with.
Of course,using firearms effectivelyin combat is easier said than done, with players having to invest stats after putting a fair bit of thought into this decision while also hoarding enough Quicksilver Bullets to ensure that they never run out. This can seem like more trouble than it is worth, but players who want to make a playthrough ofBloodbornemore interesting will love relying on firearms to dish out a lot of damage in no time at all. Even if players run out of Quicksilver Bullets, they can always tap into their life force to get a few extra, although this requires players to keep a healthy store of Blood Vials on them at all times.
Updated on July 17, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Bloodborne is a game that needs no introduction, with this amazing title blowing the minds of fans at the time of release with a focus on aggressive combat coupled with its dark world and amazing lore that was a step above what Dark Souls brought to the table in every way. The sheer amount of love that was present in each and every corner of Bloodborne was present in both the base game and the lauded The Old Hunters DLC, with players getting access to a wealth of unique weapons that could turn the tide of battle in a flash. While melee weapons are certainly a blast to use in their own right, players who invest in stats like Bloodtinge and Arcane could use a wealth of unique ranged weapons that were pretty impressive when the situation called for it.
13Rifle Spear
A Weapon That Can Shoot Bullets Too
Most people would assume that the majority of firearms that players can get in the game can only be equipped in their off-hand. However, while this is true in the majority of instances, there are actually two weapons that players can wield in their main hand that have the ability to shoot bullets too. One of these is the Rifle Spear, a simple but deadly weapon in the right hands that can be obtained pretty early on, which already makes it an attractive option in the eyes of many.
However, many people don’t really enjoy using the Rifle Spear all that much, mainly because the weapon boasts one of the most boring movesets in the entire game. Given how many unique main-hand weapons there are in the game that are a lot of fun to use, it’s easy to see why most players won’t really enjoy using the moveset of a simple spear. While it can fire bullets, players have to wield it in the transformed two-handed state to enable the same, which can be more trouble than it’s worth.
12Hunter Blunderbuss
A Short-Range Weapon Perfect For Beginners Who Don’t Want To Struggle With Finicky Aim And Slow-Moving Bullets
The Hunter Blunderbuss is one of the first weapons players get to use inBloodborne. It’sa great weapon for beginnerswho can’t be bothered with trying to aim their shots at enemies during the game’s fast-paced combat. However, this weapon is only good at close range and is quite surpassed by other firearms. It doesn’t help that the Hunter Pistol is just as effective and can hit enemies at further ranges, something that is especially useful for bosses.
Ultimately, it doesn’t take that long for players to understand how firearms work in the game, and players would prefer to use ranged weapons that don’t mandate players to get right in a boss' face if they wished to stagger it. Given how some large enemies can be staggered with well-placed shots to the face, it’s easy to see why most players would want to upgrade from the Hunter’s Blunderbuss after taking off the kid gloves inBloodborne.
11Church Cannon
A Massive Cannon That Takes A Lot Of Quicksilver Bullets Per Shot
The Church Cannon is one of the unique weapons inBloodborne’s DLC. While it might be a fun weapon to use, it consumes a ton of Quicksilver Bullets and is pretty impractical in close-combat situations. It does no favors to this weapon whatsoever that a better variant of the cannon is present in the base game. All in all, the Church Cannon may be a fun weapon to use, but it pales in comparison to most other firearms in the game.
If players really want to use an explosive weapon against their enemies, then they’re better off using the regular cannon anyway. It may take two bullets more, but it does more damage and the deficit can always be made up by sacrificing some health to get extra bullets.
10Hunter Pistol
A Simple, No-Nonsense Ranged Weapon
The Hunter Pistol is another starting firearm along with the Blunderbuss. It boasts a higher level of damage than the Blunderbuss, although it can be hard to hit fast-moving enemies with this weapon at times.
However, with enough practice, players can easily stagger enemies with this weapon. Given its moniker as a starter weapon, there are other firearms that eclipse it in power over time.
9Reiterpallasch
Considered By Many To Be An Improvement Over The Rifle Spear
The other main hand weapon that players can use to shoot bullets is the Reiterpallasch, a unique weapon that is a blast to use in every way. This rapier has a decent moveset, but its true value shines once players realize how to use this weapon to shoot bullets in the blink of an eye. The fact that this weapon can be buffed, unlike the Rifle Spear, makes it even more useful in every way.
Parry-baiting becomes pretty easy if players use the transformed attack in a combo, allowing them to fire a Quicksilver Bullet in no time at all. It allows players to wield an off-hand weapon in both states, meaning that players can diversify their offensive playstyle byusing their main weapon to parry enemieswhile equipping a different kind of off-hand weapon as opposed to the majority of firearms that just fire bullets.
8Repeating Pistol
Shoots Two Bullets For Heightened Damage
The Repeating Pistol is a pretty powerful weapon that any player following a Bloodtinge build should definitely try using. It’s a powerful pistol that uses two Quicksilver Bullets for one shot to increase overall damage potential. This pistol is great for dealing damage but consumes a ton of bullets. Unless players can make up for this higher bullet usage, they should try using other firearms instead.
The fact that the fiercest hunter in the game, the Bloody Crow of Cainhurst, uses this weapon is a testament to how powerful the Repeating Pistol is. In the hands of the right build, this weapon can shave off an enemy’s life bar to kingdom come, making it perfect for long-range assaults.
7Piercing Rifle
Perfect For Hitting Multiple Enemies At Once
The Piercing Rifle is a unique weapon, mainly due to the nature of the bullet fired by it. Its bullets can go through enemies and hit others behind them, making for a satisfying hit when opponents are lined up perfectly.
However, trying to get a visceral attack in after staggering enemies with this weapon can be a task. This is mainly because the player-character needs some time to recover after using this weapon, which can lead to some frustrating missed opportunities.
6Ludwig’s Rifle
The Perfect Middle Ground Between The Blunderbuss And Pistol
Another weapon found in the DLC, Ludwig’s Rifle is a great weapon for fans of shotgun-like firearms in the game. It’s way more powerful than the Hunter Blunderbuss and hits at longer ranges also. It’s a great weapon that fans of scattershot weapons should get as soon as possible.
It’s also a good compromise between the widespread range of the Blunderbuss and the range of the Pistol. Players who are too used to the spread of the Blunderbuss but would prefer more range on the thing will love what Ludwig’s Rifle brings to the table.
5Evelyn
Does Immense Damage, Making It Perfect For Bloodtinge Builds
Players who want the ultimate single-shot firearm should look no further than the Evelyn. It’s an amazing weapon that can be found in Cainhurst’s Castle,an optional yet brilliant area in the game. Given how massive this area is, it’s a shame that a lot of people miss out on this weapon.
The Evelyn is a fan-favorite inBloodbornefor obvious reasons.It scales brilliantly with Bloodtingeand can absolutely destroy enemies with the right build. Players who are going for a quality build that focuses on Bloodtinge will find Evelyn to be right up their alley.
4Cannon
Hits Like A Truck But Takes A Lot Of Bullets With Each Shot
The Cannon is one of the most devastating weapons in the entire game. It packs a wallop and can potentially one-shot enemies if players have the right build. It’s great for taking out enemies at long ranges before they can even be aggroed.The sheer damage inflicted by this weaponmore than makes up for its high Quicksilver Bullet usage.
The biggest drawback of this weapon is the ridiculously high Quicksilver Bullet usage, which can be a huge pain to deal with. Players should invest in Bloodtinge and save this weapon for the many bosses they’ll encounter since the damage is best saved for tough foes or a group of enemies who can be challenging to deal with head-on.
