In Bloodborne, weapon upgrades and customization are crucial elements that can significantly impact your gameplay experience. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to effectively upgrade your weapons using Blood Stone materials and personalize them with Blood Gems.

1. Upgrading Weapons with Blood Stones

Upgrade Levels and Requirements:
– Weapons can be upgraded progressively from +1 to +10.
– Each upgrade level requires specific Blood Stone materials:
– +1 to +3: Blood Stone Shards
– +4 to +6: Twin Blood Stone Shards
– +7 to +9: Blood Stone Chunks
– +10: Blood Rock (this is the rarest material and is necessary for the final upgrade)

Quantities Needed Per Upgrade:
– The number of materials required for each upgrade varies:
– For example, to upgrade to +1, you will need 3 Blood Stone Shards; to reach +2, you will need 5, and so on. It’s essential to check the exact requirement for each level as it changes.

Upgrade Process:
– Ensure you have the weapon equipped that you wish to upgrade.
– Accumulate enough Blood Echoes, which serve as the game’s currency.
– Go to the Workshop bench located in the Hunter’s Dream to perform the upgrades.

2. Customizing Weapons with Blood Gems

Unlocking Gem Slots:
– Gem slots become accessible once your weapon reaches at least +6 upgrade level.

Required Items for Customization:
– To customize your weapon, you will need:
– At least one Blood Gem of your choice.
– The Blood Gem Workshop Tool, which allows you to add or remove Blood Gems from your weapons. This tool can be found on the path between Central Yharnam and Cathedral Ward.

Blood Gems Composition:
– Blood Gems can provide a variety of effects and stat boosts, enhancing the weapon’s performance. The effects depend on the type of Blood Gem inserted.

Customization Process:
– Using the Workshop interface, you can insert Blood Gems into the available slots of your weapon to gain different abilities or increase certain stats.

3. Key Tips for Upgrading and Customizing

– Choose Wisely: Before investing materials into upgrading a weapon, ensure it fits your playstyle and that you enjoy using it. Higher-level upgrades require rarer materials like Blood Stone Chunks and Blood Rocks, which can be tedious to farm.

– Farming Blood Stones: Certain areas, such as the upper Cathedral Ward, are known for having enemies that drop Blood Stone materials. This can be an effective way to gather the necessary components for upgrades.

– Late Game Strategy: As you progress, remember that weapon upgrades tend to yield greater damage boosts compared to leveling up character stats. Focusing on upgrading your weapons can be a more effective strategy later in the game.

Conclusion

In summary, to enhance your weapon’s performance in Bloodborne, carefully upgrade it from +1 to +10 using the appropriate tier of Blood Stone materials. After reaching higher upgrade levels, utilize the Blood Gem Workshop Tool to customize your weapon with Blood Gems, thereby enhancing its abilities and damage. This strategic approach to weapon upgrading and customization is essential for tackling the challenges that await you in the dark and intricate world of Bloodborne.