Blood Gems in Bloodborne are pivotal upgrade items that players utilize to enhance their weapons at the Workshop. By socketing these gems into available gem slots, players can significantly improve their weapons’ stats and capabilities, tailored to fit various playstyles and combat strategies.

Sources of Blood Gems
Blood Gems can be obtained from several sources, primarily:
– Chalice Dungeons: These procedurally generated dungeons often house some of the rarest Blood Gems.
– Chests: Players can find gems hidden within chests scattered throughout the game world.
– Certain enemies: Defeating specific foes may reward players with unique Blood Gems.
– Special item consumption: Consuming particular items can yield Blood Gems as well.

Effects of Blood Gems
Blood Gems modify weapons in diverse ways, based on their type and the effects they impart, which include:

– Damage Type Increases: Gems can enhance various damage types—such as physical, blunt, thrust, arcane, fire, bolt, and blood—providing either flat or percentage-based boosts to damage output.

– Stat Scaling Adjustments: These gems can improve scaling for key attributes like Strength, Skill, Bloodtinge, or Arcane, thereby increasing damage based on how the player has invested their stats in those areas.

– Special Damage Effects: Some Blood Gems introduce unique damage effects, such as slow or rapid poison, or enhance rally potential—meaning they increase the amount of health a player can recover after dealing damage post-hit.

– Targeted Damage Bonuses: Certain gems are designed to increase damage against specific enemy types, such as Beasts or Kin, allowing for strategic advantages in combat.

– Cost Modifications: Gems can alter the stamina requirements for using a weapon or affect the weapon’s durability, either increasing or decreasing these costs, which can significantly impact combat tactics.

– Curses: Some Blood Gems come with negative effects, such as reducing overall damage or draining the player’s health over time.

Gem Structure and Compatibility
Blood Gems can possess up to three different effects, but the possible combinations are limited. They come in various shapes—circular, droplet, and triangle—each designed to fit specific weapon slot compatibilities, which adds an additional layer of strategy when selecting gems for weapons.

Unique Blood Gems
Certain unique Blood Gems are available that provide specialized or enhanced effects. For instance, some may boost physical attack power alongside rally potential or offer increased damage specifically against Beasts, making them exceptionally valuable for tailored builds.

Conclusion
In summary, Blood Gems are crucial for weapon customization in Bloodborne, permitting players to fine-tune their armaments for optimal performance in alignment with their individual combat preferences. This system not only enhances raw damage but also contributes elemental damage, improves stat scaling, and introduces utilities, resulting in a rich and diverse gameplay experience that encourages experimentation and strategic planning.