Mastering the Bloodborne Holy Moonlight Sword Guide
Discover how to acquire and master the bloodborne holy moonlight sword. Get expert stats, upgrade tips, and community combat strategies today.
Published: Bloodborne Wiki Editorial Team
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Iconic Weapon
Every seasoned hunter knows that wielding the right armament can completely redefine a playthrough, and few weapons capture this magic quite like the bloodborne holy moonlight sword. Whether you are slicing through beasts in the Yharnam streets or diving deep into the chalice dungeons, understanding the true potential of the bloodborne holy moonlight sword is essential for any arcane-focused build. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down everything you need to know about optimizing this legendary blade.
How to Obtain and Upgrade Your Weapon
Securing this masterpiece requires a journey through The Old Hunters expansion, crafted masterfully by FromSoftware. According to player experience and community reports, defeating Ludwig, The Holy Blade, is your primary hurdle. Once the boss falls, approach his remains wearing church attire to claim your prize smoothly.
Progress through the game and enter The Old Hunters DLC to challenge Ludwig, The Holy Blade.
Defeat Ludwig and return to the Underground Corpse Pile arena.
Equip any piece of church attire to converse with Ludwig's disembodied head.
Answer affirmatively to receive the weapon instantly, or let Simon the Harrowed handle it later if you miss the prompt.
Upgrading your arsenal correctly dictates your survival rate against late-game bosses. Here is a breakdown of the weapon's scaling evolution across enhancement tiers.
Early Enhancements (+0 to +3)
At base level, the weapon starts with D scaling in Strength and C in Arcane, requiring minimal investment to begin testing its basic sweeping attacks.
Mid-Tier Upgrades (+4 to +6)
Scaling shifts rapidly during these phases, with Strength improving to B and Arcane climbing to A, significantly boosting your elemental wave damage output.
Max Level Mastery (+7 to +10)
Reaching +10 solidifies its status as an elite weapon, keeping B scaling in Strength, C in Skill, and a phenomenal A scaling in Arcane.
Moveset Analysis and Combat Strategies
The versatility of this trick weapon stems from its dual-phase design. In its untransformed state, it functions as a reliable straight sword with sweeping horizontal arcs. Once transformed, it channels abyssal cosmos energy, allowing you to hurl devastating projectile waves at the cost of quicksilver bullets.
Tip
Always keep a stock of quicksilver bullets ready during the transformed state. Charged R2 attacks unleash powerful moonlight waves that can stagger tough opponents from a safe distance.
To help you choose the right approach for your combat style, consider the following tactical comparison between its two distinct states.
Weapon State
Primary Advantage
Quicksilver Bullet Cost
Best Combat Situation
Untransformed
Fast horizontal sweeps & thrusts
None
Close-quarters crowd control and narrow corridors
Transformed
Ranged moonlight projectile waves
1 per heavy attack / wave
Kiting aggressive bosses and staggering large targets
Transformed L2
Area knockdown shockwave
1 per activation
Creating breathing room when surrounded by mobs
Gem Optimization and Variant Selection
Maximizing your damage output requires selecting the correct weapon variant and blood gems. While the Normal variant drops naturally after defeating Ludwig, veteran hunters often hunt down Uncanny and Lost variants within the Chalice Dungeons to optimize gem slots.
Secure the Normal variant from the Underground Corpse Pile.
Explore Pthumeru Labyrinth glyphs if you prefer triangle and waning gem slots for Abyssal Nourishing setups.
Avoid fire or bolt elemental conversion gems, as they waste the weapon's inherent arcane scaling.
For an overview of how gem configurations impact your overall build effectiveness, review the following performance metrics gathered from community testing.
Variant Type
Primary Gem Slots
Best Gem Setup
Efficiency Rating
Normal Variant
Radial, Radial, Triangle
Odd / Abyssal Nourishing
High general viability
Uncanny Variant
Radial, Radial, Crescent
Abyssal Nourishing only
Moderate (limited slots)
Lost Variant
Radial, Triangle, Waning
Dual Abyssal Nourishing
Optimal late-game damage
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buff the bloodborne holy moonlight sword with consumable papers?
No, consumable items like Bolt Paper, Fire Paper, or the Empty Phantasm Shell cannot be applied to the bloodborne holy moonlight sword because it possesses innate arcane damage properties.
What stats should I prioritize when leveling up for this weapon?
You should focus primarily on Strength and Arcane. Meeting the minimum requirements of 16 Strength, 12 Skill, and 14 Arcane is the first step, followed by scaling both Strength and Arcane evenly for maximum damage returns.
Do transformed heavy attacks consume bullets even if they miss?
Yes, any transformed heavy attack (R2) or special wave activation consumes quicksilver bullets upon execution regardless of whether the projectile connects with an enemy.
