Discover bloodborne how to access dlc with this complete guide. Learn the required steps, items needed, and location to enter The Old Hunters expansion.
Published: Bloodborne Wiki Editorial Team
Table of Contents
Introduction to Bloodborne's Expansion
Diving into FromSoftware's dark masterpiece can be a daunting challenge, but exploring the expansion adds an entirely new layer of terror and excitement. If you have been wondering about bloodborne how to access dlc, you are not alone; many players struggle to find the exact triggers required to start The Old Hunters expansion. Knowing the precise progression milestones saves you hours of wandering blindly through Yharnam.
According to community reports, simply purchasing the expansion is not enough to unlock its terrifying areas right away. You must hit specific story milestones in the base game before the game lets you cross into the new nightmare.
Defeat Vicar Amelia in the Grand Cathedral.
Examine the altar skull to change the world state to night.
Return to the Hunter's Dream to collect the crucial key item.
Travel to Cathedral Ward and let the enemy grab you.
Progression Requirements and Key Items
Before you can experience the new zones, weapons, and brutal bosses, your campaign must reach a specific turning point. Player experience shows that attempting to search for the expansion entrance too early yields no results. You must progress far enough to shift the time of day from afternoon to deep night.
Progression Step
Game Location
Objective
Boss Defeat
Grand Cathedral
Defeat Vicar Amelia
World State
Altar Behind Amelia
Touch the skull to trigger the night cutscene
Item Acquisition
Hunter's Dream
Receive the Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter
Once these conditions are met, the messengers in the Hunter's Dream will provide the necessary item on the steps. For more details on the game's official release and platform compatibility, you can check the Official PlayStation Store Page for Bloodborne.
Navigating to the Hunter's Nightmare
With the required key item safely in your inventory, your next destination is the Cathedral Ward. Walk out through the left-hand exit into the open square where patrolling enemies and executioners roam. Head toward the far right corner of this square, near the structure where players traditionally find the Hunter Set and Top Hat.
Warning
Do not attempt to fight the Lesser Amygdala hanging near the wall. You need to stand directly beneath it and allow its glowing vortex grab attack to teleport you.
Teleportation Detail
Description
Required Item
Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter
Grab Location
Far right of the Cathedral Ward plaza
Destination
The Hunter's Nightmare
Unlocking Fast Travel and Lamps
Surviving the grab brings you to the terrifying new zone known as The Hunter's Nightmare. This area mirrors the familiar layout of Yharnam's upper districts but is twisted into a blood-soaked gauntlet filled with maddened hunters and deadly new threats.
Tip
Your absolute first priority upon arriving in the nightmare is locating and lighting the nearest lamp to secure your checkpoint.
Action Item
Importance
Light the Lamp
Unlocks permanent fast travel via the Awakening Headstone
Insight Shop Area
Location of the headstone in the Hunter's Dream
Once the lamp is lit, you can freely travel back and forth between the base game and the expansion via the specific headstone located near the Insight Shop in the Hunter's Dream, right where the Doll kneels to pray.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main item needed for bloodborne how to access dlc?
You need the Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter, which appears on the steps in the Hunter's Dream after you defeat Vicar Amelia and interact with the altar skull.
Can I access the expansion in offline mode?
Yes, the expansion content is entirely playable offline as long as it is downloaded or included on your game disc, such as in the Game of the Year edition.
Do I need to finish the base game before playing the expansion?
No, you do not need to finish the base game. You can access the expansion as soon as you defeat Vicar Amelia and obtain the required key item, though the content is tuned for high-level characters.