Bloodborne offers a vast world filled with fascinating lore, characters, and bosses that all come together to make a perfect blend of atmospheric horror that you can't get enough of no matter how much time you sink into it. However, there's one mechanic that can often be frustrating and hard to understand, even by FromSoftware's standards, and that's the game's Chalice Dungeons.

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Depending on who you talk to, Chalice Dungeons can bring the game's pace to a grinding halt and bring a level of exasperation to even the most veteran of Soulsborne players. However, streamlining the Chalice Dungeons makes the process straightforward, cutting most of the confusion and farming out of the mix.

Updated August 1, 2023, by Seth Parmer: It's been a couple of years since we've pushed this guide out into the world, and quite a lot has changed since then, encouraging us to revisit this guide to apply a fresh coat of paint to it. While all the Chalices have remained the same, we have tweaked the formatting to make it much easier to navigate and find the information you need!

First: Pthumeru Chalice

Watch Dog of the Old Lords boss fight in Bloodborne - A giant, flaming dog.

The Pthumeru Chalice will be the first dungeon you access in Bloodborne and is only accessible after defeating the Blood Starved Beast. If you access this Chalice Dungeon as soon as it's readily available to you, it may put up a challenge.

However, if you wait to access the dungeons when you have reached the point of no return, you should be able to breeze right through it!

Since this is the first Chalice Dungeon you want to access, you don't need much information other than defeating the Blood Starved Beast and having the materials necessary (provided below).

Requirements:

Chalice

Materials

Pthumeru Chalice


Purchasable for 2,500 Blood Echoes after defeating the Blood Starved Beast

  • x2 Ritual Blood (1)
  • 1,000 Blood Echoes

Second: Central Pthumeru Chalice

Pthumerian Descendant boss fight in Bloodborne - a long haired woman holding a sickle.

Accessing the Central Pthumeru Chalice is only possible after defeating the Pthumeru Chalice's final boss, Watch Dog of the Old Lords. If you explored the previous dungeon, you should also have enough materials to head straight into this Chalice after completing the previous one.

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Watch Dog of the Old Lords is located in the Third Layer of the Pthumeru Chalice, where you will also gather most of your Ritual Blood. Make sure to explore every room to collect as many materials as you possibly can!

Requirements:

Chalice

Materials

Central Pthumeru Chalice


Rewarded for defeating Watch Dogs of the Old Lords

  • x6 Ritual Blood (2)
  • 1,800 Blood Echoes

Third: Lower Pthumeru Chalice

Bloodletting Beast boss fight in Bloodborne - a large beast that is werewolf like in design

The Lower Pthumeru dungeon is immediately accessible after defeating the Pthumerian Descendant, the Layer Three boss from the Central Pthumeru Chalice.

The first few Chalice Dungeons should be a breeze, so if you're struggling on these, we recommend returning when a bit stronger!

Again, make sure to explore every layer in every dungeon you enter, as they contain valuable materials and items that will make your life much easier in the long run.

Every type of material needed for the Chalice Dungeons is purchasable once collected, so if you ever run short on anything, keep that in mind!

Requirements:

Chalice

Materials

Lower Pthumeru Chalice


Rewarded for defeating Pthumerian Descendant

  • x9 Ritual Blood (3)
  • 3,200 Blood Echoes

Fourth: Ailing Loran Chalice

Abhorrent Beast boss fight in Bloodborne - a large, electrified werewolf monster

While the past three Chalice Dungeons should have been relatively easy to access and get through, "this is where the real Bloodborne starts," as they say. Accessing this dungeon requires that you defeat Amygdala in the Nightmare Frontier, which is quite far into the game.

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The reason for entering this Chalice Dungeon rather than going straight into the Defiled Dungeon is that it contains materials only obtainable in the Ailing Loran Chalice Dungeon by defeating its bosses and exploring its layers. Although it may not seem like a critical dungeon, it very much is!

Requirements:

Chalice

Materials

Ailing Loran Chalice


Rewarded for defeating Amygdala (Nightmare Frontier)

  • x9 Ritual Blood (4)
  • x4 Coldblood Flowerbud
  • 5,500 Blood Echoes

Fifth: Defiled Chalice

Amygdala boss fight in Bloodborne - a giant spider-like creature with an almond shaped head.

Although this dungeon is after the Ailing Loran Chalice Dungeon, to access it, you must defeat the Bloodletting Beast — the Fourth Layer boss found in the Lower Pthumeru Chalice Dungeon.

This Chalice Dungeon is no joke and halves your health the moment you enter. If that wasn't enough, this dungeon possesses some of the most aggressive enemies and bosses, so be prepared before entering this Chalice Dungeon. It is no easy task!

For the next handful of areas, you will need lots of Arcane Haze, which can be tough to find. However, an Arcane Haze Extractor in the Hunter's Dream Workshop allows you to extract Arcane Haxe from any material you no longer have use for, making the process relatively painless.

Requirements:

Chalice

Materials

Defiled Chalice


Rewarded for defeating Bloodletting Beast

  • x9 Ritual Blood (4)
  • x2 Bastard of Loran
  • x22 Arcane Haze
  • 5,500 Blood Echoes

Sixth: Great Isz Chalice

Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos boss fight in Bloodborne - a large, celestial being with many tentacles

Accessing the penultimate Chalice Dungeon is no walk in the park and requires you to take on one of the game's most challenging optional bosses: Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos.

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Successfully defeating her will grant you the Great Isz Chalice. While this dungeon is difficult, it is nothing compared to the previous one.

Much like the Ailing Loran dungeon, the reason for accessing the Great Isz Chalice Dungeon is solely for its materials dropped by defeating its bosses and by exploring each layer. However, as mentioned earlier, this is a walk in the park compared to the last Chalice Dungeon!

Requirements:

Chalice

Materials

Great Isz Chalice


Rewarded for defeating Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos

  • x9 Ritual Blood (5)
  • x3 Pearl Slug
  • x25 Arcane Haze
  • 11,500 Blood Echoes

Last: Great Pthumeru Ihyll Chalice

Yharnam, Pthumerian Queen from Bloodborne - a lady dressed in all white with a bloodstained dress

Now it is time for the final Chalice Dungeon, which is relatively easy to get through compared to the past few. You will need the Great Pthumeru Ihyy Chalice to access this dungeon, which gets dropped by (Cursed) Amygdala, the final boss of the Defiled Chalice Dungeon.

Meaning, you must fight Amygdala for a second time, this time with your health halved. However, once you gain access to the Great Pthumeru Ihyll dungeon, you are essentially done with any material farming or Chalice gathering, which is a great feeling.

While this Chalice Dungeon is a bit easier than the others, it is still challenging in some areas, so be on guard at all times, regardless!

Making your way to the Third Layer of the dungeon will take you to Yharnam, Pthumerian Queen. Yharnam is the main boss of the Chalice Dungeons and likely the last trophy players need to get the Platinum Trophy.

Requirements:

Chalice

Materials

Great Pthumeru Ihyll Chalice


Rewarded for defeating (Cursed) Amygdala in the Defiled Chalice Dungeon

  • x9 Ritual Blood (5)
  • x4 Red Jelly
  • x25 Arcane Haze
  • x1 Living String
  • 11,500 Blood Echoes

NEXT: Bloodborne: A Complete Guide To Insight