Bloodborne Hunter Tools: Every Item, Cost, Location, and Build Guide

Bloodborne hunter tools are the closest thing the game has to spells, and most players never give them a fair chance. Hidden in chests, locked behind NPC encounters, and gated behind an Arcane stat that many builds ignore, these relics can turn a rough boss fight into a one-sided execution. Whether you're chasing the Hunter's Craft trophy or planning a full caster run, this guide covers every Bloodborne hunter tools pickup — cost, requirement, location, and when it's actually worth a slot.

What Are Bloodborne Hunter Tools?

In Bloodborne, hunter tools behave like the spells and miracles of other FromSoftware titles, but with one crucial twist: they never run out. Each tool has unlimited uses and instead consumes Quicksilver Bullets — or Blood Bullets, which you create by trading a chunk of health for five rounds — every time you fire it. That design keeps them balanced against firearms, since both compete for the same ammo pool.

There are 12 hunter tools in total: 10 in the base game and 2 more added by The Old Hunters expansion. Eleven of them scale with Arcane, while the odd one out, the Madaras Whistle, scales with Bloodtinge. Unlike weapons, hunter tool damage keeps climbing well past the usual soft caps — community testing puts the practical ceiling at 99 Arcane, which is why dedicated casters push toward 70 or higher instead of stopping at 50. For a full breakdown of the base game itself, see Bloodborne on PlayStation.

• Unlimited uses, limited ammo — no durability and no consumable stock to manage.
• Arcane scaling — damage comes from your Arcane stat, not your weapon.
• No gem support — weapon blood gems do not boost tool damage, per community testing.
• Trophy relevant — collecting them all unlocks the Hunter's Craft trophy.

Every Bloodborne Hunter Tool in One Table

Here's the full roster at a glance. Bullet costs are per cast, and the Arcane column shows the minimum stat needed to equip the tool at all.

The spread tells you a lot about intent. Cheap tools like the Augur and Blacksky Eye are designed for repeat use, while A Call Beyond is a commitment — seven bullets per cast is nearly a full ammo bar without rune support.

The Best Bloodborne Hunter Tools by Playstyle

Not every tool deserves a slot. If you're running a hybrid build with limited ammo, pick by role rather than by raw damage numbers.

Augur of Ebrietas — the utility king

The Augur is the single most flexible tool in the game. It costs one bullet, deals respectable damage, and can knock enemies into a visceral-attack state, including from behind. Skill/Arcane hybrids lean on it heavily because it converts cheap ammo into high-value critical hits. Player experience consistently ranks it as a must-grab for any Arcane-leaning character.

Blacksky Eye — the efficiency pick

One bullet for a fast, homing projectile makes the Blacksky Eye the most sustainable ranged option available. Community reports frequently complain that it arrives too late in the Research Hall, but once you have it, it becomes your default answer to dangerous melee-range enemies.

A Call Beyond — the boss deleter

At 40 Arcane and seven bullets per cast, A Call Beyond is expensive and slow to aim. Against large, stationary bosses, though, the damage per cast is enormous — and it keeps scaling well past 50 Arcane. Treat it as a burst tool, not a rotation.

How to Build Around Hunter Tools

The biggest mistake players make is dumping points into Arcane without a plan. Use the breakpoints below to decide where to stop.

A few build principles make hunter tools far more effective:

• The 15 Arcane splash is real value. It unlocks the entire utility tier — Beast Roar, Empty Phantasm Shell, and Old Hunter Bone — on almost any character.
• Full casters should aim for 70+ Arcane. Damage continues scaling past 50, unlike Strength or Skill.
• Pair Oedon Writhe with the Augur. Visceral attacks refund Quicksilver Bullets, turning parries into free ammo.
• Formless Oedon raises your ammo cap, which matters enormously for A Call Beyond and Tiny Tonitrus.
• Communion offsets Blood Bullet costs by giving you more blood vials to spend on health sacrifices.

For weapons, the Tonitrus is a strong mid-game partner since it's found in Yahar'gul, Unseen Village and scales with Arcane. Later, converted weapons with elemental gems — or the Kos Parasite for pure Arcane builds — round out the kit. Note that weapon blood gems do not increase hunter tool damage, a point community testing has confirmed repeatedly.

Locations, Trophy Notes, and Community Tips

Most hunter tools are optional pickups, and several are easy to miss on a first playthrough.

The Hunter's Craft trophy only requires the base-game tools, according to player reports — the two Old Hunters additions don't count toward it. Multiple community members also note that looting a tool is what registers it, so selling one later won't void your progress, and anything missed can be picked up again in New Game Plus.

Common pitfalls worth avoiding:

• Don't sell tools to clean up your inventory. It's usually harmless for the trophy, but you lose the item until NG+.
• Don't ignore Blood Bullets. Casters live and die by health-to-ammo conversion.
• Don't chase A Call Beyond early. It's a late-game investment with a steep requirement.
• Don't expect gems to help. Tool damage ignores weapon blood gems entirely.

FAQ

Do Bloodborne hunter tools have limited uses? No. Every tool can be used indefinitely — the only cost is Quicksilver Bullets or Blood Bullets per cast, which is why ammo-management runes matter so much for casters.

What's the minimum Arcane needed to use hunter tools? Messenger's Gift is available at 10 Arcane, and 15 unlocks the popular utility tier. Damage-focused tools start at 20 and climb to 40 for A Call Beyond.

Do I need the DLC hunter tools for the Hunter's Craft trophy? Based on player reports, no. The Blacksky Eye and Accursed Brew from The Old Hunters are not required, though they're excellent additions to any Arcane build.

Do Bloodborne hunter tools keep scaling past 50 Arcane? Yes. Unlike most stats, tool damage continues to improve all the way to 99 Arcane, which is why dedicated casters push far beyond the usual soft cap.