The Hunter

A customizable vigilante who unravels Yharnam's mysteries while battling the blood-borne plague.

The Hunter serves as the customizable protagonist of Bloodborne, a silent avatar created by the player in 2015 to navigate the decrepit Gothic city of Yharnam. Unlike other characters with fixed histories, this figure is defined solely by an "Origin" chosen at the start, which sets their starting attributes while leaving their name and appearance entirely up to the player's design. Arriving in a city ravaged by a blood-borne disease, the Hunter seeks the source of the plague known as Paleblood. They are the sole force capable of entering the Hunter's Dream, a mysterious hub overseen by Gehrman, where they prepare for the Hunt against beasts and eldritch beings that defy natural law.

Quick Facts

Role: Player Character; Protagonist

Lore & Background

The Hunter's journey begins when they arrive in Yharnam seeking Paleblood and receive a blood transfusion, awakening during a night of the Hunt. Guided by visions within the Hunter's Dream, they travel to the Healing Church's grand cathedral and eventually discover Byrgenwerth, where defeating Rom reveals the influence of the Great Ones. The narrative follows the Hunter as they uncover signs of Queen Yharnam and her child Mergo in the Nightmare of Mensis. After killing Micolash and the Wet Nurse, the Hunter returns to the Dream for a final confrontation with Gehrman. Depending on their actions—specifically whether they consumed three umbilical cords—the Hunter either accepts release at sunrise, defeats Gehrman to become the new Dream master, or consumes the Moon Presence to be reborn as an infant Great One.

Reader's Guide

Players control the Hunter through strategic combat emphasizing dodging, counterattacking, and close-range aggression. The Rally system allows the character to regain lost health by striking an enemy immediately after taking damage. Upon death, the Hunter drops their Blood Echoes at the site of defeat or on a nearby enemy; these must be reclaimed before dying again, or they are permanently lost. Insight acts as a secondary currency for items and multiplayer actions like summoning allies or invading other worlds. The Hunter can also access Chalice Dungeons via ritual items, with "root" versions offering procedurally generated layouts. Progression relies on upgrading weapons and managing resources while unraveling the city's mysteries through item descriptions and visual storytelling rather than explicit exposition.