Bloodborne’s labyrinthine Chalice Dungeons contain some of the game’s rarest loot, most brutal bosses, and fully missable items that never appear in the main story. This guide walks you through how to access every major Chalice layer, unlock hidden routes, farm efficiently, and collect items many players never discover.
Introduction
Chalice Dungeons are one of Bloodborne’s deepest systems—an entire endgame experience hidden beneath Yharnam. Many players finish the story without uncovering unique materials, special weapons, and exclusive bosses that exist only inside these procedurally-generated labyrinths. This guide explains how to unlock them, navigate secret shortcuts, and secure every missable reward efficiently.
How to Unlock Chalice Dungeons
Getting Your First Chalice
You receive the Pthumeru Chalice after defeating the Blood-Starved Beast in Old Yharnam. This item unlocks your first entry point into the labyrinth network.
Essential Ritual Materials
To conduct each ritual, you must gather materials such as:
- Ritual Blood (1-5)
- Tomb Mold (1-5)
- Cold Blood Flower Buds
- Red Jelly
- Living String
These can be farmed within dungeons themselves or looted from specific enemy types throughout Yharnam.
How Depth Levels Work
Depth levels run from 1 to 5, scaling enemy difficulty, loot rarity, and boss strength. Depth 5 Dungeons contain the toughest bosses in the entire game, including some that do not appear elsewhere.
Major Chalice Dungeons & Their Hidden Content
1. Pthumeru Labyrinth (Depth 1–3)
This is your introduction to the system. Hidden rooms often contain:
- Blood Gemstones
- Ritual Blood
- Early-game weapons with unique modifiers
Look for walls with slightly different textures—these frequently conceal small treasure alcoves.
2. Central & Lower Pthumeru (Depth 3–4)
These mid-tier dungeons contain several missable enemy types, including unique Bell Maidens and Undead Giants.
Pro Tip: Explore dead-end corridors to locate side area levers, often hiding materials needed for high-level rituals.
3. Hintertomb Labyrinth
A visually distinct dungeon with narrow hallways. Missable items include:
- Tomb Mold (5)
- Special Blood Gems
- Rare Hintertomb weapons
Hidden shortcuts often involve drop-ledges that lead to looping pathways connecting multiple rooms.
4. Ailing Loran
A scorching desert-themed dungeon with beasts and rapid-poison hazards.
Missable treasures include:
- Poison-resistant armor pieces
- Powerful Beast Blood Gems
- Fire-enhanced weapons
Secret bridges and trap doors allow fast traversal and efficient farming loops.
5. Isz Gravestone – The Highest Tier
This is the true endgame dungeon type, famous for its extremely strong bosses and brutal depth.
Missable elements:
- Top-tier arcane Blood Gems
- One-of-a-kind arcane weapon variants
- Exclusive Isz boss drops
Hidden pathways often appear behind hanging cloths or off-camera corners.
Best Hidden Shortcuts in Chalice Dungeons
Shortcut 1: Lever-Side Door Route
Most dungeons hide alternate paths that let you reach the boss door faster. These frequently involve:
- Drop-downs into adjacent chambers
- Circular tunnels leading back to the entrance
- Side levers hidden behind destructible pots
Shortcut 2: Vertical Shafts & Secret Ladders
Look upward in large central chambers—some ladders blend into shadows. These often lead to isolated treasure rooms or quick routes to boss levers.
Shortcut 3: Fake Dead-End Walls
Not illusionary walls like Dark Souls, but structurally different stone placements that conceal narrow corridors. These often hide ritual materials and rare gems.
Missable Items You Should Not Leave Without
1. Red Jelly
Used for the final Chalice ritual. Some of the best sources appear only once per dungeon seed.
2. Living String
Dropped exclusively by a specific boss, Daughter of the Cosmos (Chalice version). Completely missable if you skip that ritual.
3. Top-Tier Blood Gems
Depth 5 gems dramatically outclass main-game drops. Boss rooms and side chalices contain these.
4. Special Weapons
Certain weapon variants exist only inside chalice labyrinths, providing unique elemental infusions and stat scaling.
How to Farm Efficiently
Best Materials Farming Route
Run a Depth 4–5 dungeon with accessible side chambers—these generate Ritual Blood (5) and Tomb Mold (5) at high rates.
Best Blood Gem Farming
Target Isz dungeon bosses and Loran roaming giants. Their drops include the strongest attack-boosting gems in the game.
Easy Echo Farming Inside Chalices
Depth 5 bosses, particularly Watchdog of the Old Lords, provide some of the fastest echo returns in the entire game.
Conclusion
Chalice Dungeons contain some of Bloodborne’s deepest secrets: hidden bosses, exclusive weapons, and entire pathways most players never see. With this full exploration guide, you can uncover every shortcut, farm essential items, and unlock the rarest loot Yharnam has to offer.
GGC