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©Future Press Bloodborne Collectors Edition Guide

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Simon's Bowblade

Simon's Bowblade


Bloodborne Wiki » Weapons » Simon's Bowblade

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page revision: 18, last edited: 08 Aug 2024

Gallery Page
  • Basic Information
  • In-Game Description
  • Overview
  • Availability
  • Gem Shapes and Alternate Weapons
  • Gem Advice
  • Key Attacks
  • Durability
  • Notes
  • Merchants
  • Upgrade Table
  • Average Physical Attack Increase (Skill & Bloodtinge)
  • Normal Mode Attacks Properties
  • Transformed Mode Attacks Properties
  • Key


Basic Information

Image Name Damage QS Bullet Use Durability Stats Req. / Bonus Special Attack Rally Buffable
Simons Bowblade Simon's Bowblade 80 / 80 / - / - / -
(Phys./Thrust/Blood)
1 140 8 / 15 / 9 / -
- / C / C / D
- / - / 100 / 100 35
(no upgrade)
No

Simon's Bowblade ❘ シモンの弓剣

Right Hand Weapon

In-Game Description

    Choice weapon of Simon, one of the first Healing Church
    hunters.

    Simon despised firearms, and so the Church workshop had
    this specially fashioned to his liking. The large curved blade
    serves as a bow when transformed.

    But aside from a few close friends, Simon was scoffed at for
    his choice of arms, for who would dare face the beasts with
    a measly bow?
Note 1: The same in-game description in US & UK versions. ✓
Note 2: Original Japanese text on Original Japanese Item Index page. ✓

Overview

  • Simon's Bow Blade requires 8 strength, 15 skill and 9 bloodtinge to use. Investments in strength will have no effect on its damage, so this definitely isn't weapon for characters highly invested in this stat. Its physical attack scales with skill, while bow shots scale with bloodtinge. Both of these stats receive high scaling bonuses, especially at high levels of upgrade. The Bowblade is a superb weapon in both modes, but it's most attractive feature is its long range attacks. If you haven't considered upgrading bloodtinge before, this weapon might just change that. The transform mode is incredibly useful; though it requires both hands, so you won't be able to use a firearm. Shots from the bow use bullets, but they won't interrupt enemy attacks.They're still very useful though, so equipping the Formless Oedon rune to increase the amount of bullets you can hold is a good idea.
  • Normal Mode: The Bowblade's normal mode attacks are fluid and combo into each other nicely. Attacks are also quick, which is good against evasive enemies that can be hard to hit with ranged attacks. Its stamina use is quite balanced, so you won't need to worry about running out too much.
  • Transformed Mode: Simon's Blowblade is a powerful ranged weapon when transformed. Arrow shots travel long distances, so you can deal some good damage without putting yourself in harm's way. Each shot takes a bullet to use, which isn't too demanding but can add up rather quickly. You'll still have a few melee attacks when you run out of bullets, but these are inferior compared to the normal mode, so it's better to switch back when this happens.

Availability

  • Normal: Acquired from (The Old Hunters DLC): Follow the Simon, Seeker of Secrets quest line, near Lighthouse Hut lamp. You first need to answer the first option after talking to him in the Hunter's Nightmare shortcut (the one that leads you back to the very first lamp, he's in the corridor just before it). You'll then see him again after you use the Eye Pendant on the altar just before the Research Hall. He'll ask you to kill Lady Maria. Finally you'll meet him wounded in the Lighthouse Hut and he'll give you the Bowblade after the dialogue (the Lighthouse Hut is the second lamp of the Fishing Hamlet area). Dropped by (The Old Hunters DLC): Simon, Seeker of Secrets
  • Uncanny: Sold by: Chalice Bath Messengers & Patches, the Spider; Pthumeru L1, main area, 8i29rqz3 - [video]
  • Lost: Sold by: Chalice Bath Messengers & Patches, the Spider; Pthumeru L1, main area, 8i29rqz3 - [video]

Gem Shapes and Alternate Weapons

  • Right-hand weapons can have up to three gem slots, and some left-hand weapons have one slot. There are different slot shapes, though; not every gem will fit every slot. The slot types are: Radial, Triangular, Waning, and Circle. Your gem's shape needs to match the slot you want to use it in. If you find a really great gem but the shape doesn't properly match your weapon, don't give up hope. There are actually two alternate versions of every right-hand weapon - the Lost and Uncanny versions. They're identical to normal weapons except that they have different slot configurations (► Blood Gems Sockets on the right). These alternate weapons can be found in Chalice Dungeons. There is also an exceedingly rare fifth type of gem shape - Droplet gems. These are "almighty" gems; they can fit in any type of gem slot!

Gem Advice

  • The Bowblade functions similarly to the Chikage, with its untricked blade form drawing scaling from the Skill stat and its tricked bow using Bloodtinge. As such, to take full advantage of both forms, high investment in both is required. 27.2% Temperings for all three slots is the best you can do to make both forms viable. Pure Bloodtinge builds can choose to simply meet the minimum 15 Skill to equip the bow and use out-of-shape Bloodtinge gems for two of the Lost Bowblade's slots to make the bow exceptionally powerful, although this does render it more of a side-arm weapon. 36.3% Striking gems can also be used for even more devastating charged shots from afar, although this gemset is even more gimmicky than the pure Bloodtinge version and loses out on close range dps. Arcane scaling is to be ignored on this weapon, as its inate Blood damage renders it unconvertible.
  • Best suited for: Skill builds, Skill/Bloodtinge builds, Bloodtinge builds
  • Arcane conversion: No
  • For more information check the Best Blood Gem Setups page.

Key Attacks

  • Normal Mode: The R1 chain uses a good combination of speed and damage. It even ends with a thrust attack, which is useful against enemies weak to this type. Backstep R1 is a more useful and accessible thrust attack, and worth keeping in mind. Rolling and quickstep R1s are excellent for dealing with foes requiring a more single hit approach, and they transition smoothly into the R1 chain too. These attacks usually score lower than most of a weapon's attack ratings, so the Bowblade is unusually efficient in this area.

    The standard R2 steps forward while slashing in a wide horizontal arc. This has a very solid damage multiplier and works great against multiple enemies. The charged R2 hits twice and deals a lot of damage. The second hit alone has the highest multiplier of any of the Bowblade's attacks and can ever stagger enemies from behind.

    The transformation attack is a great lead-in to the Bowblade's transform mode. It will send you a good amount back while letting an arrow loose. You can gain even more distance by using this as a follow-up to a backward quickstep, which you'll usually want when switching to the transform mode. Just make sure you have at least one bullet, or you'll use the transform mode's L2 attack, which probably isn't very useful for this purpose.
  • Transformed Mode: There's little variety to the transform mode moveset. Your main method of attack, so long as you keep a steady supply of bullets, is arrow shots. The R1 shoots quickly, but in turn deals relatively low damage. This attack is best used for chipping away at enemy health, or finishing them off. The Standard R2 is slower than the R1, but it deals much better damage. It uses twice the amount of stamina, though, but this won't be much of an issue if you're fighting from afar.

    A fully charged R2 travels just as far as other shots, but can stagger foes from behinnd, even at long distances! Obviously, if you can't reach your target, you won't oe able to follow through with a rear visceral attack, so this attack works much better as a support tool; try coordinating with ally players online. While enemies are distracted by an ally hunter, you can fish to stagger from a safe distance, which they can in turn follow up with a rear visceral attack. Another great use of this attack is for staggering fleeing targets, which may come in handy for handling more defensive players.

    If you run out of bullets, you won't be completely defenseless - just incredibly limited. Attacks which would otherwise shoot arrows will perform the same attack as the L2. Its hits fast, but deals low damage and doesn't repeat quickly, so don't rely on it. The leaping R2 is quite literally a bow attack. Your character will jump forward and lunge with the bow; this does better damage than the L2, but you can deal more with a quickstep and transformation attack. This will cost only slightly more stamina, the damage is worth it.

Durability

  • Durability of the weapon depletes when used. This means hitting an enemy, destructible object or bouncing off the walls. Hitting undestructible objects and environment does not deplete your durability. Style of an attack or upgrade of the weapon, even different weapon, does not matter - each count as one hit. Every 10th hit against the enemy/object depletes 1 durability. Exception is Tonitrus, which when in self buffed mode, depletes durability at rate of 2 hits. Hitting an enemy in dying animation still counts as hit. Also hitting multiple enemies/destructible objects at once counts as one hit per enemy - hitting 3 enemies at once counts as 3 hits towards durability counter. Shields lose 1 durability every 10th hit. Bounce means when your hit is bounced back off the wall or other objects. Every 5th bounce depletes 1 durability. Not every weapon can be bounced off, Simon's Bowblade belongs into the category which cannot.
  • Damage reduction when heavily worn. When weapon is at 30% of total durability, it reaches the Risk state and AR is reduced by 30% and when it hits 0% of total durability, weapon is Broken, then AR is reduced by 50%. Simon's Bowblade which has 140 points of durability reaches risk state at 42 Dur. Workshop's Repair: cost of repair depends on the weapon and its upgrade. For Simon's Bowblade +0 it's 5 Blood Echoes per 1 point and for Simon's Bowblade +10 it's 17 (values are rounded), full repair costs for +10 are 2400 Blood Echoes.

Notes

  • This Weapon is part of The Old Hunters DLC.
  • Weapon's Rally: A lot of attacks multiply the rally number by their attack damage multiplier. Some of them are special-cased to have a different amount of rally, both multipliers can be seen in the Normal & Transformed Mode Attacks Properties tables below. Rally number (in flat HP) can be raised by upgrading the weapon, as seen in the Upgrade Table below.
  • You can use Monocular to manually aim the Simon's Bowblade, especially useful for longer distances outside of lock on range or for hitting specific part of the enemy. For more information check Enemy Weak Points page.
  • Uncanny and Lost versions are sold in every Chalice Bath Messengers & Patches, the Spider shop, both for the same price.
  • Simon's Bowblade in transformed mode does not lose durability for range attacks, even when WPN durability DOWN blood gems in effect (but does for L2/R2 (forward leap)/out of QS bullets attack).
  • Shooting arrow from Simon's Bowblade can be parried.
  • Fully charged R2 attack aimed at enemy's back creates opening for backstab.
  • Uncanny and Lost versions replaces Simon's name with variants: Uncanny & Lost Bowblade.
  • Uncanny and Lost versions available for purchase after obtaining normal version of the weapon.
  • Video: Bloodborne - New DLC Weapon "Simon's Bowblade" Location by tassssssssss.
  • Attacks that deal blood damage ignore the listed physical damage of the weapon entirely, and vice-versa. +%physical gems affect blood damage.
  • Spirit Wave move where Martyr Logarius surrounds himself with an aura that deflects bullets will work on Simon's Bowblade arrows as well, forcing you to either switch to melee or fire your shots from really close distance to actually hit him.
  • You can find concept art of the Simon's Bowblade in Bloodborne Official Artworks, on page 244.

Simons Bowblade
Model Art Icon
In-game Description Print Simons Bowblade
The Old Hunters DLC

Blood Gems Sockets

  • Simon's Bowblade
  • RadialTriangleRadial
  • Uncanny Bowblade
  • RadialWaningRadial
  • Lost Bowblade
  • RadialTriangleBlood

Merchants

Shop Buy (Day) (Evening) (Night) (Red Moon) (NG+) Sell Requirement
Bath Messengers [Hunter's Dream] - - 24000 24000 24000 14400 Simon's Bowblade
Insight Bath Messengers [Hunter's Dream] - - - - - - None
Chalice Bath Messengers [Chalice Dungeons Common] - - 24000 24000 24000 - Simon's Bowblade
Patches, the Spider [Chalice Dungeons Rare] - - 24000 24000 24000 - Simon's Bowblade
  • Uncanny & Lost Bowblade: Acquiring any weapon that's new in The Old Hunters DLC will also unlock its Uncanny and Lost variant in Chalice Bath Messengers & Patches, the Spider shop, for the same price as normal variant. Purchasing these variants will then make them available back in the regular Bath Messengers shop.

Upgrade Table

Name Blood Gem
Sockets
Rally Physical ATK Blood ATK Arcane ATK Fire ATK Bolt ATK Strength Icon Skill Icon Bloodtinge Icon Arcane Icon Blood Stone Shard Twin Blood Stone Shards Blood Stone Chunk Blood Rock Blood Echoes Icon
Simon's Bowblade +0 0 / 3 35 80 80 - - - - C C D - - - - -
Simon's Bowblade +1 1 / 3 37 88 88 - - - - B B D 3 - - - 320
Simon's Bowblade +2 1 / 3 39 96 96 - - - - B B D 5 - - - 380
Simon's Bowblade +3 2 / 3 41 104 104 - - - - B B D 8 - - - 460
Simon's Bowblade +4 2 / 3 43 112 112 - - - - B B D - 3 - - 520
Simon's Bowblade +5 2 / 3 45 120 120 - - - - A A D - 5 - - 600
Simon's Bowblade +6 3 / 3 47 128 128 - - - - A A D - 8 - - 680
Simon's Bowblade +7 3 / 3 49 136 136 - - - - A A D - - 3 - 740
Simon's Bowblade +8 3 / 3 51 144 144 - - - - A A C - - 5 - 820
Simon's Bowblade +9 3 / 3 53 152 152 - - - - A A C - - 8 - 880
Simon's Bowblade +10 3 / 3 55 160 160 - - - - S S C - - - 1 960
(in flat HP) Damage Stat Bonuses Cost
To fully upgrade Simon's Bowblade requires 16 Blood Stone Shards, 16 Twin Blood Stone Shards, 16 Blood Stone Chunks, 1 Blood Rock and 6360 Blood Echoes.
Name Strength Icon Skill Icon Bloodtinge Icon Arcane Icon
Simon's Bowblade +0 0.00 0.60 0.60 0.33
Simon's Bowblade +1 0.00 0.65 0.65 0.35
Simon's Bowblade +2 0.00 0.70 0.70 0.38
Simon's Bowblade +3 0.00 0.75 0.75 0.41
Simon's Bowblade +4 0.00 0.80 0.80 0.44
Simon's Bowblade +5 0.00 0.85 0.85 0.46
Simon's Bowblade +6 0.00 0.90 0.90 0.49
Simon's Bowblade +7 0.00 0.95 0.95 0.52
Simon's Bowblade +8 0.00 1.00 1.00 0.55
Simon's Bowblade +9 0.00 1.05 1.05 0.57
Simon's Bowblade +10 0.00 1.10 1.10 0.60
Scaling
Scaling determines how much additional damage a weapon deals. You gain a percentage of the weapon's base damage as additional damage, indicated by a "+" next to the weapon's base damage.

Average Physical Attack Increase (Skill & Bloodtinge)

  • This table will show you the approximate damage increase you will gain per point of a stat with a +10 weapon. There are three main ranges: base to 26, 26 to 50, and 51 to 99. The Damage per Point is how much each point of the stat will raise your attack power in that range. The Estimated Attack Gained is how much attack power will gain from that range in total.
Stat Range (Skill) Damage per Point Estimated Attack Gained Stat Range (Bloodtinge) Damage per Point Estimated Attack Gained
16 to 25 5.30 53 10 to 25 5.33 80
26 to 50 2.44 61 26 to 50 2.48 62
50 to 99 0.55 27 50 to 99 0.53 26

Normal Mode Attacks Properties

Attack DMG X Type Stamina Rally X Impact Note
R1 1.00 Physical 20 1.00 Light
→ R1 (2nd) 1.02 Physical 20 1.02 Light
→ → R1 (3rd) 1.04 Physical 20 1.04 Light
→ → → R1 (4th) 1.08 Thrust 20 1.08 Light thrust damage type; good against specific foes
R1 (backstep) 1.05 Thrust 15 (+10) 0.90 Light thrust damage type; good against specific foes
R1 (rolling) 1.05 Physical 15 (+10) 0.90 Light
R1 (frontstep) 1.05 Physical 15 (+10) 0.90 Light
R1 (sidestep) 1.05 Physical 15 (+10) 0.90 Light
R1 (dash) 1.10 Physical 25 (+X) 1.10 Normal
R2 1.30 Physical 40 1.50 Normal
R2 (charged) 0.80 + 1.70 Physical 60 0.8 + 2 Normal continuously hold the button to execute; thrust damage type
R2 (backstep) 1.35 Physical 35 (+10) 1.25 Normal
R2 (dash) 1.30 Physical 45 (+X) 1.30 Normal
R2 (forward leap) 1.20 Physical 40 1.50 Light tap forward on the stick just as you press R2 to execute
Transform Attack 0.85 Blood 35 (+X) 0 Normal press L1 while performing another action to execute; shoots an arrow; uses a bullet; uses Blood Atk value
Plunge Attack 1.50 Physical 50 1.50 Massive press R1 or R2 while falling to execute
Plunge Attack (2nd hit) 0.90 Blunt - 0.00 Normal Plunge (AoE)
  • Note: Damage Multiplier data from official guide checked with http://darksouls2verificationdata.web.fc2.com/motion-bloodborne.html for correction after patch 1.09.
  • Feb 2022 Update: All attack properties (damage multiplier, damage type, stamina cost & attack impact) verified with datamined game files and added rally values for each attack.

Transformed Mode Attacks Properties

Attack DMG X Type Stamina Rally X Impact Note
R1 0.85 Blood 30 0 Light shoots an arrow; uses a bullet; uses Blood Atk value
R1 (backstep) 0.85 Blood 30 0 Light shoots an arrow; uses a bullet; uses Blood Atk value
R2 1.05 Blood 60 0 Normal shoots an arrow; uses a bullet; uses Blood Atk value
R2 (charged) 1.40 Blood 90 0 Heavy shoots an arrow; uses a bullet; uses Blood Atk value; can stagger from long distances
R2 (forward leap) 1.20 Physical 40 1.50 Normal tap forward on the stick just as you press R2 to execute
L2 0.70 Physical 15 1.20 Light quick startup; all arrow attacks will perform this when empty on bullets
Transform Attack 1.35 Thrust 35 2.50 Normal press L1 while performing another action to execute; forced Guard Break
Plunge Attack 1.40 Physical 50 1.40 Massive press R1 or R2 while falling to execute
Plunge Attack (2nd hit) 0.80 Blunt - 0.00 Normal Plunge (AoE)
  • Note: Damage Multiplier data from official guide checked with http://darksouls2verificationdata.web.fc2.com/motion-bloodborne.html for correction after patch 1.09.
  • Feb 2022 Update: All attack properties (damage multiplier, damage type, stamina cost & attack impact) verified with datamined game files and added rally values for each attack.
Attack: Attacks are named for the input command required to execute them.
Attack Damage Multipliers: Each attack has a different multiplier. Your attack's power is equal to the attack power of your weapon times this multiplier. Higher multipliers mean stronger attacks. Type: Damage type determines which gems will boost your attack and which defense the enemy will use to reduce the damage. If multiple types are listed, the attack has two separate damage components that are calculated separately. Stamina: Each attack costs a different amount of stamina. Numbers in parentheses indicate the cost of the additional action required to execute the attack. For example, a backstep attack requires a backstep, which costs 10 stamina. Impact: When you hit an enemy, it will be stunned momentarily. Impact is an assessment of how heavy the stun will be. The scale is Light > Normal > Heavy > Massive. Attacks with Massive Impact often cause knockdowns.

Key

Damage

Requirements

Stat Bonuses

Special Attack

The Damage stat dictates how much damage the weapon does. The Damage stats for a weapon are V / W / X / Y / Z:
  • V is Physical damage
  • W is Blood damage
  • X is Arcane damage
  • Y is Fire damage
  • Z is Bolt damage
The Requirements determines how high various Stats must be in order to wield the weapon effectively. The Requirement stats for a weapon are W / X / Y / Z:
  • W is the Strength required
  • X is the Skill required
  • Y is the Bloodtinge required
  • Z is the Arcane required
The Stat Bonuses rating indicates the level of bonus you receive based on the associated Stat when you use a weapon. This rating can be S , A , B , C , D , or E (in order from most to least bonus for the associated stat). For more information about the scaling as a whole and its values visit the Scaling wiki page. The special attack attributes for a weapon are
W / X / Y / Z:
  • W is the Slow Poison attack
  • X is the Rapid Poison attack
  • Y is the VS. Kin attack
  • Z is the VS. Beasts attack
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