What Are the Key Differences Between Uncanny and Lost Weapons in Bloodborne?
The two additional variants of weapons—Uncanny and Lost—only have two differences from their regular variant:
- The name of the weapon adopts the prefix (for example, the Lost variant of the Chikage is known as the Lost Chikage).
- The Blood Gem imprints.
Importantly, there are no visual or numerical differences within the stats of the weapon.
Trick weapons, in general, have three variants: Normal, Uncanny, and Lost. The differences between each variant arise primarily from the location they are found, as well as the Gem Imprints they come with, which dictate which gems can be slotted into them.
Specifically, Uncanny weapons will have their Waning or Triangle gems replaced by the other—meaning Waning becomes Triangle or vice versa. Conversely, Lost weapons will have both Waning and Triangle gems, thus replacing a Radial gem with one they were lacking.
To illustrate, the difference between an Uncanny weapon and a Lost weapon lies in the slot placement for the various types of blood gems you can insert into the weapon. For example:
- An Uncanny Saw Cleaver has a Triangle gem.
- An Uncanny Cane has a Waning gem.
- A Lost variant has 1 Radial, 1 Waning, and 1 Triangle gem.
Moreover, the only difference between the versions is the gem slot types. However, it’s essential to note that different types focus on different augmentations. Radial gems are basic, offering a variety of enhancements.
Finally, both Lost and Uncanny versions of weapons can typically be found in chalice dungeons—whether in chests or from certain fountain messengers within the dungeon.
Which Weapons Benefit Most from Uncanny and Lost Transformations?
Uncanny and Lost Weapons in Bloodborne are fundamentally the same as their base versions. Their starting attack power, attribute requirements, scaling, status effects, and attacks/moveset remain unchanged. However, Uncanny and Lost weapons feature different Blood Gem Stone slots, which may appeal to Hunters looking to maximize their damage output when equipped with the right gems.
For instance, consider the Amygdalan Arm:
- Base Amygdalan Arm: Deals hybrid physical and arcane damage with Radial, Radial, and Triangle gem slots. Radial gems enhance physical attacks, while Triangle gems boost elemental/arcane damage. This version is better for a Strength and Arcane hybrid build.
- Lost Amygdalan Arm: Has Radial, Triangle, and Waning gem slots. This variant is better suited for an arcane-only build, as it offers more chances to find gems that boost arcane damage.
It’s important to note that Lost and Uncanny weapons possess unique gem slots that contrast with their base counterparts. Thus, understanding these alternates is crucial for builders looking to optimize their setups.
Here are some specific weapon gem slot configurations:
- Uncanny Saw Cleaver: Radial, Radial, Triangle
- Lost Saw Cleaver: Radial, Triangle, Waning
- Uncanny Hunter Axe: Radial, Radial, Waning
- Lost Hunter Axe: Radial, Triangle, Waning
- Uncanny Threaded Cane: Radial, Radial, Waning
- Lost Threaded Cane: Radial, Triangle, Waning
Starting weapons like the Saw Cleaver and Saw Spear come with radial-radial-waning slots. Therefore, replacing them with uncanny variants as soon as you gain access to chalice dungeons is advisable. Generally speaking, the only reason to use a waning slot weapon would be to accommodate three Labyrinth Man gems, in which case you should pick up a radial-radial-waning weapon variant.
With only base investments in offensive stats, Hunters will primarily depend on flat AR increase bonuses. The highest flat bonuses come as +arc secondaries from gems dropped by Brainsuckers, which are found in Isz and Pthumeru, making a weapon with radial-radial-triangle slots a solid choice. Similarly, Loran Cleric gems that yield high flat Fire secondary bonuses also provide a good option.
Due to the fact that most gems are only available in specific shapes, choosing a weapon variant with the correct slots can conserve your upgrade materials and save time during gem farming. Generally, the decision depends on your intended setup.
Additionally, Uncanny weapons are favorable for arcane-based gem setups, exemplified by the Holy Moonlight Sword. Conversely, Lost weapons excel when configured for blood tinge, as seen with Simon’s Bow Blade or Chikage. The choice primarily hinges on your build and the gemstones at your disposal. For instance, bloodtinge weapons are optimized in their Lost variants due to their circular gem slot, allowing the insertion of a 31.5% bloodtinge attack-up gem.
Ultimately, the primary distinction between uncanny and lost weapons lies in the slot placement for various blood gems, which affects how each weapon enhances your stats. Uncanny weapons consistently feature 2 Radial slots alongside either a waning or triangle slot. In contrast, Lost weapons typically contain 1 Radial, 1 Triangle, and 1 Waning slot.
In conclusion, Lost versions of weapons capitalize on the usage of all collected gems, whereas uncanny versions are generally regarded as superior due to their gem arrangements. For melee specifications, a radial/radial/triangle configuration is recommended, while radial/triangle/waning is better for elemental damage setups.
How Do You Choose the Best Version of Weapons in Bloodborne?
In Bloodborne, every trick weapon has an alternate version, resulting in two variants for each weapon: Uncanny and Lost.
The main difference between an uncanny weapon and a lost weapon lies in the slot placement for blood gems. Specifically:
- Uncanny Weapons: Always feature 2 Radial slots and/or either a waning or triangle slot.
- Lost Weapons: Typically have 1 Radial, 1 Triangle, and 1 Waning slot.
As a result, Uncanny and Lost weapons offer different Blood Gem Stone slots. While this diversity might not appear particularly attractive, Hunters focused on maximizing damage can greatly benefit from the right gems.
For example, the base Amygdalan Arm deals hybrid physical and arcane damage and includes Radial, Radial, and Triangle gem slots.
Moreover, Lost weapons are generally considered the better choice for magic, as they contain only one of the sought-after triangle slots. The Uncanny version, on the other hand, allows the use of a Nourishing gem to boost all damage alongside two radials. Therefore:
- Normal/Uncanny is typically best for physical and combination phys/arcane builds.
- Lost weapons excel for pure arcane builds.
Additionally, all Uncanny and Lost Weapons can be unlocked without obtaining the base version. If the Chalice Dungeon is accessible, players can use the provided glyph to acquire these weapons at any time.
