Bloodborne - Orphan of Kos, Great One, Kos Parasite, Coast lamp

This article explains how to survive XXX in Bloodborne: The New Hunters.

If you're interested in more advice, our complete Bloodborne walkthrough and for the DLC our The Old Hunters guide and walkthrough can help.

To the right of the cave entrance, you'll spot a naked shell person deep in prayer. This creature is non-hostile (as are the others that you'll encounter shortly) - so don't feel obliged to attack. When you're ready to continue, make your way passed the worshippers lining the passage and follow the tunnel to the end. Step out onto the windswept beach and approach the corpse in the sand ahead.

How to beat the Orphan of Kos

Once the cutscene is over, it's time to face the big boss of the Old Hunters expansion - the Orphan of Kos. To begin the battle, approach the lone figure standing at the edge of the water. As you near, the creature will turn to look at you, before slowing moving in to attack.

Virtually all of the Orphan of Kos' moves utilise the glowing appendage at the end of its right arm. In close quarters, the Orphan will use its arm to perform a variety of diagonal and horizontal slashing combos, sometimes slamming its appendage over its head like a club.

At mid-range, the creature is even more deadly, and is able to dramatically extend its reach by launching its arm outward on a thread of stringy sinew. When this happens, the orphan will either sweep its arm back and forth in a long arc, or whirl it around its head - both moves being difficult to avoid. Occasionally too, the Orphan will use arcane magic, pulling a mysterious substance from its body and smashing it into the earth. Shortly, a blast of magical energy will explode upward - which, of course, you'd do well to back away from.

If you stray too far from the creature, you can expect to see a few additional moves too. Firstly, it will attempt to close the gap by leaping forward while swinging its arm up and over its head - dodge under the Orphan to avoid being hit. Similarly, the creature can rush forward, dragging its arm along the ground. As it nears, the Orphan will pull its limb upward, throwing you high into the air - you should circle around to avoid this. Occasionally too, the Orphan will use its red body goo to launch projectile-like attacks at you, although these are easily sidestepped.

Unsurprisingly, all of the moves do a ton of damage - and can be incredibly difficult to avoid at mid-range. As such, your best bet is to move in close and hug the creature's left-hand side, always circling around it to your right. If it slips away from you, immediately close the gap again. Always sidestep its attacks at the last moment and be patient, only landing an attack (or two) when an opening presents itself. You'll be able to get a couple more hits in following any of the Orphan's longer-recovery moves, such as its jump and under-arm swing-rush attack.

Surviving the Orphan's Great One form

Once you've depleted the creature's health by half, it will grow wings and assume its Great One form. From this point on, the Orphan is much more aggressive, leaping, lunging and swinging with increased vigour. Alongside its more confrontational physical moves, the Orphan will also deploy an expanded range of arcane attacks.

At certain intervals, it will spit glowing chunks of red flesh across the arena which explode on impact with the ground. When you see this attack incoming, quickly dodge out of range. Additionally, the Orphan will sometimes pause, letting out an ear-piercing scream. Shortly, electricity will span outward from the centre of the arena. When this happens, quickly move away from the attack, stepping back as far as possible.

Despite the Orphan's improved form, your strategy remains pretty much the same. Stay close, circle the creature and dodge its attacks at the last moment. Choose your moments to strike wisely, ideally attacking once it has performed its most powerful moves.

Fortunately, the Orphan tends to deploy its jump attack more readily in the second half of the fight. Use the recovery time that follows to land a few extra blows. Be wary of its high leap, however - if you're standing too close, you'll likely lose your lock-on. It's easy to become disorientated if this happens, so quickly locate your target before it can land a surprise attack from the rear.

Eventually, you'll knock off the last sliver of the Orphan's health. Once this happens, the creature will vanish in a puff of smoke, earning you the Kos Parasite weapon. Next, approach the carcass of Kos, the Great One, near the water and light the lamp nearby, adding the Coast to your fast-travel locations. To bring things to a close once and for all, approach the smoky silhouette standing over the Great One and strike it with your weapon.

When the cutscene is over, the nightmare is slain and The Old Hunters is at an end…almost.

- The next part of our walkthrough explains how to beat Bloodborne's Laurence the First Vicar boss.

- Head back to the first page for the rest of our Bloodborne: The Old Hunters guide.