Beasts

Lore & Background

The transformation into a Beast is not natural evolution but a grotesque mutation caused by the Old Blood. This substance, discovered during excavations in the Pthumerian ruins, was intended to cure ailments and grant longevity. However, it carried an insidious curse that eroded human sanity over time. The Healing Church attempted to suppress this side effect, but when the Blood Moon rose, the suppression failed, turning the populace into ravenous monsters. These creatures vary in form depending on their previous station in life. Some retain vestiges of clothing or tools from their past lives, while others devolve completely into feral forms with elongated claws and distorted limbs. The transformation is linked to the blood's connection to a Great One known as Mergo, whose weeping calls drew the beasts to the Cathedral Ward. For the Hunter, encountering Beasts is a constant reminder of their own vulnerability. Through the use of Blood Ministration or specific weapons, a Hunter can temporarily embrace this beasthood to gain strength. This mechanic suggests that the line between hunter and prey is thin, and total immunity to the curse may be impossible without transcending humanity entirely.

In Their Own Story

The fog was thick in the Central Yharnam district, smelling of wet stone and copper blood. I turned a corner near the lamp post, expecting a patrol guard. Instead, I saw a man in tattered robes kneeling on the cobblestones. His hands clawed at his own face, tearing through skin that seemed too thin to hold him back. When he looked up, there were no eyes, only hollow sockets weeping black ichor. He let out a shriek that sounded like glass breaking and lunged before I could raise my blade.

Reader's Guide

Unlike organized factions such as the Healing Church or Children of the Hunt, the Beasts operate without hierarchy or long-term strategy. They are driven purely by primal instinct and the addictive pull of the Old Blood curse. Their primary goal is survival through consumption, often targeting other humans who retain their sanity. While they lack a central leader in the early streets of Yharnam, powerful variants emerge as the corruption deepens, posing significant threats to any intruder. These creatures serve as the physical manifestation of the city's decay. They are not merely monsters but former citizens and hunters who lost themselves to the very medicine meant to heal them. Their presence forces the Hunter to confront the cost of immortality and knowledge. In combat, they utilize claws and brute force rather than refined weaponry, highlighting their regression from humanity. Ultimately, the Beasts represent the failure of the Healing Church's research. They are a warning to all who seek power through forbidden blood. As the Hunter progresses deeper into Yharnam, the distinction between human and beast blurs, suggesting that anyone could fall victim to this fate without sufficient willpower or protection from the Moon Presence’s influence.

Did You Know?

• Beasts are distinct from Great Ones; they are humans transformed by blood rather than eldritch entities themselves.
• The Hunter can temporarily access beast-like strength through a mechanic known as Blood Mind.
• Certain weapons, such as the Beast Claws, were crafted to mimic the physical traits of these creatures.
• Their aggression is often tied to the phases of the moon and the density of blood in the air.