Vampire The Masquerade Bloodhunt: Controls Guide for PS5 and Tips for Beginners

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt is now available to play worldwide on PS5 after an initial early access run on PC that began in September 2021. The free-to-start game is available on the PS Store and also has a Founder’s Ultimate Edition that costs $59.99 (and the equivalent in other countries) which includes a horde of outfits, character emotes, body art items, makeup, eyewear and color, player icons, and one thousand tokens (in-game currency).

Below, you will find complete controls for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt. Gameplay tips will follow geared toward beginners of the game and even battle royale games in general. This guide will move forward with the assumption that the Founder’s Ultimate Edition was not purchased.

Note that when you begin the game, you’ll be asked to register with Sharkmob if you haven’t already created an account.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt controls for PS5

• Move: L
• Look (Camera): R
• Heightened Senses: R3
• Jump: X
• Crouch: Circle
• Slide: Circle (while running)
• Slide Jump: X (while sliding)
• Wall Jump: X (against vertical face of a wall)
• Reload: Square
• Interact: Square
• Switch Weapon: Triangle (hold to switch to melee)
• Aim: L2
• Fire: R2
• Clan Power: L1
• Archetype Power: R1
• Map: Touchpad
• Inventory: Options
• Emote Wheel: D-Pad↑ (hold)
• Fire Mode: D-Pad← (with applicable weapons)
• Quick Consumable and Consumable Wheel: D-Pad→ (hold for Wheel)
• Ping and Ping Wheel: D-Pad↓ (hold for Wheel)
• Game Menu: Options (hold)

Note that pressing the left and right analog sticks are denoted as L3 and R3, respectively. Sprinting is likely set to be the default as pressing L3 doesn’t seem to change the pace. Check the game’s Journal for more detailed controls.

Below, you will find gameplay tips. These will be tips for mainly for beginners.

Choose the archetype that best fits your style – and all of them eventually

When you begin the game, you’ll be asked to choose from one of seven archetypes. Six are paired off into duos while one remains solo. The initial identification is of the clan of the archetype, followed by their archetype.

First are the Brujah. The two Brujah archetypes are for those players who like to get up close and personal. The two archetypes for the Brujah are the Brute and the Vandal. The former is described as a “frontline defender” while the latter is a “reckless brawler.”

Second are the Nosferatu. The Nosferatu are pale, hairless beings that have a strong resemblance to those creatures in the movie I Am Legend. The two Nosferatu are for more stealthy players. The two archetypes are the Saboteur and the Prowler. The former is described as a “stealthy trapper” while the latter is a “relentless hunter.”

Third are the Toreador. The Toreador are for those players who like to use a little charm. The two archetypes are the Siren and the Muse. The former is described as a “stunning beauty” while the latter is a “rejuvenating presence.”

Last is the only solo archetype and new one introduced for the worldwide launch, the Ventrue. This archetype, even more than the Brujah, is about using brute force. The only archetype is the Enforcer. It is described as an “imposing juggernaut.”

Each clan has its own unique Clan Ability, shared by each pair. However, every archetype has a different Passive and Archetype powers, which will be discussed more below.

If you’re a trophy hunter, then there are trophies associated with each archetype and their powers. Basically, you will have to play with all of them and successfully use their Clan and Archetype powers for the trophies.

The archetype chosen for gameplay was a Toreador Siren mainly due to its Passive Power (more below).

You can then customize the look of your chosen vampire. The first photo shows the Siren with a “Strong Suit” outfit, but there are also a few others to choose. You can then go into the in-game store (the second tab in the menu) and purchase more. This includes hairstyles, makeup, tattoos, and more! If you bought the Founder’s Ultimate Edition, then you will have a plethora of customization items.

Play the Tutorial!

In any game, it’s always recommended to play the Tutorial. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt is no different. In particular, playing the Tutorial will help familiarize yourself the controls and gameplay mechanics in a no-risk situation (you will only face one attacker).

Fiddle around with the navigation – like climbing walls and slide jumping – and, especially, use Heightened Senses (more below)! Getting used to this aspect – which functions much like Aloy’s Focus in the Horizon series – is crucial for survival as you engage other players in solo or trio modes.

You’ll be notified of a few things during the Tutorial about how the game functions, Mainly, avoid the red gas! Like with other battle royale games, the red gas is the barrier of the battle royale and shrinks over time. Being caught in the red gas will severely damage your player so avoid it at all costs and pay attention to your mini-map to see exactly how much smaller the gameplay area is becoming.

Another point you’ll come across is a primer on respawning. In trios matches, you can revive a dead party member at glowing white lights (pictured). To do this, approach the light and hold Square until it is complete. If your party member has fallen, but not yet dead, you can heal them by approaching them and holding Square.

In solo modes, you start with one extra life. You can only have one extra life at a time, but if it’s used, you can find more while playing. You cannot be revived in solo mode; once you’re lives are gone, you’re done.

Explore Elysium to unlock several Journal entries and an easy quest

Elysium is where you will be when you’re not engaging in a game mode. It is basically the home base for the vampires who were betrayed and nearly destroyed. This is where they plot their revenge!

Explore around and you’ll see many items with a purple outline to them. Inspect these (many are weapons) to unlock their entries in your Journal. While this may seem extraneous, it’s actually beneficial as the Journal will tell you if there are any special abilities, the stats, and effects with higher rarities. More information on the weapons and items (including one artifact!) are locked until you play with those weapons and gain some kills.

This is a great way to strategize your plan of action for game modes. You can have a list of your preferred weapons and rarities and seek them out as you play. You can also play matches with each weapon to unlock all of the sections of the Journal for the completionists out there.

Next, there are several NPCs around the (probably) castle. You should first approach Custos, in the middle of the main hall, and speak to him.

Custos will give a little background on the situation and then ask you to find him a book. He merely says it can help them. Luckily, there’s only one book that stands out as interactable in Elysium.

Head up the stairs on the right side of Elysium (behind Custos). Head up into a small alcove with a few bookshelves. You’ll notice one that stands out: Papal Bull. Interact with it (Square) and your mission is complete! You don’t even have to return to Cusco.

There are three other NPCs in Elysium to (kind of) interact with: Kirill, Maia, and Omnis. Kirill is basically the arms master, found down in the sewer area through a hole in the wall. Maia is in the area to the left, standing between staircases (she has the least to say in the beginning). Omnis is located down in a storage are by taking the circular stairs at the back of Elysium. Omnis is hard on himself for not being able to properly crack codes that led to the death of Prince Markus.

Speaking to them will unlock conversations in the Journal, including some stuff from before the full launch on PS5. If you weren’t able to play the early release on PC, then reading through these should help fill in the lore of the game.

Use Heightened Senses to scout ahead and find your prey

Use Heightened Sense by pressing R3. You’ll see the area become bathed in black-and-white with the only things standing out the colored lights indicating items, people, and more to you. When it comes to mortals, the color of the light indicates the type of blood resonance. There are four types of blood resonance:

• Choleric: Increases melee damage and is notable by an orange aura.
• Melancholic: Reduces cooldown of Clan power, and is notable by a purple aura.
• Phlegmatic: Reduces cooldown of Archetype power, and is notable by a blue aura.
• Sanguine: Speeds up healing, and is notable by a pink aura.

Depending on your need, seek out these types of mortals using your Heightened Senses.

Don’t forget to use your Clan and Archetype powers!

Each clan has their own power that is shared between the two archetypes. The Brujah have Soaring Leap, which allows them to “perform a powerful jump forward. The Nosferatu have Vanish, where they “become invisible and move rapidly for a brief duration.” The Toreador have Projection and Dash, where they “send out a projection of yourself, which you can dash to.” Lastly, the Ventrue have Flesh of Marble, where they “harden your skin for a brief duration,” which makes them completely invulnerable as long as they don’t use any offensive moves.

Now, as mentioned earlier, each archetype also has a Passive and Archetype power that is not shared (Passive will be listed first, then Archetype). For the Brute, the Passive is True Grit and the Archetype is Shockwave Punch. The former replenishes up to half of the total health while not taking damage; the latter sends out a shockwave that travels forward to block bullets and knock over foes. The Vandal has Adrenaline Rush and Earth Shock. The former adds moderate damage resistance in close range while the latter deals damage and hurls enemies into the air.

The Saboteur has Unseen Passage and Sewer Bomb. The former turns the Saboteur semi-invisible while crouched; the latter explodes and releases a toxic gas when approached by enemies, basically a proximity mine. The Prowler has Sense the Beast and Scouting Famulus. The former reveals the trail of severely wounded enemies to track while the latter sends out bats that can detect enemies through walls, perfect for an ambush.

The Siren has Kindred Charm and Blinding Beauty. The former turns civilians in the Siren’s vicinity into charmed beings, making it easier and quicker to feed on their blood resonance. Luckily, charmed targets won’t trigger a masquerade – where your position is identified to all players for breaking taboo – unless, of course, if attacked and killed. The latter power blinds and damages enemies in a small radius. The Muse has Final Act and Rejuvenating Voice. The former causes the Muse to regenerate health faster in a downed state while also instantly refreshing their cooldowns. The latter heals the Muse and nearby allies, but will be interrupted if damage is taken.

The Enforcer has Subjugating Presence and Unyielding Charge. The former causes nearby enemies to have their movements slowed and also alerts the Enforcer when an enemy steps into their presence. The latter is a short burst forward that damages and silences any enemies hit. Silenced enemies cannot use their vampiric powers, similar to how being silenced in RPGs prevents the use of magic.

These powers are, well, powerful and can be the difference between survival and death. These powers are also probably one of the fastest, easiest ways to kill enemies (or at least set them up for a kill), which will help you complete challenges quicker, which can be found in the Mastery tab. You’ll see many challenges, from headshot kills to Diablerizing foes and mortals (more below). Completing these challenges will lead to the unlocking of certain items and customizations.

Importantly, these are not the same as the Daily and Seasonal challenges found in the Challenges tab. As of the day of release, there are no Daily or Seasonal challenges yet, though the Daily has a refresh meter of just over four hours remaining (at time of writing).

To get big experience and blood resonance boosts, diablerize foes and mortals whenever possible. If you do this to other players, you will gain even more blood resonance as you’re draining the blood of a vampire rather than a mere mortal. Even with mortals, you will gain experience and resonance with a diablerizing kill. To diablerize someone, get them into a downed state, approach them, and hold Square to engage in the grisly act.

Search for Epic and Legendary items and weapons

There are four item and weapon rarities in Bloodhunt: Common (green), Rare (blue), Epic (purple), Legendary (gold). The best weapons and items are the last two, Epic and Legendary. The weapons inside Elysium that you can examine are all Epic. It is imperative to seek these weapons out when possible as they have the best stats and may even have weapon abilities like the previously pictured Scourge Blades.

One note: it’s likely that Epic and Legendary items, particularly if they’re hidden in loot crates and boxes, will be guarded by the Entity, the main baddie of the game. The Entity units are heavily armored – almost like robots or androids – and are likely to be the strongest non-player foes you face. The reward, beyond the experience, should always result in either Epic or Legendary loot.

It’s recommended to battle the Entity in trios rather than solo play. They’re very strong and beyond that, they usually appear in groups of two or more, making a solo run difficult. A trio also allows you to form a unit that can best make use of the varying abilities to gain the advantage and eliminate the Entity, then your other foes.

There you have it, tips and tricks for beginners to Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt. Choose your archetype and show everyone who the real top vampire is in Bloodhunt!