Joining covenants in Bloodborne can dramatically shape your cooperative gameplay and access to unique items throughout Yharnam. The League, led by the enigmatic Valtr in the Forbidden Woods, offers substantial advantages for hunters who enjoy aiding others in battle. Deciding whether to align with this confederacy involves understanding its rewards, quest requirements, and potential gameplay impacts.
Where to Find Valtr and Join The League
Valtr is located inside the shortcut shack right next to the initial lamp in the Forbidden Woods area. Speaking to him allows players to pledge their allegiance and officially join the covenant without any preliminary requirements. Upon accepting his offer, you will receive the Impurity Caryll Rune, which serves as the primary emblem of your membership.
Equipping the Impurity rune provides a modest health boost whenever you are summoned into another player's world as a cooperative ally. Furthermore, it unveils additional NPC summon signs before major boss arenas, granting extra assistance during difficult boss encounters. This makes joining the covenant immediately beneficial for both online cooperative play and offline solo progression.
Collecting Vermin and Advancing the Questline
Advancing through Valtr's questline requires players to hunt down and crush special items called Vermin. These items are primarily obtained by helping other players defeat area bosses while wearing the Impurity rune. Players exploring offline can also acquire Vermin by defeating specific red-eyed hunters in The Old Hunters expansion or summoning Valtr for DLC boss fights.
Crushing your very first Vermin and speaking with Valtr awards you the League Staff and the League Oath gesture. To complete his full storyline, you must acquire and crush a total of five Vermin. Doing so expands Valtr's dialogue and triggers the final phase of his questline upon reloading the area.
League Rewards and Alternative Choice Outcomes
Upon crushing five Vermin, Valtr will leave behind the Master's Iron Helm for you to collect. Additionally, returning to the Forbidden Woods lamp triggers an attack by the Younger Madaras Twin, a hostile hunter. Defeating this enemy rewards you with the Madaras Whistle, a powerful arcane tool that summons a giant snake to strike nearby targets.
If you prefer not to farm Vermin, you can alternatively defeat Valtr directly to acquire the One-Eyed Iron Helm. Killing Valtr also causes the Younger Madaras Twin to spawn outside the hut, allowing you to get the whistle immediately. Because joining The League carries no negative penalties or conflicts with other covenants, joining is universally recommended for every player.
