Versus
Bloodbath vs Cataclysm
Cataclysm came first; this page separates source-checked history from DashedUp's editorial practice guidance.
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Outline
Quick Answer
Cataclysm came first, and Bloodbath followed in the same historical lineage.Difficulty advice on this page is editorial, not a permanent universal ranking. These are not two random demons stacked against each other; the source record links them through creators and era.
Side by Side
Bloodbath vs Cataclysm comparison table
| Dimension | Cataclysm | Bloodbath |
|---|---|---|
| Role | The predecessor | The successor |
| Released | Jan 2, 2015; Ggb0y, with a hacked verification | Aug 12, 2015; Riot |
| Verified history | Riot verified the 2.0 update on Jan 15, 2016 | Riot verified the original on Aug 12, 2015 |
| Historical list context | See the dated Cataclysm history | See the dated Bloodbath history |
| Practice framing | Use this guide for its own section practice | Use the Bloodbath guide for its own section practice |
| Song | At the Speed of Light, early section | At the Speed of Light, later section |
| Theme | Originated the red-and-black hell look | Inherited it and pushed it to the limit |
Dates, credits and historical placements are source-checked context. The difficulty and progression rows are DashedUp editorial guidance, not a universal ranking: a player's strengths and practice history can change the right starting point.
Relationship
Cataclysm came first
Bloodbath is often discussed alongside Cataclysm as part of the same historical lineage.They share creator connections, a song association and a place in the broader Apocalyptic Trilogy discussion. This guide does not treat that relationship as an official sequel designation.
The two levels also share people, not just style. The archival record credits Ggb0y with Cataclysm and records Riot's verification of its 2.0 update; it separately records Riot's Bloodbath verification. Read the linked level records for contributor-level credit and original material.
Both are also part of the community's Apocalyptic Trilogy: Cataclysm, Bloodbath, and Aftermath, three levels linked by one song into a single continuous story.
Details
Side-by-side comparison
Creation: one person vs eleven
Cataclysm was largely a solo creation by Ggb0y. The archival record describes its original upload as having a hacked verification. It would take other players to clear it legitimately later.
Bloodbath was the opposite: a hosted mega-collaboration, with sections handed to eleven different creators and the whole thing stitched together and verified by Riot. One level is the vision of a single builder; the other is the combined firepower of a team. For the full breakdown of how that collab came together, see the history of Bloodbath.
Difficulty and Demonlist history
Cataclysm and Bloodbath each have dated historical list records. Current position and current difficulty context are intentionally kept off this comparison and belong on the live Demonlist.
Historical placement should be read with its date and source. This page avoids presenting an old placement as a current rank or using rank history as a universal skill ladder.
Same song, same hell, different scale
Both levels run on Dimrain47's At the Speed of Light, and both wear the red-and-black hell theme. The difference is scale and intensity. Cataclysm introduced the vocabulary: tight ship corridors, menacing color, relentless pacing. Bloodbath took that vocabulary and wrote a much longer, much crueler sentence with it.
Progression
Which should you play first?
Consider Cataclysm first if its specific sections fit your current practice goals.That is DashedUp editorial guidance, not an official order or a claim that every player should follow the same route.
Think of it as one possible path. Cataclysm can help with related control and timing work; Bloodbath is the exam. Trying to skip straight to Bloodbath is possible, but you would be learning everything Cataclysm teaches anyway, just under much more punishing conditions.
Verdict
Bloodbath wins on difficulty. Cataclysm wins on origin.
The useful distinction is not a permanent winner. Cataclysm and Bloodbath have different historical roles and different practice demands; choose the guide that matches the level you are studying.
One is the spark; the other is the fire. You do not get the legend of Bloodbath without the level that came before it.
Related: The History of Bloodbath, Bloodbath vs Bloodlust, and The Apocalyptic Trilogy.
Sources and scope
Historical dates, creator credits and verification context on this page are checked against the sources below. Community records can be corrected as new primary evidence appears. For a changing placement, use the live Pointercrate list rather than a historical paragraph.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Bloodbath harder than Cataclysm?
DashedUp treats Bloodbath as a later progression target, but difficulty depends on player strengths, game version and practice history; use the two separate guides rather than a universal ranking.
Did Cataclysm come before Bloodbath?
Yes. Cataclysm was uploaded in January 2015. Bloodbath was verified in August 2015, roughly seven months later.
Is Bloodbath a sequel to Cataclysm?
Effectively, yes. Bloodbath is considered the spiritual successor to Cataclysm and continues directly from where Cataclysm's gameplay and song leave off.
Do Cataclysm and Bloodbath use the same song?
Yes. Both use At the Speed of Light by Dimrain47, covering different sections of the track.
Did Riot make both Cataclysm and Bloodbath?
Riot verified both. He hosted and verified Bloodbath, and later verified the buffed update of Cataclysm, though Cataclysm itself was originally created by Ggb0y.
Should I beat Cataclysm or Bloodbath first?
For many players, Cataclysm can be a sensible earlier practice target. This is editorial guidance, not a universal progression prescription.