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Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
dannyhugz- Regular
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Join date : 2012-07-21
- Post n°1
Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
Hey guys, I've started a bow only playthrough and thought I would go with +15 Composite and/or Black Bow of Pharis. After having looked over all the upgrade paths for all the bows though I'm starting to wonder what, if any, good elemental bow/arrow combos would be good to carry with me for this playthrough. It seems a +15 Longbow is probably going to be the strongest purely for non-elemental damage because of the dex scaling(I am getting 27str to be able to use Gough's as well though). Any tips are greatly appreciated as I have no real experience with using bows. Usually only get the Black Bow and carry some Feather Arrows to use for sniping/pulling, otherwise never use them for damage.
AnCapaillMor- Insomniac
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Composite for short to medium range with 27 STR the scaling will suit it better plus you get off more shots, longbow for long range, pharis's bow has better range but thats it. Tried a lightning bow once and was unimpressed with it.
If you want to cheese it, buy loads of poision arrows, they're a godsend in anor londo.
BTW whats the deal with moonlight arrows, only used them on a few enemies but the damage was nothing to the large arrows. I'm guessing it's range?
If you want to cheese it, buy loads of poision arrows, they're a godsend in anor londo.
BTW whats the deal with moonlight arrows, only used them on a few enemies but the damage was nothing to the large arrows. I'm guessing it's range?
WyrmHero- Lordvessel
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AnCapaillMor wrote:Composite for short to medium range with 27 STR the scaling will suit it better plus you get off more shots, longbow for long range, pharis's bow has better range but thats it. Tried a lightning bow once and was unimpressed with it.
If you want to cheese it, buy loads of poision arrows, they're a godsend in anor londo.
BTW whats the deal with moonlight arrows, only used them on a few enemies but the damage was nothing to the large arrows. I'm guessing it's range?
You gotta use them with an enchanted/occult bow for max magic AR.
IIdoneus- Addicted
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I use a +15 composite bow for my bow only toon. I keep all types of arrows on stock. Use the hawk ring once you get it, and you will have no need for a long range bow.
WhatDoesThePendantDo?- Duke's Archivist
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AnCapaillMor wrote:BTW whats the deal with moonlight arrows, only used them on a few enemies but the damage was nothing to the large arrows. I'm guessing it's range?
40 Intelligence+Enchanted Longbow
EDIT: Ninja'd by Wyrm. Yeah, what he said.
Green__Eagle- Caffeinated
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I'm doing a Short Bow only challenge. Capra Demon was a pain.
Sentiel- Compulsory Poster
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Composite Bow + Heavy Arrows for lock-on shots.
Black Bow of Pharis + Feather Arrows for manual sniping.
If you want to use only one bow, use Shortbow + Poison Arrows. It has the speed of Composite and accuracy of Longbow, but the damage is lower than of other bows.
Black Bow of Pharis + Feather Arrows for manual sniping.
If you want to use only one bow, use Shortbow + Poison Arrows. It has the speed of Composite and accuracy of Longbow, but the damage is lower than of other bows.
Hue- Insomniac
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Composite bow+ heavy arrows for DPS
Pharis+feather arrows for long range sniping
That's about it, you may also add darkmoon bow+moonilight arows and some faith for magic damage
Pharis+feather arrows for long range sniping
That's about it, you may also add darkmoon bow+moonilight arows and some faith for magic damage
Odinbear- Caffeinated
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I rarely use the Pharis Black Bow. The longbow seems much better( long & short , though a little slow when enemies are closing on you)
Dragonslayer or Goughs are super, just gotta learn the timing and eat the green blossom. Used it on manus and the chained prisoner with good results.
One of my toons is using the shortbow right now and it pretty much sucks.
Dragonslayer or Goughs are super, just gotta learn the timing and eat the green blossom. Used it on manus and the chained prisoner with good results.
One of my toons is using the shortbow right now and it pretty much sucks.
WaffleGuy- Insomniac
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- Post n°10
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
Your guess is good, I use them for my bow-only too.
Composite is the strongest one and also the fastest. I think it's the only one viable for close-combat (PVP). The Pharis Bow will come in handy with f.e. to poison the archers in Anor Londo. The Longbow is something to consider, but I've never needed it. Shortbow is out of the question.
Needless to say, always use the Hawk Ring. But I have a hunch you didn't need me to tell you that
Composite is the strongest one and also the fastest. I think it's the only one viable for close-combat (PVP). The Pharis Bow will come in handy with f.e. to poison the archers in Anor Londo. The Longbow is something to consider, but I've never needed it. Shortbow is out of the question.
Needless to say, always use the Hawk Ring. But I have a hunch you didn't need me to tell you that
dannyhugz- Regular
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- Post n°11
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
Thanks for all the input guys, seems pretty unanimous that Composite is
gonna be my best bet. Now what challenge run to do next?! =P
gonna be my best bet. Now what challenge run to do next?! =P
WaffleGuy- Insomniac
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- Post n°12
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
dannyhugz wrote:Thanks for all the input guys, seems pretty unanimous that Composite is
gonna be my best bet. Now what challenge run to do next?! =P
I have a Chester crossbow build. It's really fun actually. You can be so deadly and *cough* stylish by learning to aim manually. Takes some practice, but I can f.e. easily shoot the tail off of the Red Drake and kill it too in a few 20 - 30 bolts. Crossbows also don't scale, so it's good for a low level build or for a lot of VIT and END
Don't bother with the Sniper Crossbow, I almost never get the chance to actually use it. Stick with Light, Avelyn and mostly the Heavy Crossbow. All +15 regular upgrade path. Trust me, it's better eventually
WaffleGuy- Insomniac
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- Post n°13
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
If you don't have the Chester set, try the chainmail set (+with a shield on your back). It looks more like a medieval archer with a crossbow
IV_Mark_VI- Hollowed
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- Post n°14
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
I haven't done a bow only playthrough, but I use bows all the time.
Composite is what others have said; best short-mid range. This should be your go to bow.
Short bow is very good; lacks the damage of the composite, but at the start when you'll be pushing dex, it won't be much different. Better range, best all-around bow IMO. If I had to pick a single bow to do a playthrough with, this would be it.
Long bow... not sure what people are talking about. I have never found a place for this bow. Long range, use pharis. Short-med range, use composite or shortbow. Longbow has better damage than shortbow, but a much slower draw speed.
Pharis is long range. If you're doing a bow only playthrough, personally I would use a short/composite in one hand, and Pharis in the other hand. Eventually switch Pharis to Gough's once your STR is up there.
Composite is what others have said; best short-mid range. This should be your go to bow.
Short bow is very good; lacks the damage of the composite, but at the start when you'll be pushing dex, it won't be much different. Better range, best all-around bow IMO. If I had to pick a single bow to do a playthrough with, this would be it.
Long bow... not sure what people are talking about. I have never found a place for this bow. Long range, use pharis. Short-med range, use composite or shortbow. Longbow has better damage than shortbow, but a much slower draw speed.
Pharis is long range. If you're doing a bow only playthrough, personally I would use a short/composite in one hand, and Pharis in the other hand. Eventually switch Pharis to Gough's once your STR is up there.
RANT- Tyler Durden
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- Post n°15
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
you could go with the longbow and shorbow if youre gonna do a pure dex build, or comp bow and longbow if youre gonna go with a quality build. i like the longbow better than the pharis bow because it looks classy.
dannyhugz- Regular
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- Post n°16
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
I how do you get chesters xbow? O.o
RANT- Tyler Durden
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- Post n°17
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
Chester's xbow is in sen's fortress, it kinda sucks compared to the others though.
SlakeMoth- Hollowed
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- Post n°18
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
Composite+15 and standard, heavy and poison arrows.
I only use my Dragonslayer Greatbow+5 in a few situations but it's very effective in the following:-
The sniper knights on the roof in Anor Londo. Knocks them off their feet.
The wyvern on the bridge.
Lautrec and his mates in Anor Londo - stand far enough away and they wont move. Same goes for Gwyndolin.
I only use my Dragonslayer Greatbow+5 in a few situations but it's very effective in the following:-
The sniper knights on the roof in Anor Londo. Knocks them off their feet.
The wyvern on the bridge.
Lautrec and his mates in Anor Londo - stand far enough away and they wont move. Same goes for Gwyndolin.
WaffleGuy- Insomniac
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- Post n°19
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
dannyhugz wrote:I how do you get chesters xbow? O.o
Trust me when I say you don't want to use the Sniper Crossbow. It takes about 4-5 seconds to shoot and reload. By that time, you have been backstabbed twice. Stick with a combination of Heavy/Avelyn Crossbow
reim0027- Moderator
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- Post n°20
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
I agree. Composite +15 and poison arrows.
moomootv- Addicted
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- Post n°21
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
I would have a composit bow +15(or enchanted if you want moon arrows) and a longbow +15 (i would only really use the long bow to poison)then i would have a crossbow in your off hand for if you dont have the space/time to draw your other bow also they make a quick finisher or to stop fast but low poise monsters like the dogs if you can carry it dragon bow in the other left hand its amazing for sniping and also can knock people down or off ledge
FruitPunchNinja- Revived
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- Post n°22
Re: Best Bows for bow only playthrough?
I suggest the same as the others Composite + Longbow/Pharis. If you are going to do a full playthrough of bow only though, I would just get enough stats to use the Greatbows just for some fun/variety.
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