best bow? - Guild Wars Forums

r1ch4rd123 · Mar 02, 2008, 07:05 PM // 19:05

Im just wondering what the best style of bow is (hornbow, longbow, recurve bow, shortbow, flatbow) so i can decide with unique to go after for my ranger. Thanks all. (btw can people also give me the pros and cons of each bow?)

Steboy93 · Mar 02, 2008, 07:10 PM // 19:10

I can't list the pos and cons but I find recurve to be the best generally.

Songbringer · Mar 02, 2008, 07:12 PM // 19:12

Um...they each have there uses and when to use them. Here is all about bows

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Bow

McMullen · Mar 02, 2008, 07:12 PM // 19:12

Recurve is the most accurate, Flatbows have the fastest firing rate coupled with the range of a longbow but the arrows have a high arc making it pretty daft unless you use Read the Wind.. Those are the two I mainly use

Zeuki · Mar 02, 2008, 07:13 PM // 19:13

Hornbows have a natural 10% Armor Penetration and the longest refire rate, same range as a Recurve
Flatbows and Longbows have the longest range and Flatbows have the biggest arc
Shortbows have the shortest range, but fire the fastest

KZaske · Mar 02, 2008, 07:13 PM // 19:13

The best bow, depends on what you are going to do with it. Close in combat or short ranger interrupts Short bow. Need armor peneration? Try a Hornbow. Pulling mobs into a trap from a good distance? Longbow or Flatbow depending on the interrupts you plan to use.
In short; there is no "best bow."

jonnieboi05 · Mar 02, 2008, 07:14 PM // 19:14

there isn't really a "best" bow. personally, i'd suggest to go with every type, and switch depending ont he situation (i.e., interupting, pulling, casual fighting, ect)but, to see the different types, go here.

Buddhaofwar · Mar 02, 2008, 07:14 PM // 19:14

A ranger should typically have more than one bow for different situations. i recommend a flatbow for initial attacks, followed by a shortbow for when the fight heats up. But that's just me.

quickmonty · Mar 02, 2008, 07:28 PM // 19:28

Check out the link from Songbringer. You should have at least three bows (4 if possible) in your weapon slots. Which one you use at any given time depends on your situation. Always have a long bow ready for pulling, a job that should fall to the ranger in the party. Best overall, I would say, is recurve. Short bows have their uses too.

Added: For a green, may I suggest Rotwing Recurve Bow

Dante the Warlord · Mar 02, 2008, 07:39 PM // 19:39

Flatbows are the most suggested bows to use, they are extremely reliable with read the wind

gremlin · Mar 02, 2008, 08:27 PM // 20:27

My Ranger carries several bows.

A Zealous flatbow I use this with read the wind on my bar or favourable winds if Im using barrage.

Recurve bow for an interrupt build bow string usually icy

Vampiric shortbow for extra damage and when the range is point blank.

For no practical reason I carry an icy stormbow because the skin is great and stinger a green hornbow i have had for ages and its been lucky for me.

U Wanna Die · Mar 02, 2008, 08:49 PM // 20:49

i suggest either longbow for sniping or hornbow for dmg

Wirt · Mar 03, 2008, 08:11 PM // 20:11

I find flat bows the best at pulling as you can shoot over objects and due to the hi arc, you can be turning to run before the arrow even gets there. For fighting with a flat bow without a arrow speed increase (ie [skill]read the wind[/skill]read the wind), it can be frustrating with lots of misses. Also it has a fast refire rate.

Long bows have equal distance to flat, and medium arc and slow fire. Also good for pulling.

Hornbows have an inherent 10% armor pen, but very slow refire rate. Personally I like hornbows and use them with [skill]quick shot[/skill] and [skill]needling shot[/skill], thereby removing the major drawback from a hornbow which is very slow refire rate. Add in a conjure and preparation and you are dealing good damage.

Recurve and composite have low arc and medium refire rate and distance, making them good interruptors and a good jack of all trades bow.

Short bow is fast refire rate, short distance, however you are in the mix of fighting.

RhanoctJocosa · Mar 03, 2008, 08:24 PM // 20:24

recurve for general use in pvp, longbow for special cases like getting long rage cripshots and a flatbow for killing NPCS.

in pve just use whatever you like, something with a quick refire rate will feel better.

Mar 02, 2008, 07:05 PM // 19:05	#1
r1ch4rd123 Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Feb 2008	best bow? Im just wondering what the best style of bow is (hornbow, longbow, recurve bow, shortbow, flatbow) so i can decide with unique to go after for my ranger. Thanks all. (btw can people also give me the pros and cons of each bow?)

Mar 02, 2008, 07:28 PM // 19:28	#9
quickmonty Ancient Windbreaker Join Date: May 2005	Check out the link from Songbringer. You should have at least three bows (4 if possible) in your weapon slots. Which one you use at any given time depends on your situation. Always have a long bow ready for pulling, a job that should fall to the ranger in the party. Best overall, I would say, is recurve. Short bows have their uses too. Added: For a green, may I suggest Rotwing Recurve Bow Last edited by quickmonty; Mar 02, 2008 at 07:30 PM // 19:30..

Mar 02, 2008, 07:10 PM // 19:10	#2
Steboy93 Furnace Stoker Join Date: Feb 2007 Guild: Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] \| Ex-Officer [TAM] Profession: W/	I can't list the pos and cons but I find recurve to be the best generally.

Mar 02, 2008, 07:12 PM // 19:12	#3
Songbringer Desert Nomad Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: EastCoast Profession: E/Me	Um...they each have there uses and when to use them. Here is all about bows http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Bow

Mar 02, 2008, 07:12 PM // 19:12	#4
McMullen Krytan Explorer Join Date: Oct 2005 Profession: R/W	Recurve is the most accurate, Flatbows have the fastest firing rate coupled with the range of a longbow but the arrows have a high arc making it pretty daft unless you use Read the Wind.. Those are the two I mainly use

Mar 02, 2008, 07:13 PM // 19:13	#5
Zeuki Academy Page Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Do you need to know? Guild: Kentucky Fried Delak [KFD] Profession: E/	Hornbows have a natural 10% Armor Penetration and the longest refire rate, same range as a Recurve Flatbows and Longbows have the longest range and Flatbows have the biggest arc Shortbows have the shortest range, but fire the fastest

Mar 02, 2008, 07:13 PM // 19:13	#6
KZaske Jungle Guide Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boise Idaho Guild: Druids Of Old (DOO) Profession: R/Mo	The best bow, depends on what you are going to do with it. Close in combat or short ranger interrupts Short bow. Need armor peneration? Try a Hornbow. Pulling mobs into a trap from a good distance? Longbow or Flatbow depending on the interrupts you plan to use. In short; there is no "best bow."

Mar 02, 2008, 07:14 PM // 19:14	#7
jonnieboi05 Forge Runner Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mableton, Georgia Guild: Guild Ancestors Reunited [?????????]	there isn't really a "best" bow. personally, i'd suggest to go with every type, and switch depending ont he situation (i.e., interupting, pulling, casual fighting, ect)but, to see the different types, go here.

Mar 02, 2008, 07:14 PM // 19:14	#8
Buddhaofwar Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Feb 2008 Guild: Flying Gophers Profession: W/	A ranger should typically have more than one bow for different situations. i recommend a flatbow for initial attacks, followed by a shortbow for when the fight heats up. But that's just me.

Mar 02, 2008, 07:39 PM // 19:39	#10
Dante the Warlord Desert Nomad Join Date: Jul 2006 Profession: W/R	Flatbows are the most suggested bows to use, they are extremely reliable with read the wind

Mar 02, 2008, 08:27 PM // 20:27	#11
gremlin Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2006 Guild: GWAR Profession: Me/Mo	My Ranger carries several bows. A Zealous flatbow I use this with read the wind on my bar or favourable winds if Im using barrage. Recurve bow for an interrupt build bow string usually icy Vampiric shortbow for extra damage and when the range is point blank. For no practical reason I carry an icy stormbow because the skin is great and stinger a green hornbow i have had for ages and its been lucky for me.

Mar 02, 2008, 08:49 PM // 20:49	#12
U Wanna Die Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jun 2007 Profession: W/Mo	i suggest either longbow for sniping or hornbow for dmg

Mar 03, 2008, 08:11 PM // 20:11	#13
Wirt Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Nov 2007 Guild: Conscripts of Ascalon Profession: W/	I find flat bows the best at pulling as you can shoot over objects and due to the hi arc, you can be turning to run before the arrow even gets there. For fighting with a flat bow without a arrow speed increase (ie [skill]read the wind[/skill]read the wind), it can be frustrating with lots of misses. Also it has a fast refire rate. Long bows have equal distance to flat, and medium arc and slow fire. Also good for pulling. Hornbows have an inherent 10% armor pen, but very slow refire rate. Personally I like hornbows and use them with [skill]quick shot[/skill] and [skill]needling shot[/skill], thereby removing the major drawback from a hornbow which is very slow refire rate. Add in a conjure and preparation and you are dealing good damage. Recurve and composite have low arc and medium refire rate and distance, making them good interruptors and a good jack of all trades bow. Short bow is fast refire rate, short distance, however you are in the mix of fighting.

Mar 03, 2008, 08:24 PM // 20:24	#14
RhanoctJocosa Legendary Korean Join Date: Aug 2006 Guild: The Benecia Renovatio [RenO] Profession: W/	recurve for general use in pvp, longbow for special cases like getting long rage cripshots and a flatbow for killing NPCS. in pve just use whatever you like, something with a quick refire rate will feel better.