What's the best overall bow type for damage, interruption, and speed? - Guild Wars Forums

thesecondrei · May 16, 2006, 04:46 PM // 16:46

I really don't feel like getting 3 different bows...even if it is optimal, but anyways, whats the best overall bow type for damage, interruption, and firing speed?

Lasher Dragon · May 16, 2006, 04:49 PM // 16:49

Shortbow/halfmoons. I use those and longbows. Range when I need it, speed when I don't.

Rukmedes · May 16, 2006, 04:53 PM // 16:53

Nothing beats Recurve.

mtm · May 16, 2006, 05:21 PM // 17:21

Guildwiki has detailed info on speed and range of any type of bow. You can check there and decide what's best for you.

Mandy Memory · May 16, 2006, 06:37 PM // 18:37

Recurve is best for interruption. Halfmoon/shortbow is best for speed and damage. (there ya go...just carry 2 bows)

Lasher Dragon · May 16, 2006, 06:41 PM // 18:41

Recurve's arrows travel slightly faster than shortbows, however they refire slightly slower. IMO I'd rather have more arrows in the air to interrupt with, but that's me.

Almighty Zi · May 16, 2006, 06:49 PM // 18:49

This may help: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/content...ies-id1092.php

Thief??? · May 16, 2006, 09:52 PM // 21:52

As Lasher Dragon says, the faster you can shoot the better. Even though the Shortbow has 0.15 seconds more of a flight time compared to Recurve, you can interupt more with quick succession.

Try both Shortbow (Shortbow has 1 derivative) and Recurve (Recurve has 3 derivatives).

Note: For the derivatives, check the Bow Stats page that Almighty Zi posted above.

Mandy Memory · May 16, 2006, 10:04 PM // 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon

Recurve's arrows travel slightly faster than shortbows, however they refire slightly slower. IMO I'd rather have more arrows in the air to interrupt with, but that's me.

I normally agree, but it depends on the style of interruption. Are you interrupting specific things? Are you interrupting everything?

MrScaRy · May 17, 2006, 12:53 AM // 00:53

Hornbows have 10% armor penetration, which makes them the best choice to be used in a spike.

Half moon and shortbow may have the highest speed, but they also have the shortest range, which means that you'll need to get up close if you are going to need to interrupt.

Lasher Dragon · May 17, 2006, 01:00 AM // 01:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandy Memory

I normally agree, but it depends on the style of interruption. Are you interrupting specific things? Are you interrupting everything?

Everything of course!

Dr Strangelove · May 17, 2006, 06:19 AM // 06:19

Stick with a shortbow and carry around a random longbow/flatbow for pulling. The pulling bow can be white and non-max damage, it really doesn't matter.

Dove_Song · May 17, 2006, 07:16 AM // 07:16

shortbows are VERY overrated....they are not that much faster when you add in all the factors. Not to mention the HUGE decrease in range you might as well get a melee weapon.

get a good recurve bow, get a good long bow, you'll be all set....sorry but your gonna have to carry at least two bows.

Jedimagician · May 17, 2006, 07:21 AM // 07:21

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Bow

all about bows

baz777 · May 17, 2006, 09:33 AM // 09:33

I carry just 2 bows - 1 long bow and 1 short bow

Former Ruling · May 17, 2006, 11:16 AM // 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon

Recurve's arrows travel slightly faster than shortbows, however they refire slightly slower. IMO I'd rather have more arrows in the air to interrupt with, but that's me.

That would be true, if it were not for the fact that all Interuption Bow Attacks have a Set Attack Speed regardless of the attack speed of your bow.

Whether you have a Shortbow, Longbow, Hornbow, Recurvebow, or Flatbow - They ALL attack at the same speed when using interuption attacks.

So Basically the only thing that factors into its speed is its arch and flight time. Recurve happens to...well...have the lowest arch and lowest flight time.

Rajamic · May 17, 2006, 11:31 AM // 11:31

Flatbow with Read the Wind is the best for all 3 bowtype properties..

Though I prefer Shortbow with Kindle, since I don't find being at medium range to be a problem, and Kindle gives more damage.

Lasher Dragon · May 17, 2006, 01:17 PM // 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Former Ruling

That would be true, if it were not for the fact that all Interuption Bow Attacks have a Set Attack Speed regardless of the attack speed of your bow.

Whether you have a Shortbow, Longbow, Hornbow, Recurvebow, or Flatbow - They ALL attack at the same speed when using interuption attacks.

So Basically the only thing that factors into its speed is its arch and flight time. Recurve happens to...well...have the lowest arch and lowest flight time.

That would be true, except I use Choking Gas when I really want to interrupt.

Also, while the base attack speed of your bow may not come into play when using a single interrupt attack, it most certainly DOES come into play when you are trying to interrupt multiple spells/skills. If your bow is already in the stages of firing, you have to wait for it to "cycle through" before your next interrupt attack will go off. Nothing is more annoying to me than to be attacking an enemy, see them start casting a quick spell, and my interrupt gets there too late because my bow is still cycling through it's attack animation. Shortbows have the shortest attack cycle.

jimmy_logic · May 17, 2006, 02:17 PM // 14:17

Flight time does play a part though. The longer the arrow is in the air the more chance the other player has to get the skill off. As previously mentioned interrupts have a set attack speed. I personally use a Longbow/Recurve/Shortbow I alternate depending on my role. Its easy when you have Ventrilo a quick holler and you can be an interrupter or a DPS Ranger.

Jetdoc · May 17, 2006, 05:52 PM // 17:52

Recurve to interrupt a single skill.

Shortbow to shutdown an enemy entirely (via constant interrupts).

That 0.15 second flight difference makes a huge difference if you're trying to take out a 1 second cast skill.

However, spamming a shortbow can be just as effective, as it is likely that one of your arrows will knock out almost every other skill someone is using.

May 16, 2006, 04:46 PM // 16:46	#1
thesecondrei Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Guild: Alliance of Xen [XoO] Profession: W/R	What's the best overall bow type for damage, interruption, and speed? I really don't feel like getting 3 different bows...even if it is optimal, but anyways, whats the best overall bow type for damage, interruption, and firing speed?

May 16, 2006, 04:49 PM // 16:49	#2
Lasher Dragon Draconic Rage Incarnate Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Iowa Guild: Alphahive Profession: R/A	Shortbow/halfmoons. I use those and longbows. Range when I need it, speed when I don't.

May 16, 2006, 04:53 PM // 16:53	#3
Rukmedes Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Dec 2005 Profession: Mo/W	Nothing beats Recurve.

May 16, 2006, 05:21 PM // 17:21	#4
mtm Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portugal & Greece Profession: W/	Guildwiki has detailed info on speed and range of any type of bow. You can check there and decide what's best for you.

May 16, 2006, 06:37 PM // 18:37	#5
Mandy Memory Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Guild: Xen of Sigils [XoO] Profession: W/	Recurve is best for interruption. Halfmoon/shortbow is best for speed and damage. (there ya go...just carry 2 bows)

May 16, 2006, 06:41 PM // 18:41	#6
Lasher Dragon Draconic Rage Incarnate Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Iowa Guild: Alphahive Profession: R/A	Recurve's arrows travel slightly faster than shortbows, however they refire slightly slower. IMO I'd rather have more arrows in the air to interrupt with, but that's me.

May 16, 2006, 06:49 PM // 18:49	#7
Almighty Zi Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cheltenham, England Guild: Servants Of Fortuna Victrix	This may help: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/content...ies-id1092.php

May 16, 2006, 09:52 PM // 21:52	#8
Thief??? Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boot Camp	As Lasher Dragon says, the faster you can shoot the better. Even though the Shortbow has 0.15 seconds more of a flight time compared to Recurve, you can interupt more with quick succession. Try both Shortbow (Shortbow has 1 derivative) and Recurve (Recurve has 3 derivatives). Note: For the derivatives, check the Bow Stats page that Almighty Zi posted above.

May 17, 2006, 12:53 AM // 00:53	#10
MrScaRy Academy Page Join Date: Jun 2005	Hornbows have 10% armor penetration, which makes them the best choice to be used in a spike. Half moon and shortbow may have the highest speed, but they also have the shortest range, which means that you'll need to get up close if you are going to need to interrupt.

May 17, 2006, 06:19 AM // 06:19	#12
Dr Strangelove Furnace Stoker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wasting away again in Margaritaville Guild: [HOTR]	Stick with a shortbow and carry around a random longbow/flatbow for pulling. The pulling bow can be white and non-max damage, it really doesn't matter.

May 17, 2006, 07:16 AM // 07:16	#13
Dove_Song Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Mar 2006	shortbows are VERY overrated....they are not that much faster when you add in all the factors. Not to mention the HUGE decrease in range you might as well get a melee weapon. get a good recurve bow, get a good long bow, you'll be all set....sorry but your gonna have to carry at least two bows.

May 17, 2006, 07:21 AM // 07:21	#14
Jedimagician Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Mar 2006	http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Bow all about bows

May 17, 2006, 09:33 AM // 09:33	#15
baz777 Jungle Guide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South East England Guild: Leader: Lady Hairy Armpits S[mell] Profession: E/	I carry just 2 bows - 1 long bow and 1 short bow

May 17, 2006, 11:31 AM // 11:31	#17
Rajamic Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: May 2005 Location: IA Guild: Chronicles of Heroes [CoH] Profession: R/Me	Flatbow with Read the Wind is the best for all 3 bowtype properties.. Though I prefer Shortbow with Kindle, since I don't find being at medium range to be a problem, and Kindle gives more damage.

May 17, 2006, 02:17 PM // 14:17	#19
jimmy_logic Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Sep 2005 Profession: R/	Flight time does play a part though. The longer the arrow is in the air the more chance the other player has to get the skill off. As previously mentioned interrupts have a set attack speed. I personally use a Longbow/Recurve/Shortbow I alternate depending on my role. Its easy when you have Ventrilo a quick holler and you can be an interrupter or a DPS Ranger.

May 17, 2006, 05:52 PM // 17:52	#20
Jetdoc Hell's Protector Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: The Eyes of Texas [BEVO] Profession: D/A	Recurve to interrupt a single skill. Shortbow to shutdown an enemy entirely (via constant interrupts). That 0.15 second flight difference makes a huge difference if you're trying to take out a 1 second cast skill. However, spamming a shortbow can be just as effective, as it is likely that one of your arrows will knock out almost every other skill someone is using.