Hornbows and HM - Guild Wars Forums

ashes · Sep 16, 2011, 03:05 PM // 15:05

Is a hornbow the bow to pick for HM? I know its the slowest bow out there, but 10%ap seems like a good choice - for HM at least.

Thoughts?

Yol · Sep 16, 2011, 03:29 PM // 15:29

Personally I prefer to use longbows and flatbows to pull groups, and then use recurve bows for closer fighting. The armour penetration from hornbows doesn't add that much damage in HM, and rangers should really be interrupting and spreading conditions rather than trying to do damage.

wilebill · Sep 16, 2011, 03:38 PM // 15:38

As Yal said. Recurve is your best bow in HM except for pulling.

I do use my Koren's Horn Bow in NM and some HM but that is with a beast master build where I don't get that many shots and all auto attack anyway.

I will spare ANet and everyone else the sermon on bows!

Schmerdro · Sep 16, 2011, 06:50 PM // 18:50

Hornbows are only good if you're spamming attack skills that have quick activation time, like Hunter's Shot, Precision Shot, and Penetrating/Sundering Attack. If your build doesn't rely on those skills, then use a Longbow/Flatbow for pulling, Recurve for interrupting, and Shortbow/Flatbow for damage.

Xsiriss · Sep 16, 2011, 09:43 PM // 21:43

Hornbows used to be decent before sundering/penetrating attack got completely raped. I'd only ever use them with a decent IAS like Experts Dexterity. Otherwise I prefer longbows for general/long and shortbows for standard fighting. No idea why people use recurves, their best use is for PvP and bonus is negligible if you're using read the wind.

Quaker · Sep 16, 2011, 11:18 PM // 23:18

It probably doesn't matter in the long run. The increase in damage is balanced by the slower firing rate.

EDIT: To correct that - it probably doesn't matter if your build is based around doing damage. If your running an interrupt type build, then you are going to want a Recurve or Shortbow. If you are running some sort of build that relies on spell damage or traps, particularly if it's from your secondary, the type of bow doesn't matter much, but should probably be a Recurve or Longbow to stay out of trouble.
But, if you are doing damage with your bow, you could use a Recurve, Hornbow or Shortbow.

Chthon · Sep 17, 2011, 02:15 AM // 02:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmerdro

Hornbows are only good if you're spamming attack skills that have quick activation time, like Hunter's Shot, Precision Shot, and Penetrating/Sundering Attack.

This is correct. And even then I probably wouldn't use one.

Kelfer · Sep 17, 2011, 08:23 AM // 08:23

Whilst I agree with most of what has been said here, I do use Hornbows in HM.
Then again, all of the bows have theis uses.
Recurve for general builds, Flat / Long for pulling and Flat / Horn or Short for others. A hornbow w. Rapid fie is a pretty good combo

Flatbow w. 20/20 or Zealous reamins my favorite tho

PurpleFission · Sep 17, 2011, 06:09 PM // 18:09

I roll a zealous shortbow almost always during combat in pve.

cataphract · Sep 19, 2011, 01:00 PM // 13:00

Vampiric recurve or shortbow. <3

Jk Arrow · Sep 20, 2011, 03:41 PM // 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xsiriss

No idea why people use recurves, their best use is for PvP and bonus is negligible if you're using read the wind.

Mostly because it sucks to see Dodge, Miss, etc if you don't like bringing the spirit. That and it's refire matches with Barrage which is probably the most common PvE elite.

Not the most knowledgable on PvP here but I think Hornbows were used with Rangerspike teams for added damage.

Perkunas · Sep 20, 2011, 06:20 PM // 18:20

I put away my Flatbow except to pull, because I was tired of getting off up to 3 or 4 shots, before my heroes realized we were in a fight. With my recurve, they go in on the first shot. I am also seeing fewer "missed", "dodged", etc. Never really tried the Hornbow, may have to, just to see for myself how it works.

Sep 16, 2011, 03:05 PM // 15:05	#1
ashes Desert Nomad Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Beertown ;P Guild: RoP Profession: E/Mo	Hornbows and HM Is a hornbow the bow to pick for HM? I know its the slowest bow out there, but 10%ap seems like a good choice - for HM at least. Thoughts?

Sep 16, 2011, 11:18 PM // 23:18	#6
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	It probably doesn't matter in the long run. The increase in damage is balanced by the slower firing rate. EDIT: To correct that - it probably doesn't matter if your build is based around doing damage. If your running an interrupt type build, then you are going to want a Recurve or Shortbow. If you are running some sort of build that relies on spell damage or traps, particularly if it's from your secondary, the type of bow doesn't matter much, but should probably be a Recurve or Longbow to stay out of trouble. But, if you are doing damage with your bow, you could use a Recurve, Hornbow or Shortbow. Last edited by Quaker; Sep 17, 2011 at 02:40 PM // 14:40..

Sep 16, 2011, 03:29 PM // 15:29	#2
Yol Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Feb 2007 Guild: GameAmp Guides [AMP] Profession: E/	Personally I prefer to use longbows and flatbows to pull groups, and then use recurve bows for closer fighting. The armour penetration from hornbows doesn't add that much damage in HM, and rangers should really be interrupting and spreading conditions rather than trying to do damage.

Sep 16, 2011, 03:38 PM // 15:38	#3
wilebill Desert Nomad Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mt Vernon, Ohio Guild: Band of the Hawk Profession: W/Mo	As Yal said. Recurve is your best bow in HM except for pulling. I do use my Koren's Horn Bow in NM and some HM but that is with a beast master build where I don't get that many shots and all auto attack anyway. I will spare ANet and everyone else the sermon on bows!

Sep 16, 2011, 06:50 PM // 18:50	#4
Schmerdro Krytan Explorer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Profession: N/	Hornbows are only good if you're spamming attack skills that have quick activation time, like Hunter's Shot, Precision Shot, and Penetrating/Sundering Attack. If your build doesn't rely on those skills, then use a Longbow/Flatbow for pulling, Recurve for interrupting, and Shortbow/Flatbow for damage.

Sep 16, 2011, 09:43 PM // 21:43	#5
Xsiriss Jungle Guide Join Date: May 2008	Hornbows used to be decent before sundering/penetrating attack got completely raped. I'd only ever use them with a decent IAS like Experts Dexterity. Otherwise I prefer longbows for general/long and shortbows for standard fighting. No idea why people use recurves, their best use is for PvP and bonus is negligible if you're using read the wind.

Sep 17, 2011, 08:23 AM // 08:23	#8
Kelfer Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2008 Profession: E/Mo	Whilst I agree with most of what has been said here, I do use Hornbows in HM. Then again, all of the bows have theis uses. Recurve for general builds, Flat / Long for pulling and Flat / Horn or Short for others. A hornbow w. Rapid fie is a pretty good combo Flatbow w. 20/20 or Zealous reamins my favorite tho

Sep 17, 2011, 06:09 PM // 18:09	#9
PurpleFission Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2010 Location: Unda da Sea Guild: Club of a Thousand Pandas[LOD???] Profession: E/Mo	I roll a zealous shortbow almost always during combat in pve.

Sep 19, 2011, 01:00 PM // 13:00	#10
cataphract Forge Runner Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ashford Abbey Guild: Hey Mallyx [icU] Profession: Mo/Me	Vampiric recurve or shortbow. <3

Sep 20, 2011, 06:20 PM // 18:20	#12
Perkunas Jungle Guide Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In my own little world, looking at yours Guild: Only Us[NotU] Profession: E/	I put away my Flatbow except to pull, because I was tired of getting off up to 3 or 4 shots, before my heroes realized we were in a fight. With my recurve, they go in on the first shot. I am also seeing fewer "missed", "dodged", etc. Never really tried the Hornbow, may have to, just to see for myself how it works.