Curse

bennyandthejets · May 03, 2011, 10:06 AM // 10:06

Hello, I just started GW a few weeks ago & have been trying to do some research as to what bow/bow type is the best. So far from what I have read it looks the the best bow in the game is:

Deldrimor Longbow (unique)
Piercing damage: 15-28 (Requires 9 Marksmanship)
Damage +15% (while Health is above 50%)
Armor penetration +20% (Chance: 20%)
Health +30

I looked at some of the other bows in EOTN figuring they would be better since the content was released later but they seem equal or comparible. Have any suggestions as to where I should find a excellent end-game bow? Currently using the one from game of the year edition /bonus bow.

Thanks for your time

**Marty Silverblade** · May 03, 2011, 10:13 AM // 10:13

Equipment in GW isn't meant to be hard to obtain. You can get the best* weapon in the game for perhaps 5k or so, which is pretty much nothing compared to what it is in other games. You can even get perfect (and optimal) equipment from collectors (which costs nothing but some random monster bits). Equipment from EotN is exactly the same as equipment from earlier campaigns. For a bow, you'd want Vampiric (Steal 5 health, -1 health degen) instead of sundering because it deals more damage. Otherwise those mods are ideal.

*Weapon users should have a variety of weapons to suit the situation they're in and the build they're running, so there isn't really a definitive best. Generally speaking, you'll want to use Vampiric as the default (highest damage) and zealous in energy hungry builds (others may be useful too).

JohnnyFunkotron · May 03, 2011, 10:15 AM // 10:15

you wont get higher damage than that one. However the mods (dmg +15% armpent 20% and health+30) can be changed, but it's really a matter of opinion. Adjust it to your playstyle, use different bows for different situations. Like, a zealous bow (energy gain on hit) allows you to use a more energy-heavy build, whereas armor penetration or vampiric (life steal) gives more damage on attacks. Also, check out the different bow-types, i typically use recurve bow or hornbow when i play PVE. check this http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Bow and this http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Weapon_upgrade, and use different combinations to find your favourite

**Marty Silverblade** · May 03, 2011, 10:21 AM // 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyFunkotron

you wont get higher damage than that one. However the mods (dmg +15% armpent 20% and health+30) can be changed, but it's really a matter of opinion. Adjust it to your playstyle, use different bows for different situations. Like, a zealous bow (energy gain on hit) allows you to use a more energy-heavy build, whereas armor penetration or vampiric (life steal) gives more damage on attacks. Also, check out the different bow-types, i typically use recurve bow or hornbow when i play PVE. check this http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Bow and this http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Weapon_upgrade, and use different combinations to find your favourite

The mods on unique weapons CANNOT be changed.

Hornbows should be avoided in most circumstances.

Swingline · May 03, 2011, 10:31 AM // 10:31

I like recurve bows for when your in mid fight because they are like the jack of all trades when it comes to bows, they are the best for rupts and they almost never strafe. For pulling you should have a longbow or a flatbow. As for mods vampiric is the best choice for damage or zealous if you need the energy. +30 health is your best choice for the bow grip. Hope this helps.

Gabs88 · May 03, 2011, 10:38 AM // 10:38

Bows are pretty complex. For heroes a recurve or shortbow is best for sure, none of them miss very much and shortbow has the highest damage. (Though bow damage is very low anyhow, unfortunately)

I recommend you check this link out:
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Bow#Properties

And also this link
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Hornbow

Amy Awien · May 03, 2011, 03:58 PM // 15:58

The bow I equip most frequently is a Flatbow with a vampiric string, +5 AL grip and a +15% while health > 50% intrinsic mod. Other then that one I use recurve bows with mods depending on build and situation and some. longbows in PvP

You can have bows crafted for 5k and some materials, the wiki's will tell you which crafters offer which types and intrinsic mods (saves you hunting for the inscription). On crafted bows you can replace mods, so you could start with, for instance, a +27 HP grip and upgrade it whenever you find a better mod.
Some strings, like silencing, vampiric and zealous, are quite rare so you might want to try to buy them from players, or hunt/farm for a suitable green weapon.

Chthon · May 03, 2011, 04:04 PM // 16:04

Which bow type you want is tied up with the build you're running. Do you have IAS? an arc-leveler? Barrage? Fixed-attack-time skills? Interrupts? Each of those factors favors some bow types and disfavors others.

As for mods, 15^50 is about the only given. Vamp is superior DPS, but some builds require zealous to run. Sundering isn't really justified, well, ever. I favor 5AL over 30hp, but there is some room for debate on that point.

Xiaquin · May 03, 2011, 04:29 PM // 16:29

The longbow is very balanced and should give the best, safest overall learning experience.

Since I like not having to swap for pulling aggro, I usually stick with that. The flatbow is quicker, but the amount of time arrows hang in air has always bothered me.

My second choice is recurve; less range, but more effective in a battle, especially at interrupts. I learned ranger with this one, as it's very versatile.

As far as mods, stick with Sundering until you get the hang of swapping, then I would look at Vampiric and Zealous mods. Health vs. Armor is up to you, and Strength of Honor is pretty much the standard for all players.

AlsoSol · May 03, 2011, 05:59 PM // 17:59

I run with a sundering bow in NM because it works ok there. In HM it's a switch between Vampiric longbow, Zealous flatbow (though don't like the flight time of the arrow) and a Vampiric Recurve bow.

Another suggestion would be a poisonous bow string if you're running a condition spreading ranger (Archer's Signet, etc). Poison provides more degen than bleeding. Another option is a Conjure ranger with an elementalist secondary. You would need a fiery/cold/lighting bow string depending on the conjure enchantment used.

KZaske · May 03, 2011, 07:04 PM // 19:04

I would like to start off by saying that each bow has a purpose. As I tend to prefer standing off and poisioning things, I use a long bow with a poision bow string. With that I can stand out of agro and take out enemies one by one with no worries. A flatbow has the same range as a longbow, but the accuracy and flight times are a huge concerns. It is almost impossible to interrupt with a flatbow unless you use a spirit to reduce flight time, which is a waste of a skill slot. Rangers are by nature very versitile it is possible to design a build that can be used from the start to the finish of the game, not that you would want to.
I carry three long bows and one short bow. The short bow is vampirc (most are 3:1 but you can do better). The long bows are (in order of use) poisonous, fiery and Zealous. The short bow is very rarely used. All of my bows are max damage r8 or better (the short bow is a very old r7).
Please note that in a normal battle Armor bonuses trump health. A +30 health is equal to an armor bonus of about 4.3 (worked out long ago by someone other than me). I have +5 armor bonus on all of my bows.

Coast · May 03, 2011, 07:17 PM // 19:17

req8 recurve bows tend to have most potential if u want to run apply poison builds

Divine Ashes · May 03, 2011, 07:59 PM // 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coast

req8 recurve bows tend to have most potential if u want to run apply poison builds

Actually if you're focused on spreading the poison, shortbows are more efficient. Let me break it down for OP:

Shortbows: Spreading poison and bleeding (Apply poison/Barbed Arrows)
Recurve Bows: Interrupting, general PvE play
Longbows: Pulling
Flatbows: Pulling and normally used in barrage builds (sometimes with Read The Wind to reduce flight times of arrows)
Hornbows: Ranger spike in pvp...that's it.

gremlin · May 03, 2011, 10:06 PM // 22:06

Would it help to tell you that I often carry anything from 6 to 12 bows as well as spear & shield and focus & wand on my ranger.

There is no perfect bow but you would be well advised to carry a bare minimum of 1 flatbow and two Recurve bows.

As for mods I value Zealous and Vampiric with health and energy bonuses good too.

Skyy High · May 03, 2011, 11:08 PM // 23:08

I think I have 15 or 20 bows on my ranger (he's my main). That's including a number of bows with slaying mods, multiple zealous/vamp at different ranges, etc.

AnClar · May 04, 2011, 12:30 AM // 00:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Divine Ashes

Actually if you're focused on spreading the poison, shortbows are more efficient. Let me break it down for OP:

Shortbows: Spreading poison and bleeding (Apply poison/Barbed Arrows)
Recurve Bows: Interrupting, general PvE play
Longbows: Pulling
Flatbows: Pulling and normally used in barrage builds (sometimes with Read The Wind to reduce flight times of arrows)
Hornbows: Ranger spike in pvp...that's it.

Agree with usage on different bow types...have run a ranger primary since 2005 and still think it's one of the most fun classes to play in GW. It doesn't do the most dmg but the versatility is unmatched IMO.

What hasn't been mentioned though is skins. Even though all the weapon tyoes in GW have the same max stats for their type, skins, just like armor, can make a "fashion" statement. I have a preference for certain skins and they have a visual appeal that completes my character.

My favorite bow skins are Dryad for its originality, Silverwing, just 'cause I like the animation, Storm...same reason as Silverwing, Grinning Skull, and Celestial. Them's my favorites...yours may and probably do vary.

Hawkston · May 04, 2011, 01:13 AM // 01:13

I might be missing something but I never saw the point of poisonous bowstrings. All they do is add to the length of the condition, and the poison is usually reapplied before the default poison time runs out.

AlsoSol · May 04, 2011, 05:39 AM // 05:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkston

I might be missing something but I never saw the point of poisonous bowstrings. All they do is add to the length of the condition, and the poison is usually reapplied before the default poison time runs out.

That's true, but if you're using Poison Tip Signet instead and using Barbed Arrows or some other preparation, it helps.

Chthon · May 04, 2011, 05:50 AM // 05:50

Poison is weak in PvE.
If you're still at the stage where you're asking about "what's the best bow," you're not quite ready for PvP.

Coast · May 04, 2011, 11:33 AM // 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Divine Ashes

Actually if you're focused on spreading the poison, shortbows are more efficient. Let me break it down for OP:

Shortbows: Spreading poison and bleeding (Apply poison/Barbed Arrows)
Recurve Bows: Interrupting, general PvE play
Longbows: Pulling
Flatbows: Pulling and normally used in barrage builds (sometimes with Read The Wind to reduce flight times of arrows)
Hornbows: Ranger spike in pvp...that's it.

well, I mean: nobody rly uses shortbows anymore, their bots wouldn't interupt good anymore!