Bows explained?
Mylon
Can someone please explain the differences between ranger bows? I have some vague idea (Flatbows are faster but shorter range than longbows? Short bows are faster attack speed?), but I really don't know the details. I would be grateful if someone would explain the differences to me so I could start playing ranger builds with at least some effectiveness by knowing what bow to choose for what build.
SparhawkJC
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/content...ies-id1092.php
enjoy.
enjoy.
Mylon
Major thanks. 
Sir Mad
Shortbow: Short range. Mediocre accuracy, but it's compensated by the fact you're, because of its range, close to the target (so you probably have the same accuracy than a recurve bow at max range of both bows). Fastest refire rate (with flat bows). With a vamp string, it's perfect when ennemies are close and you're ok hp-wise. It can also be used to interupt, provided the target is at range.
Recurve (composite) bow (and dead bow): Medium range. This bow has the best accuracy. It's perfect for interupting, or even as a default bow if you dont like the inconvenients of the hornbows and don't need to stay miles away from your target to stay alive. Basically, for a comon use (not interupting), if for you accuracy > damage, go for this bow - otherwise, go for a hornbow.
Hornbow (and shadow bow, ivory bow): Medium range. It has the slowest refire rate, and a poor accuracy. However its strengh lays in the 10% armor penetration of this bow. On a side-note, AP don't stack, so if you add a sundering string, you won't have 30% AP but 20% at most.
Long bow (and stormbow, platinium bow): Long range. Slower refire rate than a flatbow, but better accuracy. Same comment than for recurve and horn bows. If for you accuracy > (potential) damage, then pick a long bow. Otherwise go for a flat bow.
Flat bow: Long range. Very poor accuracy. Fast refire rate. The inacuracy of the flat bow can be compensated by a preparation like read the wind, or a spirit such as favorable winds. Mobs in PvE wont try to dodge your arrows so it's not a big deal. However keep in mind if you target a grasp rushing upon you in the tombs, you will most likely miss with a flatbow (even with FW), while you may hit it with a longbow.
Recurve (composite) bow (and dead bow): Medium range. This bow has the best accuracy. It's perfect for interupting, or even as a default bow if you dont like the inconvenients of the hornbows and don't need to stay miles away from your target to stay alive. Basically, for a comon use (not interupting), if for you accuracy > damage, go for this bow - otherwise, go for a hornbow.
Hornbow (and shadow bow, ivory bow): Medium range. It has the slowest refire rate, and a poor accuracy. However its strengh lays in the 10% armor penetration of this bow. On a side-note, AP don't stack, so if you add a sundering string, you won't have 30% AP but 20% at most.
Long bow (and stormbow, platinium bow): Long range. Slower refire rate than a flatbow, but better accuracy. Same comment than for recurve and horn bows. If for you accuracy > (potential) damage, then pick a long bow. Otherwise go for a flat bow.
Flat bow: Long range. Very poor accuracy. Fast refire rate. The inacuracy of the flat bow can be compensated by a preparation like read the wind, or a spirit such as favorable winds. Mobs in PvE wont try to dodge your arrows so it's not a big deal. However keep in mind if you target a grasp rushing upon you in the tombs, you will most likely miss with a flatbow (even with FW), while you may hit it with a longbow.
SnipiousMax
I would also look at the bow class article on Guild Wiki.
SparhawkJC
just a note, Ivory Bows are hornbow class not recurve.
Sir Mad
Oops my bad - I had dead bows in mind. Fixed.
Paul_Bunyan
I'm really confused when I see Storm Bows classified as Long Bows...My Long Bow has a noticeably longer range in any situation...Storm Bows seem slightly less, like at 80' maybe, I don't know. All I know is that My Long Bows DEFINITELY have longer range than my Storms, in any situation.
SnipiousMax
Stormbows are longbows. They have the same range, and yes I've tested them myself. Sure it isn't an Eternal bow?
Wild Karrde
I have read that storm bows get more critical hits than other bows.... is this true??
Sir Mad
2 letters: no.
Critical hits depends on the difference of level between you and the opponent and the number of attribute points you spent in the weapon attribute. There is no such a thing as a bow doing more critical hit than other bows.
Critical hits depends on the difference of level between you and the opponent and the number of attribute points you spent in the weapon attribute. There is no such a thing as a bow doing more critical hit than other bows.
chris_nin00
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Mad
*Compilation of Bow Types and Attributes*
Instead of using the word accurate (cause in reality, all the bows have the same chance of hitting a non-moving object), you should replace it with flight time.
I would never use a bow with very low accuracy
. Flatbow happens to be my favorite bow.
However, I do get the concept you're getting at. Forgive me, I haven't played guild wars for so long, and took the words literally. Please don't whip me.
I would never use a bow with very low accuracy
. Flatbow happens to be my favorite bow.However, I do get the concept you're getting at. Forgive me, I haven't played guild wars for so long, and took the words literally. Please don't whip me.
-Loki-
Quote:
Originally Posted by chris_nin00
Instead of using the word accurate (cause in reality, all the bows have the same chance of hitting a non-moving object), you should replace it with flight time.
I would never use a bow with very low accuracy. Flatbow happens to be my favorite bow.
Flight time and flight arc translate to accuracy with bows. Hitting someone is automatic, you always will, unless one of three things happen - they have a defensive buff that allows them to dodge/evade/block, you get blinded/blurred, or they move. Enemy movement and bow fire arc and flight time is what you base accuracy on. A flatbow, with it's immense fire arc and slow flight time, is going to miss a foe moving at all. Read the Wind and Favorable Winds help, but overall, a flatbow is horrible if you want to reliably hit a foe.
I would never use a bow with very low accuracy
. Flatbow happens to be my favorite bow.
Flight time and flight arc translate to accuracy with bows. Hitting someone is automatic, you always will, unless one of three things happen - they have a defensive buff that allows them to dodge/evade/block, you get blinded/blurred, or they move. Enemy movement and bow fire arc and flight time is what you base accuracy on. A flatbow, with it's immense fire arc and slow flight time, is going to miss a foe moving at all. Read the Wind and Favorable Winds help, but overall, a flatbow is horrible if you want to reliably hit a foe.
chris_nin00
But still, using the word accuracy, instead of the terms you gave(flight time and flight arc), was very misleading for me, since 'normal' people don't normally associate those two terms.
As stated before, I do get the concept. I would know.
As stated before, I do get the concept. I would know.
Lord Thud
How do you tell what category they fall in for things like a Composite Short Bow (which I have)?
Thom Bangalter
Go to the isle of the nameless, go up to master of bows, and check the range. If it hits the recurve bow target it's a recurve bow, if it doesn't reach it's definetly a shortbow.
jjdefan
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Mad
Emik
Not really.
He says that this bow is ideal for interrupting coz of it's great accuracy.
He also says that for a common use, given that you prefer accuracy above damage, you should go for this one
He just wrote (not interrupting) to emphasize the 'common' use.
PS... don't you mean 'throw' instead of 'through'?
Lol, ignore that last. Just nitpicking here, I'm a forum troll
He says that this bow is ideal for interrupting coz of it's great accuracy.
He also says that for a common use, given that you prefer accuracy above damage, you should go for this one
He just wrote (not interrupting) to emphasize the 'common' use.
PS... don't you mean 'throw' instead of 'through'?
Lol, ignore that last. Just nitpicking here, I'm a forum troll
Sir Mad
^
Yes that's exactly what I meant.
Concerning the "accuracy" of the bows, Loki perfectly explained it. Yes I can understand the word "accurate" may be confusing. Indeed, it only applies to moving foes. You won't miss foes standing at the same place even with a bow with a high arc (flatbows). Shorter arcs make your bow more accurate for moving foes. I think i'll still keep using this word however since it's also the wording used by the bows guy in the Isle of the Nameless I believe.
EDIT - Indeed I didn't include the eternal bow and probably many others - I wrote this list quickly; users willing to learn more about bow types can check the "Bow" article of guildwiki where all the bows of the game are listed by category.
Yes that's exactly what I meant.
Concerning the "accuracy" of the bows, Loki perfectly explained it. Yes I can understand the word "accurate" may be confusing. Indeed, it only applies to moving foes. You won't miss foes standing at the same place even with a bow with a high arc (flatbows). Shorter arcs make your bow more accurate for moving foes. I think i'll still keep using this word however since it's also the wording used by the bows guy in the Isle of the Nameless I believe.
EDIT - Indeed I didn't include the eternal bow and probably many others - I wrote this list quickly; users willing to learn more about bow types can check the "Bow" article of guildwiki where all the bows of the game are listed by category.
ClarkeDodd
on the subject of bows..... i would like to see a bow gallery , containing new bow skins, is there one about
Sir Mad
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Bow
That will be a lot of clicks to see the skin of all of them, but you can find most of the bows available in-game there, except a few NF bows.
That will be a lot of clicks to see the skin of all of them, but you can find most of the bows available in-game there, except a few NF bows.
Feathers
Granted some bows are faster then others, but my own favorites have always been the longbow types. You CAN NOT beat the range, they're great for pulling monsters and why wouldn't you want to be able to start killing things before they have even gotten to you ? Let your heros, henchies , or companions take the brunt of the battle. Enjoy the fact your in the rear raining down death 
Sir Mad
Flatbows are actually better for pulling than longbows because of their higher arc (slower arrow = more time to retreat), but i'm used to pull with a longbow too and that's not a big deal. But the range is not everything for fighting. I use long ranged bows in high-end areas only actually (FoW, tombs, SF, etc) or when I'm in ranger team with supportive catsers, so the whole team can stay out of range of the opposite spellcasters (in PvE). But still, foes during a fight won't stay at a long bow range for a long time (except, again, when you're in a ranger team fighting foes with ranged attacks), and generally it's a matter of seconds after the beginning of a fight before several of them come at a shortbow range.
SnipiousMax
^Personally I've not found a good use for Longbow since I've switched to Flatbow/Shortbows.
Reinfire
Quote:
Also in PvE the mosters dont move that much and my ranger hero got favorable winds, so the lack of arrow velocity isnt that much of a point. Also I am a degen spreader and due to the long range I can spread it quickly to both the closeby warriors and the faraway casters without having to move much
Flatbow is best bow IMO
Jeff Highwind
I prefer to use Recurve bows; Fast Arrows, Refire and decent range means I can pump out more meddlesome arrows (Condition or Interrupt) at a safe distance. Also they work great for raining Barrage upon enemies. For straight up DPS though (say Burning Arrow or Sundering Attack) I switch to the Hornbow with the Vamp mod.