best bow?

r1ch4rd123

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Feb 2008

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

Steboy93

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Feb 2007

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] | Ex-Officer [TAM]

W/

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

Songbringer

Songbringer

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2007

EastCoast

E/Me

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

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

McMullen

McMullen

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2005

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

Zeuki

Zeuki

Academy Page

Join Date: Oct 2007

Do you need to know?

Kentucky Fried Delak [KFD]

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

KZaske

KZaske

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2006

Boise Idaho

Druids Of Old (DOO)

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."

jonnieboi05

jonnieboi05

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

Mableton, Georgia

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.

Buddhaofwar

Buddhaofwar

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2008

Flying Gophers

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.

quickmonty

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

Dante the Warlord

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

W/R

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

gremlin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2006

GWAR

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.

U Wanna Die

U Wanna Die

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2007

W/Mo

i suggest either longbow for sniping or hornbow for dmg

Wirt

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2007

Conscripts of Ascalon

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.

RhanoctJocosa

RhanoctJocosa

Legendary Korean

Join Date: Aug 2006

The Benecia Renovatio [RenO]

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.