Best bow for a barrager?

Archaeus

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2005

The DeathWatch Guild

E/Mo

I've heard that Horn & Ivory bows are the best for barraging, since they're so slow you can barrage with every shot (while on a shortbow you have to alternate between a normal shot and a barrage). They also have that 10% AP, which is very nice, but I was just wondering, why can't you use a longbow or a flatbow with barrage instead? Barrage has a 1 sec recharge, and even the fastest bows (flats and shorts) have a 2.0 second refire rate (which is 1.3 seconds with TF, LR, or Frenzy), giving Barrage more than enough time to recharge. So, why use a horn/ivory bow, with its much slower refire rate and lesser range (compared to a longbow or flatbow)?

Collectors offer recurve bows, longbows, and flatbows (all in the appearance of Ascalon bows), so getting a good mod on a horn bow isn't easy... but a 15% enchanted long/flat/recurve bow for use with JI is. So why a horn bow?

Valerius

Valerius

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2005

Canada

R/

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...d.php?t=136832

Horn/Ivory/Shadow bows were thought to be the fastest because they wouldn't break animation when attacking... but SnipiousMax took the time to test it and he proved the theory wrong

Megla Zero

Megla Zero

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

North Carolina

[OS]

Meh, seeing as how I've got a +14% in stance Shadow Bow (+5 Armor/Zealous I believe) I'm just gonna stick with that for now in Tombs seeing as how I should be in TF 95% of the time

But yea, glad to know that my Shadow Bow is the "slowest" to shoot from... and I always have my Ascalon Bow/Long Bow whenever I don't feel like using it.

XvArchonvX

XvArchonvX

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

I use a vamp stormbow (i.e. longbow). I find that this bow gives me maximum range and doesn't break animation assuming you don't wait too long to respam barrage of course. I'm sure horn bows and those like it with the 10% armor pen do good dmg, but I find that the added distance is well worth the tradeoff. Since I mostly use a barrage build when farming imps and such, the added range is necessary to keep imps from getting close enough to cast spells. Also, increased range means increased control of aggro and also means less time spent getting into position and more spent attacking.

While I'm sure a flatbow would be ok, the increased refire rate is not really necessary since refire rate with barrage is based on skill recharge and fav winds is needed to reduce arc and flight time to a reasonable level. Read the wind is also out of the question since barrage voids all preps...

sh4ft3d

sh4ft3d

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2005

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...

Frank Ought To Monk [FotM]

W/

Use a 5/1 vamp Shadow Bow of Fortitude +30, 15%>50 or 15% Enchanted. I got lucky with a 15%-5 energy one. For 20k

Stranger The Ranger

Stranger The Ranger

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

Those Netherlands

Dynasty Warriors [DW]

R/

Gargash's Recurve bow is a nice, cheap, green bow for barraging
l
l
l
V

15(enchanted) <-- Orders = enchantment
Zealos 1/-1 <-- Awesome for barrage
Hp+30 <-- Nice xtra

Ionic

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2006

Organised Spam [OS]

R/

Alturnatively you can get the 15% Enchanted one outside Port Sledge. Apply a Zealous String and a +5 Armor Grip. +30 Health if your richer.

heach

heach

Academy Page

Join Date: Jun 2005

Taiwan

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ionic
Alturnatively you can get the 15% Enchanted one outside Port Sledge. Apply a Zealous String and a +5 Armor Grip. +30 Health if your richer. That is a flatbow, not a composite bow.