Elden Ring Bow Build Guide
If you've ever dreamed of channeling your inner Legolas, the Elden Ring bow build offers a unique, challenging, and rewarding experience. While it may not be the easiest way to conquer the game's brutal world, mastering a bow build can be incredibly satisfying, allowing you to strike enemies from a safe distance. This guide will walk you through the essentials of a bow build in Elden Ring, including leveling progression, the best weapons, armor, talismans, and more.
Pros and Cons of the Bow Build
Pros:
Offers a fun challenge run, especially for seasoned players.
Allows you to deal damage from a safe distance.
Provides a variety of build options.
Cons:
Very difficult to play using only bows, especially against aggressive enemies.
Requires a constant supply of arrows, making it resource-intensive.
Bows have poor scaling, which can limit their damage output.
Limited support from gear and talismans.
Leveling and Stats
To start, the Samurai class is the ideal choice for this build due to its access to the Longbow from the outset. The Thief class also offers a Shortbow, but it's less effective. Here's a breakdown of the stat progression for a bow build:
Starting Stats:
Vigor: 12
Endurance: 13
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 15
Mind: 11
Intelligence: 9
Faith: 8
Arcane: 8
Level 50 Stats:
Vigor: 20
Endurance: 25
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 36
Level 100 Stats:
Vigor: 31
Endurance: 30
Strength: 22
Dexterity: 60
Level 150 Stats:
Vigor: 40
Endurance: 30
Strength: 43
Dexterity: 80
The primary stats to focus on are Dexterity and Endurance. Dexterity is crucial for maximizing your damage output and allowing you to wield the best bows, while Endurance is important for stamina management and equip load. Strength should also be leveled to meet the requirements of certain bows and to enhance your damage slightly.
Best Weapons for a Bow Build
Choosing the right bow is essential for this build, as each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are the top bows to consider:
The Black Bow:
This bow combines the damage of a regular bow with the speed of a light bow, making it versatile and powerful. It's one of the best all-around options for this build.
Location: Found on a corpse in Leyndell, on the rooftops.
Required Stats: 9 Strength, 20 Dexterity.
The Horn Bow:
Deals magic damage, which is particularly effective when using Dwelling Arrows. With the right setup, it can be devastating against enemies weak to magic.
Location: Found on a corpse near the Siofra River Bank Grace.
Required Stats: 10 Strength, 14 Dexterity, 12 Intelligence.
The Serpent Bow:
Adds poison damage to every arrow, making it deadly when paired with Serpent Arrows. Ideal for situations where poison damage is effective.
Location: Found in the Abandoned Cave.
Required Stats: 8 Strength, 15 Dexterity, 11 Arcane.
The Erdtree Bow:
Converts some of your arrow damage into Holy damage, making it effective against certain bosses like Death Birds but less so against enemies resistant to Holy damage.
Location: Found in a chest in the Erdtree Sanctuary Site in Leyndell.
Required Stats: 8 Strength, 12 Dexterity, 14 Faith.
Lion Great Bow:
The best option among Greatbows, featuring a unique Ash of War and solid damage. However, its slow speed makes it challenging to use effectively in fast-paced battles.
Location: Purchased from Enia with Remembrance of the Starscourge.
Required Stats: 22 Strength, 18 Dexterity.
Armor Recommendations
For a bow build, agility is key, so opt for light armor to maintain mobility and maximize damage output with the Blue Dancer Charm talisman.
Recommended Armor Sets:
Aristocrat Set: Dropped by Noble Sorcerers.
Traveler's Set: Found in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree.
Spellblade Set: Dropped by Rogier upon death.
Commoner's Set: Dropped by common enemies.
Ruler's Set: Found on a corpse in Altus Plateau.
Essential Talismans
Talismans can significantly enhance your bow build. Here are the most beneficial ones:
Blue Dancer Charm:
Increases attack power with a lower equipment load, crucial for maximizing damage output.
Location: Dropped by the boss in Limgrave's Highroad Cave.
Arrow's Sting Talisman:
Increases the attack power of arrows and bolts by 10%.
Location: Found atop a wooden siege tower around Redmane Castle in Caelid.
Erdtree's Favor:
Increases HP, stamina, and equip load, essential for staying alive and agile.
Location: Found in multiple locations, including Fingefolk Hero's Grave and Leyndell.
Best Summons for Support
When playing a bow build, tanky summons are invaluable for drawing enemy aggro and giving you time to attack from a distance.
Top Summons:
Lhutel the Headless: Excellent for dodging attacks and tanking damage.
Banished Knight Oleg: A powerful offensive summon that can also soak up a lot of damage.
Black Knife Tiche: Aggressive with high HP and the ability to inflict a max HP scaling burn on enemies.
Conclusion
A bow build in Elden Ring is not for the faint of heart, but it offers a unique and rewarding playstyle. With the right weapons, armor, talismans, and a steady supply of Elden Ring Runes and Elden Ring Items, you can dominate your enemies from afar. Keep experimenting with different bows and strategies, and you'll find yourself mastering the art of ranged combat in the Lands Between.