While bows in Dark Souls 3 are usually used as a secondary weapon, they can be extremely devastating. Bows, with high enough scaling, can cause a lot of damage, making them effective at both PvE and PvP.
Key Takeaways
- Bows in Dark Souls 3 serve as devastating secondary weapons, offering valuable versatility in both PvE and PvP scenarios.
- The top bow selections include the swift Composite Bow, the long-range and adaptable Black Bow of Pharis, the high-damage Dragonslayer Greatbow, the versatile White Birch Bow with arrow invisibility, and the strength-focused Millwood Greatbow.
- Bows provide an additional layer of complexity and strategy to the game, allowing players to choose their preferred playstyle and adapt to different challenges, making them a valuable addition to any Dark Souls 3 playthrough.
Farrukh Jafri has invested 400+ hours in Dark Souls 3. He has gone through extensive research playing the game, so you can easily trust the information he shares!
Bows can help create distance, cause damage from a distance, and kill off that one annoying enemy with a large health pool who has killed you 7 consecutive times.
This guide will cover what I believe to be the best Dark Souls 3 Bows, from Greatbows to dexterity bows to basic bows. I will go over every aspect of bows and mention where each bow excels.
Best Bows In Dark Souls 3
Unique bows are better for killing off tougher enemies and killing dragons. In Dark Souls 3, Bows can be held in either hand for ultimately you will have to dual-wield them to shoot an arrow.
When all is said and done, Dark Souls 3 has the most balanced bows in the series, which means you cannot go wrong with any one bow. Here are my picks for the best bows in the Dark Souls 3.
Composite Bow
| Physical | Magic | Fire | Light | Holy | Critical | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 73 | - | - | - | - | 100 |
| Defense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0- |
| Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | |||
| Scaling | D | -D | - | - | ||
| Requires | 12 | 12 | - | - | ||
| Skill | Rapid Fire | |||||
| Stability | 0 | |||||
| Range | 42 | |||||
| Durability | 65 | |||||
| Weapon Category | Bow | |||||
| Wgt. | 3.5 | |||||
| Attack type | None | |||||
| FP Cost | —(4/4) | |||||
| Purchasing Value | 3500 | |||||
| Soul Value | 150 |
Introducing the Composite Bow, a swift short bow in Dark Souls 3. It excels at short to mid-range combat, making it perfect for locked-on enemies, PvP, and quick foes.
With Quick attack and rapid-fire, it offers versatility. Quick attack lets you shoot after dodging or while sprinting (75% damage), while rapid fire shoots about two arrows per second (50% damage).
In PvE, it’s a potent secondary weapon for clearing ads, maintaining distance, and recovering from dodges. Its ability to fire while sprinting aids in escaping tough situations.
While it can help finish off foes with high health, some may find it undermines the game’s challenge. In summary, the Composite Bow stands out as one of Dark Souls 3’s top all-around bows.
To acquire the Composite Bow, you will have to give the Dreamchaser’s Ashes to the shrine handmaiden.
Black Bow Of Pharis
| Physical | Magic | Fire | Light | Holy | Critical | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 67 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Defense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | |||
| Scaling | E | C | - | - | ||
| Requires | 9 | 18 | - | - | ||
| Skill | Pharis Triple-Shot | |||||
| Stability | 0 | |||||
| Range | 63 | |||||
| Durability | 65 | |||||
| Weapon Category | Bow | |||||
| Wgt. | 3.0 | |||||
| Attack type | None | |||||
| FP Cost | —(7/7) | |||||
| Purchasing Value | - | |||||
| Soul Value | 150 |
The Black Bow of Pharis, a Dark Souls classic, stands out as arguably the most potent PvE bow in Dark Souls 3. It’s distinguished by being a unique longbow, held horizontally during shots, and offers the longest range among all Dark Souls 3 bows.
Moreover, it boasts the Pharis triple shot, enabling three-arrow shots and versatility with various arrow types, affecting its damage output.
In PvE, this longbow excels due to its high damage, extended range, and adaptability with various arrows, making it effective against stationary large enemies and bosses.
However, it’s not ideal for close-range encounters or quick escapes, lacking the ability to shoot immediately after dodging or while sprinting.
In the Farron Keep swamp, in the area close to the Keep Ruins bonfire, you will come across three elder Ghrus, giant boss-like enemies with a massive health pool (they won’t be easy to them). You will have to kill all three. One of them will drop the back bow of Pharis upon his death.
Dragonslayer Greatbow
| Physical | Magic | Fire | Light | Holy | Critical | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 126 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Defense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | |||
| Scaling | D | D | - | - | ||
| Requires | 20 | 20 | - | - | ||
| Skill | Puncturing Arrow | |||||
| Stability | 0 | |||||
| Range | 50 | |||||
| Durability | 100 | |||||
| Weapon Category | GreatBow | |||||
| Wgt. | 10.0 | |||||
| Attack type | None | |||||
| FP Cost | —(20/20) | |||||
| Purchasing Value | – | |||||
| Soul Value | 1000 |
The Dragonslayer Greatbow, a standout among the Best Dark Souls 3 bows, impresses with its high damage output, dealing 427 attack at +5 with 40 strength and dexterity. It exclusively fires great arrows, packing a punch but demanding a slow shooting pace due to its high damage.
This bow requires a few seconds to load an arrow, making it less suitable for PvP engagements when compared to other options like the Pharis bow or Composite bow.
For PvE, it proves versatile, from damaging enemies and clearing ads to delivering high boss damage. Overall, it’s an exceptionally potent PvE bow and can serve well in specific PvP scenarios, provided you have high strength.
The Dragonslayer Greatbow is an outstanding Dark Souls 3 bow, particularly for those with high strength.
You can find one lying with 5 Dragonslayer Greatarrows on a corpse on top of Anor Londo, where most Silver Knight archers are posted in Dark Souls 3.
White Birch Bow
| Physical | Magic | Fire | Light | Holy | Critical | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 92 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Defense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | |||
| Scaling | E | D | - | - | ||
| Requires | 8 | 20 | - | - | ||
| Skill | Unseen Arrow | |||||
| Stability | 0 | |||||
| Range | 49 | |||||
| Durability | 50 | |||||
| Weapon Category | Bow | |||||
| Wgt. | 2.5 | |||||
| Attack type | None | |||||
| FP Cost | -(6/6) | |||||
| Purchasing Value | – | |||||
| Soul Value | 300 |
The White Birch Bow facilitates evasion and smooth escapes from tense encounters, featuring a special arrow-hiding ability for strategic gameplay.
Effective in both PvP and PvE, although not as a primary weapon, the White Birch Bow’s speed and adaptability accommodate various scenarios.
Its arrow invisibility adds a layer of complexity to PvP battles, leaving opponents second-guessing your moves. Quick firing combined with invisible arrows allows for confusion and multi-angle attacks in a short time.
Despite its low damage, it excels at maintaining distance, frustrating PvP adversaries, and dealing with ads, making it one of Dark Souls 3’s finest bows.
The White Birch Bow is a DLC weapon and you will require the ringed city DLC to acquire it. It can be found near the Ringed City streets bonfire. Near the bonfire, in the swamp, is an area full of hobbled clerics. There, lying atop a corpse, you can find the Millwood Greatbow.
Shortbow
| Physical | Magic | Fire | Light | Holy | Critical | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 77 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Defense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | |||
| Scaling | E | D | - | - | ||
| Requires | 7 | 12 | - | - | ||
| Skill | Rapid Fire | |||||
| Stability | 0 | |||||
| Range | 42 | |||||
| Durability | 40 | |||||
| Weapon Category | Bow | |||||
| Wgt. | 2.0 | |||||
| Attack type | None | |||||
| FP Cost | -(4/4) | |||||
| Purchasing Value | 1000 | |||||
| Soul Value | 100 |
The Shortbow is very similar to the Composite Bow and is useful for all the same reasons. It is very quick and has the same skillset.
The Short bow’s ability to quickshoot right after a dodge and while sprinting makes it a very effective weapon for both PvP and PvE. It requires a strength level of at least 7 and a dexterity level of at least 12.
All in all, the Short Bow is an excellent alternative to the Composite Bow and excels in causing damage quickly and helping make distance.
This bow cannot be buffed or infused and can be bought from Greirat once he returns from his expedition to the undead settlement (it is also a starting weapon for the thief class). A great option for people wanting a quick secondary bow in Dark Souls 3.
Millwood Greatbow
| Physical | Magic | Fire | Light | Holy | Critical | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 139 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Defense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | |||
| Scaling | C | E | - | - | ||
| Requires | 12 | 28 | - | - | ||
| Skill | Pierce Earth | |||||
| Stability | - | |||||
| Range | 39 | |||||
| Durability | 100 | |||||
| Weapon Category | GraetBow | |||||
| Wgt. | 9.0 | |||||
| Attack type | None | |||||
| FP Cost | -(20/20) | |||||
| Purchasing Value | - | |||||
| Soul Value | 1000 |
While the Dragonslayer Greatbow tops my list as the favorite great bow, the Millwood Greatbow offers another excellent choice. It features an A strength scaling, demanding a minimum strength level of 28 and a dexterity level of 12 for effective use.
Although it has the shortest range, it boasts the highest damage among all great bows and, indeed, all bows in general.
The lower range and strength scaling directly correlate with its exceptional damage output, making it a top pick for strength-based builds. If you prioritize strength as your primary stat and can overlook the reduced range,
I recommend opting for the Millwood Greatbow over the Dragonslayer Greatbow. You’ll find it on a corpse guarded by Millwood knights. In conclusion, it stands as an outstanding choice for strength-based builds in Dark Souls 3.
DS3 Best Bows Comparison Table
Comparison table for the Best Dark Souls 3 Bows:
No. Bows Physical Attack Range Durability Wgt. FP Cost
1 Composite Bow 73 42 65 3.5 -(4/4)
2 Black Bow 67 63 65 3 -(7/7)
3 Dragonslayer Great bow 126 50 100 10 -(20/20)
4 White Birch Bow 92 49 50 2.5 -(6/6)
5 Shortbow 77 42 40 2 -(4/4)
6 Millwood Great bow 139 39 100 - -
What I Think About Bows
In summary, while bows in Dark Souls 3 aren’t mandatory, they can be highly effective secondary weapons, offering versatility and a range of playstyle options. The guide outlines the best bows, highlighting their strengths and areas of excellence in both PvE and PvP.
Whether you prefer the swiftness of the Composite Bow, the range of the Black Bow of Pharis, the sheer damage of the Dragonslayer Greatbow, the versatility of the White Birch Bow, or the strength-focused Millwood Greatbow, each offers unique advantages for specific scenarios.
Ultimately, bows enhance gameplay and provide intriguing choices for players seeking varied approaches to challenges in Dark Souls 3. For more Dark Souls 3, check out Dark Souls 3 Strength Weapons and Dark Souls 3 Faith Weapons.
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Farrukh has been covering Souls like games for years now. Having an extensive experience in Dark Soul 3 and Elden Ring he critically judges these games and writes his unbiased thoughts on them after spending hundreds of hours grinding. Farrukh has also worked with Game Rant, MP1st and The Nerd Stash on a variety of gaming guides making him an expert to share his opinions. When not writing he probably be clearing another dungeon. You can also join Farrukh on his Steam.
