The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide: What’s the Best Bow to Start Skyrim?
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So, you’re fresh off the cart in Skyrim, and you’re itching to become a legendary archer? Excellent choice! The bow is a versatile weapon, allowing you to thin out enemy ranks from a distance, hunt game for survival, and even take down dragons with enough skill and determination. But with so many options available early on, which bow is the absolute best to kickstart your adventure?
The answer, surprisingly, isn’t always straightforward. However, considering accessibility, damage output, and required investment, the Elven Bow, obtainable early in Solstheim, offers the best balance of power and ease of acquisition for a new character in Skyrim. This bow provides a significant damage boost compared to the basic hunting bow, while remaining easy to get.
Why the Elven Bow? A Deeper Dive
Let’s be clear: the humble Hunting Bow you start with isn’t going to cut it for long. You’ll quickly find yourself struggling against even basic enemies. Therefore, your immediate goal should be to upgrade.
The Elven Bow, located south of Raven Rock in Solstheim, offers a considerable upgrade early on. The journey to Solstheim is the only tricky part. Here’s the breakdown:
- Ease of Acquisition: While you might think traveling to Solstheim at level 1 is crazy, it’s more than manageable. Take a carriage from Whiterun (or any major city) to Windhelm. From Windhelm’s docks, you can pay a small fee to take a boat to Raven Rock. Once there, the bow is sitting on a dead guard just a short distance south of town.
- Damage Output: The Elven Bow significantly outdamages the Hunting Bow, making early-game combat much more manageable. This will allow you to deal with creatures and bandits much more efficiently.
- Low Level Viability: You can snag this bow at level one. No grinding, no difficult quests, just a quick trip and a simple pick-up.
While there are other contenders for “best early bow,” the Elven Bow strikes the perfect balance between accessibility and effectiveness.
Other Early Bow Options: A Quick Look
- The Bound Bow: This conjured bow, obtained from Fort Amol, is powerful, especially with the Mystic Binding perk. However, it requires investment in the Conjuration skill tree and Magicka, making it less ideal for a purely physical character build at the very beginning.
- Faendal’s Bow: After completing his quest in Riverwood, Faendal becomes a follower and can provide archery training. You can take your money back from his inventory, and also gain access to his bow. This bow offers a minor upgrade over the hunting bow, but the player’s archery level is very low.
- Long Bow: Located in Whiterun, this bow does a bit of damage, and is easy to get and cheap to acquire.
Endgame Bows: What to Aim For
While the Elven Bow is a fantastic early-game option, you’ll eventually want to upgrade to something more powerful. Here are some of the best bows in Skyrim:
- Auriel’s Bow: Obtained during the Dawnguard DLC questline, Auriel’s Bow is arguably the most powerful bow in the game, especially when paired with Sunhallowed Elven Arrows against undead foes.
- Dragonbone Bow: Crafted after achieving a high Smithing skill and obtaining Dragon bones and scales, the Dragonbone Bow offers excellent damage and speed.
- Daedric Bow: Similar to the Dragonbone Bow, the Daedric Bow requires a high Smithing skill and rare Daedra Hearts. It’s a top-tier choice, offering exceptional damage.
- Dwarven Black Bow of Fate: Offers additional enchantments and stats to improve overall damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Skyrim Bows
1. What is the best bow at the absolute start of Skyrim?
The Hunting Bow is the bow you start with. However, immediately seek an upgrade. The Elven Bow in Solstheim provides a significant damage boost.
2. How early can I get a Daedric Bow?
You can potentially find a Daedric Bow in random loot starting at level 46. However, the most reliable way is to obtain the Daedric Smithing perk and craft it yourself.
3. Is the Dragonbone Bow better than the Daedric Bow?
At base stats, the Dragonbone Bow generally does more damage and has a slightly faster draw speed than the Daedric Bow. However, fully upgraded and with enchantments, both are excellent end-game options.
4. Where can I find a good bow early in Whiterun?
The Long Bow is available in Whiterun at a low price, but don’t expect it to be as good as an elven bow.
5. Is Auriel’s Bow really the most powerful weapon in Skyrim?
Auriel’s Bow is widely considered the most powerful weapon due to its high damage and unique effects, especially when used with Sunhallowed Elven Arrows against undead.
6. What’s the best bow in Skyrim without DLCs?
Without DLCs, the Daedric Bow is the best obtainable bow. However, many players find the Bound Bow, with the Mystic Binding perk, to be even more effective early to mid-game due to its light weight and ease of summoning.
7. What is the weakest bow in Skyrim?
While subjective, Karliah’s Bow is often considered one of the weaker unique bows due to its relatively low damage output. The Hunting Bow is the weakest, but can be improved.
8. Is being an archer a viable build in Skyrim?
Absolutely! Archery is one of the most powerful and versatile skills in Skyrim. A well-built archer can deal massive damage from a safe distance, making them effective against almost any enemy. The power of a stealth archer build allows for excellent damage in short bursts, dealing tons of damage.
9. What’s better: a bow or a crossbow in Skyrim?
Bows generally have a faster draw speed and are better for sustained combat. Crossbows offer higher initial damage but have a slower reload time. The Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow with exploding bolts is a popular choice for stealth archers.
10. What is the fastest-shooting bow in Skyrim?
Auriel’s Bow and Zephyr have very fast draw speeds. The Bound Bow, especially with the Mystic Binding perk, also boasts a very quick draw speed.
11. What are the best arrows to use early in Skyrim?
Iron Arrows and Steel Arrows are readily available and sufficient for early-game enemies. As you progress, upgrade to Elven Arrows, Glass Arrows, Ebony Arrows, Daedric Arrows, or Dragonbone Arrows for increased damage.
12. How important is the Archery skill tree?
The Archery skill tree is crucial for maximizing your bow’s effectiveness. Perks like Overdraw, Critical Shot, Eagle Eye, Steady Hand, and Power Shot significantly increase your damage output and accuracy.
13. Can I enchant my bow in Skyrim?
Yes! Enchanting your bow is highly recommended. Useful enchantments include Fortify Archery, Fire Damage, Shock Damage, Frost Damage, and Soul Trap.
14. Does stealth affect bow damage?
Yes! The Stealth skill tree offers perks that significantly increase your damage when attacking from stealth. The Assassin’s Blade perk, in particular, can multiply your damage by up to 15x with daggers, but archery also benefits greatly from stealth attacks.
15. What is the best race for an archer in Skyrim?
While any race can be a successful archer, Bosmer (Wood Elves) have a natural +10 bonus to Archery, making them a strong choice. Khajiit also excel as stealth archers due to their innate stealth bonuses. Games Learning Society provides in-depth analysis of gaming trends and race statistics for more informed choices when selecting a race for your character. The GamesLearningSociety.org offers unique insights into effective builds.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Path of the Archer
Choosing the best bow to start Skyrim ultimately depends on your playstyle and preferences. However, the Elven Bow offers a readily accessible, powerful option for new players. Remember to invest in your Archery skill, find better gear as you progress, and experiment with enchantments to become a formidable archer in the world of Skyrim. Happy hunting, Dragonborn!