Horizon Forbidden West lets players choose from a wide range of weapons to fight against machines and humans. However, bows are the most popular choice, like in the prequel. The developers have added several bow types in the game, and each one is unique from the other in terms of rarity, performance, and elemental damage type. Some are ideal for close-ranged combat, while others are designed for mid to long-range situations. That is why we have curated Horizon Forbidden West best bows guide, and we have mentioned here the most used or sought bows so that your Aloy should pack all the best weapons in the game.
Like every other weapon, bows in Horizon Forbidden West are divided into different tiers. The strongest bows are the legendary ones, but you won’t be getting them early in the game. Therefore, we will mention bows for both the early and later stages of the game. Each of these bows can be further upgraded to make them even more powerful. In addition to this, some of them can even use multiple types of unique arrows.
Keep in mind that the following list is based on our personal choice, and you might find some other bows better than these. That is okay as the choice varies from player to player. So without any further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best bows in Horizon Forbidden West.
First, we have the Hunter Bow, the first bow every Horizon Forbidden West player gets to use. Starting weapons usually aren’t something that can help you push through the game, but the Hunter Bow is different. With the right upgrades, the Hunter Bow can even help you take on enemies you’ll encounter during the later parts of the game.
The Hunter Bow only comes with a single Coil slot, but that will be enough. It is because most of you are going to use the Hunter Bow only during the early stages of the game, and you won’t encounter tough enemies at this time. You can increase the damage the weapon deals through the Coil slot, which will be enough to take down the early enemies. However, you will need to reach level 3 of the weapon before you can use its Coil slot.
Overall, the Hunter Bow is a decent weapon that can deal a good amount of damage with each hit. Unfortunately, unlike most of the other bows that we’ll mention on the list, the Hunter Bow has no perks attached to it. But again, you won’t be needing any perks or massive upgrades for the early game.
If you’re looking for a bow that can help you quickly remove components from the Machines early on in the game, then the Sharpshot Bow is here to help you out. Even though it is one of the first bows you’ll acquire in the game, the Sharpshot Bow can deal a good amount of damage with each hit.
Compared to some of the other bows present in the game, this one has a slow draw speed but deals more damage. Its range is also great, and it can help you take down targets that are far away. It doesn’t matter whether you are fighting against giant Machines or regular-sized humans; the Sharpshot Bow can handle anything, that too from a great distance. It comes with a single Coil slot that becomes available when you reach level 3 of this weapon.
Overall, the Sharpshot Bow is something you should get, especially if you’re struggling against Machines. Considering it can quickly remove weapons and other components from the Machines, it is an excellent choice.
The Sharpshot Bow can be purchased from the Merchant in Chainscrape. It will cost you 127 Metal Shards and 1 Charger Circulator.
The Fire Hunter Bow is yet another bow you can acquire early on in the game. In the beginning, you won’t be able to get your hands on many weapons that can deal fire damage. Therefore, it will be wise to get Fire Hunter Bow weapon as soon as you unlock the merchants in Chainscrape.
The Fire Hunter bow can prove useful against a wide range of enemies. At the start of your journey, you’ll encounter machines that can be taken down easily by using the Fire element against them. Therefore, it will be wise to add Fire Hunter bow to your arsenal if you want to progress through the game quickly. Just like the Hunter Bow, this one also comes with a single Coil slot, which you’ll unlock when you hit level 3.
Overall, the Fire Hunter Bow is a fantastic weapon for the game’s early stages. Being able to inflict Fire damage on the machines is something that makes it worth carrying around. Unfortunately, unlike most of the other bows present in the game, the Fire Hunter Bow has no perks attached to it. But you won’t need any perks during the early stages as the enemies you’ll encounter will be relatively weak.
To get your hands on the Fire Hunter Bow, you will need to visit the Merchant located at The Daunt. You will need 127 Metal Shards and 1 Bristleback Circulator to craft a Fire Hunter Bow weapon.
The Hardweave Sharpshot Bow is the first Rare Bow on our Horizon Forbidden West best bows guide. This is another weapon that offers a great range, thus providing you with the luxury of eliminating your targets while staying at a safe distance.
Unlike the bows mentioned above, the Hardweave Sharpshot Bow comes with two Coil slots. The first one is unlocked by default, and you can use a Coil as soon as you get the weapon. As for the second Coil slot, it becomes available when you hit level 4 with the weapon.
There are also two perks attached to the weapon. The first one increases the long-range damage by 15% at level 1, which increases to 40% at level 4. On the other hand, the second perk increases the overdraw damage by 15%. With the right upgrades and perks, the Hardweave Sharpshot Bow can easily take down weak machines and humans in a single shot, something that will help you clear an area quickly.
Overall, the Hardweave Sharpshot Bow is one the best bows in Horizon Forbidden West for the early game. It can easily take down almost every enemy you’ll encounter during the first few story quests. This weapon’s range is another reason you should give Hardweave bow a try.
If you’re interested in getting the weapon, then you can purchase it from the Merchant in Plainsong. The cost of the Hardweave Sharpshot bow is a little high as you’ll need 549 Metal Shards and 1 Grazer Circulator to craft it.
Another excellent bow to use in Horizon Forbidden West is the Marshal Hunter Bow. The thing which makes this bow one of the best in its ability to make machines or humans fight each other. Therefore, it’s meant for those who like to play dirty.
Along with regular arrows, the Marshal Hunter Bow uses Berserk Hunter Arrows. If you use them on an enemy, they will go crazy and start attacking their allies. This works on both Machines and human enemies. Considering how it works, it will be wise to use it against a group of enemies. While they are fighting each other, you will get the chance to land more powerful attacks on them without worrying about them shifting their attention to you.
The Marshal Hunter Bow has three Coil slots. The first one is available at the base levels, while the other two are unlocked when you upgrade the weapon. By using the Coil slots, you can further increase the amount of damage the weapon deals and transform it into something that you can even use later on in the game. As for its perks, it has three. The first one increases the burning enemy damage by 15%, the second one increases the overdraw damage by 15%, and the third one boosts the concentration damage by 10%.
Overall, the Marshal Hunter Bow is one of the best bows in Horizon Forbidden West. You can even trust this weapon to help you take down enemies that you’ll face later on in the game, that is, if you have upgraded the weapon to its maximum level.
You will need to spend some time in the Hunting Grounds to collect medals to get Marshal Hunter Bow. Afterward, you can purchase it from the Arena Merchant for 84 Hunting medals.
Another bow on our list that can deal fire damage is the Wildfire Hunter Bow. Thanks to its Fire Hunter Arrows and Advanced Fire Hunter Arrows, you can set your enemies on fire and then attack them with even more powerful attacks.
You can further increase the amount of damage the Wildfire Bow deals by upgrading it. At the base level, it will have on Coil slot unlocked. However, you can unlock two more Coil slots by upgrading the weapon.
The Wildfire Bow also comes with three perks, which increase the high ground damage, overdraw damage, and critical hit damage by 15%. All of this makes the Wildfire Bow a solid choice for mid-game and late-game.
To get your hands on Wildfire Bow weapon, you will need to purchase it from the Merchant located in Thorinmarsh. The cost of this Bow weapon is a little high as you’ll need 1437 Metal Shards, 1 Large Machine Core, and 1 Shell-Walker Circulator for it.
The first Warrior Bow on our list is Carja’s bane. It is the kind of bow that has been designed for close-ranged situations. There are only a few bows in the entire game that perform as well as this one in close combat. Some machines in the game are quick and are always on top of you. This is where Cajra’s Bane becomes useful.
The Carja’s Bane comes with five Coil slots, meaning that you can upgrade this weapon to a great extent. The first three Coil slots are unlocked by default, and the remaining can be unlocked by further upgrading the weapon.
Along with regular arrows, Carja’s Bane uses Fire arrows, something that can help you inflict damage on your target over time. In other words, you can set them on fire by using these arrows and then attack them with regular arrows while the fire status effect is already draining their health down.
The bow has a total of four perks attached to it. The first offers 10% agility damage, and the second increases the corroding enemy damage by 10%. As for the third and fourth ones, you’ll unlock them after you upgrade the weapon.
Overall, the Carja’s Bane is a great bow for close-quarters combat. With the right upgrades, it can be transformed into a lethal weapon that can take down even the toughest of opponents.
To get your hands on Carja’s Bane, you will need to complete the in-game racing tournaments called Gauntlet Runs. There are a total of four Gauntlet Runs in the game, and you will need to complete all of them to get this weapon. However, keep in mind that the Gauntlet Runs aren’t easy, so make sure you first learn how to ride a Charger properly before you enter them.
The Death-Seeker’s Bow is a legendary bow that is capable of electrocuting its targets. Thanks to this, you can slow down your enemy’s movement and then land powerful attacks on them before they even get the chance to gain back their momentum.
Just like Carja’s Bane, the Death-Seeker’s Bow also has a total of five coil slots, out of which three are unlocked by default, and the other two become available as you upgrade the weapon. Once all the Coil slots are unlocked, you can upgrade this weapon to a great extent.
It also has four perks in total. The first one provides a 5% critical hit chance; the second one provides a 10% shocked enemy damage, the third one increases the knockdown damage by 15%, and the fourth one boosts the critical hit damage by 15%.
Overall, the Death-Seekers bow is something you can trust in multiple situations. After you unlock all of its Coil slots and perks, you will be able to handle every situation easily. Whether you’re facing a weak enemy or a Shellsnapper, the Death-Seeker’s Bow will always have your back.
To get your hands on the Death-Seekers bow, you will need to collect a total of 80 Arena Medals by competing in the Arena and Hunting Grounds, after which you’ll be able to purchase it from the Arena’s Merchant.
The Sun Scourge is yet another weapon that you can use against enemies that you’ll encounter in the late game. It can deal a lot of damage with each hit, and it comes with a total of five Coil slots.
The thing which makes The Sun Scourge one of the best bows in Horizon Forbidden West is its ability to fire three types of arrows, including Fire, Freeze, and Acid ammo. Fire arrows can be used to set the target on Fire, Freeze arrows can be used to slow down their movement, and Acid arrows can be used to destroy the enemy’s armor. All three of them are unique in their own way and can be used in multiple situations.
For instance, during the late stage of the game, you’ll encounter enemies that are extremely powerful and can’t be taken down easily. This is where these special arrows will prove to be useful. You can either use Fire arrows to inflict damage to them over time or Freeze arrows to slow down their movement and get a chance to deliver more powerful attacks on them.
At the base level, the Sun Scourge has three perks unlocked, which increase its agility damage and reload speed, and also grant it a 2% instant brittle chance. There are two other perks that you can unlock by upgrading the weapon. These ones increase its overdraw damage and aerial enemy damage.
Overall, as you can judge yourself, the Sun Scourge is easily one of the most powerful bows in Horizon Forbidden West. Although you’ll get this weapon after you have progressed through more than half of the game, it is still worth getting as you’ll need something powerful for the late-game enemies.
The Sun Scourge is yet another weapon that is difficult to get. This is because you will need to capture all of the Rebel Camps present in Horizon Forbidden West. Capturing all of them is a time-taking and hectic process, so you won’t be getting your hands on this powerful weapon that easily. However, you’ll instantly realize that the efforts were worth it after you acquire this weapon.
Finally, we have the Forgefall. For me, it is the best bow in Horizon Forbidden West because no other bow can come close to its power. I also think Regella’s Wrath is an excellent weapon but Forgefall is still my top pick It can deal 179 damage with each hit at the base level, meaning that it offers one of the most serious base damage among all bows.
Forgefall is the first and only weapon on our Horizon Forbidden West best bows list that uses Advanced Plasma Precision Arrows. When you upgrade the weapon and unlock all five of its Coils, you can increase the amount of damage they deal. And once you’ve fully upgraded the weapon, you’ll be able to take down almost every enemy quickly.
This legendary bow has a total of five perks. The first two are unlocked by default, and they increase the draw speed and concentration damage by 25% and 10%, respectively. As for the other three, they will become available as you upgrade the weapon. Thanks to them, the overdraw damage, the aerial enemy damage, and the shocked enemy damage will increase by 25%, 15%, and 10%, respectively.
Overall, Forgefall is Horizon Forbidden West’s best bow. No other bow can come close to its might. If you’re looking for a weapon that can help you end a fight quickly, then look no further than the Forgefall.
Getting Forgefall is a pretty time-consuming task as you’ll need to compete in the Arena and Hunting Grounds. After you have gathered a total of 80 Arena Medals, you’ll be able to purchase the Forgefall bow from the Merchant sitting outside the Arena.
This marks the end of our Horizon Forbidden West best bows guide. We hope that you’ll be able to acquire the right bow through it. Have you unlocked all of these bows in the game? Which one is your favorite and go-to weapon? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
The Hardweave Sharpshot Bow is the first Rare Bow on our Horizon Forbidden West best bows guide. This is another weapon that offers a great range, thus providing you with the luxury of eliminating your targets while staying at a safe distance.
Getting Forgefall is a pretty time-consuming task as you’ll need to compete in the Arena and Hunting Grounds. After you have gathered a total of 80 Arena Medals, you’ll be able to purchase the Forgefall bow from the Merchant sitting outside the Arena.
Keep in mind that the following list is based on our personal choice, and you might find some other bows better than these. That is okay as the choice varies from player to player. So without any further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best bows in Horizon Forbidden West.
Overall, the Fire Hunter Bow is a fantastic weapon for the game’s early stages. Being able to inflict Fire damage on the machines is something that makes it worth carrying around. Unfortunately, unlike most of the other bows present in the game, the Fire Hunter Bow has no perks attached to it. But you won’t need any perks during the early stages as the enemies you’ll encounter will be relatively weak.
Unlike the bows mentioned above, the Hardweave Sharpshot Bow comes with two Coil slots. The first one is unlocked by default, and you can use a Coil as soon as you get the weapon. As for the second Coil slot, it becomes available when you hit level 4 with the weapon.
Why it is Great:
Aloy’s preferred weapon has always been a bow and arrow. So which ones are the best?
We’ve already brought you the top 10 weapons overall in Horizon: Zero Dawn, but today we’re going to talk specifically about the weapon Aloy is the most proficient with from the start of the game: her bow. There are three general types of bow in the game: the sharpshot bow; which shoots slow with high accuracy and damage, the hunter bow; which shoots more quickly with moderate accuracy and damage, and the war bow; which uses elemental attacks to disable and weaken enemies, while dealing minimal damage. Each type of bow has several variations, and it can be overwhelming, but starting with the items on this list will be sure to equip Aloy well enough to take on whatever comes her way.
The Shadow Hunter Bow is the best of its style in the base game, and a must-have once you have the ability to obtain it. This version of the hunter bow has three ammo types: Hunter Arrows, Hardpoint Arrows, and Fire Arrows, and a fast fire rate with moderate damage. Using it in close-quarters combat will give Aloy the dexterity and speed she needs to take down enemies quickly and efficiently.
FAQ
What is the strongest bow in Horizon Zero Dawn?
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