Kingdom Come: Deliverance does a lot of things right but the archery in KCD does need some work. We can hope that in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, we will see some improvement in the bows. That being said, we all know that the RPG is difficult and takes some getting used to. There is a steep learning curve to all aspects of the combat in KCD. I can still remember the countless times I died until I figured out how to use my longsword properly.
Bows are no different. Warhorse Studios must have prioritized historical accuracy instead of common archery tropes. You are given no crosshairs so you will have to learn where the arrows will go through trial and error. As soon as you get the hang of archery in Kingdom Come: Deliverance, you will want to make it your goal to find the best bows available.
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance – Top 5 Bows
Some of these bows might not be the most powerful in Kingdom Come: Deliverance but they all have merits that make them amazing options at different stages of KCD. Each of them has its uses so it would be wise to try and collect them all. Even though the longbows have the highest damage, taking them hunting or using them on horseback is unwise. They are too slow and there are better choices out there.
Capon’s Hunting Bow
While Capon’s Hunting Bow might not do as much damage as other bows in Kingdom Come: Deliverance, it is still one of the best. The higher the required strength for a bow, the slower the draw speed. Capon’s Hunting Bow only requires 5 strength and agility which means you can fire more arrows at any given time.
There is only one way to obtain Capon’s Hunting Bow. When you enter the service of Sir Radzig in KCD, there is a mission where Captain Bernard will teach you how to fight and use a bow. Hans Capon will give you his bow if you defeat him in the archery contest and duel.
If you do not manage to beat the young lord in combat, then the Yew Hunting Bow is the next best bow in the early game. Capon’s Hunting Bow is a great option until you have increased your strength and agility so you can wield the Sinew Bow or Cuman Bow.
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Ash Longbow
The Ash Longbow may be weaker than the other longbows available in Kingdom Come: Deliverance but it requires significantly less strength and agility to use. The Ash Longbow still does 74 power so it is always a viable choice in the mid-to-late stages of KCD.
You can easily pick up an Ash Longbow. Many bandits drop this weapon throughout KCD. You can find them by following a multitude of Treasure Maps and if all those fail, you can buy an Ash Longbow from the Huntsman at Rattay.
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Yew Longbow
The Yew Longbow is the most powerful bow in Kingdom Come: Deliverance if you don’t have the From the Ashes DLC. It is also possible that you have the DLC but chose to build the stables instead of the guardhouse, which will make it impossible to get your hands on the Sinew Bow. You can obtain the Yew Longbow in multiple ways in KCD. High-level bandits may use them, you can buy them from the huntsman at Rattay or win the Rattay Tourney 14 times.
The Yew Longbow sports a deadly 77 power but it is a heavy bow and you will need 15 strength to wield it properly. It has a slow draw but can one-hit most enemies if you have the right arrows. Definitely a contender for second place but it isn’t the best in Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
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Cuman Bow
You can find the Cuman Bows throughout Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Each time you defeat a group of Cumans, check out what weapons they are using. There are many versions of the Cuman Bow but if you kill enough of them, you should find one that has a 74 power rating. All of them are recurve bows and have a half-a-second faster draw. It doesn’t seem like a lot but it will make a difference.
If you prefer to shoot from horseback then the Cuman Bow will also be a better choice for you. Not all Cumans carry a bow so keep your eye out for the more powerful version along your playthrough. You will need a minimum of 13 strength to wield it properly but the agility requirement is only 6.
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Sinew Bow
Undoubtedly, the best bow when it comes to damage has to be the Sinew Bow. You will have to own the From the Ashes DLC to obtain this bow but it does pack one hell of a punch. No other bow comes close to how much power the Sinew Bow has but not everyone can wield it correctly. You will need a minimum of 16 strength and 11 agility to be able to hold an arrow in place otherwise it can be extremely chaotic to fire.
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When you rebuild Pribyslavitz, choose to construct a guardhouse instead of a stables. Then upgrade it so you have an archery range. Now you can buy the Sinew Bow from the Archery Master or simply steal it from his chest if you have the required skill. If you have the best ammunition, it will be rare that anyone will survive an arrow shot from the Sinew Bow.
That’s everything you need to know about the top 5 bows in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. As stated above, you will need to take some time to get used to the archery in KCD. If you are not a fan of bows, you can always just run into battle with a sword. If you want to see the best swords in Kingdom Come: Deliverance check out our guide here.
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