Bow or crossbow?

[NoctsbyQ]

I'm not a meta play nor do i care about specific builds playing it more for the fun and experience but bow or crossbow which is better you think? for dps

[Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC]

Bow is definitely viable and a lot fun. I have more fun playing on my bow user than any other character. With the right build and bow you should be able to pull off a crit every other shot and one shot Super Mutants. Works best in third person view and is pretty much a VATS only weapon. Big downside is it does not work while in Power Armor.

Crossbow is not so good. Bad DPS. But still fun and can be used in PA.

[Valac Crowley]

Archer girl here. Definitely recommend the bow. I'm not the biggest fan of the xbow though.

My archer girl was the third character that I made. And it's so much fun that she had surpassed my main character qua level. Bow is life.

[NIkto Barada]

good news, you can use the slower type as leadin and then switch to others, both use bow before me. the vendor bots in foundation have the plans for mods too

[Eriskumma]

Originally posted by Lesmir:

Xbow hit harder

Crossbow is the weakest of all bows. My main toon has all 3 different bows as Bloodied and modded with explosive arrows, without any archer perks crossbow's Pip-Boy damage is 226, normal bow's 279 and Compound Bow's 305.

[Straight White Male]

After many hours, I'm starting to get into them myself.

I have found the Compound Bow to be the best so far.

[lockwoodx]

Damn after reading this thread.... no wonder the xbow I tossed on the vendor never sells.

[virpyre]

Bow's are for a niche community they're not weak either, a B/50H/15V Compound can 1-2 shot enemies all day long. If you don't like a low health build you can go with Jug/50H/15V compound it's 1-3 shots.

Crossbow's are more wonky then bows.

[Traveler]

I'm not a fan of the bow, it just feels awkward specially in VATS. The crossbow is basically a stealth sniper weapon, if you're after DPS neither is very good.