Bow or Arquebus?

[MarchingMachine]

I started the second area and I'm playing a wizard/ranger mixed kind of character. I'm dead set on my main weapon set as the pistol and grimoire combo. Still not sure if I want my other set to be the bow or arquebus. I'm currently using a bow because I want to stealth my way through situations but stealth in this game hasn't felt great so far. I might switch to the arquebus, curious to the thoughts of anyone that has played through trying stealth or at least mixing the two classes.

[Sukotto]

Arquebus is loud and one shot will notify the whole camp to your location, even in stealth.

[nomadpad]

fintlock pistol and tome

[thebassplayer23]

I’m playing that exact setup and using the Arquebus. I love it! I usually just try to stealth one guy with my stab attack then it’s guns blazing and wizardry. I’m enjoying the game and this combo a ton so far.

[hrafnskald]

Do you prefer stealth sniper, or rapid fire?

Arqs are great at long range, where you carefully line up your shot from a hiding point.
They also have a long reload time, where you try to re-enact Napoleonic Era musketmen reloading while being charged by an Angry Bear.

Bows are the opposite: shorter range, no downtime to reload.

I've found dual wielding pistols works surprisingly well. They have a shorter reload time, and you can stagger your shots (alternating left and right) so you're not waiting to shoot for quite so long.

[Janthis]

Bow is faster and more dynamic, arquebus is more of a sniper weapon. Pistols are somewhere in between, I think.

[emailthefutureme]

Arquebus with Dexterity can become so quick at reloading it's almost pistol speed, especially if you find the unique one with reload buff

[Plagen]

Idk, I'm partial to dual pistols personally. I'm basically crushing everything easily. I don't even need the other weapon set, lol.

[donut32]

im using the gun cuz merica

[Avocado]

Arquebus shoots through plate armour,while the bow cannot

[cbiocca]

I use both. Bow for stealth. Arquebus for when stealth isn't possible.

[VeraelHasta]

Falloff on bows is pretty annoying.
Until you get the lightning unique bow.