Bow or Gun?

[WarNerve]

What do you prefer? I'm just curious to hear your opinions and experiences with either. I just started playing the game a day or so ago. So far I have only used the bow, but I almost have enough silver to buy a Flintlock Pistol, which appears to do much more damage. Though I have a feeling bullets will be much harder to keep in stock than arrows.
Thank you for any replies. I look forward to reading them.

[Sackon]

Pistols can't be manually aimed, has to be reloaded with a skill after shooting, and ammo is more expensive/harder to find, but can be crafted with iron scrap and oil. Also pistols are off-hand weapons, so you can go full bloodborne and have a pistol in your off-hand and a melee weapon in your primary hand.

[WarNerve]

Originally posted by Sackon:

Pistols can't be manually aimed, has to be reloaded with a skill after shooting, and ammo is more expensive/harder to find, but can be crafted with iron scrap and oil. Also pistols are off-hand weapons, so you can go full bloodborne and have a pistol in your off-hand and a melee weapon in your primary hand.

I didn't realize the pistol was an off-hand weapon. That's very interesting. How about the range compared to the bow? Is it the same, or does it have less range? Thank you for your response.

[Crazyspartan]

Eh I just ditched my pistol for bows. They for sure have their pros and cons. I am running mainly a melee build, but I like to pull with ranged. With the pistol I had to get pretty close and it didn't seem to even connect half the time. I can see a assassin/rogue build being great for it though.

With bows I can basically snipe from a distance and go from there with my sword n shield. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

[Chillum]

I run merc/shaman and I enjoy my pistol. But I'll admit its mostly for blood bullet.

The passives of merc arent bad either.

[WarNerve]

Originally posted by ZeroFox:

Eh I just ditched my pistol for bows. They for sure have their pros and cons. I am running mainly a melee build, but I like to pull with ranged. With the pistol I had to get pretty close and it didn't seem to even connect half the time. I can see a assassin/rogue build being great for it though.

With bows I can basically snipe from a distance and go from there with my sword n shield. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

This is how I've been playing as well. I've never used the pistol though, so was curious about them. I didn't want to blow 50 silver on a pistol and then realize that I didn't like it.

[Aieonae]

A tip, think of the pistol as a single shot shotgun that work incredibly well at very short range.

While a bow can operate at longer range, and mainly use for kiting.

I am using a bow>pistol>mantis pick/assaasin claymore(for harder enemies) build now.

With bow use for kiting.
Follow by a pistol for slashing enemies hp by a huge portion.
Then finish the rest with melee bashing.

[Lapinoire]

Horror Bow+Piercing Shot=extreme poison+extreme bleeding
After that, switch to Obsidian Pistol, fire a Scatter Bullet for high impact, extreme bleeding, AND Burn.
Then, switch to a second pistol, either Cannon or Ornate(for damage or impact) via quickslot, and shoot that shot too.
If the enemy isn't already dead, a couple hits from a mace can finish it off.

Heck, if you wanted to be cheap, you could also set Tripwires(or pressure plates) loaded with traps between you and the enemy.

Not much can really touch you at this point.

[WarNerve]

Originally posted by Aieonae:

A tip, think of the pistol as a single shot shotgun that work incredibly well at very short range.

While a bow can operate at longer range, and mainly use for kiting.

I am using a bow>pistol>mantis pick/assaasin claymore(for harder enemies) build now.

With bow use for kiting.
Follow by a pistol for sash enemies hp.
Then finish the rest with melee bashing.

I haven't experimented with two-handers at all yet either. I've been using a shield with a "Fang Mace", I believe it is called. I like the mace so far. It has a nice "Bleed" effect on it.

[Aieonae]

Originally posted by Remilnelia™:

Horror Bow+Piercing Shot=extreme poison+extreme bleeding
After that, switch to Obsidian Pistol, fire a Scatter Bullet for high impact, extreme bleeding, AND Burn.
Then, switch to a second pistol, either Cannon or Ornate(for damage or impact) via quickslot, and shoot that shot too.
If the enemy isn't already dead, a couple hits from a mace can finish it off.

Heck, if you wanted to be cheap, you could also set Tripwires(or pressure plates) loaded with traps between you and the enemy.

Not much can really touch you at this point.

👍👍👍

[WarNerve]

Originally posted by Remilnelia™:

Horror Bow+Piercing Shot=extreme poison+extreme bleeding
After that, switch to Obsidian Pistol, fire a Scatter Bullet for high impact, extreme bleeding, AND Burn.
Then, switch to a second pistol, either Cannon or Ornate(for damage or impact) via quickslot, and shoot that shot too.
If the enemy isn't already dead, a couple hits from a mace can finish it off.

Heck, if you wanted to be cheap, you could also set Tripwires(or pressure plates) loaded with traps between you and the enemy.

Not much can really touch you at this point.

This sounds amazing. lol

[jabberwok]

My starting pistol isn't great, but it is light. I just use it like you'd expect to use a flintlock: get one shot off at the start of a fight, then switch to my melee weapon. After sniping with a bow first. The only problem is I need to take up two hotkeys: one for the gun and one for the fire action.

[Aieonae]

Originally posted by jabberwok:

My starting pistol isn't great, but it is light. I just use it like you'd expect to use a flintlock: get one shot off at the start of a fight, then switch to my melee weapon. After sniping with a bow first. The only problem is I need to take up two hotkeys: one for the gun and one for the fire action.

Yes unfortunately.

Since the 2 hander reach is way better I end up using 2 slots for pistol and 1 for melee 1 for bow.

[twpe]

My current character tends to one/two shot most enemies with a buffed Sunfall Axe. So, I mostly just use the pistol to soften targets at range or steal health.

[Evil Overlord]

Depends on your play style. I'm running a tank with a pistol as backup and a flat out ranger, so far I can say while I like the pistol better (first time I used it it sent a ghost flying but did minimal damage), there's something to be said for the bow as you can go full Bethesda mode and hide on a rock from melee enemies while you plink away.

[jabberwok]

Originally posted by Evil Overlord:

Depends on your play style. I'm running a tank with a pistol as backup and a flat out ranger, so far I can say while I like the pistol better (first time I used it it sent a ghost flying but did minimal damage), there's something to be said for the bow as you can go full Bethesda mode and hide on a rock from melee enemies while you plink away.

Personally, I can't think of any reason to not carry a bow. It's just too useful at the start of any fight, at least outdoors.