Bows: Mistlands and beyond?

[Dr. Phil McCracken]

So, it seems like the bow (and arrows) upgrade in the Mistlands isn't a very impressive upgrade. My buddy has switched to the arbalest, which is somewhat impressive (but has a few short-comings, obviously).

I hesitate to make one and start a new skill at zero... as opposed to just sticking with bows and continuing to level that.

Is whatever Ashlands bow worth waiting for, especially compared to any arbalest upgrades that Ashlands also brings?

[Exodite-Dragon]

I found Spinesnap paired w/frost arrows to be very effective dealing with the Ashlands during the initial foray. Frost arrows confer a slow, always useful, and Spinesnap offers a little additional spirit damage on top of that since many foes in the biome qualify as undead.

I personally didn't change to the arbalest over the bow in Mistlands, either. Even though the arbalest, like the magic staves, is pretty potent starting from level 0 skill (but frankly, you should never consider disusing a tool in this game merely because you have a lower skill level with it) I stuck with the bow because I was far more familiar with it and the natural arcing of arrow shots.

Conversely, my wife swears by the arbalest (and recently, the Storm Ripper) and when we play together, she brings a crossbow everytime.

I still run Spinesnap over the Stormfang in the Ashlands on account of Spinesnap having level 4 durability, with gem weapons only having the level 2 upgrade available currently. I will probably switch once a level 3 upgrade becomes available down the line.

[OctoberSky]

If you are not averse to the wiki, you might find some of the parameters indicating bow strengths and costs (in terms of stamina) might be a good or poor fit for the enemies you will likely face.

• Draugr Fang[valheim.fandom.com] at level 4 has 56 pierce and 20 poison elemental damage and costs 10 units of stamina for each second needed to draw it (better bow skill = less).
  
• Spinesnap[valheim.fandom.com] at level 4 has 84 pierce and 20 spirit elemental damage at 14 units of stamina.
  
• Ash Fang[valheim.fandom.com] at level 3 (current max) has 99 pierce and 10 spirit elemental damage and remains at 14 units of stamina

The seeker[valheim.fandom.com] is resistant to pierce and immune to spirit. The charred[valheim.fandom.com] is likewise resistant to pierce but weak to spirit. @Exodite-Dragon's comment about frost is excellent as the frost arrow is a good fit for all 3 bows and a wide range of enemies. Although we don't know what a frost arrow will do in the Deep North

[Exodite-Dragon]

I half-expect that Frost hits will empower Deep North enemies... XD

[ministrog]

you bow lads get an armour set for further improvement. ganna have to make a bow character later.

[Nerevar]

most ashlands enemies are immune or resitent to poisen. make the snap. its no contest. snap is better.

also dont make ashfang. you make the stormfang. chain lighting with bows rapid fire rare i nuts.

and definilty dont upgrade ash fang. waste of flametal.

[Anti-Nibba-Player]

spinesnap seems better in Ashland on charred mobs.

Crossbow is a good one shot sniper, for slow things, which this biome doesn't have.

Upgrade ash fang bow and every possible weapon with green gems. That 20 sec immobilise is almost op !

[w.f.schepel]

Crossbow is basically a mage back up weapon as it is not stamina reliant. If you don't plan to go mage, there is very little reason to invest in the crossbow.

[OctoberSky]

I like the crossbow for long range stationary targets like the Monument of Torment, the Skugg and Fortress spawners (if lucky enough to spot them from high ground). Mistlands didn't feature similar targets but I'm sure some skilled arbalest players would swear to their effectiveness even against pierce resistant enemies like seekers.

[Draconis]

Decide it by your current skill points.

If your bow skill is high, stick with the bow. If it is not, go for the crossbows.

Even the best bow becomes a pain with the low level draw speed.

[Dr. Phil McCracken]

Thank you, all !

[adritheonly]

I find Storm Fang quite awesome paired with charred arrows.