Conjuration perks like Mystic Binding, Oblivion Binding, and Soul Stealer also add extra damage and secondary effects to the bow. Not only is it weightless, but it comes with a quiver of 99 arrows. Similar to how the Conjuration tree allows players to craft Daedric gear without Smithing, this strong bow can be summoned to the Dragonborn’s hand at any time. Higher levels in Smithing, along with the appropriate perk points, allows for the forging of Glass, Ebony, and Dragonbone arrows, but the high-level ingots and ores are always rare and expensive.įor players who want to avoid the grind of leveling Smithing, the Bound Bow spell is a useful alternative. The components required are firewood, which is available indefinitely, but requires a Woodcutter’s Axe, and various ingots. Instead of finding, looting, or purchasing special arrows from merchants, a player with a good Smithing skill level can also make arrows at a forge. Likewise, Sunhallowed Elven Arrows are needed for the sun explosion effect. Blocking out the sun as the Dawnguard DLC’s Vampire Lord is only possible by firing one Bloodcursed Elven Arrow into the sky per day. Besides being a way to maximize the use of hard-earned Daedric or Dragonbone arrows, it’s also a good way to preserve Elven arrows. The Hunter’s Discipline perk is a good way to keep a steady stockpile. Dragonbone arrows are the strongest in the game, dealing 25 base damage, but without level 100 Smithing or exploits, they are far too rare to use reliably. Ebony arrows are occasionally used by leveled Draugr Deathlords Daedric arrows are rarer still, found in thief caches or on Dwarven Centurions and only one of the three Keepers in the Soul Cairn uses Dragonbone arrows. Though Iron, Steel, or Ancient Nord arrows are ubiquitous, Skyrim’s more powerful arrows are a limited resource, even if the player is skilled in Smithing. Since Skyrim’s toughest bosses have lots of health and durability, these prolonged melee encounters are often easier with magic or melee rather than arrows. Hows the damage on the two crossbows I only played for about an hour before work this morning, and it was on a character where I hadnt invested in Archery at all so I couldnt really notice. Both bows and crossbows are two-handed weapons, meaning that, while players do have a limited bash ability, they cannot swing swords, use staffs, hold shields, or cast spells until they’ve first unequipped the bow. Arrows will always fire slower than the Dragonborn can swing a sword or cast a Destruction spell, and crossbows reload slower than a bow. While close-quarters fighting with a bow or crossbow is possible, it is far from ideal.

Skyrim crossbow with most damage