Best Weapons in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Updated:

18 Sep 2024

Each weapon and weapon type has its individual strengths. Weapon crafting in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is complex: there are many different materials in the game, all from different locations and with different stats and boons. In this guide, I have selected the materials that I would choose for myself. However, there are times when different materials provide such different boons that it’s only appropriate that I let you choose which one is right for your playstyle.

As with any video game, it’s important to use the right weapons in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora to ensure the smoothest and most immersive gameplay possible. It’s important to know which bow is best against RDA and which against wildlife to strategize taking out an RDA base or a pack of ferals, and it’s important to know which materials can help you.

Early-Game Weapons

Kinglor Queen’s Sting (Heavy Bow)

The Kinglor Queen's Heavybow in the Kinglor Queen's home!

Unlock the ability to use a heavy bow during “Eywa’s Blessing” main quest. Eetu will give you Eetu’s Heavy Bow, and while this one will suffice for the time being, the Kinglor Queen's Sting will suit you much better. It takes after the Kinglor Moth Queen’s painful sting with Shellbreaker Arrows that can pierce armoured AMP suits, saving you a headache when confronted.

To get the design for Kinglor Queen's Sting, complete “Those Who Guide Us” in the main questline. Then, gather the following materials:

Superior or Exquisite Canopy Root

These roots are sneaky... look carefully!

Canopy Root information:

RARE: In the north of the Kinglor Forest, behind the Woodsprite Arches on the west side of Tangled Lake.
BEST QUALITY: day

The Kinglor Queen’s Sting stats are as follows:

30-123 damage depending on the quality of materials used.
Special Ammo: Shellbreaker Arrow
Quick Draw: Heavy bow draw time is reduced by 20%.

I strongly recommend the Kinglor Queen’s Sting over Eetu’s Heavy Bow because of the Shellbreaker Arrow. This ammo type is extremely effective at getting through armoured AMPs and hunting large beasts, like the sturmbeest or hammerhead titanotheres.

When you receive the recipe for the Kinglor Queen’s Sting, Etuwa will also give you the bow itself. However, if you follow this guide and craft one yourself, you can make a more powerful one.

So’lek’s Lightning Longbow

Watch out! It'll shock you!

Spoiler alert: So’lek is the source of many of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora’s best Na’vi weapons, many of which will be covered in this article. To get his Lightning Longbow, talk to So’lek in Resistance HQ after he gives you a songcord in the “Becoming” quest of the main questline. Then, gather these materials from the Kinglor Forest:

Superior or better Night Leaf Branch

You can't miss those gorgeous purple leaves.

BOON: Steady Aim: movement speed while aiming is increased. No effect while mounted (horse or ikran).
RARE: around Blackwater Basin in the north of Kinglor Forest. Check close to cliff-sides.
BEST: Rain
An important note: Blackwater Basin is extremely polluted. There are three small bases you’ll want to take out to clear enough pollution to get Superior Night Leaf Branches:
- Laser Prospector Charlie
- Dredger Alpha
- Pneumatic Tower Alpha

These locations are minor RDA bases that you should be able to take out as early as level 3 or 4. However, DO NOT attempt to take out the huge facility to the northeast of the Basin. It’s the hardest base in the game and you will die if you aren’t level 20 or higher.

A very polluted Blackwater Basin. But this is with the three small RDA bases defeated!

After taking out these three bases, head to the nearby Na’vi camp called “Over Gentle Water”. To the northwest of the camp, there is a steep cliff that is perfect for harvesting Superior Night Leaf Branches. It is the cliff closest to Laser Prospector Charlie. Search the top of the cliff and close to the edge while it’s raining and you should have no problems finding a Superior Night Leaf Branch.

Then, head west from Blackwater Basin to a Na’vi camp called “Fallen Hunter”. Search the waters surrounding the camp for a Superior Forest Seaweed Bast. And harvest an extra one for the camp’s contribution basket!

See my player location icon by the Woodsprite Arches? That's Fallen Hunter camp!

Superior Forest Seaweed

Forest Seaweed stands tall in the water, making it easy to spot.

BOON: +5% wildlife damage (great for learning how to hunt)
RARE: the Swamp Lowlands biome under the Woodsprite Arches in the Kinglor Forest.
BEST: dry conditions

So’lek’s Lightning Longbow has these stats:

38-127 damage, depending on the quality of materials
Special Ammo: Storm Arrow (shock damage, great for AMPs)
Steady Aim from Night Leaf Branch
+5% wildlife damage

So'lek's Lightning Longbow is a great bow to have while learning to play the game. For early game, the damage is high, the special ammo and Steady Aim will be extremely useful while learning to fight the RDA, and a bit of extra wildlife damage will help you hunt. If you take the time and caution to gather high quality materials, you can become quite the warrior in the first 10 hours of gameplay.

Mid-Game Weapons

So’lek’s Lightning Heavy Bow

A smile wouldn't kill you, So'lek.

Once again, So’lek makes the top of my list. Get the recipe for his Lightning Heavy Bow from So’lek in Resistance HQ after unlocking the ability to use a heavy bow from Eetu. Then, collect the following materials:

Sunset Reed

The air must smell so fresh here...

Sunset Reed information and stats:

22 Superior damage; 28 Exquisite damage
RARE: Around Daughter’s Pool in the Upper Plains, along the shores of Doula’s Stream.
BEST: Blood Leaf Pollen (Note: this “weather” effect will not be noted in the map like regular weather patterns (ie: clear, cloudy, foggy, rain, etc). As long as the air is red with Blood Leaf Pollen as you are harvesting the Sunset Reed, you will receive maximum stats).

Any Superior Root—I would recommend the Cave Root

It's a root! In a cave! Cave Root!

Cave Root information and stats:

62 Superior damage; 74 Exquisite damage
Focused Draw: Doubles the exhaustion timer for heavy bows.
RARE: in caves near Blistering Roots (check caves in the Upper Plains)
BEST QUALITY: day

Solali’s Spear-Thrower

Note: Because you acquire the ability to wield Spear-Throwers when you meet the Zeswa in the Upper Plains, there is no early-game option for Spear-Throwers. To learn to use Spear-Throwers, complete “The Wandering Clan” main quest.

Acquire the design from Solali in the Zeswa Circle. Then, gather the following materials:

Exquisite Hollow Bone

The good old hollow bone: light-weight, but powerful.

Hollow Bone information and stats:

148 Exquisite damage
Thundering Impact boon
RARE: in the northeastern Upper Plains, search the Shattered Bridge region along the east bank of the Twisting Pillar River within the Pillar Canyon biome.
BEST: Day

Exquisite Canyon Reed

It's hard to miss the bright yellow Canyon Reed swaying in the wind.

Canyon Reed information and stats:

28 Exquisite damage
+8% stealth damage
RARE: In the eastern Upper Plains, search behind the Great Tusk around the Stone Forest Stream.
BEST: Day

Late-Game Weapons

So’lek’s Furative Longbow

Get the design from So’lek in Resistance HQ. Then, collect the following materials:

Dusk Leaf Branch OR Moonwood Branch

The crimson leaves match the flowers and pollen exquisitely.

Dusk Leaf Branch information and stats:

45 Exquisite damage
Steady Aim: Move speed while aiming is increased. No effect while mounted on horse or ikran.
RARE: Search the Crimson Trees biome, south of Daughter’s Pool in the Upper Plains.
BEST: Blood Leaf Pollen
- Note: this “weather” effect will not be noted in the map like regular weather patterns (ie: clear, cloudy, foggy, rain, etc). As long as the air is red with Blood Leaf Pollen as you are harvesting the Sunset Reed, you will receive maximum stats.

OR Moonwood Branch

45 Exquisite damage
Powerful Draw: +20% damage when you fully draw the longbow.
RARE: along the eastern shore of Greatheart Lake in the Upper Plains.
- CAUTION: Stormglider territory.
BEST: Rain.

Bladehead Horn

There he goes!!

Bladehead Horn information and stats:

28 Exquisite damage
+8% RDA damage
RARE: search in and around sheltering bushpods across the Windswept Grasslands biome of the Upper Plains.

Shaded Waterweed

I wonder what it would feel like to sit in one of these purple bulbs...

Shaded Waterweed information and stats:

28 Exquisite damage
+8% wildlife damage
RARE: search inside tranquility bulbs beneath floating mountains in the Upper Plains.
BEST: dry conditions.

Fearless Warrior Spear Thrower

Acquire the design from So’lek in the Clouded Forest Resistance HQ, and then collect the following materials:

Exquisite Dense Bone

176 Exquisite damage
Thundering Impact boon: The spear-thrower deals additional damage to enemies close to the impact.
RARE: caves in the Cluster Pines biome of the Clouded Forest
BEST: day

Fearless Warrior Spear-Thrower stats:

162-338 damage
Special Ammo: Shellbreaker Spear
Brutal Intimidation boon: +40% ranged resistance for 15 seconds after killing an enemy.

So’lek’s Merciless Shortbow

After escaping from the RDA into the Clouded Forest, find So’lek at the new Resistance HQ and get his Merciless Shortbow design. Then, collect the following materials:

Any Exquisite Resin

There are three resins you could use here that all deal 45 Exquisite damage, but they each have different boons for different playstyles. Choose your resin accordingly:

Exquisite Cloud Pine Resin

I wonder how gooey it is.

Cloud Pine Resin information:

BOON: Fusillade:+15% damage on additional hits against the same target that stacks up to 4 times.
RARE: In the northern Clouded Forest, south of the Ensnared Lake.
BEST: Night

OR Exquisite Crimson Tree Resin

I wonder if the resin color affects the gooey-ness.

Crimson Tree Resin information:

BOON: Nimble Archer: All weapon movement penalties are removed.
RARE: In The Cut region of the Clouded Forest, search along the Stealth River in the Scarlet Thicket biome.
BEST: Night

OR Exquisite Hollow Tree Resin

This one's blue! Something in me says that'd it'd be the gooiest of them all.

Hollow Tree Resin information:

BOON: Reflex Shot: Gain snap aim-assist.
RARE: In the southern Clouded Forest, search the Giant’s Wilderness biome.
BEST: Night

Any Superior or better Horn

The best horn to use for damage is the Exquisite Stormglider Horn. However, this is not a very accessible option, as it is very hard to kill a Stormglider cleanly and mercifully to get the Horn’s maximum stats. The more accessible option:

Superior or better Bone Helm Rhino Horn

What a creature! I think its head is bigger than a whole human being.

Bone Helm Rhino Horn information and stats:

37 Exquisite damage
+10% RDA damage boon
RARE: Search clearings in the Clouded Forest’s Shallow Bog biome.

Exquisite Clouded Lily Bast

The Clouded Lily Bast looks up to the Clouded Forest's floating mountains. I wonder what it thinks of them.

Clouded Lily Bast information and stats:

37 Exquisite damage
+10% stealth damage boon
RARE: in the Clouded Forest’s Shallow Bog biome, in the water.
BEST: dry conditions

Skybreaker DLC Weapons

! SPOILER WARNING FOR SKYBREAKER !

Fast Heavy Bow

To get the Fast Heavy Bow, you’ll need to progress through the beginning of the Skybreaker main questline. After the RDA crashes a Valkyrie shuttle on the Great Games Camp, find So’lek at a nearby RDA outpost called Comms Outpost Alpha. Here, there will be a weapon container you can search to get the Fast Heavy Bow. The container is in the tent directly in front of So’lek and his ikran.

See the tent where Iila, my Sarentu character, is standing? That's the one!

The Fast Heavy Bow has the following stats:

200 damage
Special Ammo: Shellbreaker Arrow
- Amazing for taking out armoured AMPs!
Quick Draw: Revitalizing: +15% health when you kill an enemy.
+20% weak spot damage
- Perfect for hunting!

Rallying Cry Shortbow

This is my favourite bow in the game!

When you complete the quest “The Great Games” in the Skybreaker main questline, you will unlock the recipe for the Rallying Cry Shortbow. Not only is it a gorgeous bow in and of itself (no cosmetic override needed for this one), but it is powerful against RDA ground troops and packs of feral animals with its poison arrows. After receiving the recipe, collect the following materials:

Legendary Patient Elder Resin

And this resin look just plain muddy!

Patient Elder Resin information:

RARE: northwest of Teardrop Lake in the Rider’s Stretch area.
BEST: Night in shadowy and sheltered areas.

Exquisite Stormglider Horn OR Heartlands Bladehead Horn

The Stormglider Horn will give you more damage, but it is less accessible than the Heartlands Bladehead Horn, which is only down 3 damage points from the Stormglider Horn.

For Stormglider Horn:

RARE: among the floating mountains and mountain tops of the Clouded Forest.

For Heartlands Bladehead Horn:

RARE: found along rivers in the Open Grasslands biome of the Heart of the Plains.
Be sure to strike the beast’s weak spot with a heavy bow to get the best materials (as with any other hunt).

Another one runnin'!

Legendary Islet Palm Bast

It must love the sound of water flowing.

Islet Palm Bast information:

RARE: near the waterfalls in the Wandering Falls area in the south of the Rider’s Stretch region.
BEST: Dry conditions

If you have collected the materials properly, your Rallying Cry Shortbow should have the following stats:

78-279 damage
Poison Arrow special ammo
+10% damage from poison arrows
+25% damage if the target has an active status effect (stunned, shocked, on fire, poisoned)
Reflex Shot: Gain snap aim-assist. From the Legendary Patient Elder resin
- Very helpful when playing with a controller!
If Stormglider Horn: Energizing - Restore +15% energy after killing an enemy.
If Heartlands Bladehead Horn: +15% RDA damage
+15% wildlife damage from the Legendary Islet Palm Bast

No matter which weapon load-outs you create from this guide, you will be more set than ever to brave the dangers and wonders of Pandora’s Western Frontier!