There are many bows that players can use in Guild Wars 2, but come down to two variations: the long bow and the short bow. The longbow is generally the long-range weapon of choice that most players use (unless you are a Warrior as they have the option of using both a longbow and a rifle). The shortbow is the mid-range weapon that is known lean more toward condition-damage builds. Both bow types have their use in the game, and with that in mind, let us see what are the best bows in Guild Wars 2 and see how you can get these nifty weapons.
10. Guerrilla Arc (Shortbow)
Invoke the power of the Renegade with this ascended short bow. After receiving the free exotic weapon, Renegade’s Shortbow, you are tasked with collecting specific items to unlock this useful item, which can be shared with your other characters thanks to it being an account-bound weapon. No matter the challenge, this trusty short bow will help you conquer your foes.
What the Guerrilla Arc is good for
- The Guerrilla Arc is technically a free ascended weapon and can help players looking to get into raids with its increased stats.
- Upon receiving the weapon, you can select the stats you want for this weapon once. You are given a choice between three stats namely Celestial (all stats increased), Grieving (power + condition damage + precision + ferocity), and Viper’s (power + condition damage + precision + expertise). You can still swap stats, but you need to use the Mystic Forge in Lion’s Arch to do so.
- Because it is ascended equipment, you can share this weapon with other characters you have that also use the shortbow as a weapon.
How to get the Guerrilla Arc…
To get the Guerrilla Arc for free, you need to finish the collection for this Renegade weapon. The items you need are:
- Renegade’s Shortbow - Received after unlocking the Renegade for the first time
- Footpads - Dropped from feline enemies in the Crystal Dessert
- Cipher Ring - Purchase from the Renowned Heart NPC, Tariq Ayim, who can be found at The Bonestrand area of The Desolation.
- Wish for Justice - As a revenant, make a wish on the wishing well in the Garden of Seborhin in the Domain of Vabii map.
- Infernal Device - Defeat the Champion Forged Proliferator while on it is a target for a bounty in The Desolation map.
- Threat Report: Mysterious Saboteurs - purchase from the Renowned Heart NPC, Keeper Pamir, who can be found at The Ruination area of The Desolation.
- Trophy of the Champion Renegade - finish any race found in the Crystal Desert as a revenant.
- Kahdash’s Riding Bow - You can attempt to get it randomly from enemies and in chests, or simply purchase it from the Trading Post.
- Recipe: Superior Rune of the Renegade - Complete the quest, Free Emara and the other prisoners. Defeat Warden Jabari.
- Riddle of the Renegade - Find the Runeforger’s Chest in Sand Jackal Run.
- Solidarity Band - Dropped by the Caffeinated Skritt enemy in Elona (non-Living Story Maps).
- Renegade’s Casque - Rewarded to players that fully unlock the Renegade’s traits, perks, and skills.
- Renegade’s Cache - Map complete any map in Elona that isn’t part of the Living Stories as a Revenant.
- Mordant Infantry Bow - Craft the weapon to receive its unique skin for your wardrobe.
Guerrilla Arc details:
Type: Shortbow
Strength: 950 - 1050
Prefix (attribute combination) - Selectable
Required Level: 80
Rarity - Ascended
Binding - Account bound
9. Ydalir (Longbow)
The Ydalir is the Dragonhunter’s Ascended Longbow that they can earn by completing an achievement collection. It is the ascended version of the free long bow you receive after first unlocking the Dragonhunter as a Guardian which could be used by other characters. This specialization weapon makes a fine collection for longbow users and gives them an edge in battle with its increased stats.
What Ydalir is good for
- As an ascended weapon, it can be shared with your other characters as it is account-bound.
- Upon first acquiring the weapon, you can select either Berserker’s (power + precision + ferocity), Commander’s (power + precision + toughness + concentration), or Rampager’s (precision + power + condition damage) stat prefix. To change it, however, you may need to change its stats with the Mystic Forge, along with some other items.
- It is a powerful long-range weapon that is useful for professions that love taking down foes from afar like the Ranger, Condition Berserkers, and even Dragonhunters.
How to get Ydalir…
To get Ydalir for free, you need to finish the collection for this Dragonhunter weapon. The items you need are:
- Dragonhunter’s Longbow - Received after unlocking the Dragonhunter for the first time
- Drake Scale - Received randomly from drake enemies in the game.
- Icy Dragon Scale - Purchase from the Renowned Heart NPC, Rojan the Penitent, at Earthshake Basin in Frostgorge Sound.
- Mystic Hornbow - Acquire the skin by crafting the longbow in the Mystic Forge.
- Wyvern Scale - Received randomly from wyvern enemies in the Heart of Maguuma.
- Dragonhunter’s Inscription - Purchase it from the Heroics Notary in World versus World, or via the Whispers Keeper after a successful meta event in Dragon’s Stand.
- On Wings of Gold: Bronze - Earn at least a Bronze on this adventure.
- Gift of Hidden Descent (Ydalir) - Perform a Stealth Glide as a Guardian.
- Itzel Hunting Tactics - Purchase from the Itzel Mastery Vendor in Verdant Brink or Auric Basin, or from Xochitl in Tangled Depths.
- Dragonhunter’s Auric Sharpening Stone - You need to first have the Exalted Gathering Mastery. It can be found while mining ore nodes within Auric Basin.
- Invisible Dragonhunter’s Mushroom Spore - You first need to have the Nuhock Stealth Detection Mastery. Defeat a Treasure Mushroom as a Guardian.
- Guardian’s Cache - Map complete any Heart of Thorns map as a Guardian.
- Machined Longbow - Unlock the skin by acquiring the Machined Longbow weapon after completing a collection tied to it.
Ydalir details:
Type: Longbow
Strength: 950 - 1050
Prefix (attribute combination) - Selectable
Required Level: 80
Rarity - Ascended
Binding - Account bound
8. Zenith Recurve Bow And Shortbow (Achievement Skins)
The Zenith weapon skins are a fancy reward for players that have been diligently completing achievements up to certain levels. These unique skins resemble gold, electrified crystals that emit a warm light and can be freely used without using any Transmutation Stones. They are cool-looking rewards for players looking to find awesome skins and for free.
What the Zenith Weapon Skins are good for
- These weapon skins are great rewards for players looking to complete achievements and want to be rewarded for their efforts.
- Although the skins have no attributes or sigils on their own, they can be used on any weapon, including long and short bows for free.
- The skins aren’t overly elaborate and can fit with the majority of clothing aesthetics.
How to get the Zenith weapon skins (longbow and shortbow)…
- You need to earn enough achievement points to get the weapon skins by completing several achievements on your Hero Panel.
- For every 1000 achievement points (except several of them because they unlock either the Radiant or Hellfire armor skins), you get the opportunity to unlock any of the free Zenith weapon skins. If it is your first time to get them and want a longbow or shortbow, whichever one you choose first you get when you reach 1000, and when you reach 2000, get the other.
Zenith Recurve Bow and Shortbow details:
The items have basically the same description because they are weapon skins.
Double-click to consume.
Double-click to apply this look to any other (longbow or shortbow). Additional copies of this item are available from the achievements panel.
Item Type: Consumable
Rarity: Exotic
Binding: Account bound
7. Pinnacle Recurve Bow And Shortbow (Achievement Skins)
The Pinnacle Recurve Bow and Shortbow skins are practically the same as the Zenith weapon skins. They are rewards players get after reaching a certain number of achievement points, but unlike the Zenith weapons, they start off in the high 20k points. Very casual players may not reach those heights easily, so they may need more help in getting the achievements.
What the Pinnacle weapon skins are good for
- The Pinnacle weapon skins are the same as the Zenith weapon skins and share the same attributes and sigils of the weapon they are transforming.
- The weapon skins look like a darker, craggier version of the Zenith weapon skins and look good on darker aesthetic clothing and armor.
- The weapon skins are a symbol of how high a player’s achievement points are currently.
How to get the Pinnacle weapon skins (long bow and short bow)…
- You need to earn enough achievement points to get the weapon skins by completing several achievements on your Hero Panel.
- For every 1000 achievement points after 28,000, starting at 29,000 achievement points, you get the opportunity to unlock any of the free Pinnacle weapon skins. If it is your first time getting them and wants a longbow or shortbow, whichever one you choose first you get when you reach 29,000, and when you reach 30,000, get the other.
Pinnacle Recurve Bow and Shortbow details:
The items have basically the same description because they are weapon skins.
Double-click to consume.
Double-click to apply this look to any other (longbow or shortbow). Additional copies of this item are available from the achievements panel.
Item Type: Consumable
Rarity: Exotic
Binding: Account bound
6. Pharus (Longbow)
Pharus is an ancient legendary longbow with a sleek design and wraps users in a light blue aura, befitting its lore. Only true heroes can wield this mighty bow and take it away from Dwayna’s Reliquary according to the lore. Players that wind up with this legendary longbow get to show off its unique animations play out as they launch arrows of light at their foes and make a dazzling display upon wielding it.
What Pharus is good for
- It is one of the second-generation legendaries and has similar features to every legendary weapon currently in the game. For one, Pharus gains the ability to swap its stat prefix to whatever the player wants while out of combat. This makes it a must-have for players that want to do multiple game modes or want to have different builds but don’t want to keep swapping weapons around.
- Like all legendaries, they can be shared with your other characters that can use the longbow. These consist of Core Ranger and its elite specializations, core Warrior and its elite specializations, and the Guardian’s Dragonhunter elite specialization.
- It can also swap out Superior Sigils freely without using any extractor, retaining their value and without the need to salvage the weapon fortunately.
- In case you do not like the look of Pharus, you can always transmute the skin of another weapon over it and still retain its other abilities.
How to get Pharus…
Much like the other second-generation legendaries, you cannot purchase them from the Trading Post and can only craft them through the Mystic Forge.
Craft Pharus in the Mystic Forge by combining a Gift of Pharus, a Mystic Tribute, a Gift of Maguuma or Desert Mastery, and crafting the precursor weapon Spero.
Pharus details:
Type: Longbow
Strength: 966 - 1,134
Prefix (attribute combination) - Selectable
Required Level: 80
Rarity - Legendary
Binding - Account bound on use
5. The Dreamer (Shortbow)
The Dreamer is a first-generation legendary short bow with very fun animations. From shooting unicorns at enemies to having rainbow unicorn footfall animations follow your character, this alicorn / unicorn-inspired legendary weapon is a whimsical weapon for a truly whimsical character. Beware of the constant neighing upon firing the weapons.
What The Dreamer is good for
- As with every legendary weapon, they can have any attribute combination from the game, from Apothecary to Zealots.
- Legendary weapons like The Dreamer can freely swap attributes while out of combat, making them highly useful for those who love playing in multiple game modes.
- This weapon can also swap upgrade components like Superior Sigils freely while out of combat without destroying it, nor without the use of any extractor.
How to get The Dreamer…
There are two ways to receive this legendary weapon. You can either:
- Craft The Dreamer in the Mystic Forge by combining a Gift of The Dreamer, a Gift of Fortune, a Gift of Mastery, and either crafting, purchasing, or randomly finding the precursor weapon, The Lover. Or,
- Purchase the legendary weapon from the Trading Post.
The Dreamer details:
Type: Shortbow
Strength: 950 - 1050
Prefix (attribute combination) - Selectable
Required Level: 80
Rarity - Legendary
Binding - Account bound on use
4. Chuka And Champawat (Shortbow)
Chuka and Champawat is a special second-generation legendary shortbow that comes with an interesting little side quest while you craft their precursor, Tigris. After taking good care of three little tiger cubs, your efforts are rewarded with this legendary weapon. A fierce character needs an equally ferocious weapon, and what better weapon than one that shoots tigers at foes?
What Chuka and Champawat Legendary Short bow is good for
- Similar to the previous legendary weapon, Chuka and Champawat can swap their attributes while out of combat, making it a must-have weapon to serve as your weapon of choice for almost every type of game mode.
- Just like the other legendaries, you can also freely swap out Superior Sigils while out of combat without the need to use any extractor item.
- The journey to crafting this legendary features an adorable quest where you help baby tiger cubs out by carrying them on your back. Who wouldn’t want an adorable tiger cub to accompany them albeit temporarily?
How to get Chuka and Champawat…
Much like the other second-generation legendaries, you cannot purchase them from the Trading Post and can only craft them through the Mystic Forge.
Craft Chuka and Champawat in the Mystic Forge by combining a Mystic Tribute, a Gift of Chuka and Champawat, a Gift of Maguuma Mastery, and crafting the precursor weapon, Tigris.
Chuka and Champawat details:
Type: Short bow
Strength: 950 - 1050
Prefix (attribute combination) - Selectable
Required Level: 80
Rarity - Legendary
Binding - Account bound on use
3. Kudzu (Longbow)
For nature lovers, Kudzu is a wonderful legendary longbow to have as your weapon of choice. Its lore depicts a Sylvari sacrificing itself to save the Pale Tree, the source of the majority of the Sylvari race, and when they died, roots began to form beneath them and were turned into the very same legendary bow. It is a beautiful nature-inspired longbow with modified projections, footfalls, and other animations.
What Kudzu is good for
- Like with all legendary weapons, Kudzu shares the ability to swap stat prefixes while out of combat. This makes it a wonderful weapon to wield for players looking to play as other roles in raids, strike missions, and even game modes.
- Kudzu does not need to use an extractor to swap out Superior Sigils, nor does it need to be salvaged to do so, making it easy to switch Sigils when needed. If you also crafted the Legendary Sigils, this makes build crafting so much easier for your character.
- Like all legendaries, they can be shared with your other characters that can use the longbow.
- In case you do not like the look of Kudzu, you can always transmute the skin of another weapon over it and still retain its other abilities.
How to get Kudzu…
There are two ways to receive this legendary weapon. You can either:
- Craft Kudzu in the Mystic Forge by combining a Gift of Kudzu, a Gift of Fortune, a Gift of Mastery, and either crafting, purchasing, or randomly finding the precursor weapon, Leaf of Kudzu. Or,
- Purchase the legendary weapon from the Trading Post.
Kudzu details:
Type: Longbow
Strength: 966 - 1,134
Prefix (attribute combination) - Selectable
Required Level: 80
Rarity - Legendary
Binding - Account bound on use
2. Aurene’s Wing (Short Bow)
Aurene’s Wing is one of two legendary “bows” introduced in End of Dragons and has a prismatic design similar to the Elder Dragon it is named after. With its radiant glow and wisp-like feathers, this legendary short bow is befitting of a truly heroic short bow-wielder. The animations this weapon showcases are beautiful and fit with its current theme.
What Aurene’s Wing is good for
- It is a third-generation legendary weapon that can have any attribute combination prefix that it wants, from Apothecary, all the way to Zealot’s.
- Similar to the previous legendary weapon entries, Aurene’s Wing can swap its attributes while out of combat, making it a must-have weapon to serve as your weapon of choice for almost every type of game mode.
- Just like the other legendaries, you can also freely swap out Superior Sigils while out of combat without the need to use any extractor item.
- The Aurene-based legendary weapons lore speaks about the new Prismatic Elder Dragon’s thoughts about her situation and the other Elder Dragons, fleshing out some hidden tidbits.
- These legendaries also have alternate skins which require finishing collectibles, each detailing the thoughts of the vanquished Elder Dragons.
How to get Aurene’s Wing…
There are two ways to receive this legendary weapon. You can either:
- Craft Aurene’s Flight in the Mystic Forge by combining a Gift of Jade Mastery, a Draconic Tribute, a Gift of Aurene’s Wing, and crafting the precursor weapon Dragon’s Wing. Or,
- Purchase the legendary weapon from the Trading Post.
Aurene’s Wing details:
Type: Short bow
Strength: 950 - 1000
Prefix (attribute combination) - Selectable
Required Level: 80
Rarity - Legendary
1. Aurene’s Flight (Long Bow)
Despite its similarities with the Aurene’s Wing Shortbow, its superior reach and damage as a longbow cannot be denied. This beautiful longbow has all the benefits and features of the shortbow variant of the legendary weapon, as well as the skins it can unlock. When it comes to the top 1 and 2 bows on our list, these two sit above all the others.
What Aurene’s Flight Longbow is good for
- Like Aurene’s Wing, it is a third-generation legendary weapon that can have any attribute combination prefix that it wants, from Apothecary, all the way to Zealot’s.
- Similar to the previous legendary weapon entries, Aurene’s Flight can swap its attributes while out of combat, making it a must-have weapon to serve as your weapon of choice for almost every type of game mode.
- Just like the other legendaries, you can also freely swap out Superior Sigils while out of combat without the need to use any extractor item.
- The Aurene-based legendary weapons’ lore speak about the new Prismatic Elder Dragon’s thoughts about her situation and the other Elder Dragons, fleshing out some hidden tidbits.
- These legendaries also have alternate skins which require specific finishing collectibles, each detailing the thoughts of the vanquished Elder Dragons.
How to get Aurene’s Flight…
There are two ways to receive this legendary weapon. You can either:
- Craft Aurene’s Flight in the Mystic Forge by combining a Gift of Jade Mastery, a Draconic Tribute, a Gift of Aurene’s Flight, and crafting the precursor weapon Dragon’s Flight.
- Purchase the legendary weapon from the Trading Post.
Aurene’s Flight details:
Type: Longbow
Strength: 966 - 1,134
Prefix (attribute combination) - Selectable
Required Level: 80
Rarity - Legendary
Closing Thoughts
There are so many other awesome-looking long and shortbow skins in-game that it becomes entirely subjective at some point to choose which ones are the best to get, but functionally, these remain at the top for a reason. They aren’t just pretty skins you can get; they are a symbol of your accomplishments in-game. What do you think, dear readers, do you agree with our list of the best bows in Guild Wars 2? Do you know of other great bows that should make the list? Kindly tell us below, and we will make an update in the future.
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