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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scope: This ranking covers the eight weapons in Elden Ring’s standard Bows category—not the separately categorized Light Bows or Greatbows. It is a criteria-based editorial ranking, not a claim of controlled comparative testing. The available verified information confirms the roster but does not establish each weapon’s current stats, acquisition route, skill, or relative performance. Without those details, assigning a defensible first-to-eighth order would mean inventing distinctions.
Which weapons count as bows in this ranking?
The standard Bows category contains these eight weapons: Longbow, Albinauric Bow, Black Bow, Ansbach’s Longbow, Pulley Bow, Horn Bow, Serpent Bow, and Erdtree Bow. Light Bows and Greatbows are separate categories in the weapon references, so they are not included here. A broader ranking of every bow-like weapon would need to cover those categories and their rosters as well.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version) | $34.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Elden Ring, 1 PS5-Blu-ray Disc | $74.03 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5 | $43.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Bandai Namco Entertainment Elden Ring (PS5) | $40.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Elden Ring - PlayStation 5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The game context is ELDEN RING, Bandai Namco and FromSoftware’s action RPG. Shadow of the Erdtree is additional content released June 21, 2024, and requires the base game; this scope does not treat the DLC as a separate ranking category.
Why a reliable one-through-eight ranking is not established
A useful comparison needs more than weapon names or base attack values. It should account for upgrade level, character stats and scaling, ammunition, weapon skill, acquisition timing, and what the player wants the bow to do. The verified information available for this list does not supply those bow-by-bow details or comparative test results. It therefore cannot support claims that one named bow is universally strongest, easiest to obtain, or best for a particular build.
#1 Best Overall
- Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
- Building the world of ELDEN RING with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat! The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what ELDEN RING has in store for them.” Said George R.R. Martin.
That matters because a ranking can change with its audience and use case: a general-purpose choice is not necessarily the best option for a specific build or situation. Without verified mechanics and like-for-like comparisons, ordering the eight weapons would create false precision rather than help players choose.
How to compare the eight bows
For a defensible ranking, compare every weapon against the same criteria and state the intended player and game version:
Rank #3
- Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5
- Practical role: establish whether its mechanics support sustained ranged damage, mobility, status or elemental utility, or a more situational role.
- Accessibility: verify where it becomes available and whether obtaining it requires substantial progression or farming.
- Build fit: check stat requirements and scaling rather than assuming the same character will use every bow equally well.
- Skill and flexibility: confirm the weapon’s actual skill and whether it can be changed.
- Overall value: weigh those benefits against requirements for the stated use case instead of ranking on base attack alone.
These criteria apply to all eight names in the roster: Longbow, Albinauric Bow, Black Bow, Ansbach’s Longbow, Pulley Bow, Horn Bow, Serpent Bow, and Erdtree Bow. The roster alone does not verify how any one of them performs on those criteria.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Base game and DLC context
Bandai Namco and FromSoftware’s official release identifies Shadow of the Erdtree as an add-on requiring ELDEN RING. It lists PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam as release platforms for the DLC. That establishes the expansion’s relationship to the base game, but it does not establish whether an individual bow’s acquisition or performance differs by game version. The ranking above consequently avoids making bow-specific version claims.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe same official release reported that ELDEN RING had shipped more than 30 million units worldwide as of March 2025, including digital versions and Steam downloads. That is background on the game’s reach, not evidence about any bow’s popularity or quality.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware Inc. and produced by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG and FromSoftware's largest game to date, set within a world full of mystery and peril
- Journey through the Lands Between, a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series, and George R. R. Martin, author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire
- Traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or online with other players, and fully immerse yourself in the grassy plains, suffocating swamps, spiraling mountains, and foreboding castles
- Create your character in FromSoftware’s refi ned action-RPG and defi ne your playstyle by experimenting with a wide variety of weapons, magical abilities, and skills found throughout the world
- Charge into battle, pick off enemies one-by-one using stealth, or even call upon allies for aid - many options are at your disposal as you decide how to approach exploration and combat
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
