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Discover everything you need to know about all Heavy Crossbows Listed in Baldur’s Gate 3 and the best one to use in combat.
Heavy Crossbows are a type of two-handed ranged weapon that deals with piercing damage and some actions, such as piercing shots and braces. The Hellfire Engine Crossbow is the best Heavy Crossbow for combat due to its unique benefits and properties. Selecting the best one is crucial because your gameplay mostly depends on it if you’re a ranged player. In this guide, we’ll discuss all Heavy Crossbows in Baldur’s Gate 3, their properties, and the unique bonuses they provide to players in combat.
Heavy Crossbows Overview in BG3
Heavy Crossbows are a two-handed martial ranged weapon, dealing 1d10 piercing damage with a range of 18 meters. These types of weapons deal significant base damage compared to other ranged weapons. Heavy Crossbows are best for striking enemies from a safe distance, especially with elevated positioning. They are best suited for classes and builds focusing on ranged combat like Fighter, Rogue, Ranger, and Cleric.
Combine Feats like Crossbow Expert for additional attacks and Sharpshooter to enhance damage at the cost of accuracy. Take advantage of high ground to boost your accuracy and give a tactical approach. This weapon type shines in the hands of characters who can reduce its limitations and increase its strength. You can equip it to your character’s main hand weapon slot in the inventory, providing additional bonuses and buffs. The user needs Martial weapon proficiency or suffers penalties while wearing the weapon.
What is the purpose of Heavy Crossbows in BG3?
The purpose of Heavy Crossbows is to serve as a high-damage, long-range weapon for characters proficient in ranged combat. These ranged weapons are ideal for dealing significant single-target damage from a distance. However, the Heavy Crossbows require strategic positioning because they depend on Dexterity for accuracy and range. They work well in synergy with party members who can provide buffs and control enemies to make them easier to hit.
- Piercing Shot- This weapon action allows you to deal regular damage and possibly inflict Gaping Wounds which cause extra damage on attacks.
- Brace- This weapon action allows you to spend 6 m / 20 ft of your movement. For the rest of your turn, roll ranged damage twice and use the highest result.
Heavy Crossbows offer better damage output, range, and accuracy than Hand Crossbows. They allow the characters to stay mobile and deal damage from afar to maintain the health bar. You must equip Havey Crossbows on large, open battlefields where distance and range matter.
List of All Heavy Crossbows in BG3
Here are all the Heavy Crossbows in Baldur’s Gate 3 including their damage, damage types, and special.
| Weapon | Rarity | Damage | Damage Type | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rusty Heavy Crossbow | Common | 1d10 | Piercing | – |
| Watcher Crossbow | Common | 3d10 | Piercing | Not usable by humanoids. |
| Heavy Crossbow | Common | 1d10 | Piercing | – |
| Crossbow of Arcane Force | Uncommon | 1d10 + 1 | Piercing | Arcane Ammunition Infuse your crossbow bolts with arcane energy. Your ranged weapon attacks deal an additional 1d4 Force damage. |
| Gandrel’s Aspiration | Uncommon | 1d10 + 1 | Piercing | Feller of Monsters You have an Advantage against Monstrosity-type enemies. Sacred Munitions Infuse your crossbow bolts with holy energy. For the rest of your turn, your ranged weapon attacks inflict Turned against Undead. |
| Githyanki Crossbow | Uncommon | 1d10 + 1 | Piercing | – |
| Heavy Crossbow +1 | Uncommon | 1d10 + 1 | Piercing | – |
| Giantbreaker | Rare | 1d10 + 1 | Piercing | Heavy Hitter Your weapon hits hard enough to send your target Reeling for 2 turns. |
| Harold | Rare | 1d10 + 1 | Piercing | Haroldish Doom When you deal damage to a target with a ranged weapon, it must succeed a Charisma Saving throw or be Baned for 2 turns. |
| The Long Arm of the Gur | Rare | 1d10 + 2 | Piercing | Revenant Scourge When used against undead creatures this weapon has +1d4 bonus to Attack and Damage rolls. |
| Fabricated Arbalest | Very Rare | 1d10 + 2 | Piercing | Dazzling Ray Unleash a beam of brilliant light that Blinds all creatures in its path. Illuminating Shot Fire a shimmering bolt that inflicts 1 turn of Radiating Orb upon the target. |
| Hellfire Engine Crossbow | Very Rare | 1d10 + 2 | Piercing | Lightning Arrow Cast as a level 4 spell Recharge: Long rest. Reposition Malefactor Pulls the creature 9 m / 30 ft closer to you if it fails a DC 15 Dex saving throw. |
Tips and Tricks for Using Heavy Crossbows in BG3
Here are all the tips and tricks for using Heavy Crossbows in Baldur’s Gate 3.
- Play around action economy and save gold for ammunitions.
- Use the Crossbow expert feat to maximize a heavy crossbow’s potential and avoid penalties when enemies are close.
- Heavy crossbows offer high damage but lack accuracy, so improve it with spells and gear.
- Enhance your Dexterity stat to increase your attack rolls.
- Pair Hunter’s Mark/Hex for additional damage to every hit and use Faerie Fire or Hide action for critical hits.
- Use elevation for tactical benefits, utilize cover to reduce incoming damage, or stay a distance to avoid getting hit.
- Prioritizing eliminating enemies with low HP to finish them off quickly.
- Combine Bonus Actions like Hide or Second Wind with Crossbow attack to boost the damage potential in combat.
- Equip the Crossbow that add elemental damage and make enemies vulnerable.
- Use Fire Bolt or Poison Bolt to enhance damage and utility.
Best Heavy Crossbows in BG3
Here are the best Heavy Crossbows in Baldur’s Gate 3 to use in combat.
- Hellfire Engine Crossbow- This is a two-handed crossbow in Baldur’s Gate 3 that grants the Lightning Arrow spell and can pull targets. Its enchantment grants the Lightning Arrow spell, which can be cast as a level 4 spell that recharges after a long rest.
- Fabricated Arbalest- A very rare two-handed ranged weapon that deals 1d10 piercing damage. It also has a weapon enchantment of +2 and comes with the Illuminating Shot and Dazzling Ray.
- Giantbreaker- A Rare +1 Heavy Crossbow that causes targets to Reel upon a successful hit. You can find it in the Zhentarim Hideout of the Risen Road Region and purchased from Brem.
- Harold- A +1 Heavy Crossbow that may Bane targets it hits. This is the best-ranged weapon you’ll find in the first Act of Baldur’s Gate 3.
1) Hellfire Engine Crossbow
| Damage | Enchantment | Weapon Skill | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d10 + 2 Piercing | +2 | Lightning Arrow Reposition Malefactor | Crafted by combining Watcher Crossbow Blueprint, Targeting Module, and Steel Watcher Arm in Steel Watch Foundry |
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Hellfire Engine Crossbow is a two-handed range weapon you can get in Act 3. You can equip it to your character’s main hand weapon slot in the inventory, providing additional bonuses and buffs. Among its bonuses, the weapon has decent damage and will be a perfect high-damage range weapon for Fighters, Paladins, or Barbarians. Proficiency with this crossbow unlocks the Reposition Malefactor action that can pull enemies to the user if they fail the dexterity saving throw.
It allows primarily melee characters to close the distance while dealing damage. Also, with Hellfire Engine Crossbow, you can cast the Lighting Arrow spell once per long rest. It deals with a single-target attack that inflicts additional damage to nearby enemies. You must find the Watcher Crossbow Blueprint, Targeting Module, and Steel Watcher Arm in Steel Watch Foundry to craft Hellfire Engine Crossbow in Baldur’s Gate 3.
2) Fabricated Arbalest
| Damage | Enchantment | Weapon Skill | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d10 + 2 Piercing | +2 | Dazzling Ray Illuminating Shot | Carried by Enver Gortash in Wyrm’s Rock Fortress |
In Baldur’s Gate 3, The Fabricated Arbalest stands out as the top-tier Heavy Crossbow in the game. With it, you can use Dazzling Ray, a renamed version of Sunbeam. This level 6 spell deals area damage in a line and blinds targets. Blinding is a powerful method to weaken enemies and make it less likely for them to hit you. Additionally, the Illuminate Shot Weapon Action is a handy debuff tool. Using a bonus action, this skill inflicts 1d4 damage and debuffs targets with Radiating Orb.
Radiant Orb reduces the attack roll, providing multiple ways to decrease the chance of an enemy hitting its target. Combining Dazzling Ray and Illuminate Shot in one turn makes it significantly harder for the enemy to land an attack while also taking damage. This weapon is excellent for Fighters, Barbarians, or Paladins looking for a powerful ranged option. While it may not surpass the Gontr Mael Legendary bow, it remains a strong choice for any other character in the team.
3) Giantbreaker
| Damage | Enchantment | Weapon Skill | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d10 + 1 Piercing | +1 | Heavy Hitter | Sold by Brem after completing the quest Find the Missing Shipment |
In Baldur’s Gate 3, The Giantbreaker is a heavy crossbow purchasable for Brem, the vendor in the early stages of Act 1. This weapon’s special bonus, Heavy Hitter, has the ability to send your target Reeling for 2 turns. Reeling means your enemy will need to recover after a strong hit from the Giantbreaker. This weapon has a range of 18m, allowing you to dominate enemies on the battlefield.
They get a -1 penalty on their Attack Rolls for each turn still affected by it. In other words, it makes it harder for your foes to hit you with this status effect. Classes that will benefit from it are Ranger, Barbarian, Fighter, or Paladin classes. You can buy The Giantbreaker from Brem the Zhentarim Hideout during Act 1, which costs 950 gold.
4) Harold
| Damage | Enchantment | Weapon Skill | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d10 + 1 Piercing | Rare | Haroldish Doom | The reward for bringing the chest to Zarys as part of Find the Missing Shipment |
In Baldur’s Gate 3, The Herold is a heavy crossbow. Whenever the wielder deals damage with this weapon, the targeted enemy must succeed a Charisma saving throw. If they fail, they are banned for two turns, which is an excellent crowd-control effect. Additionally, the crossbow offers high damage output and provides additional actions, such as Piercing Shot and Brace (Ranged).
Herold is a reward for completing the Missing Shipment quest from Zarys in Zhentarim Hideout during Act 1. It can possibly Bane targets that it hits and deals 1d10 + 1 Piercing damage in combat. Bane inflicts a penalty of attack rolls and ability checks that provide you perks against enemies inflicted with it. This is one of the best-ranged weapons to use in the early games, allowing you to kill enemies at a safe distance.
FAQs about All Heavy Crossbows in BG3
Are there Heavy Crossbows in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Yes, Heavy Crossbows are available as a weapon type in Baldur’s Gate 3. These are versatile marital melee weapons that most of the classes can use.
How many Heavy Crossbows are there in BG3?
There are 12 Heavy Crossbows in Baldur’s Gate 3, ranging from the nonmagical type to special/magical type variants.
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