Facebook
Reddit
Email
Discover all the Shortbows that you can use in Baldur’s Gate 3 and find out which ones are the best for your playthrough.
Shortbows in Baldur’s Gate 3 are two-handed, simple ranged weapons accessible to range classes. Shortbows may not deal as much damage as some other weapons, but the availability of unique variants makes them a viable choice. Selecting the best Shortbow is crucial because your gameplay mostly depends on it if you’re a range player. In this guide, we will discuss all Shortbows in Baldur’s Gate 3, their properties, and the unique bonuses they provide to players in combat.
Shortbows Overview in BG3
Shortbows in Baldur’s Gate 3 are two-handed simple ranged weapons, that deal massive combat damage. They have a damage roll of 1d6 for two-handed attacks. The range of these weapons is 18m and can wielded by a class that has proficiency in Simple Weapons. This weapon type only has one default weapon action, Hamstring Shot. This action allows you to shoot an enemy in the thigh and possibly reduce their Movement Speed by 50%. However, the higher rarity Shortbows come with additional passives, spells, and weapon actions, granting unique benefits.
Each type of weapon in BG3 has different ranges, damages, and other features like Finesse, Two-handed, and Dippable. Shortbows are dippable and this bonus action allows you to dip the weapon into the ground for additional damage. For Shortbows proficiency, Elf race is the best and you can use different classes like Barbarian, Fighter, Ranger, and Paladin. All of these classes have weapon proficiencies in Simple Weapons.
As Shortbows are ranged weapons, you cannot throw them like various melee weapons. You can only use them with arrows from range, making you a hard target to hit.
What is the purpose of the Shortbow in BG3?
Shortbows are some viable weapons you can use for your playthrough in Baldur’s Gate 3. You can strategize with this weapon type and apply Disadvantages to enemies to achieve victories easily in combat.
Shortbows are simple ranged weapons with a base damage of 1d6 (1~6) + Dexterity modifier for two-handed use. As it is a two-handed ranged weapon, you cannot equip a shield in off-hand to increase your AC. However, you can enhance its effectiveness by choosing the right gear, feats, and combat strategies.
List of All Shortbows in BG3
Here is a list of all available Shortbows in Baldur’s Gate 3 that players can acquire and use in their playthrough.
| Weapon | Rarity | Damage | Damage Type | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortbow | Common | 1d6 | Piercing | – |
| Goblin Bow | Common | 1d6 | Piercing | – |
| Makeshift Bow | Common | 1d6 1d10 | Piercing Necrotic | – |
| Shortbow +1 | Uncommon | 1d6 +1 | Piercing | – |
| Bow of Awareness | Uncommon | 1d6 +1 | Piercing | Seldom Caught Unawares (Passive): You gain a +1 bonus to Initiative rolls. |
| Hunting Shortbow | Uncommon | 1d6 +1 | Piercing | Feller of Monsters (Passive): You have Advantage against Monstrosity type enemies. Hunter’s Mark (Spell): A level 1 spell that allows you to mark a target and deal additional damage to that target with weapon attacks. |
| Bow of the Banshee | Rare | 1d6 +1 | Piercing | Blood-Curdling Emission (Passive): On a hit, possibly inflict Frightened. Gain a +1d4 bonus to attack and damage against Frightened creatures. |
| Darkfire Shortbow | Rare | 1d6 +2 | Piercing | Gain Resistance against Fire damage. Gain Resistance against Cold damage. Haste (Spell): A level 3 spell that allows you to make you and your allies Hastened. |
| Least Expected | Rare | 1d6 +2 | Piercing | Darkveil Precision While obscured in shadow, the wielder has a +1d4 bonus to their ranged weapon attacks. Blinding Shot (Weapon Action): Weave the lost magic of the children of Deep Duerra into your shot and possibly Blind your target. |
| Vicious Shortbow | Rare | 1d6 +2 | Piercing | Dolor Amarus (Passive): When you land a Critical Hit with a weapon or unarmed attack, it deals an additional 7 damage. |
| Blightbringer | Very Rare | 1d6 +1 | Piercing | Blightbringer (Passive): Attacking Gnomes or Dwarves with this weapon receives a 1d4 bonus to Attack and Damage rolls. Prey Decelerator (Passive): When this weapon lands a Critical Hit, it also Slows the target creature. |
Tips and Tricks for Using Shortbow in BG3
Here are some of the tips and tricks that you can use with Shortbows in Baldur’s Gate 3.
- For most damage with Shortbows, you must choose the best class. Start with Ranger (Gloom Stalker) and then do multiclass to Rogue (Thief/Assassin). You can acquire feats like Extra Attack, Dead Ambusher, etc. which will help you take out targets easily.
- Before equipping any Shortbow, make sure to check their unique effects, and abilities, and pair them with appropriate tactics.
- The attacks from Shortbows are Dexterity-based, so focus on boosting this attribute to enhance your damage output and attack rolls.
- If you are dealing with a stronger target, it is best to coat your Shortbow with some poison first before initiating the weapon action. The poison will deal additional damage to the target.
- Use a Shortbow from a distance with a high Armor class to engage enemies.
- Equip enchanted Shortbows for enhanced damage or use the ones that have additional passives or weapon actions like Blightbringer, Least Expected, etc.
Best Shortbows in BG3
Here are the best Shortbows to use in Baldur’s Gate 3.
- Blightbringer: A very rare Shortbow with +1 Enchantment that allows you to deal 1d6 +1 Piercing damage as a default. This Shortbow comes with two unique passives. One of the passives grants a 1d4 bonus to Attack and Damage rolls against Dwarves and Gnomes. The other passive slows the target on a Critical Hit.
- Least Expected: A rare Shortbow with +2 Enchantment that allows you to deal 1d6 +2 Piercing damage as a default. Moreover, you will gain a bonus of 1d4 if you attack from the shadows. Furthermore, this Shortbow has a unique weapon action that can blind enemies.
- Darkfire Shortbow: A rare Shortbow with +2 Enchantment allowing you to deal more base damage than usual. Equipping this Shortbow grants you Resistance against Fire and Cold. Moreover, it also allows you to cast a Level 3 Haste spell to make your character and allies Hastened.
- Vicious Shortbow: A rare Shortbow with +2 Enchantment allowing you to deal more base damage than usual. Despite this Shortbow not having multiple benefits, it sure does allow you to deal extensive damage if you land a Critical Hit. On a Critical Hit, the attack deals +7 damage to the target.
1. Blightbringer
| Damage | Enchant | Weapon Skills | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d6 +1 Piercing | +1 | Blightbringer (Passive) Prey Decelerator (Passive) | You can purchase it from Entharl Danthelon, Danthelon’s Dancing Axe, Wyrm’s Crossing, Act 3. |
Blightbringer is a very rare Shortbow you can get from Entharl Danthelon vendor. It has good damage, and its critical hits can also slow the target adding to group utility and its ability to crowd control. The Blightbringer bonus is very situational because there are not that many dwarf or gnome enemies who are very versatile in Baldur’s Gate 3.
The main advantage of this bow is its damage output, boosted by an extra weapon enchantment of +1, and it has the added benefit of requiring only simple weapon proficiency. This makes it a viable option for characters lacking proficiency in martial ranged weapons. however, its damage will be still lower than longbows so if your character can make use of martial weapons, I strongly recommend transitioning to or working towards acquiring the game’s best bow, the Gontr Mael Legendary Longbow. You can obtain it rather quickly in Act 3, right after your initial conversation with Gortash.
You can equip it to your character’s main hand weapon slot in the inventory, providing additional bonuses and buffs. The user needs Simple Weapon proficiency or suffers penalties while wearing the weapon.
2. Least Expected
| Damage | Enchant | Weapon Skills | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d6 +2 | +2 | Darkveil Precision (Passive) Blinding Shot (Weapon Action) | You can find it in a Gilded Chest inside the Gauntlet of Shar (X: -730 Y: -800), Act 2. |
Least Expected is a rare Shortbow that can deal extra damage from the shadows and also comes with a unique weapon action. The Darkveil Precision perk will give you a +1d4 bonus to your ranged weapon attacks while you are obscured in shadow. This means that you will need to use the Hide action during battle. Moreover, you could also use the Crouch action to sneak and hide, initiating combat with this first shot.
Additionally, Least Expected also has a unique weapon action called Blinding Shot. This can be used once per Short Rest, and it gives you a chance to Blind your target with a ranged attack. If successful, the Blinded condition will give your enemy Disadvantage on all of their attacks for two turns. Moreover, your attacks against them will have Advantage.
3. Darkfire Shortbow
| Damage | Enchant | Weapon Skills | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d6 +2 | +2 | Gain Resistance against Fire damage. Gain Resistance against Cold damage. Haste (Spell) | You can purchase it from Dammon at the Last Light Inn, Act 2. |
The Darkfire Shortbow is a great off-hand range weapon which grants resistance to both Fire and Cold damage. More significantly, it grants access to the Haste spell, which grants the target Hastened. They will gain a +2 bonus to Armour Class, Advantage on Dexterity Saving Throws, their Movement Speed is doubled, and they can take one additional Action per turn. This effect lasts for 10 turns, after which the target will become Lethargic and slow.
While you’ll find better bows in the game for your main range-damage characters to equip, the Darkfire Shortbow is a great off-hand choice for melee builds to use.
4. Vicious Shortbow
| Damage | Enchant | Weapon Skills | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d6 +2 | +2 | Dolor Amarus (Passive) | You can purchase it from Echo of Abazigal in the Murder Tribunal, Act 3. |
The Vicious Shortbow is a ranged weapon that can grant you additional damage on critical hits. The Dolor Amarus bonus grants the wielder an additional 7 points of damage anytime they land a Critical Hit with this bow. Therefore, the Vicious Shortbow would be a good weapon for a Rogue or Ranger to use from stealth, to increase their chances of landing a critical hit and getting the extra damage.
Unfortunately, this bow isn’t available until the late end-game of Baldur’s Gate 3 and there are more powerful bows you’ll likely want to prioritize. However, it could still be a decent backup ranged weapon for any character, even melee-focused builds.
FAQs about All Shortbows in BG3
Are there Shortbows in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Yes, Shortbows are available as a weapon type in Baldur’s Gate 3. These are two-handed simple ranged weapons that most of the range classes can use.
How many Shortbows are there in bg3?
There are 11 Shortbows in Baldur’s Gate 3 ranging from the nonmagical type to special/magical type variants.
Looking For More About Baldur’s Gate 3?
Thank you for reading All Shortbows in Baldur’s Gate 3 Guide. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3. Also, watch me play games on Twitch or visit my YouTube channel!
