The stealth archer build is one of Skyrim’s most common in the game, and for a good reason. Bows allow players to inflict large amounts of damage from afar, stopping the opponent from responding. Although getting the right perks to guarantee serious damage and proper stealth is a good start, having a strong bow is really what it comes down to.
Skyrim has a wide variety of good bows, but some of the more effective ones can be difficult to find or get. While some of these powerful bows can only be obtained through completing simple missions, others can be found in loot, and others can be made with the right perks and materials.
Dwarven Black Bow of Fate
The Dwarven Black Bow of Fate is a one-of-a-kind Dwarven bow that isn’t affected by level. The Dwarven Black Bow of Fate is made of ebony and profits from the Dwarven Smithing perk. It can be tempered with an ebony ingot. This bow can only be found on Solsteim, which is included with the Dragonborn add-on.
This one-of-a-kind bow can be found on Solsteim within Kagrumez – a Dwemer ruins south of Miraak’s Temple. To receive the bow, players must complete all three puzzles during The Kagrumez Gauntlet miscellaneous hunt.
Supple Ancient Nord Bow
When visiting the countless Nordic ruins of Skyrim, ancient Nord bows are a very common find. With the exception of this slightly more powerful version, the Supple Ancient Nord Bow, the majority of them are small. While the Ancient Nord bow deals 8 base damage, the Supple version deals nearly twice as much at 14 points.
This bow isn’t difficult to find. It will begin to show at higher levels as the loot improves. The best place to find these bows is normally a Nordic labyrinth, and many Draugr and skeletons lurk in these dungeons.
Glass Bow
Despite the lack of a fancy tag, this bow is a tried and tested weapon for light armor users. It needs the Glass Smithing perk and a Smithing rating of 70. A refined moonstone and two refined malachites are needed for crafting. At a grindstone, a refined malachite ingot may be used to improve the weapon even further.
The Glass Bow has good base damage but is lacking in terms of weight and pace. At level 27, it can be seen all over Skyrim, and at level 28, it can be found as enchanted. Blacksmiths and common goods traders, random loot in chests, and Draugr Overlords are among the common places to find this weapon.
Falmer Supple Bow
Falmer bows are considered mid-tier in terms of damage, dealing 12 points on average, but their supple version raises that to 15. Unfortunately, the trade-off here is that supple Falmer bows have one of the largest weights in the game, at 20 points.
The Falmer Supple Bow is commonly found on Falmer Gloomlurkers or Shadowmasters’ bodies. Falmer bows, normally of the Dwemer kind, can start to appear in higher-level dungeons. It’s a good early mid-game bow for a quick damage upgrade.
Gauldur Blackbow
The Gauldur Blackbow is a one-of-a-kind leveled Ancient Nord bow, with the severity of the enchantments, base power, and value depending on a character level when you get it. It can be customized with a steel ingot using the Arcane Blacksmith perk, and it also profits from the Dwarven Smithing perk.
The Gauldur Blackbow, when combined with an above-average speed, can absorb Magicka more easily than a Glass Bow. Disenchanting the talent at an Arcane Enchanter is also a way to master it. When used in conjunction with a quicker weapon, such as a dagger, the enchantment can be extremely useful.
Ebony Bow
When it comes to random loot, Ebony Bows are the next level up from Glass Bows. These bows and a variety of other ebony pieces will begin to spawn in chests and on different enemies when the player reaches level 36.
The Ebony Bow has a fair amount of power. It has a base damage of 17 and can be made very quickly if the Dragonborn is skilled at Smithing and has the appropriate perks. To make an Ebony Bow, players will need the Ebony Smithing perk as well as three Ebony ingots. As previously described, this should be pretty standard loot after level 37 and can be bought from blacksmiths and general merchants.
Zephyr Bow
The Zephyr Bow is a rare Dwarven bow with an inherent enchantment that helps it shoot arrows 30 percent quicker, rendering it probably the coolest-named weapon. A Dwarven metal ingot can be used to customize this bow with the Arcane Blacksmith Bonus, which also benefits from the Dwarven Smithing perk.
The Zephyr Bow has the second-highest DPS in the game but is not considered the best. Why? Because it’s more about the quality rather than the quantity. With a faster shot and lower damage, players will need to use a lot of arrows, particularly when fighting high-level enemies like revered or legendary dragons.
Although getting arrows later in the game isn’t a big deal, they can be pricey when players are first starting out, and looted ones are normally low in damage. Despite its drawbacks, Zephyr is still an outstanding weapon. It can be found in the Dwemer Ruin of Arkngthamz during the Lost to the Ages quest.
Dragonbone Bow
Apart from their rarity, Dragonbone Bows are the strongest bows in the game. Regrettably, they’re also very heavy. Although they inflict a whopping 20 points of base damage, they also weigh 20 points, putting a significant dent in any inventory.
The only way to obtain one is to make one yourself. It necessitates a level 100 Smithing ability and the Dragon Armor bonus. Two Dragon Bones and one Ebony Ingot will be needed as ingredients. There’s also a Keeper with a Dragonbone Bow in Soul Cairn, which can be looted if the player is level 45 or above.
