Longbow
Longbow is the Samurai class starting bow and is also sold at Roundtable Hold. It provides a dependable physical archery baseline with standard arrow compatibility, manual aim, and Mighty Shot for deliberate long-range openings.
Key Takeaways
Longbow is a conventional bow for deliberate, aimed ranged attacks, with straightforward requirements and a flexible upgrade path.
A standard bow with a deliberate firing rhythm
Longbow favors aimed shots and measured positioning rather than the faster handling associated with light bows.
Mighty Shot defines its default setup
Its starting weapon skill is Mighty Shot, which trades FP for a stronger, more deliberate arrow attack.
Low attribute requirements keep it accessible
It requires 9 Strength and 14 Dexterity, making it usable by many early-game physical builds.
It is easy to obtain or start with
The Samurai begins with Longbow, while the Twin Maiden Husks sell it at Roundtable Hold for players using another starting class.
Standard reinforcement supports customization
Longbow follows the regular weapon upgrade path and can use compatible bow Ashes of War instead of being locked permanently to Mighty Shot.
Shortbow is the natural handling alternative
Compared with a Shortbow, Longbow is the more deliberate choice; the Shortbow better suits players who value quicker bow attacks and mobility.
Overview
Longbow is Elden Ring’s standard longbow-class ranged weapon: a physical projectile option built around deliberate aimed shots, the Mighty Shot skill, and conventional arrow ammunition.
Longbow occupies the straightforward, dependable end of Elden Ring’s ranged arsenal. It is a regular bow rather than a unique or legendary weapon, so its role is defined less by exclusive lore or an unusual passive than by the bow moveset, arrow selection, and the player’s attributes and upgrades. It gives characters with a suitable Dexterity investment a way to engage enemies from outside melee range, pull individual targets, or apply arrow-based effects without committing to a spellcasting setup.
Its defining combat distinction is the balance between reach and firing tempo. Compared with a Shortbow, Longbow is intended for more deliberate shots and benefits from the bow’s aimed-fire role, while the Shortbow is the more mobile alternative. That makes Longbow a natural fit for opening encounters, attacking exposed targets, and exploiting situations in which distance matters more than rapid repositioning. It should not be treated as a substitute for a staff, seal, or dedicated melee weapon: its output depends on equipped arrows, shot placement, and the opportunity to draw and release safely.
Longbow also provides an early and readable introduction to Elden Ring’s ranged weapon systems. Its ammunition is separate from the weapon, so changing arrow type can alter the practical purpose of the same bow without changing the bow itself. Standard arrows support ordinary ranged attacks, while other compatible ammunition can add a different damage type or status role when the player has access to it. The weapon’s skill, Mighty Shot, further distinguishes a committed, stronger shot from routine fire, making timing and target exposure important parts of its use.
The Longbow is base-game equipment and is not an Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree-exclusive variant. It remains relevant beyond the opening stretch because conventional bows can retain value for enemy pulls, environmental encounters, and builds that want ranged utility without making archery their only damage plan. Its limitations are equally important: it does not provide the rapid close-range mobility associated with lighter bow options, and it offers no unique weapon effect to define a specialised build. The page therefore focuses on its role as a flexible standard bow, its arrow economy, its skill, and the situations where controlled ranged pressure is preferable to speed or spellcasting.
Statistics
Elden Ring publishes no 0–100 stat bars, so this page lists the verified requirements, scaling and handling figures instead. Taken from the project's verified weapons database, not from generated text.
- CategoryBows
- Damage TypePierce
- Primary ScalingDex D
- Weight4
- SkillNo Skill
- Str Req9
- Dex Req13
- How to ObtainMerchant
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar bows
| Weapon | Str Req | Dex Req | Weight | Primary Scaling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longbow | 9 | 13 | 4 | Dex D |
| Erdtree Bow | 9 | 20 | 4.5 | Fai D |
| Serpent Bow | 9 | 20 | 4.5 | Arc D |
| Black Bow | 9 | 20 | 4.5 | Dex C |
| Albinauric Bow | 9 | 11 | 3.5 | Dex D |
Requirements, scaling grades and weight are the game’s own published figures. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
How to Obtain
- For the vendor route, reach Roundtable Hold and have at least 1,200 runes; no DLC, boss, quest, or NG+ requirement applies.
- The Samurai route requires selecting Samurai during character creation.
- 01If you did not select the Samurai starting class, travel to Roundtable Hold and speak with the Twin Maiden Husks. Their standard shop inventory includes the Longbow for 1,200 runes; this is a guaranteed purchase rather than an enemy drop or quest reward.
- 02After buying it, the Longbow is available immediately from your inventory. The Samurai starting class provides the weapon at the beginning of a new game, so that character-creation choice is an alternate acquisition route rather than a separate pickup location.
Availability
Requires Access to the Twin Maiden Husks’ inventory at Roundtable Hold.
The Longbow is a base-game weapon and is not restricted to a particular character progression path once the vendor is available.
Requires Choose the Samurai starting class.
A Samurai character begins with the Longbow and does not need to purchase it.
Mechanics and Handling
The Longbow’s handling is built around deliberate projectile shots rather than a rapid-fire attack pattern. Its ordinary shot is useful for pulling individual enemies, checking patrols, or applying ranged pressure before committing to melee. Holding the attack produces a charged shot: the draw takes longer, but the resulting projectile deals more damage than a quick release. That timing trade-off matters most when an enemy is exposed or stationary; against an advancing target, the shorter recovery of repeated ordinary shots can be safer than waiting for a full draw.
Draw timing and shot selection
The Longbow has no magazine or reload cycle. Each shot consumes a selected arrow, so ammunition choice and supply determine how long it can remain a primary tool. Elden Ring provides separate ammunition slots, allowing the player to switch between arrow types without changing the weapon itself. The bow’s projectile travels independently after release, making spacing and lead time more important than the weapon’s displayed attack value alone. Aiming is most effective when there is enough distance to complete the draw and correct for an enemy’s movement. Quick shots are more practical when an enemy is already closing or when interrupting an attack is more important than maximizing damage.
Headshots are a meaningful part of bow handling when the target’s head is exposed. They can deal increased damage and may produce a stronger reaction than a body hit, but the smaller target area makes them less reliable against moving enemies. The Longbow is therefore most consistent when used from an angle or elevation that gives the player time to aim rather than while retreating in a crowded fight.
Mighty Shot
The Longbow’s weapon skill is Mighty Shot. It uses a longer, committed draw to fire a more powerful projectile, and its defining utility is the ability to penetrate an enemy’s guard. This makes it more useful than a normal charged shot against shielded targets, provided the player has enough time and distance to complete the skill. Mighty Shot is not a substitute for every arrow type or situation: its preparation leaves the user vulnerable, and a missed shot spends both an opportunity and the skill’s resource. The skill can be replaced when the weapon is compatible with another applicable Ash of War, but doing so changes the Longbow’s default ranged role.
Positioning and ammunition economy
The Longbow is strongest when it creates a safe opening: fire from outside an enemy’s immediate reach, reposition while the target approaches, and reserve charged attacks or Mighty Shot for exposed or shielded enemies. Ordinary arrows support repeated pulls and ranged harassment, while specialized arrows can add a different status or damage function when available. Those effects belong to the ammunition rather than being an innate Longbow passive, so the bow’s practical role changes with the player’s stockpile. It does not automatically recover spent arrows, and sustained use requires carrying or obtaining replacements.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Mighty Shot gives the Longbow a charged, armor-piercing projectile option, allowing it to punish exposed targets more effectively than an ordinary arrow release.
- Its ranged attacks let the user pull individual enemies, trigger encounters from a safer position, and exploit openings without immediately committing to melee range.
- The bow can use different arrow types, so ammunition selection can adapt its damage type or status utility when the required arrows are available.
Weaknesses
- Drawing and releasing arrows leaves the user committed to an attack, making missed shots costly against fast enemies or opponents already inside melee range.
- Arrow consumption creates an ongoing resource cost, and specialized arrows may be too limited or expensive for routine use.
- The Longbow is less convenient for close-quarters repositioning than more mobile bow options, while its charged skill also requires time and FP.
- Its effectiveness depends on clear sightlines and deliberate aim; cramped arenas, shields, and highly mobile targets can reduce the value of its ranged advantage.
Best uses
- Opening encounters by isolating or softening a target before switching to a melee weapon.
- Attacking large or predictable enemies from outside immediate melee range, especially when a charged Mighty Shot can be safely prepared.
- Using different arrow types for situational damage or status application during exploration, provided the ammunition supply supports that approach.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Distinctive role | Skill / notable behavior | Best fit versus Longbow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longbow | Conventional bow handling with a focus on deliberate aimed shots | Mighty Shot | General-purpose ranged play when a straightforward bow and charged shots are preferred |
| Shortbow | Supports a more aggressive quick-shot and movement-oriented style | Barrage | Better for rapid pressure and mobility; Longbow is the more deliberate alternative |
| Composite Bow | A close alternative for players comparing ordinary bow options | Mighty Shot | Choose based on requirements, scaling and progression context rather than assuming a universal damage advantage |
| Black Bow | Barrage supports repeated quick shots while retaining longbow-class behavior | Barrage | A stronger fit for mobile bow play; Longbow better suits a simpler Mighty Shot-centered setup |
Used In
- SamuraiThe Longbow is part of the Samurai starting equipment.
- Twin Maiden HusksThe Roundtable Hold vendor sells the Longbow.
- Mighty ShotThe Longbow has Mighty Shot as its default weapon skill.
- ArrowStandard Arrows are the Longbow's associated ammunition.