Okay, I have a question for ranger players, recently I created an R/Rt and while wandering about factions I?ve started to doubt about the ranger?s weapon of choice.

In archery there is a quite a difference between Flatbows, longbows, composites and recurves?

For example, the recurves will be faster and shoot further than the flats but will also sacrifice accuracy?and so forth.

So, in your opinions, is there a difference in the GW bows or is it primarily aesthetic? And are there any special bows I should be on the lookout for?
- Thanks!

The types of bows do differ in range/damage/accuracy just like in real life.

According to GuildWiki, there are 5 types of bows: Longbows, Shortbows, Flatbows, Horn Bows, and Recurve Bows. On the Bows page, it gives flight times, firring rates, and all the different skins of the bows, plus all the additions you can put on them.

Oh, thank you for the link! That's perfect.

Main use of the different bows:

Longbows: good for luring, appreciable in some places where you should stay far from the ennemy (I'd rather use a longbow in a B/P tomb team for example).

Flatbows: they have the same range than longbow, but they send arrows 10,000 feet in the sky and take ages to reach the target. They have a very poor accuracy since a foe moving will dodge the arrows. That's the only bow I never use.

Composite/recurve bows (same kind): they have a medium range but a very good accuracy. They should be used for interrupting, and if you dont have a hornbow, it should even be the default bow on most of the maps (ie: on all the maps were you don't need to stay far away from your opponents to have a chance to stay alive - ie: if you're not in the tombs or maybe in sf).

Hornbows: better accuracy that flatbows, but still it's not that great; medium range as well. However they have 10% armor penetration, and are recommanded if you're a damage dealer, but you may want to use a recurve bow instead - that's a matter of style.

Shortbows: good accuracy, they strike fast (2 secs to shoot an arrow), but they have a short range. Use those when ennemies come near and when you're ok hp wise (otherwise step back behind the tanks...). Most of the rangers don't bother with them as most of them don't switch their bows, however I highly recommand those.

- EDIT for typo(s) - Sry about the bold part, Tank. Side note: thanks, Divine Ambassador: I still remember our run in the Deep - yeah I may be injust with flatbows... that's just a personal grief against Drago's flatbowers :P

Great post! Here are the more specific stats for them in case you'd care:

Longbows: ~1.5 times aggro circle range, 2.5 sec cooldown, average arc
Flatbows: ~ 1.5 times aggro circle range, 2.0 sec cooldown, large arc
Composite/recurve: ~1.1 times aggro circle range, 2.5 sec cooldown, low arc
Hornbows/Ivory/Shadow: ~1.1 times aggro circle range, 2.7 sec cooldown, average arc, 10% AP
Shortbow: ~0.9 times aggro circle range, 2.0 sec cooldown, average arc

Some additional comments...

Flatbows can be helpful in PvE since it fires fast, has a long range, and the enemy AI isn't smart enough to strafe it most of the time. Shortbows can also be helpful disrupting if done in close range.

flatbows are great if you combine it with read the wind or a spirit.

in fact, all i ever use is dragos flat bow

My earlier confusion about flatbows stemmed from a misprint in the Prima guide for Prophecies (stating the range for the flatbow was 67 feet lol). I knew there was a reason I thought flatbows were useless... that was it.

Dawn

Hmm yeah indeed, flatbows are not that bad with something to boost the speed of your arrows. However, one can't say they're good either: even with Fav Winds, the pack of grasp rushing on you in the tombs will dodge your arrows. It won't happen with a longbow.

However, Divine Ambassador is right about the monsters AI. Monsters will not try to dodge your arrows, so if you're targetting monsters with a range attack (staying at the same place then) then a flatbow will be as good as a longbow, accuracy-wise. But a foe moving will de facto dodge your arrows, unless he's at a short distance.