Best Bows in Skyrim that You Should Definitely Pick Up in 2024

With over 20+ bows in Skyrim, picking the best bows in the game can be difficult. This guide can help you with that!

The life of a dragon born is full of adventures, quests, and defining the odds. Your journey throughout the landscape of Skyrim will present you with various weapon options, but one of the most versatile and effective options is the bow.

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There are a lot of bows that you will stumble upon during your playthrough. But if you want to find the best bows in the game, then you will have to take on side quests and explore different areas.

Like other games by Bethesda, you don’t need all the bows in the game to make your build effective, and that is where this guide comes in. In this guide, I will present you with the best bows in the game (based on their stats, usage & my personal opinion), along with instructions on where to find them.

So, let’s now waste any time and get right into the details, shall we?

Top 12 Bows in Skyrim

Here are the best bows you can obtain in Skyrim Special Edition, along with how to obtain them and the pros and cons of using them:

12. Ebony Bow

How To Obtain: Craft

Starting off the list at number 12 is the Ebony bow. This is a craftable bow that you will be able to obtain once you get to level 36. You will have to grind a bit of level before you can get your hands on this bow, but trust me, it is worth it.

The Ebony bow will allow you to easily tackle enemies and bosses in difficult levels. So, if you want a solid bow option that allows you to enchant it with any enchantment you want, then this is the bow you are looking for.

Pros

• Craftable weapon
• Open enchantment slots
• Good option for mid-game to endgame enemies & bosses

Cons

• Requires Dawnguard DLC
• Unlocks after players reach level 36

11. Stalhrim Bow

How To Obtain: Craft or Purchase from Specific Vendors

In no 11 is the Stalhrim bow. It offers stats similar to the Ebony bow but a unique appearance as it glows blue when in action. While there are open enhancement options, frost enhancement works best with this bow and also matches the outlook that comes with this weapon.

But you will have to invest in your smithing skills if you want to claim this bow for your own. Players will need to complete the quest: A New Source of Stalhrim to obtain the authority to use this weapon.

It can spawn in random loots but is also sold by Baldor Iron Sharper & Glover Mallory. They can be found in the Skaal Village and Raven Rock, respectively.

Pros

• Craftable weapon
• One of the most unique-looking bows in the game
• Open enchantment slots (best for Freeze enchantments)
• Can be utilized during the end game with proper enchantments

Cons

• Needs players to have the Dragonborn DLC
• Requires players to complete certain quests
• You will have to have level 80 smithing skills to craft it

10. Daedric Bow

How To Obtain: In Brood Cavern or Purchase from Specific Vendors

In no 10 is the Daedric bow. This is a better version of the Ebony bow as it offers more base damage. Similar to the Ebony, it also doesn’t have any enchantment attached to it, so you can put your preferred ones, which allows you to get some advantage over unique enchantment bows.

This bow is found in the loots from dragons or chests, especially around Brood Cavern, after you have reached level 47. You can also purchase it from Niranye & Tonilia.

Pros

• Good Base Damage
• Open enchantment slots
• Can be utilized during the end game with proper enchantments

Cons

• Not a very high stat difference from Ebony bow
• Random drops from loots
• Weight is higher than Ebony bow
• Unlocks after players reach level 47

9. Dragonbone Bow

How To Obtain: Craft

Nothing suits a Dragonborn the best without a weapon with the word ‘Dragon’ in it, right? Well, if you want to have a high base attack and a bow crafter with one of the most powerful materials in the game, then this is the bow you are looking for.

You will need max smithing skills to use this bow, but it is totally worth it. And the cherry on top is that you can put any enchantment that you like on this bow.

Pros

• Very High Base Damage
• Open enchantment slots
• Endgame weapon

Cons

• Players will have to max out their smithing skills to craft this weapon
• The Dawnguard DLC is required to obtain this bow
• Dragon bone is one of the difficult materials to find in Skyrim

8. Gauldur Black Bow

How To Obtain: Germund Hall drop

At number 8 is the Gauldur Black bow, one of the most unique bows you will find in Skyrim. This bow is built to play against mages and enemies that wield magic. This is due to the bonus effect of this weapon that allows the user to siphon 10-30 points of magic.

That is not all. The base damage also stacks on this bow, reaching up to 14. What’s more, you can pick this bow up quite early. Around level 19, to be exact.

You will get this weapon in Geirmund’s hall. It drops from Sigdis Gauldurson.

Pros

• Can be picked early at level 19
• Damage stacks from 8 Base Damage to 14 Base Damage (Max)
• Siphons upcoming magic attacks up to 30 hit points

Cons

• Not the best choice for endgame builds

7. Zephyr Bow

How To Obtain: Complete Lost to the Ages

Sitting at the 7^th place, Zephyr is for players who want to fast casting with their bows. The unique ability of the bow allows the players to fire 30% faster than other bows in the game.

But it comes with a low base damage of 12, which makes it a bad choice, especially when you are nearing the final bosses. It will clear normal mobs fast, but DPS-wise, it’s not the best choice out there.

You will find this bow in the Dwarven Ruins of Arkngthams after completing the quest: Lost to the Ages. The bow will be sitting at the edge of the chasm upon a log.

Pros

• Offers an extra 30% fire rate
• Allows you to use sharpshooter builds
• A good choice for early to mid-game

Cons

• Requires you to complete quests to unlock
• Very low base damage
• Not suitable as an endgame gear

6. Bow of the Hunt

How To Obtain: In Clearspring Tarn

Next in this list of the best bows in Skyrim is the Bow of the Hunt. This is one of the most beginner-friendly weapons that you can obtain early on in the game.

The base damage is very low for most enemies, but as the name suggests, against animals, this bow becomes lethal as animals will take an additional 20 damage if you use this bow to fire arrows.

You will find this bow inside the Clearspring Tarn, which is very close to Helen, one of the early starting areas of the game.

Pros

• Best for hunting animals
• Can be obtained very early in the game.

Cons

• Only good against animals

5. Glass Bow of the Stag Prince

How To Obtain: Ramshackle Trading drop from Falas Selvayn

On the 5^th slot, the Glass Bow of the Stag Prince is the updated and lethal version of Bow of the Hunt. This one is effective against animals and monsters altogether. It blesses the users based on their total animal kills. This increases your overall health and stamina. The max cap of this blessing is up to 80 animal kills.

With 16 base damage and up to 25 stat boosts in health and stamina, this bow is one of the best bows in Skyrim, without any doubt.

Getting the bow is difficult, to say the least. You will find the bow in the Ramshackle Trading Post, which is in Solstheim. The bow can be obtained from Falas Selvayn if you have the Misdirection perk. In short, you will have to steal it and replace it with a melee weapon. Then you will have to trigger him by attacking and then defeat him in combat to actually use the bow.

Pros

• Good Base Damage
• Improve both your health and stamina
• Can be utilized during the end game with proper enchantments

Cons

• A lengthy process to obtain
• Requires the Dragonborn expansion
• Using mods is recommended to get the bow

4. Auriel’s Bow

How To Obtain: Complete Touching the Sky

At 4^th is Auriel’s bow with a base damage of 13 but an additional 20 Sun Damage & 3x damage multiplier on Undead enemies. If you plan to take on the zombies, vampires, and other necro monsters in the game, this is the bow you should be vouching for.

If you are a vampire, then this bow will be quite effective as it will shroud the sun, making your gameplay much smoother. You will need to complete the Touching the Sky quest, which is one of the main quests in the Dawnguard DLC, so you will eventually have this weapon in your arsenal.

Pros

• Good Base Damage with additional damage multipliers
• Extremely helpful for Vampire Class
• One of the best Endgame options

Cons

• Requires Dawnguard DLC expansion
• You will have to finish a good chunk of story before getting your hand on the bow

3. Bow of Shadows

How To Obtain: Complete In the Shadows

The 3^rd place is occupied by the bow of shadows, one of the fastest bows in the game that allows you to have 20% fast draw time. But what makes it more effective is that it allows you to go completely invisible for 30 seconds upon shooting.

You will find this weapon in the Forgotten Vale during the first portions of the quest: In the Shadows.

Pros

• Good Base Damage
• Best for assassin build
• 20% fast draw speed
• Makes the user invisible for 30 seconds

Cons

• Not the best choice for boss battles

2. Black Bow of Fate

How To Obtain: In Kagrumez

You might think the low base damage of 13 makes this bow not equipped for 2^nd place in this list. But you won’t say that once you look into the 50% chance of health, stamina, and magicka absorption that it provides. This is the most broken enchantment for bows in the game and allows you to be invincible if you are able to make the right builds with this bow.

You will need to have the Dragonborn DLC to enjoy this weapon, which is found around Kagrumez beyond the Gem Gate.  

Pros

• Best enchantment in the game

Cons

• Low base damage
• Requires Dragonborn expansion

1. Nightingale Bow

How To Obtain: Complete Blindsighted Thieves Guild

Finally, at number 1 is the Nightingale Bow; it offers 19 base damage along with an enchantment that allows you to deal 10 to 30 Frost & 5 to 15 Shock Damage to your opponents. Not only that, but it will also slow the movements of hit targets for 3 seconds. If you ever want to be a magic-wielding ranger, then this is the bow for you.

You can obtain this bow quite early, but it is recommended to get this bow after Level 46 so that you don’t get any stat debuff. This bow will be given to you once you have completed the Blindsighted Thieves Guild quest.

Pros

• Very high Base Damage
• Extremely DPS-focused enchantment
• Can be obtained early

Cons

• Offers the best stats when unlocked after level 56 and beyond

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