Elden Ring: Top S-Tier and A-Tier Ranged Weapons Ranked

Oct-10-2025 PST

FromSoftware's Elden Ring has revolutionized the viability of ranged combat across the Soulsborne franchise. While melee weapons often overshadowed bows in Dark Souls and Bloodborne, the Lands Between gives them new life. With improved scaling, a larger selection of ranged weapon types, and new synergistic Ashes of War, bows and greatbows now allow for deadly long-range builds capable of dominating both PvE and PvP.

 

Whether you want to melt bosses from afar or pick off enemies before they can reach you, this guide breaks down the best bows and greatbows in Elden Ring, including stats, locations, and why they belong in the S-Tier and A-Tier rankings. If you're hunting for specific weapons or looking to buy Elden Ring Items to complete your build faster, this breakdown will help you target the best ranged tools available.

 

S-Tier Bows and Greatbows

 

Lion Greatbow

 

·Base Damage: 120

·Max Upgrade Damage: 294

·Scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D

·Skill: Radahn's Rain

·Location: Trade the Remembrance of the Starscourge to Enia at Roundtable Hold

 

The Lion Greatbow remains the undisputed king of ranged weapons in Elden Ring. A symbol of General Radahn's legendary might, this greatbow delivers colossal damage when paired with Radahn's Spear Greatarrows. Its unique weapon skill, Radahn's Rain, blankets the battlefield in a storm of arrows that can obliterate bosses and mobs alike. Despite its heavy weight (9.5) and steep stat requirements, it's a must-have for any dedicated ranged build.

 

Pulley Bow

 

·Base Damage: 77

·Max Upgrade Damage: 188

·Scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D

·Skill: Mighty Shot

·Location: Found north of Gelmir Hero's Grave

 

The Pulley Bow doesn't deal the highest raw damage-but its unmatched range makes it an S-Tier weapon for sharpshooters. With a range stat of 55, it's the longest in the game, letting you snipe enemies and bosses from extreme distances. Its moderate weight and low stat requirements make it accessible for nearly any build. When paired with Bone Great Arrows, the Pulley Bow excels in both stealth assassinations and long-range DPS setups.

 

Full Moon Crossbow

 

·Base Damage: 50

·Max Upgrade Damage: 175

·Scaling: Intelligence D

·Skill: Kick

·Location: Found in a bell tower within the Raya Lucaria Academy

 

The Full Moon Crossbow caters perfectly to Intelligence-based builds. It fires projectiles imbued with glintstone magic, scaling directly with INT and enabling hybrid spell-archer playstyles. Its range and burst potential make it one of the strongest crossbows in the game, especially for those who don't want to rely on traditional melee combat.

 

Golem Greatbow

 

·Base Damage: 130

·Max Upgrade Damage: 318

·Scaling: Strength D → C, Dexterity E → D

·Skill: Through and Through

·Location: Dropped by Golem Archers

 

For raw power, the Golem Greatbow is unmatched. This massive weapon can pierce through entire groups of enemies using its skill, Through and Through. It's heavy (14.5 weight) and demands significant Strength (24) and Dexterity (18), but the trade-off is worth it. With Golem Greatarrows equipped, this greatbow can stagger most bosses and devastate targets with high defense.

 

Ansbach's Longbow (Shadow of the Erdtree DLC)

 

·Base Damage: 74

·Max Upgrade Damage: 181

·Scaling: Strength E → D, Dexterity D

·Skill: Fan Shot

·Location: Reward from completing Ansbach's questline in the DLC

 

The Ansbach's Longbow introduces the Fan Shot skill, firing a spread of eight arrows at once. This makes it one of the most unique and fun-to-use bows in the game-especially when applying status effects like Bleed, Poison, or Sleep. It's a fantastic choice for creative builds introduced in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.

 

Horn Bow

 

·Base Damage: 65 Physical / 30 Magic

·Max Upgrade Damage: 159 Physical / 73 Magic

·Scaling: Strength E → D, Dexterity D, Intelligence E

·Skill: Mighty Shot

·Location: Found in the Siofra River, near the River Bank Site of Grace

 

The Horn Bow is one of the most flexible ranged weapons in Elden Ring. It deals both physical and magic damage, making it a favorite for hybrid builds. When paired with Magic Arrows or Shattering Crystal Arrows, it becomes a powerhouse for spellblades and Intelligence builds looking to diversify their damage types.

 

A-Tier Bows and Greatbows

 

Erdtree Bow

 

·Base Damage: 40 Physical / 50 Holy

·Max Upgrade Damage: 98 Physical / 122 Holy

·Scaling: Strength E, Dexterity E → D, Faith D

·Skill: Mighty Shot

·Location: Chest in Leyndell, Royal Capital

 

The Erdtree Bow excels for Faith builds thanks to its strong Holy damage scaling. It's lightweight and quick to draw, making it perfect for holy snipers who like to stay mobile. Against undead or death-aligned enemies, it performs exceptionally well.

 

Erdtree Greatbow

 

·Base Damage: 60 Physical / 65 Holy

·Max Upgrade Damage: 147 Physical / 159 Holy

·Scaling: Strength E → D, Dexterity E → D, Faith D

·Skill: Through and Through

·Location: Solving the Fringefolk Hero's Grave puzzle

 

Think of this as the big brother to the Erdtree Bow. The Erdtree Greatbow is bulkier and slower but hits significantly harder. It synergizes well with Faith buffs like Flame, Grant Me Strength, and Holy-Shrouding Cracked Tear.

 

Arbalest

 

·Base Damage: 69

·Max Upgrade Damage: 308

·Skill: Kick

·Location: Stormveil Castle rampart

 

A no-frills powerhouse, the Arbalest doesn't scale with attributes but boasts excellent base damage when fully upgraded. It's ideal for Strength or tanky builds that want a reliable ranged backup without investing extra stats.

 

Serpent Bow

 

·Base Damage: 75

·Max Upgrade Damage: 183

·Scaling: Strength E, Dexterity D, Arcane D

·Skill: None (Passive Poison buildup)

·Location: Abandoned Cave near Smoldering Wall

 

The Serpent Bow adds innate poison buildup to its arrows, making it invaluable for Arcane or status effect builds. It shines in PvP and prolonged boss fights where DoT (damage-over-time) effects can stack for devastating results.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Ranged combat in Elden Ring has never been more rewarding. Whether you favor the devastating power of the Lion Greatbow, the sniper-like precision of the Pulley Bow, or the hybrid magic of the Horn Bow, there's a perfect weapon for every build.

 

As Shadow of the Erdtree expands the weapon pool, more ranged options like Ansbach's Longbow add exciting depth to bow gameplay. With the right stats, arrows, and upgrades by securing rare Elden Ring Items from trusted sources like eld.gg. You can craft a bow build that rivals even the strongest melee setups.