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Skyrim has a whole range of bows that are decent, but some of the most powerful ones can sometimes be difficult to find or get one’s hands on. While a few of these powerful bows require the player to complete specific quests, others can be found in loot and some can be crafted with the right perks and materials.
Updated June 8, 2022 by Erik Petrovich: The best bows in Skyrim are numerous, thanks in part to the game’s Enchanting system and progressively stronger weapon materials found while leveling. There are lots of unique bows, like the Nightingale Bow, that scale according to player level and can end up being more powerful when acquired later on. Others, like the Ruin’s Edge, can only be acquired after downloading Creation Club content or upgrading to Anniversary Edition. The best bow in Skyrim is a frequently argued topic in the Skyrim fanbase, but some are just plain better than others – no one in their right mind would choose a normal Ebony Bow over the Bow of Shadows, for example.
18 Firiniel’s End
Base Damage : 13 Effects : 20 frost damage Location/Quest : Bound Until Death quest
This bow is actually much better than most players would think, despite its low base damage of 13 points. In addition to it, however, Firiniel’s End does frost damage for 20 points, which is a special damage type that affects both the target’s health and stamina pool. It’s also just a really nice-looking bow overall.
To get it, players will have to join the Dark Brotherhood and start the quest Bound Until Death. The bow can be found on the balcony facing the wedding couple on their left and can be used to finish the assassination.
17 Nordic Bow
Base Damage : 13 Effects : None Location/Quest : None
Players with the Dragonborn DLC have a decent low-end bow at their hands: the Nordic Bow. It has a pretty unique design that differs from most base game bows, which makes it fun to use. They can also be crafted easily with 3 Steel ingots and 1 Quicksilver ingot, so long as the player has unlocked the Advanced Armor perk from their Smithing skill tree.
It’s also possible to find Nordic Bows randomly in various chests, or there’s even one guaranteed to be found in Skaal Village if players decide to visit Morwen. Frea also carries one in her inventory in Skaal Village, so it can be stolen from her if players are desperate enough.
The image is a retexture of the original bow by EcthelionOtW.
16 Nightingale Bow (Levels 19-26)
Base Damage : 13 Effects : 15 points of freeze, 7 points of shock damage Location/Quest : Thieves Guild questline at levels 19-26
Although it’s definitely better to wait until level 46 before finishing the Thieves Guild quest and getting this bow, the lower-end version of the Nightingale Bow isn’t entirely garbage. It can serve the player well if they’re truly desperate for a good bow around levels 19 and 26.
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At levels 19-26, the Nightingale Bow will deal 15 points of freeze damage and 7 points of shock damage. To get it, players will need to complete the Thieves Guild questline, which eventually leads them to become a Nightingale.
15 Drainspell Bow
Base Damage : 14 Effects : Drains 15 magicka points Location/Quest : Labyrinthian during the quest The Staff of Magnus
When it comes to weapons that look unique, the Drainspell Bow definitely does the job. This ghostly weapon might not be the best weapon in the game, with a measly 14 points of base damage, but it’s great against magic users as it drains 15 magicka points from the affected target.
To get the Drainspell Bow, players will need to enter the Labyrinthian dungeon during a College of Winterhold quest, The Staff of Magnus.
14 Gauldur Blackbow
Base Damage : 14 Effects : Absorb magicka (level dependent) Location/Quest : Geirmund’s Hall during the quest Forbidden Legend
Similar to the Nightingale Bow, the Gauldur Blackbow comes in several different flavors depending on what level the player is at when completing the quest. For best results, players should wait at least until level 19 before getting this bow. The best version drops at level 36 and above.
The Blackbow will always have the effect of absorbing a target’s magicka. At levels 19-26 it will absorb 20 points, 27-35 will absorb 25 points and its highest version at level 36 and above absorbs 30 points of magicka. Levels 18 and under will have a reduced base damage of 8, which is nearly half of the higher base damage version. To get this bow, players will need to defeat Sigdis Gauldurson during Forbidden Legend. He can be found inside Geirmund’s Hall.
13 Supple Ancient Nord Bow
Base Damage : 14 Effects : None Location/Quest : Random loot in Nordic ruins
Ancient Nord bows are very common to come by when traveling in the various Nordic ruins of Skyrim. However, most of them are weak with the exception of this slightly more powerful variant, the Supple Ancient Nord Bow. While the Ancient Nord bow does 8 base damage, the Supple version does almost twice the damage at 14 damage points.
This bow isn’t very hard to come by. It will start to appear at higher levels as loot starts to get better. The best spot is usually a Nordic dungeon, and these bows are a staple for many Draugr and skeletons that lurk in these dungeons.
12 Falmer Supple Bow
Base Damage : 15 Effects : None Location/Quest : Looted from Falmer enemies (Gloomlurkers, Shadowmasters)
Falmer bows are generally mid-tier when it comes to damage, dealing 12 points, but their supple version ups that base damage to 15. Unfortunately, the trade-off here is the fact that the weight of supple Falmer bows is among the highest in the game, at 20 points.
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The Falmer Supple Bow is usually found on the corpses of Falmer Gloomlurkers or Shadowmasters. These Falmer bows will start to appear at higher-level dungeons, usually of the Dwemer kind. For a simple damage update, it’s a nice early mid-game bow.
11 Glass Bow
Base Damage : 15 Effects : None Location/Quest : Random loot and merchants
The Glass Bow does just as much damage as the Falmer Supple Bow, but the reason why it’s just a bit better is due to its significantly lighter carrying weight. Glass Bows do 15 damage points, and their carrying weight is 14, which is much less than their equivalent, the Falmer Supple Bow.
Even better, players with high Smithing and the Glass Smithing perk unlocked will easily be able to craft one. The requirements are one refined moonstone and two refined malachites. If Smithing isn’t an option, they can also be looted randomly in various areas as early as level 27. Merchants and blacksmiths will also sometimes sell them.
10 Glass Bow Of The Stag Prince
Base Damage : 16 Effects : Blessing of the Stag Prince Location/Quest : Bought from Falas Selvayn
The Glass Bow of the Stag Prince is a unique variant of a regular Glass Bow. It can only be found if the Dragonborn DLC is installed. Head over to the island of Solstheim, and go northeast of Fort Frostmoth into a shack called the Ramshackle Trading Post.
Inside, there’s a merchant named Falas Selvayn, and he’ll usually be selling this bow. The enchantment on it is quite unique, which is what makes it worthwhile. For every 20 animals killed, the Dragonborn receives a special blessing of the Stag Prince, which can stack up to 80 animal kills. Every blessing received increases Health and Stamina by 5 points.
9 Ebony Bow
Base Damage : 17 Effects : None Location/Quest : Random loot and merchants
Ebony Bows are the next step from Glass Bows when it comes to random loot in chests. Once the player reaches level 36, they’ll start to notice these bows and many other ebony items spawning in chests and on various enemies.
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The Ebony Bow is decently powerful. Its base damage is 17, and it can be crafted pretty easily if the Dragonborn is specialized in Smithing and has the right perks. The Ebony Smithing perk is needed to make an Ebony Bow, along with three Ebony ingots. As mentioned, post-level 37 this should be fairly common loot and can be purchased from blacksmiths and general merchants as well.
8 Stahlrim Bow
Base Damage : 17 Effects : None, but applied frost enchantments will receive a 25% power bonus Location/Quest: Baldor Iron-Shaper or Glover Mallory
The Stahlrim Bow is a very special and unique kind of bow that only appears in the Dragonborn DLC. It has the same damage as ebony bows, but it’s slightly lighter at 15 carrying weight. That being said, what makes it special is that frost enchantments will always be 25% more potent when put on Stahlrim bows.
These bows appear in loot on the island of Solstheim, and can also be purchased from two different merchants on the island. Either head to Skaal Village and speak with Baldor Iron-Shaperor go to Raven Rock and talk to Glover Mallory. To create one, the player needs the Ebony Smithing perk, as well as three pieces of Stahlrim.
7 Daedric Bow
Base Damage : 19 Effects : None Location/Quest : Merchants like Niranye, Syndus and Tonilia, and the Brood Cavern
The Daedric bow is definitely closer to end game damage and gear. In order to find one easily, the player should level up to 46. They’ll begin to appear in chests and other loot, and Revered Dragons might occasionally contain them as loot as well. It deals 19 damage.
There are a few locations where one is guaranteed to buy one. Both Niranye and Tonilia from the Thieves Guild will sell one after level 47. There’s also one naturally generated on the corpse of an archer in Brood Cavern in Hjaalmarch, down by the river south of Morthal. Syndus at the Ragged Flagon will also sell one, though keep in mind any of these will appear after level 47.
6 Nightingale Bow (Level 46)
Base Damage : 19 Effects : 30 frost and 15 shock damage Location/Quest : Thieves Guild main quest after level 46
The Nightingale Bow is a pretty unique weapon because it’s a leveled reward that has five different versions of it. To get its best version, the player should wait until level 46 or higher before completing the relevant Thieves Guild main quest called Blindsighted. To make it easy, just don’t touch any of the Thieves Guild quests until level 46.
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At its highest level, the Nightingale Bow does 19 damage, as well as deals 30 frost and 15 shock damage. This is what makes it even better than a base Daedric Bow, although with high enough Enchanting and Smithing perks a Daedric Bow made by the player has the chance of being just as good, if not better.
5 Dragonbone Bow
Base Damage : 20 Effects : None Location/Quest : Craftable, or found in Soul Cairn past level 45
Unique bows aside, Dragonbone Bows are some of the best bows in the game. Unfortunately, they’re also incredibly heavy. While they deal a whopping 20 points of base damage, they also weigh 20 points, which puts a huge dent into anyone’s inventory.
The easiest way to get one is to actually craft one. It requires an extremely high Smithing of level 100 and the Dragon Armor perk. For its ingredients, the player will need two Dragon Bones and one Ebony Ingot. There’s also a Keeper in Soul Cairn who has a Dragonbone Bow, which can be looted off of him provided the player is level 45 or higher.
4 Ruin’s Edge Bow
Base Damage : 12 Effects : Randomly applies one of six effects upon hit: Demoralize, Drain Magicka, Frenzy, Frost Damage, and both short and long-term Paralysis Location/Quest : Part of the Ruin’s Edge creation, begins with “The Edge of Ruin” quest in Stony Creek Cave
The Ruin’s Edge Bow is considered by many to be the best bow in Skyrim, or at least in the Creation Club, as it works like the Wabbajack from a distance. On hit, the Ruin’s Edge bow will randomly apply one of six debuffs to a target. These debuffs can make enemies run away, steal their Magicka, turn them against each other, deal flat Frost damage, or render them paralyzed.
The Ruin’s Edge bow can be acquired as part of the quest “The Edge of Ruin” which begins in Stony Creek Cave. Stony Creek Cave is found in the southeast of Eastmarch Hold, near the mountains and Ansilvund.
3 Karliah’s Bow
Base Damage : 25 Effects : None Location/Quest : None, requires console commands
Technically, the Dragonbone Bow is the best bow in the game. However, if the player isn’t beyond cheating and is looking for the absolute best of the best, Karliah’s bow is one of the highest-damage bows in all Skyrim.
Karliah’s bow is very light at only 9 carrying weight but deals an insane amount of 25 points of damage. To get this, the player will need to use the following command: player.additem 000DEED8.
2 Auriel’s Bow
Base Damage : 13 Effects : Deals 10 Sun damage over two seconds on hit, tripled against Undead enemies. Unique interactions with the Sun. Location/Quest : Earned after completing “Touching The Sky” in the Dawnguard DLC
Auriel’s Bow is a legendary Artifact of the High Elves and, to some, Elvenkind as a whole. Auriel is considered by the Altmer to be the God of Gods, the chief of the Aldmeri Pantheon. According to myth, this bow was wielded by Auriel in an ancient battle along with the legendary relic Auriel’s Shield.
Auriel’s Bow has a unique interaction with the Sun. When players aim the bow at the Sun with Sunhallowed Arrows in daytime, beams of light will rain down and deal damage to nearby enemies (and more to Undead). With Bloodcursed Elven Arrows, the sun will instead become blotted out and remove the damage Vampires normally take during the daytime.
1 Bow of Shadows
Base Damage : 19 Effects : Upon drawing the weapon from an unarmed state, the wielder becomes invisible for 30 seconds. Bowstring can be drawn 20% faster than normal. Location/Quest : Earned after completing “In The Shadows”, which begins by talking to Proventus Avenicci, the Whiterun Steward.
The Bow of Shadows is arguably Skyrim’s most broken bow, and certainly the most powerful bow added to the game with the Creation Club. While its 19 base damage pales compared to some of the other options, this is the best bow in Skyrim because of its special effect. Upon being drawn, the player is rendered completely invisible for 30 seconds.
In addition to this, the bow can be drawn 20% faster than normal, letting players get more attacks in a short amount of time. It’s a bow made for an assassin, and it’s the perfect tool to one-shot most of the game with the right Archery and Sneak perks. Complete the quest “In The Shadows” in Whiterun to earn one of the best bows in Skyrim.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimis available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Stadia, and Nintendo Switch.
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