Crossbows are ranged weapons that use bolts for ammunition. Crossbows have the greatest range and intrinsic damage, particularly against armored enemies, but take significant time to reload. Crossbows can be loaded with special bolts which deal additional effects like elemental damage or knocking back the opponent. Furthermore, their requirement is strength-based, not dexterity-based like bows. Due to the physical design of a crossbow, their damage is not affected by any stat (just as higher strength would not make a bullet fire harder). This gives them a disadvantage to high level archers, but makes them well-suited for low-level archers, or as alternate weapons for warriors.
Increasing Damage[]
Damage can be increased in a few different ways when it comes to crossbows.
- Tier up the weapon material using Exploits.
- Use of equipment, Talents and Spells that increase aim speed, base damage, critical chance or critical damage directly or indirectly (hexes while using elemental bolts for instance).
Properties[]
Name | Attribute | Attribute Modifier | Aim Time | Speed Modifier |
---|---|---|---|---|
Crossbows | -- | -- | 0.8 | 0.0 |
Scaling[]
Tier | Base damage | Armor penetration | Critical chance | Range | Requisite | Runes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elm (Tier 1) | 8.00 | 5.00 | 2.00 | 40.00 | 10 strength | 0 |
Ash (Tier 2) | 8.80 | 6.00 | 2.20 | 42.00 | 12 strength | 0 |
Yew (Tier 3) | 9.60 | 7.00 | 2.40 | 44.00 | 14 strength | 1 |
Whitewood(Tier 4) | 10.40 | 8.00 | 2.60 | 46.00 | 18 strength | 1 |
Ironbark (Tier 5) | 11.20 | 9.00 | 2.80 | 48.00 | 24 strength | 2 |
Sylvanwood (Tier 6) | 12.00 | 10.00 | 3.00 | 50.00 | 26 strength | 2 |
Dragonthorn (Tier 7) | 12.80 | 11.00 | 3.20 | 52.00 | 30 strength | 3 |
Vhenadahl (Tier 8) | 13.60 | 12.50 | 3.40 | 54.00 | 34 strength | 3 |
Ancestral Heartwood (Tier 9) | 14.40 | 13.75 | 3.60 | 56.00 | 38 strength | 3 |
Crossbows[]
Dragon Age: Origins[]
Name | Damage |
Critical chance | Armor penetration | Strength modifier | Runes | Enhancements | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antivan Crossbow Varies Requires: 10 strength |
8.00 | 2.00% | 5.00 | 0 | Sold by Alimar at his shop in Dust Town and by Cesar in Denerim Market District. | ||
Crossbow Varies Requires: 10 strength |
8.00 | 2.00% | 5.00 | 0 | |||
Darkspawn Crossbow Varies Requires: 10 strength |
8.00 | 2.00% | 5.00 | 0 | +0.5 armor penetration -1 dexterity |
||
Nugbane Whitewood Requires: 18 strength |
10.40 | 2.60% | 8.00 | 0 | +3 damage | Unobtainable by normal means | |
Antique Warden Crossbow Varies Requires: 14-30 strength |
9.60 to 12.80 | 2.40% to 3.20% | 7.00 to 11.00 | 0 | +1 damage Rapid aim |
Requires the Warden's Keep DLC | |
Dwarven Defender Sylvanwood Requires: 26 strength |
12.00 | 3.00% | 10.00 | 0 | +3 dexterity +6 damage vs. darkspawn |
This item is unobtainable by normal means, see Dwarven Defender for a workaround. | |
Precision-Geared Recurve Sylvanwood Requires: 26 strength |
12.00 | 3.00% | 10.00 | 0 | +1.5 armor penetration +4 attack |
Sold by Garin in Orzammar Commons, and reward from Master Ignacio during The Trial of Crows. | |
Sailor's Crossbow Sylvanwood Requires: 26 strength |
12.00 | 3.00% | 10.00 | 0 | Rapid aim | Can be bought in Lothering before it gets destroyed by Darkspawn. | |
Imperium Crossbow Dragonthorn Requires: 30 strength |
12.80 | 3.20% | 11.00 | 0 | Increased damage vs. demons (PC version) + 2 damage -1 dexterity (console version) |
You can pickpocket this crossbow from the merchant in Lothering. |
Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening[]
Name | Damage |
Critical chance | Armor penetration | Strength modifier | Runes | Enhancements | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beastmaster Dragonthorn Requires: 30 strength |
12.80 | 3.20% | 11.00 | 0 | +2 damage Rapid aim +20 damage vs. beasts |
Found inside a chest near the ballista during The Assault on Vigil's Keep quest. | |
Longshot Ancestral Heartwood Requires: 40 strength |
14.40 | 3.60% | 13.75 | 0 | +10 damage Rapid aim +15% ranged critical chance +10 attack |
Purchased from Glassric the Weaponsmith in the City of Amaranthine |
Dragon Age II[]
Name | Damage |
Critical chance | Armor penetration | Strength modifier | Runes | Enhancements | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bianca Red Cedar Requires: Level 1 (Inquisition) |
5 + 5.38 * LVL physical damage (Dragon Age II) 45 (Inquisition) |
1 to start (Dragon Age II) 4 fully upgraded (Dragon Age II) Empty Rune (Inquisition) |
see Bianca upgrades | The only weapon Varric Tethras can use in Dragon Age II Restriction: Varric Tethras (Dragon Age II) Varric Only (Inquisition) |
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