In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Henry can wield all manner of weapons, but in ranged combat, there are only two viable options: the crossbow and bow. They may appear somewhat similar to the naked eye, but the two weapons work in very different ways, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

Choosing the right ranged weapon depends on play style, combat situations, and even Henry’s stats. In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between bows and crossbows, discuss their pros and cons, and determine which is the better choice for most players.

Differences Between Bows & Crossbows Explained

Make Your Own game Server

Make your own Minecraft, ARK, Rust, Project Zomboid, Valheim, Hytale server in 5 min.

Get Started

Essentially, bows and crossbows are for the same purpose: killing enemies from a distance. However, how they function in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 makes them different in terms of speed, damage and how they’re used.

Bows Benefits:

• Short reload – A bow can be drawn and shot over and over again rapidly, and shots can be taken in a limited amount of time.
• Mobility – Henry can move while drawing and firing, so bows are a more convenient option in battle.

Crossbow Benefits:

• Higher damage – Even a cheap crossbow will hit harder than most bows in the early stages of the game.
• Longer range – Crossbows have excellent range as well, so they are deadly at a distance. While crossbows do more damage per shot, they also take longer to reload and are limited in movement. This means that players need to be more strategic when employing them because missing a shot will leave Henry in an open position.

Bows vs. Crossbows in Early Game

Early on in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Henry’s strength is low, rendering bows subpar. He won’t be able to get the bowstring back very far, reducing both damage and range. However, this weakness fades over time as Henry gains experience—because melee combat naturally improves his Strength, bows become rapidly viable.

On the other hand, crossbows do not require much strength, so they are a good option early in the game. A well-placed bolt will kill an enemy in one hit, and the longer range allows Henry to attack at a safer distance. The downside is that even with a small crossbow, Henry will be slowed down by the longer reload time, and larger crossbows will cause him to need to remain stationary. This renders them unpredictable in rushed battles, when mobility is such a valuable commodity.

Which is the Better Over-All Weapon?

While crossbows are better in some moments—such as large battles where Henry's got folks around him to protect him—bows are generally the better all-around weapon overall. Here's why:

• Faster Loading: A bow allows Henry to fire multiple shots in the moment, whereas a crossbow exposes Henry to danger between shots.
• Greater Mobility: With bows, Henry can remain mobile, making it is easier to avoid enemy attacks.
• Cost-effective: Arrows are cheaper and readily available than crossbow bolts, so bows are the long-term choice.
• Scalability: As Henry’s strength increases, bows become more powerful, almost reaching crossbow damage but still remaining quick and versatile.

Situational Uses for Crossbows

That said, crossbows still have their uses. If Henry needs to kill an enemy from a distance without alerting others, a crossbow's higher damage can be useful. In addition to this, in some battles, crossbows can be a better option especially when Henry has allies fighting alongside him. This is because he has time to reload without getting immediately overwhelmed.

How To Improve Your Gaming Experience

Scalacube offers you the best gaming experience available. They offer top-grade servers for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and many other games. You can enjoy seamless gameplay, intuitive server management, 24/7 customer support and more. If you’re planning to host a multiplayer game with your friends, Scalacube offers you the best services you need to enjoy your game fully.

FAQs

Can Henry Use a Bow and Crossbow?

Both can be used by Henry in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, but it is generally advisable to specialize in learning one for greater efficiency in combat. Bows are more time-consuming to learn because Henry needs to build his Strength in order to pull them entirely and improve accuracy. Hence, it requires time and practice to use a bow effectively. Crossbows, on the other hand, are simpler to play with since they don't require Strength and are capable of delivering significant damage right from the start.

Are Crossbows More Powerful Than Bows?

In terms of raw damage per shot, crossbows are more powerful than bows. A well-shot crossbow bolt can kill enemies more effectively, especially during early game when Henry's Strength level is still low. Bows are more growth-dependent. As Henry develops his Strength level and bows expertise, bows significantly improve, even reaching the damage levels of crossbows.

Which Weapon for Beginners?

For new players, crossbows could seem like the more convenient option because they require not a great deal of Strength to use and can deal much damage from the get-go. They are particularly effective at picking off enemies at a distance before they can even reach you. But their inability to reload quickly and Henry's lack of movement during reload can put players at a disadvantage when fighting for long periods of time. Bows, while more difficult to handle initially due to the Strength requirements, get much better as Henry gains experience.

Are Crossbows or Bows More Cost-Effective?

Crossbows and crossbow bolts tend to be more expensive than bows and arrows. As arrows are readily available and easy to craft, the bow is a cheaper choice for range combat enthusiasts.

Conclusion

Both crossbows and bows have their strengths, but for most Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 players, bows are the best option. While crossbows deal more damage per shot, they take a while to reload and don't allow Henry move properly during shots, so they're difficult to use in quick fights. Bows offer fast reloading, better mobility, and long-term scaling with Henry's Strength improving. For the high-damage, systematic player, crossbows remain options for some encounters. But where flexibility and effectiveness take priority, bows are the clear choice. No matter what weapons players choose, mastery of ranged combat in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 can be an enormous asset for Henry in battle—whether taking down big game or eliminating enemy troops at a distance.