Being a Zelda game, the bow and arrow is a staple weapon in Breath of the Wild, and a handy one at that. Knowing your way around a good bow is a useful way to balance offensive prowess with evasiveness, and can be key to Link's survival.

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While melee is the most common attacking option, there are plenty of different types of bows and arrows to be found in the game that you’ll want to utilize too. You can use a bow and arrow to attack enemies from long distances without being seen, making them a useful weapon. Different bows have different bonuses too, so you’ll want to have a range for the right situation.

Updated April 8, 2023 by Casey Foot: If you’re revisiting Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom’s launch to hone your archery skills, it’s important to know which bows will best assist you on your adventure. Some bows have the benefit of shooting multiple arrows at once, while others are designed to make long-range attacks easier. If you prefer using a bow and arrow compared to swords, you’ll want to pick up the best of the best.

15 Honorable Mention - Bow Of Light

In terms of Zelda lore, this weapon is a bit like the Master Sword of bows, with its recurring, near iconic status. The Bow of Light isn’t a weapon you’ll come across just wandering around Hyrule, but it's worth mentioning nonetheless. This bow is only granted to you by Princess Zelda upon facing off against your arch-nemesis, Ganon.

But the fact is that, in the course of this singular event, the Bow of Light is simply the most powerful bow in the game, bar none. It comes with a beastly 100 attack, 100 durability, and 500 range.

14 Duplex Bow

This favored bow of the Yiga Clan archers can be deceptively effective. If you can get past some spotty durability, this can make for a great long-range weapon. The Duplex Bow comes with an admirable range of 40, making it a force to be reckoned with at a distance.

Not only this, but it also unleashes two arrows at once. This mitigates some of the need to be super accurate at range while amplifying its damage output. If you want to get your hands on this helpful bow, you’ll need to fight Yiga Footsoldiers to claim one off them.

13 Silver Bow

Being a bow originally designed for the more tame act of fishing, the Silver Bow doesn't offer a ton of sheer power. Still, what it lacks in offensive prowess it mostly makes up for in resourcefulness. The special metal it's made from ensures this will be a solid, durable weapon that won't annoyingly break too often.

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It comes with a more-than-respectable 40 durability, allowing you to save on time and resources with this sleek silver weapon. It will be a while until this bow breaks while you’re adventuring around Hyrule, so you can take on multiple enemies without fear of needing a new one.

12 Golden Bow

Given the superiority of the material itself, it shouldn't be a surprise that the Golden Bow outdoes its silver counterpart as a whole. As it happens, this bow is actually a notch weaker than the Silver Bow, but only by a single point. The good news is that this Gerudo-made weapon flexes its muscle elsewhere.

It shines as one of the single-most durable bows in Breath of the Wild, standing at a solid 60. It's also an effective range weapon, with a distance of 40. The extra zoom provided when aiming further helps Link target foes from afar. It's certainly one of the most durable bows you'll find that isn't extremely rare, and can be secured in the Gerudo Desert.

11 Falcon Bow

In terms of bows with solid stats across the board, this Rito-crafted weapon mostly delivers. The only area in which it comes up a bit short is its overall attack power, which still sits at a decent 20.

Yet, the Falcon Bow manages to soar in most other areas, coming with a swift rate of fire that makes this fittingly great for aerial combat, which makes sense considering it’s the favored bow of the Rito. Not only does it have terrific range, but it's surprisingly durable with a base stat of 50.

10 Forest Dweller's Bow

Having Link go full-blown assassin from afar can be fun, but sometimes you just need a quick go-to for close-range hunting. The Forest Dweller's Bow, made by the Koroks, is a good weapon in this case.

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Though its range is a tepid 20, it's fairly long-lasting for being made of wood. The combination of flexible wood and sturdy vines for its bowstring allow for its suitable durability of 35. You definitely want to use this up close to make the most out of it - but it can really pack a punch in these circumstances. In fact, you can inflict a whopping 45 damage in total, as it fires three arrows at once, each of which has 15 attack power.

9 Knight's Bow

The knights of Hyrule Castle know what's up when it comes to their weaponry, with the Knight set being an overall reliable set of weapons. This bow is no exception as it’s an all-around beast.

While its range isn't the greatest ever, it comes with a base attack of 26, sturdy durability clocking in at 48, and a Quick Shot ability. It doesn't typically make for a fantastic sniping weapon. Yet, the Quick Shot functionality makes the Knight's Bow a solid choice when you're in a pinch or a gritty close-range fight.

8 Steel Lizal Bow

The potent metal this bow is made from makes it a highly durable piece of equipment, clocking in at a durability of 50. Those pesky Lizalfos are really tough marksmen to survive, and it's thanks in large part to their expertly crafted bows such as this one.

They can typically be found in the Hebra Mountains and Akkala Highlands. They'll serve you well, with their admirable attack base stat of 36. Its high durability stat and attack power means you’ll be able to take out a good number of enemies before worrying about replacing your bow.

7 Mighty Lynel Bow

Sure, squaring off against the large Minotaur-esque Lynels is an intimidating prospect. Yet, it can be worthwhile if you land their loot; the Mighty Lynel Bow in particular. While this bow has a more powerful counterpart called the Savage Lynel Bow, the lesser "Mighty" variant is still one of the strongest, most useful bows in Breath of the Wild.

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This weapon has a key attribute - the ability to fire off three arrows at once, essentially tripling the damage inflicted. It also stands at a pretty durable level of 35.

6 Royal Bow

This bow is fit for a king - or in this case, the king's archers - with some pretty well-rounded stats of a respectable 38 attack and solid 60 durability. As you'd expect, the Royal Bow can be a royal pain to find, though it's occasionally dropped by Silver Bokoblins, Lizalfos, and Moblins.

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Slaying a towering Hinox can, at times, also yield one of these coveted bows. Though if you don't feel like clashing with one of these beasts, Link can also stealthily approach a sleeping Hinox and snatch one from them, as they sometimes wear them as necklaces.

5 Great Eagle Bow

This is the legendary bow of Rito Champion Revali, and it shows. Coming equipped with an admirable 60 points in the range category, this Great Eagle Bow soars through the air like a bird, making for an accurate and efficient shot. Its strength stands at 28, which looks far more appealing when you consider that it fires three shots at once.

The Rito Village Elder Kaneli will grant you this bow after you conquer the Divine Beast Vah Medoh. Don't fret if and when it breaks - a brand spanking new one can be crafted by Harth for the cost of a Swallow Bow, a Diamond, and five Wood bundles.

4 Savage Lynel Bow

Yes, the offensive might of the Mighty Lynel has been covered, but this is the real deal. For one, the Savage Lynel Bow is even more durable, clocking in at a solid 45. This special bow was forged in the steel of Death Mountain's peak, which explains why it's so sturdy.

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This weapon also comes with at least a three-shot-burst. With 32 damage per arrow, that isn't too shabby. You can even land a rarer five-shot variant if you're lucky enough, making the weapon even more devastating. Just be careful around Golden Lynels in Master Mode, because they wield these devastating bows themselves!

3 Twilight Bow

If you're scratching your head wondering why you haven't seen or even heard of this epic bow, with its ridiculously high range of 8,000 and durability of 100, it's because you need the Zelda Amiibo from Super Smash Bros. to have a chance to obtain it.

Simply scan in the Amiibo and an enticing, shimmering gold chest will fall from the sky along with some herbs. Open the chest and cross your fingers that you happen upon this legendary Twilight Bow. If you don't get it on the first take, you can always rescan and try again the next day.

2 Ancient Bow

Guardians are some of the most powerful, frustrating enemies to deal with in Breath of the Wild. Taking one of these gargantuan bots down requires both strength and precision, which means that you're best served using Ancient Sheikah-developed tech, and specifically the Ancient Bow.

Once you've completed Doctor Robbie's side quests, you'll be able to craft Ancient weaponry and armor in exchange for Rupees and Guardian Parts. While this is all pricey, it's well worth it, especially when dealing with the Guardians roaming Hyrule. The bow's got it in just about all areas, with a 44 base attack, 50 range, and a tank-like 120 durability. Basically, it'll be a while before you'll have to worry about it breaking.

1 Royal Guard's Bow

This is essentially a Royal Bow with a darker, older tinge. It also swaps out durability with strength, clocking in at 50 strength and only 20 durability. This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise given the lore behind it; it was made with ancient technology to fight the Great Calamity.

Thus, unlike its counterpart, it's best used for quicker, more offensive pushes, as it breaks down rather quickly. Still, it manages to be one of the most powerful single-shot bows in the game, second only to the exclusive Bow of Light. These can be found in Princess Zelda's room as well as the Hyrule Castle Armory.

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