BG3: The 5 BEST Hand Crossbows [80+ Hours Experience]
Here are some of my top picks for the Best Hand Crossbows after spending several weeks in BG3.
Baldur’s Gate 3 features a vast range of weapon types that excel in their own category, and among the many kinds of firearms, one of the deadliest and most stealthy types is the Hand Crossbow. It is a ranged weapon that you can access pretty early in the game. There are different types of bows available to choose from. So make sure to know about the BG3 best Hand Crossbows that suit your playstyle and fit you the most.
- Baldur’s Gate 3 features many types of Weapons, and Hand Crossbows are one of them.
- Each Hand Crossbow comes with unique abilities that are useful in different situations and complement different types of builds.
- Crossbows can be obtained via mission rewards, merchants, or enemy loot.
- Author’s Note: After going through Baldur’s Gate 3 for several weeks on Steam, I feel confident going into the topic with thorough experience.
Best Hand Crossbows In BG3
Here is an overview of the Best Hand Crossbows that you can use in Baldur’s Gate 3 showcased along with Damage, Special Effect, Unlockable Skills, Range, Rarity, Price and Weight stats:
| Weapon Name | Damage | Special Effect | Unlockable Skills | Range | Rarity | Price | Weight | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Crossbow | 1d6 Piercing | - | -Piercing Shot -Mobile Shot | 15m | Common | 70 | 0.9 | Best For Early-Game. |
| Firestroker | 1d6 Piercing | Deals extra 1d4 Piercing damage to Burning targets | -Piercing Shot -Mobile Shot | 15m | Uncommon | 100 | 0.9 | Best For A Drow Sorcerer. |
| Hellfire Hand Crossbow | 1d6 Piercing | Inflicts burning damage when using the weapon on a target while hiding or invisible. Weapon Enchantment +2 | -Piercing Shot -Mobile Shot -Scorching Ray | 15m | Very Rare | 770 | 0.9 | Best For Rogues. |
| Magical Hand Crossbow | 1d6+3 Piercing | Shooting a target at close range will follow up with a melee attack as well. Weapon Enchantment +2 | -Piercing Shot -Mobile Shot | 15m | Very Rare | 770 | 0.9 | Best Close-Range Hand Crossbow. |
| Ne’er Misser | 1d6+2 Force | Shoots three magical darts, each dealing 2-5 Force damage with a guaranteed hit on target. Weapon Enchantment +1 | -Piercing Shot -Mobile Shot | 15m | Very Rare | 496 | 0.9 | Best Magical Hand Crossbow. |
Basic Hand Crossbow
- Why I Chose This: There is no better hand crossbow that you can pick as you’re just starting out your adventure. This was my go-to choice until I got further into BG3.
| Weapon Type | Hand Crossbow |
| Rarity | Common |
| Damage | 1d6 Piercing |
| Range | 15m |
| Unlockable Skills | Piercing Shot, Mobile Shot |
| Weight | 0.9 |
| Price | 70 |
Hand Crossbow is a basic type of bow that you can get in early game stages. It is a basic type of crossbow with adequate stats but no special effects. The weapon can prove useful in early engagements but needs to be replaced at advanced stages. You can get the Hand Crossbow from many in-game vendors scattered across various regions.
If you want a Hand Crossbow without spending gold, consider these options:
- Loot Drops: Hand Crossbows can drop from enemies, but it’s random.
- Barth in Druid Grove: Increase your chances by hunting Barth for a guaranteed drop.
- Underdark Exploration: Search dead bodies in the Underdark, especially in the Decrepit Village, for potential loot.
- Very useful at the start.
- Easy to get.
- Needs to be replaced later.
Firestoker
- Why I Chose This: Firestoker was my favorite crossbow during Act 2 because of its amazing range and great special effects.
| Weapon Type | Hand Crossbow |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Damage | 1d6 Piercing + 1d4 Piercing |
| Special Effect | Deals extra 1d4 Piercing damage to Burning targets. |
| Range | 15m |
| Unlockable Skills | Piercing Shot, Mobile Shot |
| Weight | 0.9 |
| Price | 100 |
Firestroker is a better variant of the basic Hand Crossbow and comes with special effects. It has a fierce look, portraying the abilities of fire. Bg3 describes the weapon as “Though the crossbow’s bolts look burning hot, they are pleasantly warm to the touch.”
- The bow comes in the Uncommon category and has an effective 15 meters.
- Adds an extra 1d4 piercing damage to burning enemies, making it ideal for crowd control.
- With the Crossbow, you unlock the Mobile Shot as well as the Piercing Shot skill.
- To get the Firestroker Crossbow, you need to visit the Grymforge, where you can find it in an Ornate chest.
- Buffed damage to burning enemies.
- Great skills.
- Can be difficult to obtain for new players.
Hellfire Hand Crossbow
- Why I Chose This: I prefer this because of its amazing perks. The synergy is also great between Hellfire Hand Crossbow and things that do burning damage.
| Weapon Type | Hand Crossbow |
| Rarity | Very Rare |
| Damage | 1d6 Piercing |
| Special Effect | Inflicts burning damage when using the weapon on a target while hiding or invisible.
Weapon Enchantment +2 |
| Range | 15m |
| Unlockable Skills | Piercing Shot, Mobile Shot, Scorching Ray |
| Weight | 0.9 |
| Price | 770 |
The Hellfire Hand Crossbow is a rare type of bow and has exceptional perks. It grants you special effects like Scorching Ray, in addition to Piercing and Mobile Shot. If you use the weapon while hiding or being invisible, the bow will inflict burning damage on the targets.
- Ideal for stealth missions, keeping you covert while accomplishing objectives.
- +2 Weapon Enhancement: Synergizes exceptionally with items that cause burning damage.
- Acquire through a rare loot drop, obtainable by facing Yurgir, the Orthon demon, as part of the “Find the Nightsong” quest line.
- Scorching Ray can cast a level 3 spell.
- Does burning damage if used while invisible or hiding.
- There are better bows for ranged combat.
Magical Hand Crossbow
- Why I Chose This: This bow might be hard to find, but it was worth every minute I spent obtaining it. The follow-up melee attack you get is very strong. It also has piercing and mobile shot skills.
| Weapon Type | Hand Crossbow |
| Rarity | Very Rare |
| Damage | 1d6+3 Piercing |
| Special Effect | Shooting a target at close range will follow up with a melee attack as well.
Weapon Enchantment +2 |
| Range | 15m |
| Unlockable Skills | Piercing Shot, Mobile Shot |
| Weight | 0.9 |
| Price | 770 |
Magical Hand Crossbow is a powerful bow with impressive abilities and reliable performance. The bow comes in a very rare category. The most impressive trait of the weapon is that you can also use it at close range. The Magical Bow comes with a “Cunning Comb” special ability that enables the character to perform a follow-up melee attack whenever he targets an enemy at close range.
- Magical Bow also comes with an effective range of 15 meters, just like all other Hand Crossbows.
- You also get the Piercing and Mobile Shot abilities with the crossbow.
- It has a selling value of 770 gold, but it is recommended to keep the weapon and use its exceptional capabilities.
- Adds +2 to weapon enchantment.
- Close-ranged shot gives a follow-up melee attack.
- One of the hardest things to find in BG3.
Ne’er Misser
- Why I Chose This: I’m a massive fan of Magic Missiles. It’s a level 3 ability that will automatically hit your target. You also get a buff on normal attacks you do with the Ne’er Misser.
| Weapon Type | Hand Crossbow |
| Rarity | Very Rare |
| Damage | 1d6+2 Force |
| Special Effect | Shoots three magical darts, each dealing 2-5 Force damage with a guaranteed hit on target.
Weapon Enchantment +1 |
| Range | 15m |
| Unlockable Skills | Piercing Shot, Mobile Shot |
| Weight | 0.9 |
| Price | 496 |
Ne’er Misser is an exceptional Hand Crossbow and features impressive stats. It is a Magical Crossbow that possesses the ability to cast Force damage and unleash Magic Missiles. It comes in rare category and has a weight of 0.9. The weapon comes with Piercing and Mobile Shot abilities.
- Effective range: 15 meters, suitable for mid to long-range combat.
- Magic Missile Ability – Fires three Magic Missiles with perfect accuracy.
- Obtainable at the Moonrise Tower from the Roah Moonglow Merchant.
- Does force damage.
- Magic Missile is an amazing ability.
- Buffed normal attacks dealt with this hand crossbow.
- None.
Share Your Opinion
My Thoughts
For me, the obvious choice has to be the Ne’er Misser. Magic Missiles give you a guaranteed hit while Force damage can destroy walls and chests too. It might be tricky to obtain, but the usefulness makes up for it.
That sums up my guide in BG3 Best Hand Crossbows. Each bow is different in its own way and complements different types of build. Once you select your desired Hand Crossbow, make sure to go through the All Acts in BG3 guide to understand the game better. In addition to that, you can also get to know about different classes, including Cleric, Githyaki, and Druid. Lastly, don’t forget to check out Gandrel Choices in BG3 and Selune Chest in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Next:
- Baldur’s Gate 3: What Is Max Level?
- Baldur’s Gate 3: All Companions
- Baldur’s Gate 3: All Feats
- Baldur’s Gate 3: Halsin Companion
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