Elden Ring Horn Bow Build Guide - Magic Archer
May. 8, 2024Elden Ring Horn Bow Build Guide – Magic Archer
Welcome to my Elden Ring Bow Build Guide, where I’ll share my Magic Archer build. This build is an evolution of my previous Archer build and takes a slightly different approach to address some of the issues with playing a pure Archer in Elden Ring.
Playing as an Archer from around level 50 can be challenging. Early in the game, it takes some time to get going, but it’s manageable. However, in the mid-game, you might hit a lull due to several factors:
As a result, I designed the Magic Archer build, which utilizes theHorn Bow, a bow that deals both magic and physical damage, with a slight Intelligence requirement. I pair this with theLazuli Glintstone Swords, which have a small Intelligence requirement but scale well with Strength.
Through extensive testing, I found that some popular talismans don’t work as expected with bows:
Given these limitations, I created theMagic Archerbuild to offer a more versatile approach, using a mix of magic and physical damage. With this build, you can maintain a consistent damage output and enjoy a more balanced playstyle.
A bow-based build that focuses on ranged combat, but has the tools to melee in a pinch as well.
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In this Elden Ring Horn Bow build, you’ll meet the Intelligence requirements while focusing on Strength, and for theHorn Bow, a bit ofDexterityis also needed. This setup allows you to pick off enemies from a distance with theHorn Bow, especially when using magic arrows. With theMighty Shotskill, you can deal 400–500 damage per shot, making it an excellent ranged option. The build also provides a melee choice with theLazuli Glintstone Swords, which is useful when you need to conserve arrows or engage in close combat.
This approach is more versatile than a pure bow build. If you prefer different melee weapons, theCarian Knight’s Swordis a good alternative to theLazuli Glintstone Swords, though it has a higher Intelligence requirement. If you’re interested in using a larger sword, consider theTroll Knight’s Sword, which also requires a bit more Intelligence but offers a solid melee option.
With this build, you can mix and match weapons based on your preference. You can pair theHorn Bowwith theTroll Knight’s Sword, or theCarian Straight Swordwith theLazuli Glintstone Swords. This flexibility allows you to adapt to different situations and enemy types, creating a well-rounded build that’s effective at both range and in close quarters.
For this Elden Ring Horn Bow build, the key talismans to consider are theArrow’s Sting Talisman,Arrow’s Reach Talisman, and a flexible third slot for customization.
TheArrow’s Sting Talismanincreases your arrow damage by about 10%, providing a consistent boost to your ranged attacks. You can find it inCaelidby heading towardRedmane Castle. Look for a watchtower near the castle, and you’ll find the talisman at the top. It’s an easy grab without needing to engage in combat—just run past the enemies to collect it.
TheArrow’s Reach Talismanextends the range of your bow, preventing damage drop-off over longer distances. It can be found on a tower aboveStormgate, near the trolls and enemies. This talisman is crucial for bow builds, allowing you to maintain higher damage even from a distance. It’s one of the best talismans for any bow-focused build because it ensures you’re always dealing consistent damage, even from farther away.
The third talisman slot is more flexible and depends on your playstyle. TheWarrior Jar Shardis a good choice, as it increases skill damage by about 10%. To get it, you need to killAlexanderearly in the game, but if you choose to follow his quest line instead, you can eventually earn theShard of Alexander, which offers a 15% increase in skill damage. If you prefer to keepAlexanderalive for the quest, you might consider other options for this slot.
Another suitable talisman for the third slot is theWinged Sword Insignia, which increases damage with successive attacks. This is ideal if you’re dual-wielding melee weapons alongside your bow. If you switch to your bow after a flurry of melee attacks, you’ll still benefit from the damage buff.
Alternatively, theErdtree’s FavorTalismancan be a solid choice, providing boosts to health, stamina, and equip load. This build can be stamina-intensive, with all the firing, attacking, rolling, and jumping, so having extra stamina can be quite helpful. If you find yourself running out of stamina often, theErdtree’s Favor Talismanis a great option.
In summary, theArrow’s StingandArrow’s Reach talismansare the core choices for this build, ensuring higher arrow damage and extended range. The third slot offers flexibility based on your preferred playstyle, whether that’s more damage with successive attacks or additional stamina and health for greater survivability.
RegardingArcane, it’s not essential for this build; anyArcanepoints come from theBanditclass, which I chose as the starting class. If you’re playing a different class with lessArcane, it’s not a problem.
Rain of Arrowsis a usefulAsh of Warfor this build, allowing you to apply status effects and target large groups or bosses from a distance. It’s preferable toBarragein many situations because of its ability to inflict status effects more effectively. To getRain of Arrows, go toCaelid’sSellia,Town of Sorcery. Find a painting on the ground, interact with it, then travel to a largeErdtree. Drop over a cliff to touch a spectral figure, and you’ll receive theRain of Arrows Ash of War. This method avoids combat, making it accessible for most players.
Rain of Arrowsis effective against large targets likeDragonkinor in boss fights such asRennala. It’s also excellent for co-op play, where you can help build bleed or poison with status-inflicting arrows. Keep in mind thatRain of Arrowsconsumes 20 FP per use, so plan accordingly.
Generally, with this build, I use theHorn Bowto pick off enemies from a distance and switch to melee when necessary. If you find yourself surrounded, ambushed, or in a boss fight where using a bow isn’t ideal, you can switch to a short bow or melee weapons.
This flexibility allows you to adapt to different combat situations. I also recommend using somber stones to upgrade theLazuli Glintstone Sword, theCarian Sword, and theTroll Knight Sword, as this doesn’t interfere with upgrading theHorn BowandMisbegotten Short Bow, which use regular smithing stones.
Now, let’s talk about arrows, an essential part of any archer build. Crafting and sourcing arrows is crucial to maintain a steady supply throughout the game. Here are some tips to streamline the farming process:
To buyThin Beast Bones, which are needed for crafting basic arrows, visit theWarmaster’s Shackat night. If you wait for a few in-game hours after setting the time to night, theBell Bearing Hunterboss will appear. Defeating him gives you a bell bearing to give to theTwin Maiden HusksatRoundtable Hold, allowing you to purchaseThin Beast Bones. This is a much faster way to obtain these materials than farming beasts manually.
ForFlight Pinions, which are used to craft arrows with longer range, head to the firstsite of graceafter ascending the lift at the game’s start. There are six birds you can farm. Alternatively, on the beach below this area, you’ll find around 20 penguins. You can farm these easily by respawning at the cave’ssite of graceand repeating the run.
If you wantBloodbone Arrows, you needBloodroses. The best places to farm these areFort Haightin the southeastern part ofLimgraveand theRose ChurchinLiurnia of the Lakes. AtFort Haight, grab theBlood Rosesand then respawn to collect more. At theRose Church, touch aStake of Marikaafter collecting theBlood Rosesto respawn nearby and repeat.
To craftFirebone Arrows, gatherSmoldering Butterflies. The easiest place to farm these is just northeast of theWarmaster’s Shack, where you’ll find two fire slugs and plenty ofSmoldering Butterflies. Repeat this route to build a large stock ofFirebone Arrows.
ForMagicbone Arrows, you’ll needGlintstone Fireflies. Find these just north ofLaskyar RuinsinLiurnia of the Lakes, where you can quickly collect 20 or 30 by riding around the area and respawning at the nearby site of grace.
If you’re interested inPoisonbone Arrows, collectPoison Blooms. The best place to farm these isTombsward CaveinWeeping Peninsula. You can run through the cave and gather the blooms while avoiding combat, then respawn to collect more.
Lastly, if you wantStormwing Bone Arrows, you can farmStormhawk FeathersatStormveil Castle. The drop rate is low, so these are best used for boss fights where you need extra damage.
It’s also a good idea to buy regular arrows in bulk from merchants. These basic arrows are useful for general combat, allowing you to save your specialty arrows for specific scenarios or boss fights. Remember to pick up crafting books as you progress through the game to unlock different arrow types. You can find the locations of these books using an interactive map or theElden Ringwiki.
That covers the essentials of my Horn Bow build and where to find and craft the arrows you’ll need. I hope this guide helps you maintain a steady arrow supply while playing as an archer inElden Ring. The early and middle game can be challenging, but with proper planning and farming, you can keep your bow well-stocked and ready for battle.
As always, let us know if you have questions or other tips in the comments below. We have a ton more builds coming forElden RingandShadow of the Erdtreeso stay tuned for those. If you need help finding the spells, items, or equipment in this build, and securing some personal objectives, make sure to check theElden Ring Map.
Castielle
Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.
