

Arrows and bolts can also be crafted if you have the Dawnguard add-on. Most bows and crossbows can be upgraded at a grindstone based on perks invested in Smithing. (5.5 * 5 = 27.5 at 100 skill and Deadly Bash 5x damage perk.) In addition, having high skill in Block and the Deadly Bash perk will cause the strike to inflict significant damage. Doing so costs a small amount of Stamina, but will stagger the foe, giving you time to set up a shot, flee to a safer distance, or switch to a melee weapon. While you have a bow equipped you cannot block attacks however, you can perform a melee strike with the bow by pressing the ' Block' button.

Since there is no hit location recognition in Skyrim, trying to achieve headshots will not cause increased damage, but rather may cause your shot to miss if you do not properly account for the arrow's trajectory. Note that the Eagle Eye perk does in fact decrease the influence of gravity, so do not aim as high as you would if you were not zooming in. If the target is farther away, then aim slightly above it, as gravity has an influence on trajectory.

Note that the Steady Hand perk affects neither the speed of the arrow, nor the enemy, so lead your target the same as if time was not slowed.

If the target is moving, aim where they are going to be, as the arrow is a rather slow projectile. To compensate, you should aim just below the intended target in order to hit it. When shooting an arrow, you will discover that arrows have significant 'loft', or upwards movement, particularly at medium ranges (See Notes). The trajectory and speed of arrows are independent of a character's skill level in Archery only damage increases with skill level. Drawn bows can be cancelled by pressing the ' Sheath Weapon' button. Arrows that are misfired accidentally before having fully drawn the bow result in a damage penalty. A bow will not deal its normal maximum amount of damage until finished being fully drawn. †Īrrow damage is the sum total of the quality and material of the bow and the arrow being used, as well as the bow's draw length. Pressing Block while aiming will zoom in your view.Īrrows stagger all but the largest opponents 50% of the time.ġ5% chance of paralyzing the target for a few seconds. Recover twice as many arrows from dead bodies. 10% chance of a critical hit that does extra damage.ġ5% chance of a critical hit that does 25% more critical damage.Ģ0% chance of a critical hit that does 50% more critical damage.
