I picked up a couple of ebony bows. I'm currently using the Nightingale Bow. According to my inventory, the ebony bow is better. The nightingale bow with it's magic damage included, is better the the ebony bow. Is this true?

Win

?

It will be until you improve or enchant the ebony bow.

It depends on what level you are when you get the Nightingale bow. If you waited until you were about level 50 or so, the Nightingale bow is the strongest in the game for it's over all stats, not just damage.

I can't remember about the Nightingale bow specifically, but just to complicate matters, I've always used smithing to improve unique weapons and armour (Not the enchants of course)

My Dawnguard 'improved crossbow' was better still because it was not enchanted from the word go. It now does 402 points of damage (plus the exploding bolt damage) and 50% chance of chaos damage for 205 points plus 131 points of shock damage with half as much magika damage.

All I can remember about the Nightingale bow was that I quite liked it and sometimes used it but sold it when I got the crossbow and more importantly Auriel's bow with the sun hallowed arrows. That decision may have been because of a practical advantage or it could simply have been that I like the look of Auriel's bow better...I'm frustrated with myself at times how I ditch practicality in favour of appearances! I still use both the crossbow (called 'The Crossbow Of Ultimate Doom' now, just for the humour of such a melodramatic title) and Auriel's bow and I'm level 82 now. Can the Nightingale bow be improved with smithing? I have a vague recollection that I improved it but I can't swear to that. It's still a pretty tasty weapon.

I also love the Nightingale armour and have it on a mannequin. For less violent quests I still like to wear it.

One thing to consider when comparing enchanted versus unenchanted is how useful the effect is in practice. For an archer, any effect that slows the opponent from reaching them is invaluable, so Slow, Paralyse, stagger, knock-down effects are the best. They allow you to get more total damage, even though it may be less with each hit.

The Nightingale Bow has a Slow effect, together with its frost and shock.

EBONY BOW

Weight 16

Value 1440

Damage 17

Speed 0.5625

Range 500-2000

Crit Dam 8

NIGHTINGALE BOW

Weight 18

Value 3450

Damage 19

Speed 0.5625

Range 500-2000

Crit Dam 9

DAEDRIC BOW

Weight 18

Value 2500

Damage 19

Speed 0.4800

Range 500-2000

Crit Dam 10

Yep with the enchantment to the Nightngale Bow it does more damage than the Ebony, until of course it either runs out or you enchant the ebony bow.