What's the best bow in Oblivion? : IV

» Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:30 pm

I want to get the best bow in Oblivion, but I don't know what it is. I have a daedric bow right now, and I'm thinking surely there is a better bow somewhere, maybe a unique bow somewhere, enchanted or something. So what is it? I have GOTY edition for the 360 so I have SI too, so if it's in SI that counts as best in the game (if it is).

» Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:52 am

I want to get the best bow in Oblivion, but I don't know what it is. I have a daedric bow right now, and I'm thinking surely there is a better bow somewhere, maybe a unique bow somewhere, enchanted or something. So what is it? I have GOTY edition for the 360 so I have SI too, so if it's in SI that counts as best in the game (if it is).

Given the answers, this should probably be in the spoilers section...not a problem with tags.

Spoiler

Let's see...http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Daedric_Bow#Daedric_Bow, http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Shivering:Madness_Bow#Madness_Bow, http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Shivering:Amber_Bow#Amber_Bow all pretty much the same, the SI bows are leveled with the best at level 23 and with a found Matrix also get a 20 point Damage Health enchantment. http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Hatreds_Soul#Leveled_Statistics is a leveled Daedric, best at level 19 (more base damage than normal Daedric from level 15 on) with 35 points Fire Damage and Drain Speed (!) 30 points for 45 seconds- that speed drain tends to be vicious for obvious reasons.

And all that being said, several people will likely come along with various custom enchants that make anything just insanely deadly. Then Acadian will pop in and put'em all to shame.

» Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:03 pm

Where do you get

Spoiler

Hatreds Soul?

the link you offered doesn't really say where to get it, it says "It is obtained in Chorrol Oblivion World" not exactly sure what that means..

» Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:51 am

Spoiler

Best bow is the Deadric Bow enchanted with Drain speed 100pts 10secs. Shoot while in sneak, and you score all hits as sneak attack.

» Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:49 am

Where do you get

Spoiler

Hatreds Soul?

the link you offered doesn't really say where to get it, it says "It is obtained in Chorrol Oblivion World" not exactly sure what that means..

Finding it first time's a bit tricky.

Spoiler

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Random_Oblivion_World_2 of Random Oblivion World 2 (Also always the Chorrol Gate world) with maps, rather complex. And another wiki's http://oblivion.wikia.com/wiki/Hatreds_Soul with a bit better path description. Basically as soon as you step through the Oblivion Gate, turn and look behind you- it's inside the leaning tower you'll see there. Head toward it, jump some lava to get onto its island, then look toward the left for a fallen barricade bridging lava- follow it to the next island, then move toward the northernmost point on that island. You'll have to drop over a ledge, which will put you next to a door into an Oblivion Cave- and from there it's pretty much a linear path in through the cave and up the tower. And being a Random Oblivion World, it's also possible to get multiple copies of Hatred's Soul. Ooh- just turned up a http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU-jE1hOpX4 to it, and there seem to be a bunch of'em.

» Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:19 pm

Awesome, thanks for the tips. Are there no unique models for bows like there are with so many other weapons? There are tons of nice 2h swords/maces/axes in the game but Bows seem rather thin..as far as I know there are no artifact bows in the game, which blows.

» Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:57 am

Awesome, thanks for the tips. Are there no unique models for bows like there are with so many other weapons? There are tons of nice 2h swords/maces/axes in the game but Bows seem rather thin..as far as I know there are no artifact bows in the game, which blows.

I don't think there are any bows with unique models, sadly. I think SI Amber/Madness are about as close as it gets, and those aren't so much unique as just "something besides stock Oblivion."

» Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:26 am

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Unique_Items#Unique_Bows

» Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:57 pm

I think if you enchant a bow to your liking, it'll probably be the strongest in the game.

Btw, love the avatar.. the "Ghetto Witness" I lol'd. :lol:

» Sun Jan 03, 2010 8:38 pm

I prefer self-enchanted bows. So start with a very powerful base bow. This means an unchanted daedric, perfect amber or perfect madness (depending on the look you like), then enchant it with a grand soul gem to suit your playstyle. Consider adding a biref soul trap effect to the bow and carrying Azura's Star to keep it charged.

The unique bow found in one of the Oblvion worlds looks like a daedric, but is a more powerful base bow. I prefer my own enchantments over the slightly higher base damage. My problem with that bow is that the enchantments are just 'ok' (for my purposes), it has too few charges and lacks soul trap. Many people like that bow though, so try it out and see what you think.

Remember of course, that any bow goes better with sneak and poison.

» Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:19 am

My problem with that bow is that the enchantments are just 'ok' (for my purposes), it has too few charges and lacks soul trap.

Yes, but Hatred's Souls Arrows are enchanted with Soul Trap, and are damn powerful too. That way you don't waste charge for a Soul Trap when you don't need it

Also, random Oblivion Gates can connect to the Portals of Natural Disaster, and each time you enter it there is new set of these "unique" items. You can also get higher level versions of them that way.

» Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:08 pm

Yes, but Hatred's Souls Arrows are enchanted with Soul Trap, and are damn powerful too. That way you don't waste charge for a Soul Trap when you don't need it

Also, random Oblivion Gates can connect to the Portals of Natural Disaster, and each time you enter it there is new set of these "unique" items. You can also get higher level versions of them that way.

I'm pleased that you like the bow. As I said, it depends on your needs. I said what MY problem with the bow was. I have used Hatred's Soul with matching arrows and do not prefer it. My character generally avoids Oblivion Gates and last time I checked, Hatred's Souls arrows didn't exactly grow on trees. Since a bow is the only weapon my char uses, she needs a more reliable source of arrows. Again, your mileage may vary.

» Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:13 am

The arrows are rare indeed, so they must be used sparingly. Mainly to trap Grand souls. Hatred's Soul is the bow i rely on most since the assassin character i play with (only one who uses a bow) doesn't use spells at all, so she can't enchant her own weapons :shrug:

Too bad you can't pay a mage to enchant your weapons. I don't think there's even a mod for that. For once :hehe:

» Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:45 am

The arrows are rare indeed, so they must be used sparingly. Mainly to trap Grand souls. Hatred's Soul is the bow i rely on most since the assassin character i play with (only one who uses a bow) doesn't use spells at all, so she can't enchant her own weapons :shrug:

Too bad you can't pay a mage to enchant your weapons. I don't think there's even a mod for that. For once :hehe:

Actually, there is a mod for that that Clffworms did -- http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=OblivionMods.Detail&id=5601

It sets up one person in each guild hall as a spellmaker and one as an enchanter and gives them a conversation topic that gives you access to the spellmaking or enchanting menus.

I use it with some of my entirely non-mage characters (like Hale, who's just too dumb to cast spells) so that they have access to enchanted weapons anyway.

» Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:11 am

Actually, there is a mod for that that Clffworms did -- http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=OblivionMods.Detail&id=5601

Thanks. I should already know better than to think "there is no mod for it" :blush:

» Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:41 pm

Without customizing one? I believe it's called Hatred's Soul.

» Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:22 pm

I followed the video and Hatreds Soul definitely wasn't where it said it would be. :sleep:

» Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:03 am

"Best" might be somewhat relative, as some people have already mentioned. It can depend on your character and play style.

Here is the bow my characters always use, but it is from Frans.

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z3/AiTenshi1/TES4/_Momoko1.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z3/AiTenshi1/TES4/_Momoko0.jpg

Note that that is not my character with the bow. It's the archer woman in Pell's Gate. She just happened to have it when I stopped by the village so I snapped a couple pics of her.

» Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:54 pm

One of my elves is still carrying around the rusty bow she found in the prison cellar. She calls it "Bowie." :wink_smile: