If you plan to spend your ascension cores upgrading ranged weapons in RuneScape Dragonwilds 1.0.1, it is smart to know which bows actually deliver meaningful improvements and which upgrades barely change your combat performance. This guide ranks all bows and crossbows for RuneScape Dragonwilds version 1.0.1 after the October 14 update.
RuneScape Dragonwilds Best Bow Tier List 2026 (1.0.1)
This RuneScape Dragonwilds ranking mixes shortbows, longbows, and crossbows, which reflects the performance for endgame play. This RS Dragonwilds bow tier list is based on game version 1.0.1. Later patches may adjust weapon stats, special attacks, or bolt effects, which can shift these rankings.
1. Wild Scout's Shortbow - S Tier
This shortbow trades a small amount of ranged damage for faster draw speed. It has 77 base damage at tier 8. Its hits can reach 155 and 178. Its Rapid Fire special makes the user hop backward and fire three arrows quickly, dealing 107 damage per arrow for a total of 321 damage when all shots connect.
The damage loss compared to other tier 8 shortbows is minimal. The faster draw time is its biggest strength. You can fire, reposition, and keep distance from approaching enemies with less downtime between shots. For hit-and-run mobile combat, this is the strongest bow overall.
2. Ulv's Longbow - S Tier
Ulv's Longbow has 118 base damage. It can hit 235 and 270, with a 392 Power Shot special. Its standout feature is bonus damage against unsuspecting enemies. Field tests against unaware targets produced very high opening strike numbers.
Longbows are best used to start fights, and this ambush damage bonus makes it the top pick for opening combat. Land a powerful first hit and then swap to another weapon for the rest of the fight.
3. Blurite Crossbow - S Tier
Blurite Crossbow has a faster reload speed. With rune bolts, it deals 177 body shot damage and 276 weak point damage, matching the regular hit values of the Dorgeshuun Crossbow. Its weak point special with standard rune bolts hits 490. Its real strength comes from enchanted bolts. Enchanted rune bolts can pierce enemies, while enchanted adamant bolts sacrifice some of your health for higher damage. Its special reliably triggers enchanted bolt effects. Tests with enchanted rune bolts recorded a 569 weak point special hit. At level 60 Ranged, Lucky Bolts unlock to raise the chance of enchantment effects activating on normal shots.
The main downside is ammunition cost. Rune bolts and enchanted materials are expensive and need more farming than bone bolts. Even with this drawback, its flexibility with enchanted ammunition makes it the best everyday ranged weapon in tier 8.
4. Undead Ranger's Bow - A Tier
Undead Ranger's Bow is built for maximum arrow damage, with reduced durability as its trade-off. It has 85 base damage at tier 8, the highest base damage among shortbows. Recorded regular hits were 163 and 188. Its Rapid Fire special deals 112 damage per arrow, totalling 336 damage when all three shots land. This is the highest Rapid Fire total measured from all shortbows.
The damage upgrade is noticeable, but it is not a massive jump over other shortbow options. Choose this weapon if raw shot damage is your priority and you accept the shorter durability.
5. Hunter's Stagbow - A Tier
Hunter's Stagbow has 120 base damage, the highest listed base damage among the longbows. It hit 238 and 273 with a 396 Power Shot special. Its regular damage sits slightly above other tier 8 longbows.
The damage advantage is small but consistent. It works well as an opening weapon, though it lacks the ambush bonus that makes Ulv's Longbow stand out.
6. Shadow Crossbow - A Tier
Shadow Crossbow fires slower, but it gets increased weak-point damage. Its body shot damage stays at 177, but weak point hits rise to 317, roughly 15% higher than standard crossbows. With regular rune bolts, its weak point special hits 564. Using enchanted adamant bolts pushes the weak point special up to 669.
This crossbow is not meant for constant firing. It works best as a swap-in weapon for big special attacks. Use it when fighting enemies with easy-to-target weak points to unleash high burst damage.
7. Dragon Crossbow - A Tier
Dragon Crossbow is tier 9, so it does not belong to the tier 8 group and cannot be perfectly compared on equal terms. It uses heavy bolts. With enchanted rune bolts, it hits 190 on body shots, 297 on normal weak point hits without a proc, and 612 on weak point special attacks. Its damage is around 7–8% higher than the Blurite Crossbow.
The weapon description states it deals extra damage to dragons. However, post-update testing has not fully confirmed this bonus, and player reports are mixed. It is a strong weapon, but its higher tier alone does not make it the best daily-use crossbow. This weapon cannot be crafted.
8. Magic Shortbow - B Tier
Magic Shortbow acts as the reliable tier 8 shortbow baseline. It has no unique bonuses or negative traits, with 78 base damage. Recorded hits were 157 and 180. Its Rapid Fire special deals 108 damage on each of the three arrows, totalling 324 damage when all connect.
It is simple and consistent. If you already own this weapon, you have a fully functional shortbow for general content. It does not have any standout strengths, but it also has no frustrating weaknesses.
9. Magic Longbow - B Tier
Magic Longbow is the standard tier 8 longbow baseline. It has 118 base damage, matching Ulv's Longbow with hits of 235 and 270, plus a 392 Power Shot special. It shares identical results with Ulv's Longbow and has no unique passive effects.
It is dependable and easy to use. If you already have this longbow, you have a solid weapon for opening fights. You will only swap it for other longbows to access their special perks, not to gain large raw damage increases.
10. Rune Crossbow - B Tier
Rune Crossbow is the tier 8 baseline crossbow. With rune bolts, it hits 177 on body shots and 276 on weak points. It has no unique passive traits or special mechanics. It works fine for general combat, but other crossbows offer better perks for specific combat situations.
11. Dorgeshuun Crossbow - B Tier
Dorgeshuun Crossbow has faster reload speed. When using bone bolts, it matches Blurite’s regular damage: 177 body shot and 276 weak point hits, with a 490 weak point special. It applies bleed effects against enemies vulnerable to bleed. Bone bolts are cheap and simple to stock up on, which is a big practical advantage.
This crossbow used to be the top everyday ranged pick. It still performs well, but Blurite’s enchanted bolt versatility has overtaken it for most tier 8 endgame setups.
12. Bow of Elidinis - C Tier
Bow of Elidinis has 118 base damage, matching Magic Longbow and Ulv's Longbow with 235 and 270 regular hits. It deals water damage, creates healing orbs, and keeps the Lunar Rain special. One major limitation is that you cannot use poison, bleed, or fire arrows with this bow.
It can perform well in group encounters, but its special has a restrictive range. Collecting healing orbs while maintaining longbow distance feels inconvenient. It is a situational weapon for specific fights and not a good all-purpose ranged option.
13. Crystal Bow - D Tier
Crystal Bow has 82 base damage, and its raw regular hit numbers look decent at first glance, with a 160 crit and a 184 timed follow-up shot. However, it carries the Imperfect trait, which slows its draw time. Instead of the new Rapid Fire special, it keeps Shattershot.
Shattershot works like a close-range shotgun, but it is hard to use reliably. Performance on dummies and goblin groups showed inconsistent spread and range issues. You need to get dangerously close to enemies to get value from the special attack. The slower draw and awkward special push this bow to the lowest tier among endgame options.
Low-Tier Progression Weapons
Ash Shortbow, Oak Shortbow, Blightwood Shortbow, Willow Shortbow, Maple Shortbow, Yew Shortbow, Adventurer's Longbow, Oak Longbow, Blightwood Longbow, Willow Longbow, Maple Longbow, Yew Longbow, Bronze Crossbow, Iron Crossbow, Steel Crossbow, Mithril Crossbow, Adamant Crossbow
These basic bows and crossbows are only for leveling your Ranged skill in the early and mid-game. They lack the unique perks, high base damage, and strong special attacks of the tier 8 and tier 9 endgame weapons. Replace them once you unlock better ranged gear.