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Bow

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
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It has been proposed that this page be moved to Bow. Please move this page, or discuss this change on the talk page or on Discord.


Reason: I really see no need for Bow (disambiguation). The case with bows is similar to swords and axes (not lances due to a character of that name), which don't have disambiguations, don't have need for one, and hatnote the NES weapon of exact name.

This article is about the weapon type. You may be looking for Bow (NES), the most basic version of the weapon type in the NES games.

Bows in the Fire Emblem series

The Bow (, Bow) is a type of physical weapon in the Fire Emblem series. Existing outside the weapon triangle, bows possess few power and average accuracy, and cannot be used to attack adjacent enemies. However, they offer the ability to do increased damage to flying units.

With a total number of 49 different bows, bows are the scarcest physical weapons in the series; usually, there are few bow-wielding classes per game -except for Genealogy of the Holy War and Thracia 776-, and so far, only four main characters have been able to wield them, but they all need to promote or change classes beforehand.

Bows in the Fire Emblem series by types

Basic bows

Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Bow --
Bronze Bow --
Iron Bow --
Steel Bow --
Silver Bow --
Broken Bow --
Toy Bow --
Glass Bow --
Slack Bow --
Long Bow --
Great Bow --
Emblem Bow --
Rienfleche --
Rubber Bow --
Violin Bow --
Cupid's Bow --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Crossbows

Crossbows are a subcategory and exclusive to Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn. These weapons rely on their own might for damage, ignoring the user's strength.

Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Bowgun --
Crossbow --
Taksh --
Aqqar --
Arbalest --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Critical and skill-granting bows

There have been some bows with a high crit in the series, with the Killer Bow being the most known of them. In Awakening, three new skill-granting bows were introduced, allowing units to access certain skills.


Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Killer Bow --
Brave Bow --
Short Bow --
Venin Bow --
Master Bow --
Silencer --
Quick Bow --
Astra --
Underdog Bow --
Superior Bow --
Mighty Bow --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Effective bows

While almost all bows are effective against flying units, some of them can also deal increased damage to other units, such as monsters.


Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Blessed Bow --
Beacon Bow --
Laguz Bow --
Cleave Bow --
Hunter Bow --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Magic bows

These bows inflict magical damage instead of physical. Both of these bows also inflict damage in the 1-2 range.


Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Bright Bow --
Shining Bow --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Close range bows

Certain bows first introduced in Fates allow their usage in one-space melee combat, a trait seen in bows in legitimate gameplay since Gaiden (where all of that game's bows have melee capability) only once. Unless otherwise specified, these bows hit in the 1-2 range.


Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Short Bow --
Double Bow --
Iron Close-range Bow --
Steel Close-range Bow --
Silver Close-range Bow --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Longbows

The following bows can attack from a distance of two or three tiles, which allows users to attack without retaliation.


Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Longbow --
Double Bow --
Iron Longbow --
Steel Longbow --
Silver Longbow --
Towering Bow --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Character's bows

Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem and Awakening feature some bows named after archers and snipers of the series. These weapons can be used by any unit with enough skill, and all of them have an enhanced crit.


Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Gordin's Bow --
Ryan's Bow --
Kleine's Bow --
Wolt's Bow --
Innes' Bow --
Anna's Lucky-bow --
Zero's Sadist-bow --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Sacred and personal bows

Personal bows are truly rare in the series, appearing only in the Tellius duology. There are few sacred bows as well, with all of them featuring bonuses to stats or an unusual extra function.


Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Parthia --
Yewfelle --
Murgleis --
Nidhogg --
Rolf's Bow --
Lughnasadh --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Classes capable of using bows

There are 34 different classes which, at some point in the series, have been able to wield bows.


Class Wields bows in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Archer --
Sniper --
Hunter --
Horseman --
Hero --
Bow Knight --
Gold --
Master Knight --
Warrior --
Bow Fighter --
Arch Knight --
Bow Armor --
General --
Baron --
Emperor --
Ballista --
Iron Ballista --
Killer Ballista --
Poison Ballista --
Nomad --
Nomadic Trooper --
Blade Lord --
Ranger --
Fleet --
Bonewalker --
Wight --
Maelduin --
Marksman --
Bow Paladin --
Silver Knight --
Assassin --
Bride --
Outlaw --
Adventurer --
A means that the class wields bows in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

In other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language Name Definition, etymology, and notes
English

Bow

Spanish

Arco

Bow

French

Arc

Bow

German

Bogen

Bow


Weapon types
Physical weapons ArtAxeBow (Ballista)CannonballGauntletsDaggerLanceSword
Magical weapons Anima (FireThunderWind)Black magicDarkLightStaffTome (Blue tomeColorless tomeGreen tomeRed tome)White magic
Other weapons BreathCrest StoneSpecialStoneStrike, beast, and monster weapons
Bows and Crossbows
Basic bows BowBowgunBow of ZoltanBroken BowBronze BowClarisse's BowEmblem BowGlass BowGordin's BowGreat BowInnes' BowIron BowKiller BowLong BowRienflecheRubber BowRusted BowRyan's BowShort BowSilencerSilver BowSlack BowSteel BowToy BowTraining Bow
Bows with secondary effects Anna's BowAstraBeacon BowBlessed BowBrave BowCleave BowCrescent BowCupid BowHunter's BowLaguz BowLunaMeisterbogenMila's BowNiles's BowQuick BowPython's BowSuperior BowUnderdog BowVenin BowViolin BowWolt's Bow
Magic-based bows Magic BowRadiant BowShining Bow
Ranged bows Double BowIron LongbowLongbowSilver LongbowSteel LongbowTowering Bow
Close-range bows Double BowIron ShortbowMini BowSilver ShortbowSteel Shortbow
Crossbows AqqarArbalestBowgunCrossbowTaksh
Regalia and personal bows FailnaughtLughnasadhMulagirNidhoggParthiaRolf's BowTathlum BowThe InexhaustibleYewfelle