Dark Souls 3 has many weapon types, but bows and crossbows are by far the least-used weapons in the game. It is unused because of the awkward firing that each weapon does and the fact that you do need to stock up on ammo each time you use a bunch. It isn’t an easy weapon, but it is good if you know what you are doing.
All the crossbows on this list are great, but some are better. Some are very close, but the farther you get down the list, the more pros they have.
If you are looking for the best crossbow, number 1 will probably be your best choice. It is considered the best crossbow in the game.
5. Light Crossbow
Location: Sold by Greirat of the Undead Settlement for 1,000 Souls. The Hollow Soldiers also drop it in the High Wall of Lothric.
This is the smallest crossbow available in the game. Not only is it the smallest crossbow, but it can also be reloaded fairly quickly and used very quickly. It is a great option if you don’t want to have a heavy weapon in your hand for long.
A light crossbow is a great option for those players that don’t rely on the crossbow itself. It is a great secondary weapon for those who want to have a build with a ranged weapon and a melee weapon. This makes you a fierce opponent far away and up close.
4. Knight’s Crossbow
Location: Sold by Greirat of the Undead Settlement for 3,000 Souls once he returns from pillaging Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. The sword-wielding Lothric Knights also drop it on the High Wall of Lothric.
This crossbow is very similar to the light crossbow in many ways. It is also the second-lightest crossbow in the game and is a great choice if you want to deal with lightning damage. The crossbow does very well with lightning bolts and is a very good weapon for those who want to use it as a secondary weapon.
You don’t need lightning bolts to deal with lightning damage, so if you are in an area with water, you can fire at the water, and it will deal extra damage since the lightning hits the water. It is difficult to use as the main weapon, but it is the best secondary weapon you can use.
3. Avelyn
Location: Found in the Grand Archives, on top of a bookshelf on the right section of the building. You will have to get on the third floor to drop down onto the bookshelf itself on the lower floor.
This is one of the unique weapons in the game since it fires 3 bolts simultaneously. It is the heaviest crossbow in the game, but if you don’t care much about the weapon’s weight, it can be extremely deadly if you know what you are doing with it.
It is one of the easiest crossbows to use since tracking your target is extremely easy. Since you fire off 3 bolts, you can easily keep track of where you are firing the bolts. You must get close to the target to deal the most damage, so ensure you know what you are doing.
2. Heavy Crossbow
Location: Dropped by the crossbow-wielding Cathedral Knight found on the Cathedral of the Deep rafters. You will need to get on the roof of the building first to reach this area.
This crossbow will be most people’s choice when trying to choose a crossbow to use. Not only is it lighter than some of the other crossbows, but it also has some of the best range out of all the other crossbows. It does take a bit more Strength to wield it, but it is worth using if you can get it.
It has some insanely good, well-balanced stats, making it one of the best crossbows to use in the game. It does have a slow reload, but the weapon’s damage output makes up for its slowness. This weapon is one of the best if you can hit your shots.
1. Arbalest
Location: Dropped by crossbow-wielding Devouts of the Deep in the Cathedral of the Deep. It can also be found after the rafters in the roof section of the Cathedral of the Deep. You will need to take an elevator to get to this section.
This is the largest crossbow in the game, but it isn’t the heaviest. Wielding it takes a lot of strength, but it is by far the most balanced and best crossbow in the game. It is a weapon that is best used with two hands since it does take a bit of time to fire off a shot.
Since it is such a good weapon, you can use it as your main weapon. It is a variant of the heavy crossbow, but it lives up to what people say about it. It does very well in both PvP and PvE, so if you are looking for a great crossbow, this one is your best bet besides the heavy crossbow.