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Bow

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
This article is about the weapon type. You may be looking for Bow (Famicom), the most basic weapon of the type in the NES games.
Bows in the Fire Emblem series

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

With a total number of 79 different weapons, bows are the fourth-scarcest physical weapons in the series (above daggers which currently has 47 different varieties, and gauntlets and arts which have 10 and 9 varieties respectively); usually, there are few bow-wielding classes per game—except for Genealogy of the Holy War and Thracia 776—and so far, Alm, Lyn, and Claude are the only main characters to wield them in their native class progression, and even then the former two must have class changed to their advanced forms.

In Fire Emblem Fates, their Hoshidan counterpart is called the yumi (Japanese: 和弓 Japanese bow). They are almost exactly the same as bows and share a weapon level, differentiated by the effect of that, when equipped, they increase the wielder's resistance by 2, and, on average, they have higher might and lower hit rate.

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 Not effective against flying units in Gaiden.
Bronze Bow --
Iron Bow --
Steel Bow --
Silver Bow --
Broken Bow --
Toy Bow --
Glass Bow --
Slack Bow --
Long Bow --
Great Bow --
Emblem Bow Not effective against flying units.
Rienfleche --
Rubber Bow --
Violin Bow --
Cupid's Bow --
Brass Yumi --
Iron Yumi --
Steel Yumi --
Silver Yumi --
Rusted Bow --
Mila's Bow --
Luna --
Training 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 Crossbows do not exist as a special subcategory in Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light.
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
Bowgun A crossbow instead in Radiant Dawn.
Killer Bow --
Brave Bow Brave weapon.
Short Bow No crit boost in Thracia 776.
Venin Bow Inflicts poison status on hit.
Meisterbogen Brave weapon.
Silencer --
Quick Bow Brave weapon.
Astra Grants Astra when equipped.
Underdog Bow Grants Underdog when equipped.
Superior Bow Grants Bowbreaker when equipped.
Crescent Bow Brave weapon.
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 Recovers HP each turn and is effective against monsters.
Beacon Bow Effective against monsters. Exclusive to one Japanese event distribution.
Laguz Bow Effective against laguz.
Cleave Bow Effective against armored units.
Hunter's Bow Effective against beast units. Not effective against other flying units.
Spellbane Yumi Effective against units wielding tomes or scrolls.
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 Casts light-based magic. Unused.
Shining Bow --
Radiant Bow --
Magic 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 that had seen in bows in legitimate gameplay since Gaiden (where all of that game's bows have melee capability) only one other time. 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
Mini Bow --
Double Bow Exclusive to snipers in Path of Radiance, and to archers and snipers in Awakening. +3 strength when equipped in both Tellius games, +5 in Awakening. Only has close-range capability in Radiant Dawn.
Iron Shortbow Enemy-only
Steel Shortbow Enemy-only
Silver Shortbow Enemy-only
Iron Hankyu Enemy-only
Steel Hankyu Enemy-only
Silver Hankyu Enemy-only
Sidelong Yumi --
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 Exclusive to archers and snipers in Path of Radiance, Shadow Dragon, New Mystery of the Emblem and Awakening.
Double Bow Exclusive to snipers in Path of Radiance, and to archers and snipers in Awakening. +3 strength when equipped in both Tellius games, +5 in Awakening. 4 range only in Path of Radiance, not enhanced-range in Radiant Dawn.
Iron Longbow --
Steel Longbow --
Silver Longbow --
Towering Bow Exclusive to archers and snipers.
Spy's Yumi 3 range only.
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 Can be used as an item to recover HP.
Innes' Bow --
Anna's Bow --
Niles's Bow --
Mikoto's Yumi --
Setsuna's Yumi --
Python's Bow Requires DLC in Echoes: Shadows of Valentia.
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Regalia and personal bows

Personal bows are truly rare in the series, appearing only in the Tellius duology and Fates. 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 Can be used as an item to increase resistance. Doubles gained experience in Mystery of the Emblem.
Yewfelle +10 skill, +10 speed when equipped. Grants Renewal when equipped in Genealogy of the Holy War. +5 speed when equipped in Awakening.
Mulagir +5 speed when equipped. Effective against manaketes.
Nidhogg +5 luck when equipped. Effective aginst monsters in The Sacred Stones. +10 luck when equipped in Awakening.
Rolf's Bow Rolf only.
Lughnasadh Leonardo only. +5 speed when equipped.
Pursuer Only Snipers may acquire requisite weapon level.
Fujin Yumi Takumi only. Two variations.
Skadi Both close-range and enhanced-range (1-4 range).
Failnaught --
Tathlum Bow --
The Inexhaustible --
Lendabair --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Miscellaneous bows

Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Dual Yumi Reverses the weapon triangle.
Illusory Yumi --
Surefire Yumi --
Bamboo Yumi --
Harp Yumi --
Raider Yumi --
Bow of Zoltan --
Croissbow --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Classes capable of using or specializing in bows

There are 52 different classes which, at some point in the series, have been able to wield bows or specialized in them.


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 --
Ballistician --
Bow Knight --
Aurum --
Master Knight --
Warrior Can only use crossbows in Radiant Dawn.
Bow Fighter --
Arch Knight --
Bow Armor --
General --
Baron --
Emperor --
Ballista Restricted to ballistae.
Iron Ballista Restricted to ballistae.
Killer Ballista Restricted to ballistae.
Poison Ballista Restricted to ballistae.
Nomad --
Nomadic Trooper --
Blade Lord --
Ranger --
Fleet Restricted to ballistae.
Bonewalker --
Wight --
Maelduin --
Marksman --
Bow Paladin --
Silver Knight --
Assassin --
Bride --
Outlaw --
Adventurer --
Apothecary --
Merchant --
Mechanist --
Priestess --
Kinshi Knight --
Oliphantier Requires DLC in Echoes: Shadows of Valentia.
Conqueror Requires DLC in Echoes: Shadows of Valentia.
Commoner --
Noble --
Wyvern Master --
Barbarossa --
Lord Alcryst only.
Tireur d'elite --
Sentinel Fogado only.
Cupido --
Emblem Leif, Lucina, Lyn, and Claude.
Warden Alternate Alcryst only.
Watcher Alternate Fogado only.
A means that the class wields bows in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Etymology and other languages

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

Bow

--

Japanese

Bow

Spanish

Arco

Bow

French

Arc

Bow

German

Bogen

Bow

Italian

Arco

Bow

Dutch

Boog

Bow

Portuguese

Arco

Bow

Korean

Bow

Simplified Chinese

Bow

Traditional Chinese

Bow

Yumi

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

Yumi

Yumi (Japanese: ) is the Japanese word for bow. When discussed in English, yumi refers specifically to the traditional Japanese style of bow, which are distinguished by their asymmetrical bodies and their great size compared to their user.

Japanese

和弓

Japanese bow. Used in the Japanese language to describe yumi, as opposed to bow styles from other nations.

Spanish

Yumi

--

French

Yumi

--

German

Yumi

--

Italian

Yumi

--

Korean

장궁

Longbow

Gallery

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
Yumi
Basic yumi Bamboo YumiBrass YumiIron YumiSilver YumiSteel YumiSurefire Yumi
Yumi with secondary effects Dual YumiHarp YumiIllusory YumiMikoto's YumiRaider YumiSetsuna's YumiSpellbane Yumi
Ranged yumi Spy's Yumi
Close-range yumi Iron HankyuSidelong YumiSilver HankyuSteel Hankyu
Regalia and personal yumi Fujin YumiPursuerSkadi