Ranged Weapons

This weapon class offers many benefits over more traditional fare, with a few negatives to balance things out. Ranged weapons prevent a party member from equipping a shield and, for the most part, they do not enhance Evasion in a meaningful way. They also tend to attack less rapidly than melee weapons. Finally, and this is where ranged weapons come up shortest compared to melee weapons, ranged weapons can't combo attack.

Now for the good news! Ranged weapons allow attacks from a distance, often out of harm’s way. Enemies must close the gap to counter-attack. Equipping your party members with ranged weapons also makes it more likely that they will be spread out, causing area-of-effect technicks and magicks (such as Firaga) to hit perhaps just one or two party members rather than the entire party. In some situations (e.g., against enemies that can inflict effects like Disable or Stop to multiple characters at once), this can be a lifesaver.

Ranged weapons require ammunition: arrows for bows, bolts for crossbows, shot for guns, and incendiaries for hand-bombs. The ammunition will oftentimes inflict status effects on enemies, such as Stop or Disable. The weakening and positional advantages of ranged weapons can more than compensate for the lack of a shield, especially for characters set up as support. Ranged weapons are also required to hit flying monsters as melee weapons (except for spears) cannot strike these enemies without the technick Telekinesis, which does not show up until late in the game.

Bows

Bows provide the most basic ranged damage option. These weapons allow attacks from a distance at the expense of using a shield. They also add no peripheral stats beyond their base attack, and have no additional effects.

However, many arrow types do have additional effects, and the infrequency of crossbow and gun upgrades means that bows are often a good option. Bow accuracy is also affected by the weather in a given region. For example, rain has an adverse effect. Bow damage is determined by the attack power of the bow and arrow, your character’s strength and speed, and the enemy’s defense. It is also worth remembering that enemies cannot counter bow attacks. Bows do not grant a bonus to Evasion.

Shortbow

Silver Bow

Aevis Killer

Longbow

Killer Bow

Elfin Bow

Loxley Bow

Giant Stonebow

Burning Bow

Traitor’s Bow

Yoichi Bow

Perseus Bow

Artemis Bow

Sagittarius

Dhanusha

Seitengrat

Bow Ammunition—Arrows

Crossbows

All crossbows add 5 to Evasion. While crossbows do not possess additional effects, crossbow ammunition often does. Enemies cannot parry or counter crossbow attacks, although crossbow attacks may simply miss. Crossbow damage is determined by the attack power of the crossbow and bolt, your character’s strength, and the enemy’s defense.

Bowgun

Crossbow

Paramina Crossbow

Recurve Crossbow

Hunting Crossbow

Penetrator Crossbow

Gastrophetes

tula

Crossbow Ammunition—Bolts

Guns

Although guns are slow to fire (they take almost twice as long as any other weapon type), they compensate by being 100% accurate! All guns add 10 to Evasion. While guns have no additional effects, their munitions often do. Note that enemies cannot parry, block, or counter gun attacks. Gun damage is determined solely by the attack power of the gun and its ammunition. An enemy’s defense is of no consequence when determining damage.

Altair

Capella

Vega

Betelgeuse

Ras Algethi

Aldebaran

Sirius

Antares

Arcturus

Fomalhaut

Spica

Mithuna

Gun Ammunition—Shots

Hand-Bombs

Hand-bombs serve as the ranged equivalent of the axe and hammer class. They can inflict big-time damage, or they may cause little damage at all. Hand-bombs take into account your character’s strength and vitality, the hand-bomb’s attack rating, and the enemy’s defense when determining damage dealt. The incendiaries that serve as hand-bomb ammunition often come equipped with useful additional effects. Like bows, hand-bombs do not provide an Evasion bonus.

Hornito

Fumarole

Tumulus

Caldera

Volcano

Makara

Hand-Bomb Ammunition—Incendiaries