Bow and Greatsword PvE Build (2024)

Last updated on Feb 23, 2023 at 12:00by Lemoni5 comments

The Bow and Greatsword in PvE is a great way to balance out single-targetand AoE damage. This pairing will give you burst damage no matter what type ofencounter it is.

The Bow has great single-target damage output, and impactful AoE cooldowns. The Greatswordwill support it by offering AoE abilities while the Bow's are on cooldown.

• Rain of Arrows — This will decimate AoE clumps when used with empower effects andit being a guaranteed critical strike after rolling. Use this on cooldown to clear trash betweenboss fights.
• Rapid Shot — High damage cooldown that launches three quick shots and staggerstargets which opens up a vulernability window to secure kills or interrupt casts.
• Penetrating Shot — High damage ability that can be weaved into anotherheavy shot. This will go through multiple targets. Try to finish off kills with this ability.

• Relentless Rush — This will deal AoE damage primarily, but it is also important to use on cooldownto get its empower effect.
• Crosscut — This is a high damage ability that can be used for single-target or AoE once enemiesare grouped together.
• Skyward Slash — This is your primary Rend tool. It also has great single-target and AoE damage.

In PvE it is advantageous to lower your Constitution as low as possible and this will be compensated forby having Ward perks. It is recommended to play around 100, but you can go to 50 or lower. The decision is up to you!

If you are prioritizing Bow damage, you should put all of your points into Dexterity.

If you are wanting to mainly use your Greatsword, start putting points into Strength once you hit 300 Dexterity.

Slot	Perks	Gem	Weight	Attribute	Source
Bow	Enchanted or Vicious Bane Perk (Expedition Specific)* Keenly Jagged or Keenly Empowered	Cut Pristine Diamond	-	Dexterity	Crafted/BoE
Greatsword	Trenchant Strikes Bane Perk (Expedition Specific)* Keenly Empowered	Cut Pristine Diamond	-	Dexterity	Crafted/BoE
Helmet	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Light	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Chest	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Medium	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Gloves	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Light	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Pants	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Light	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Boots	Ward Protection Perk Refreshing Ability Perk** or Any Viable Third Perk	Elemental Damage Reduction Gem (Mutator Specific)	Light	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Amulet	Health Divine Protection Perk (Mutator Specific)*	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE
Ring***	Slash Damage or Thrust Damage Keen Awareness Leeching or Blood Letting	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Strength	Named Drop***
Earring	Refreshing Toast Purifying Toast or Regenerating Refreshing Evasion or Refreshing	Cut Pristine Opal	-	Dexterity or Constitution	Crafted/BoE

*: The type of Bane and Ward that you slot into your gear will be dependent on the expedition youare in and the type of enemy that you are facing. For example, if you are fighting Angry Earth enemiesin Genesis you will want Angry Earth Bane and Angry Earth Ward. Your amulet protection perkwill be similar. Depending on the elemental type of the Mutator you are in, you can wear an elementalprotection amulet for more defensiveness instead of completely switching your gems.

**: The ability perks you need to make sure are in your build are Penetrating Rapid Shot and Refreshing Penetrating Shot. Leeching Crosscut can be used for self-healing.

***: Legate's Ring is a best in slot drop from Grave Offerings in Brimstone Sands. You canpick this up during a chest run, or focus specific locations. It is best because Slash Damageand Keen Awareness cannot normally be on an item together. Since you do not need Hearty,this is best. Heart of Anhurawak is a Thrust Damage drop that also has Keen Awareness, thisperk combination cannot be rolled, so this is very strong.

For more specific information on optimizing your gems in PvP and PvE pleaserefer to our dedicated guides.

In PvE you can use Brutal Heartrune of Detonate for burst damage, or youcan use Brutal Heartrune of Grasping Vines to help CC and apply Rend to trash packs.

Your Heartrune will be used similarly in PvP and PvE scenarios. As such,please refer to our Bow guide orGreatsword guide for tips on how itcan be used most effectively.

• Dodge and hit a target with a heavy shot into a Penetrating Shot immediately whileaiming at the head.
• Use Rapid Shot for quick damage.
• Continue using heavy shots and maintain your dodge empower buff.
• Use Rapid Shot as soon as it is off cooldown.
• Do not use Rain of Arrows unless there are additional targets.

• Use Relentless Rush for its empower.
• Use Skyward Slash to apply rend.
• Use Crosscut for its damage.
• Dodge to receive an empower for 3 hits.
• Heavy attack 3 times.
• Dodge for empower.
• Repeat

• Dodge and use Rain of Arrows on clumps of enemies.
• Follow-up with Penetrating Shot. If this resets, useit again.
• Use Relentless Rush for its empower.
• Use Skyward Slash to apply rend.
• Use Crosscut.
• Heavy attack with Greatsword

When using the Bowor Greatsword in PvP and PvE there are manysimilar aspects that go into gameplay decisions and rotations. To learn more abouthow you can improve your gameplay, use certain secondary weapons, oradditional information on specific abilities, please refer to the Gameplaysection of the Bow page orGreatsword page.

For more information on the most frequently asked Bow or Greatsword questionsplease refer to the FAQ section of the Bow,or Greatsword, for answers on PvP and PvE topics!