Best Bow Bases

Every bow base ranked by damage · Path of Exile 2✓ Checked against game files · 0.5.5

The bow base with the highest base damage in Path of Exile 2 is the Obliterator Bow: 62–115 physical damage at 1.10 attacks per second, 97.4 physical DPS before quality and mods, from level 78 (implicit: 50% reduced Projectile Range). Next are the Warmonger Bow (84.0, level 77) and the Guardian Bow (81.0, level 77), out of 24 bow bases that drop. Patch 0.5.5, from the game files.

#1 by base DPS97.4 pDPS · level 78

#2 by base DPS84.0 pDPS · level 77

#3 by base DPS81.0 pDPS · level 77

All 24 bow bases by base physical DPS

Your character levelThe highlighted row is the best base you can equip.

#	Base	Level	pDPS	Runeforged version
1	Obliterator Bow 50% reduced Projectile Range 62–115 physical · 1.10 APS · 5% crit	78	97.4	—
2	Warmonger Bow 56–84 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	77	84.0	—
3	Guardian Bow (25–35)% chance to Chain an additional time 53–88 physical · 1.15 APS · 5% crit	77	81.0	—
4	Cavalry Bow 49–82 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	72	78.6	—
5	Fanatic Bow 47–79 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	79	75.6	—
6	Ironwood Shortbow 41–76 physical · 1.25 APS · 5% crit	67	73.1	—
7	Heavy Bow 45–75 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	65	72.0	—
8	Militant Bow 46–69 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	62	69.0	—
9	Gemini Bow +50% Surpassing chance to fire an additional Arrow 39–72 physical · 1.15 APS · 5% crit	78	63.8	—
10	Artillery Bow 50% reduced Projectile Range 39–72 physical · 1.10 APS · 5% crit	45	61.1	—
11	Rider Bow 36–61 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	51	58.2	—
12	Tribal Bow 38–57 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	50	57.0	—
13	Adherent Bow 35–59 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	59	56.4	—
14	Twin Bow +50% Surpassing chance to fire an additional Arrow 32–60 physical · 1.15 APS · 5% crit	54	52.9	—
15	Snakewood Shortbow 29–54 physical · 1.25 APS · 5% crit	45	51.9	—
16	Protector Bow (25–35)% chance to Chain an additional time 35–53 physical · 1.15 APS · 5% crit	48	50.6	—
17	Zealot Bow 31–47 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	39	46.8	66.6 · Lv 55
18	Cultist Bow 22–36 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	33	34.8	—
19	Dualstring Bow +50% Surpassing chance to fire an additional Arrow 19–35 physical · 1.15 APS · 5% crit	28	31.0	73.6 · Lv 55
20	Composite Bow 19–31 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	22	30.0	84.6 · Lv 55
21	Recurve Bow 15–31 physical · 1.10 APS · 5% crit	16	25.3	68.8 · Lv 40
22	Warden Bow (25–35)% chance to Chain an additional time 12–20 physical · 1.15 APS · 5% crit	11	18.4	58.0 · Lv 40
23	Shortbow 7–14 physical · 1.25 APS · 5% crit	5	13.1	53.8 · Lv 38
24	Crude Bow 6–9 physical · 1.20 APS · 5% crit	1	9.0	62.4 · Lv 55
Nothing at that level yet.

How this ranking works

Base physical DPS = average physical damage × attacks per second of the plain base: no quality, runes or modifiers.
Implicit modifiers are shown under each name. Some trade damage for a downside, so read them before picking the top line.
Level is the base's drop level, which is also the character level it requires.
Runeforged versions are made at the Verisium Anvil (patch 0.5 league mechanic) and do not drop, so they are listed beside their base instead of ranked.
Bases that only exist as a unique item are left out.