Best Crossbow Bases

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

The crossbow base with the highest base damage in Path of Exile 2 is the Trarthan Cannon: 58–134 physical damage at 1.40 attacks per second, 134.5 physical DPS before quality and mods, from level 65 (implicit: Cannot load or fire Ammunition). Next are the Desolate Crossbow (132.0, level 77) and the Flexed Crossbow (127.2, level 77), out of 24 crossbow bases that drop. Patch 0.5.5, from the game files.

#1 by base DPS134.5 pDPS · level 65

#2 by base DPS132.0 pDPS · level 77

#3 by base DPS127.2 pDPS · level 77

All 24 crossbow bases by base physical DPS

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

#	Base	Level	pDPS	Runeforged version
1	Trarthan Cannon Cannot load or fire Ammunition 58–134 physical · 1.40 APS · 5% crit	65	134.5	—
2	Desolate Crossbow 33–132 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 0.80s reload	77	132.0	—
3	Flexed Crossbow (20–30)% increased Bolt Speed 32–127 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 0.85s reload	77	127.2	—
4	Elegant Crossbow (20–30)% chance to Pierce an Enemy 31–123 physical · 1.65 APS · 5% crit · 0.85s reload	78	127.1	—
5	Engraved Crossbow 31–124 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 0.80s reload	72	124.0	—
6	Siege Crossbow Grenade Skills Fire an additional Projectile 29–115 physical · 1.65 APS · 5% crit · 0.75s reload	79	118.8	—
7	Stout Crossbow 30–119 physical · 1.55 APS · 5% crit · 0.75s reload	67	115.5	—
8	Gemini Crossbow Loads an additional bolt 28–112 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 1.10s reload	78	112.0	—
9	Bleak Crossbow 27–109 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 0.80s reload	62	108.8	—
10	Cannonade Crossbow Grenade Skills Fire an additional Projectile 23–90 physical · 1.65 APS · 5% crit · 0.75s reload	59	93.2	—
11	Painted Crossbow 23–92 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 0.80s reload	51	92.0	—
12	Piercing Crossbow (20–30)% chance to Pierce an Enemy 21–84 physical · 1.65 APS · 5% crit · 0.85s reload	50	86.6	—
13	Robust Crossbow 22–89 physical · 1.55 APS · 5% crit · 0.75s reload	48	86.0	—
14	Twin Crossbow Loads an additional bolt 20–82 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 1.10s reload	54	81.6	—
15	Blackfire Crossbow 20–80 physical · 1.60 APS · 7% crit · 0.85s reload	45	80.0	—
16	Taut Crossbow (20–30)% increased Bolt Speed 20–79 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 0.85s reload	45	79.2	—
17	Construct Crossbow 18–72 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 0.80s reload	38	72.0	—
18	Bombard Crossbow Grenade Skills Fire an additional Projectile 14–56 physical · 1.65 APS · 5% crit · 0.75s reload	33	57.8	—
19	Alloy Crossbow 12–50 physical · 1.70 APS · 5% crit · 0.70s reload	26	52.7	—
20	Varnished Crossbow 12–36 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 0.80s reload	16	38.4	—
21	Dyad Crossbow Loads an additional bolt 9–37 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 1.10s reload	20	36.8	171.2 · Lv 65
22	Sturdy Crossbow 11–26 physical · 1.55 APS · 5% crit · 0.75s reload	10	28.7	—
23	Tense Crossbow (20–30)% increased Bolt Speed 8–15 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 0.85s reload	4	18.4	141.6 · Lv 55
24	Makeshift Crossbow 7–12 physical · 1.60 APS · 5% crit · 0.80s reload	1	15.2	172.0 · Lv 38
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.
Crossbow reload time is shown under each base but not counted in DPS: how much it matters depends on your ammunition skill.
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.