Elden Ring: Ansbach's Longbow Guide
This guide will walk you through how to obtain Ansbach's Longbow, its weapon stats and abilities, and the rewards tied to the Ansbach questline.
Why Choose Ansbach's Longbow
Ansbach's Longbow is not just any bow—it's a weapon that brings versatility and devastating crowd control to ranged builds. Here's why it's worth adding to your arsenal:
High Dexterity Requirement: With a 43 Dexterity requirement, this bow caters to players heavily invested in dexterity builds, making it a perfect fit for nimble and precise characters.
Unique Skill – Fan Shot: The bow's weapon skill, Fan Shot, allows you to unleash eight arrows in a narrow arc, making it ideal for clearing clustered enemies or hitting multiple targets simultaneously.
Impressive Range and Damage: With a range of 50 and solid physical damage output, Ansbach's Longbow excels at picking off enemies before they can get close.
How to Obtain Ansbach's Longbow
Ansbach's Longbow is tied to the Ansbach Questline, a storyline introduced in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. This quest requires navigating the Shadow Keep Specimen Storehouse and making key choices that affect the outcome.
Step 1: Locate the Shadow Keep Specimen Storehouse
The Shadow Keep Specimen Storehouse is a towering structure found in the eastern region of the DLC map.
How to Access: Defeat the Nightmarish Warden, a mid-tier boss guarding the entrance to Shadow Keep. The fight requires agility and ranged attacks, making it a good opportunity to test your current bow skills.
First Floor Location: Once inside, head to the first floor, where you'll find two summon signs—one gold and one red—marking the start of the Ansbach questline.
Step 2: Choose to Assist or Defeat Ansbach
At the storehouse, you'll encounter the critical choice of the questline.
Gold Summon Sign (Assist Ansbach): By choosing the gold summon sign, you'll side with Ansbach, helping him fend off enemies and completing his objectives.
Outcome: Assisting Ansbach rewards you with 15,000 Elden Ring Runes and a crafting material, Golden Fang Shards, which can be used to enhance Ansbach's Longbow.
Red Summon Sign (Defeat Ansbach): Opting for the red summon sign pits you against Ansbach in a challenging duel.
Outcome: Defeating Ansbach directly grants you the Ansbach's Longbow and 20,000 Elden Ring Runes. However, this choice prevents you from completing the rest of his questline.
Step 3: Completing the Ansbach Questline (Gold Summon Route)
If you chose to assist Ansbach, the questline continues with a series of tasks:
Protect Ansbach: Escort him through the upper levels of Shadow Keep as he gathers items related to his research. This segment involves fighting waves of enemies, including the formidable Stoneblood Colossus.
Reward: 10,000 Elden Ring Runes and the Stoneblood Arrow Recipe, an exclusive Elden Ring Item for crafting powerful arrows.
Final Encounter: The questline culminates in a showdown against Vyrm the Defiler, a boss who wields devastating poison attacks. Ansbach assists you in this battle if you've remained allied with him.
Reward: After the fight, Ansbach gifts you his longbow, along with the Trueshot Medallion, a talisman that increases ranged damage.
Ansbach's Longbow: Weapon Stats and Abilities
Ansbach's Longbow stands out for its unique combination of raw power and utility. Here's what you need to know about its stats and weapon skills:
Weapon Stats
Physical Damage: High base damage that scales with Dexterity.
Range: 50, making it one of the longest-reaching bows in the game.
Requirements: 43 Dexterity to wield effectively.
Unique Weapon Skill – Fan Shot
Description: Ready eight arrows and release them in a narrow arc, hitting multiple enemies or concentrating fire on a single target.
Uses: Perfect for crowd control or dealing burst damage to large enemies.
FP Cost: Moderate, allowing for multiple uses during prolonged encounters.
Enhancing Ansbach's Longbow
Once you've obtained Ansbach's Longbow, you can further improve its effectiveness:
Upgrade Materials: Use Somber Smithing Stones to increase its damage output.
Golden Fang Shards: These DLC-exclusive crafting materials enhance Fan Shot, making the skill even deadlier.
Tips for Using Ansbach's Longbow
Pair with High Dexterity Builds: Focus on boosting Dexterity to maximize the bow's damage scaling.
Equip Arrow Boost Talismans: Items like the Arrow's Sting Talisman can amplify your ranged attack power.
Leverage Fan Shot: Use the weapon skill strategically to deal with groups or stagger large enemies.
Final Thoughts
Ansbach's Longbow is a game-changer for ranged builds in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Whether you acquire it by allying with Ansbach or defeating him outright, this weapon offers unparalleled utility and power. Along the way, players will earn valuable Elden Ring Runes and Elden Ring Items, further enhancing their characters.
If you're a dexterity-focused player looking to dominate both the battlefield and the lore-rich world of Elden Ring, don't miss this remarkable weapon and the questline that accompanies it. Good luck, Tarnished!