Hey Inquisitive Players- what xbows do use for Heroics? Starting from lv 1

[Kuttamia]

What xbows do u guys use right after TR? I'm not familiar with non repeating light/heavy xbows. Preferably the ones which are easy to get. Kindly list the xbows u guys use and at what lvl u swap to a different one.

[MeliCat]

What xbows do u guys use right after TR? I'm not familiar with non repeating light/heavy xbows. Preferably the ones which are easy to get. Kindly list the xbows u guys use and at what lvl u swap to a different one.

Random loot gen (pref vorpal) and or craft a holy of bludgeoning (or something like that... basically you want good/righteous and bludgeon for those stupid skeles) - slot it with a Mabar ghostbane gem then you're good for reapers and stuff.
The Ratcatcher from 8 (took me 2 runs through Threnal to get mine but some people I know have taken longer than that. Slotted with Mabar gem)
The heroic RL from 10 (if you don't have a Ratcatcher )
Storm from 12 (If you got lucky. I could kick myself for having thrown away the only one I had of this on one my characters... )
Nightshade shooter from Sharn from 15 (Although I admit to being lazy and continuing to use Ratcatcher . So sue me)
Epic Storm (If you got exceptionally lucky... I went through all my stuff and do not have the shard seal scroll for this..)
TF from 24 a blank + tier 1 (if you could be bothered... I wish they would increase the drop rate of the ingots... far out.. )
LGS from 26 (again if you could be bothered ... I admit to still using Ratcatcher at this stage... )
I thought there was something at 28 (which I obviously haven't been bothered with..)
The RL crossbow freebie after you've finished mists OR if you've got your raid one from PN (and I finally put my Ratcatcher away...)

I am an exceptionally lazy player who is content with elite... so someone with more finesse will be along shortly...

[Mandelia]

Random loot gen (pref vorpal) and or craft a holy of bludgeoning (or something like that... basically you want good/righteous and bludgeon for those stupid skeles) - slot it with a Mabar ghostbane gem then you're good for reapers and stuff.
The Ratcatcher from 8 (took me 2 runs through Threnal to get mine but some people I know have taken longer than that. Slotted with Mabar gem)
The heroic RL from 10 (if you don't have a Ratcatcher )
Storm from 12 (If you got lucky. I could kick myself for having thrown away the only one I had of this on one my characters... )
Nightshade shooter from Sharn from 15 (Although I admit to being lazy and continuing to use Ratcatcher . So sue me)
Epic Storm (If you got exceptionally lucky... I went through all my stuff and do not have the shard seal scroll for this..)
TF from 24 a blank + tier 1 (if you could be bothered... I wish they would increase the drop rate of the ingots... far out.. )
LGS from 26 (again if you could be bothered ... I admit to still using Ratcatcher at this stage... )
I thought there was something at 28 (which I obviously haven't been bothered with..)
The RL crossbow freebie after you've finished mists OR if you've got your raid one from PN (and I finally put my Ratcatcher away...)

I am an exceptionally lazy player who is content with elite... so someone with more finesse will be along shortly...

The new epic borderlands weapons are cheap, a flat level 20, have three damage dice and can be sentient, so they probably can cover you until 29 easily and lazily.

[kathyddo]

What xbows do u guys use right after TR? I'm not familiar with non repeating light/heavy xbows. Preferably the ones which are easy to get. Kindly list the xbows u guys use and at what lvl u swap to a different one.

I crafted my own till 8, then Ratcatcher(8) till 20. Some use Ratcatcher till Volley(26) in Epics I believe.

Edit: Oh, Volley is an epic raid reward.

[MeliCat]

The new epic borderlands weapons are cheap, a flat level 20, have three damage dice and can be sentient, so they probably can cover you until 29 easily and lazily.

Oh yeah I forgot about those. Yes very cheap. I think I did create a couple. They're so cheap I think I threw mine away when I capped :D

[MeliCat]

I crafted my own till 8, then Ratcatcher(8) till 20. Some use Ratcatcher till Volley(26) in Epics I believe.

Edit: Oh, Volley is an epic raid reward.

edit... i was thinking Storm

Volley is a Great. But the slow effect and dmg is so good I know people who use it anyway.. until the one in PN.

[Kuttamia]

Thanks for the suggestions all, i got the basic picture on progression.

One more thing, light or heavy crossbow and why?

[HungarianRhapsody]

For my last 4 lives before hopping on a Sorcerer life, I've used a Ratcatcher with Good slotted into the augment right from the beginning because I did a few Iconic lives in a row.

PDK and Shadar Kai and Aasimar all work very nicely with Inquisitive because you can do Ranger 6/Rogue 6/ whatever 8 (The Whatever is Fighter for the PDK lives) and you start at 15, so you have Improved Precise Shot right from the start.

[HungarianRhapsody]

The new epic borderlands weapons are cheap, a flat level 20, have three damage dice and can be sentient, so they probably can cover you until 29 easily and lazily.

The Epic Borderlands crossbows are good, but Ratcatcher's crit profile still makes it better than them most of the time. Even with Sentient benefits on them.

[Dragavon]

. basically you want good/righteous and bludgeon for those stupid skeles) - slot it with a Mabar ghostbane gem then you're good for reapers and stuff.


It makes no difference what you put in the suffix slot.

Slashing, piercing and bludgeoning all works like bane dmg. It is not affected by any DR, and it does not affect the basic properties of the weapon. It does not have to be the same type as the basic weapon damage either. Just craft the property that you have most ingredients for. You do not need bludgeon suffix for skeletons.

They could just as well had only one shard, and called it plain suffix damage :)

[Strider1963]

What inquisitors really need, is legendary Threnal with an ml 30 ratcatcher to farm :-)

[Lonnbeimnech]

I use a repeater up til about lvl 8

[HungarianRhapsody]

What inquisitors really need, is legendary Threnal with an ml 30 ratcatcher to farm :-)

Ratcatcher isn't super-mega-amazing on its own. It's good, but it's not earthshattering.

The real issue is that none of the other named light/heavy crossbows are worth looking at (aside from the insane farm that is Epic Storm) until 28/29. Because SSG doesn't like the idea of making named weapons with interesting crit profiles anymore.

[droid327]

What xbows do u guys use right after TR? I'm not familiar with non repeating light/heavy xbows. Preferably the ones which are easy to get. Kindly list the xbows u guys use and at what lvl u swap to a different one.

If you're Inqui, odds are you have an Arti splash, and you should use RXBs early on. A L1 Cannith craft dam/dam and then the 2d6 upgrade at L4. The very earliest you should switch to DXB is when you have 7 points in Inqui - DXB, and the first two Law enhancements. And you probably want to push Harper to 12 before you start investing in Inqui, so that's 19 points overall, which is L5.

I switched to a Vorpal xbow around then on my current Heroic Inqui life. It was pretty much a tossup, TBH, between that and the RXB in terms of efficacy. If you really wanted to grind out as much as possible, though - there's a crossbow in Gwylan's Stand, Swift Demise (https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Swift_Demise), its got x3 crit, and that will carry you for L6-7 until you switch to Ratty. Slow-on-crit is nice too, gives you a few extra shots before mobs close to melee.



One more thing, light or heavy crossbow and why?

There's some evidence that LXB has a faster base rate of fire than HXB. I'm not entirely convinced and I'm waiting to see more testing to confirm that. If its true, then you definitely want LXB since Inqui is all about fire rate. If its not, then HXB offers slighty better damage die. For the sake of thoroughness, too: if you're a Swash Inqui, then you're locked into Light.


What inquisitors really need, is legendary Threnal with an ml 30 ratcatcher to farm :-)

Argh but then you're looking at Epic Coyle too ><

Honestly I'd rather have a L20 Epic Ratcatcher anyway - make it useful for EPLs rather than try to compete for endgame with raid weapons.

[droid327]

The real issue is that none of the other named light/heavy crossbows are worth looking at (aside from the insane farm that is Epic Storm) until 28/29. Because SSG doesn't like the idea of making named weapons with interesting crit profiles anymore.

Because SSG is realizing that crit profile is becoming way too overvaluable and doesnt like the fact that a crit-enhanced weapon is pretty much going to outshine any other affix or set of affixes until you start getting the massive [W] bonuses on endgame weapons. Hence why L8 Ratty runs you to endgame.

Anytime they release a new crit-enhanced weapon, its going to make everything else in that level range instantly obsolete, and prevent them from releasing any new options unless they're also crit-enhanced. I can understand their reticence to paint themselves into a corner like that.

[HungarianRhapsody]

Because SSG is realizing that crit profile is becoming way too overvaluable and doesnt like the fact that a crit-enhanced weapon is pretty much going to outshine any other affix or set of affixes until you start getting the massive [W] bonuses on endgame weapons. Hence why L8 Ratty runs you to endgame.

Anytime they release a new crit-enhanced weapon, its going to make everything else in that level range instantly obsolete, and prevent them from releasing any new options unless they're also crit-enhanced. I can understand their reticence to paint themselves into a corner like that.

I do think that it's possible to at least put a *little* bit of enhanced crit profile into the game. Not everything has to be Epic Sword of Shadow, but a small crit profile expansion (+1 bigger range or changing x2 to x3 for a profile) is fun and doesn't have to be Earth shattering.

[J-mann]

The Epic Borderlands crossbows are good, but Ratcatcher's crit profile still makes it better than them most of the time. Even with Sentient benefits on them.

Depends on how good a sent you have. At 4+ slots the sent wins out easily over RC if you slot right (basically get as much RP as possible) just go 3 piece crackshot with a rare ranged power and you have +30 RP perm right there. Remember RP applies double to your law dice and 1.5x to your sneak dice.

[J-mann]

Because SSG is realizing that crit profile is becoming way too overvaluable and doesnt like the fact that a crit-enhanced weapon is pretty much going to outshine any other affix or set of affixes until you start getting the massive [W] bonuses on endgame weapons. Hence why L8 Ratty runs you to endgame.

Anytime they release a new crit-enhanced weapon, its going to make everything else in that level range instantly obsolete, and prevent them from releasing any new options unless they're also crit-enhanced. I can understand their reticence to paint themselves into a corner like that.

While true that crit profile is better than most other enhancements, I have found that an improved paralyzing cromyrian xbow with sentience easily outstrips ratcatcher with enough filigrees (and the additional CC from improved para is nice, and stacks with your knockdown from vorpals). Stack up those rare ranged power with a 3piece crackshot and the bonus to sneak dice and your law dice alone outstrips ratcatcher. If you go full hog and have a fully sent then a 3 piece crackshot and 5 additional rare rp filligrees is +45 rp, the extra profile from ratchatcher will not beat out that. Granted though, its a lot easier to farm out a ratchatcher than a full power sent.

[Saekee]

no one uses at anytime a ToEE? Crippling, seeker and AoE blasts (edit: no AoE, melee only) at ML7.

Swift Demise out of Gwylan’s is unbound, extra multiplier, crippling

[cru121]

I use a repeater up til about lvl 8

yes. or even 12.

[Strider1963]

If you're Inqui, odds are you have an Arti splash, and you should use RXBs early on. A L1 Cannith craft dam/dam and then the 2d6 upgrade at L4. The very earliest you should switch to DXB is when you have 7 points in Inqui - DXB, and the first two Law enhancements. And you probably want to push Harper to 12 before you start investing in Inqui, so that's 19 points overall, which is L5.

I switched to a Vorpal xbow around then on my current Heroic Inqui life. It was pretty much a tossup, TBH, between that and the RXB in terms of efficacy. If you really wanted to grind out as much as possible, though - there's a crossbow in Gwylan's Stand, Swift Demise (https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Swift_Demise), its got x3 crit, and that will carry you for L6-7 until you switch to Ratty. Slow-on-crit is nice too, gives you a few extra shots before mobs close to melee.



There's some evidence that LXB has a faster base rate of fire than HXB. I'm not entirely convinced and I'm waiting to see more testing to confirm that. If its true, then you definitely want LXB since Inqui is all about fire rate. If its not, then HXB offers slighty better damage die. For the sake of thoroughness, too: if you're a Swash Inqui, then you're locked into Light.



Argh but then you're looking at Epic Coyle too ><

Honestly I'd rather have a L20 Epic Ratcatcher anyway - make it useful for EPLs rather than try to compete for endgame with raid weapons.

But just think, an endgame Ratcatcher with an extra crit range and multiplier from the level 8 along some other goodies like armor piercing etc and high base damage

[droid327]

But just think, an endgame Ratcatcher with an extra crit range and multiplier from the level 8 along some other goodies like armor piercing etc and high base damage

Endgame weapons are short-lived...that's the most common single level band for new content, so its the most likely to have new xbows released that might be even better.

Plus its only good if you're actually staying at cap...running EPLs, a L20 is much more valuable even if its less powerful :)

[fatherpirate]

which pew pew pew do I use?
the most reasonable priced that does the most damage (for a reasonable price)

so.... basically, whatever is handy

at low level (2-3) I can take a +nothing Hvy Xbow and use + nothing bolts and mow
through most 2-3 level elite dungeon mobs with just the Inq. tree

if you know what your doing

[Dragavon]

Ratcatcher from lvl 8, then at lvl 15 I think the Nightshade shooter from Sharn is very good. It might be lower DPS than Ratcather, but the other abilities more than makes up for it imo.

The group I level with runs most quests at 4 skulls, sometimes 5 for a bit of excitement, and even at 4 skulls the CC abilities on Nightshade shooter is very effective, up to around lvl 24-25. At lvl 24 I have TF crossbows.

[Carpone]

ML2: Guidance with Ghostbane slotted
ML8: Ratcatcher with Endless Night slotted
ML10: Barovian when DR breaker is needed
ML20: Epic Sworn Silver with Endless Night slotted, or Epic Storm if you already have it
ML29: Hallowed Splinters

I've done 20+ Inquis lives since August and that setup works well for me.

[Bolo_Grubb]

Level 1-8: Vorpal
Level 8-15: Ratcatcher
Level 10-29: Ravenloft xbow with Ghost bane augment
Level 15-29: Nightshade shooter with Endless night augment
Level 29+: Hallowed Splinters (Project Nemesis raid), I used the previous 2 until I got this one

[Xanthrawl]

1-7: any random gen xbox is fine. If you can be bothered, Cannith Crafted is good. If you have Arti split, repeater is nice.

8-20: Ratcatcher. I don't swap to Storm due to the lack if a Red slot, and I'm lazy.

20-30: Epic Storm. Due to the expanded crit profile, and having slotted a good sentient gem, I use this to cap. It's worth noting that I don't stay at cap long lately, as I'm working on the newest Epic Lives. There's probably something better at end game, but I already had the Epic Storm, and it's really, really good.

[Ulfo]

no one uses at anytime a ToEE? Crippling, seeker and AoE blasts at ML7.

Not AoE, just more damage for crit and vorpal hits. AoE only for melee weapon. 8)