Wielding bows in No Rest for the Wicked works a little differently than most other games, which has left some players feeling a little confused. Fortunately, we’re here to explain how it works.
Borrowing heavily from punishingly difficult Soulslike combat, No Rest for the Wicked offers a multitude of weapons. Despite focussing on melee, there are a few ways to opt for a ranged build in the game. One of the best ways to do damage from afar is to equip a bow. However, the game doesn’t do a great job of explaining how it all works. Fortunately, we go through everything you need to know below.
How to Use the Bow in No Rest for the Wicked
To use the bow in No Rest for the Wicked, you first need to have 13 attribute points in dexterity to be able to equip it. You can equip bows in any free main-hand or off-hand slots. Once equipped, the only way to shoot arrows and use the bow is by activating its equipped Runes by using any Focus you have accumulated. Unlike other games, there are no Arrow consumables in No Rest for the Wicked. Instead, all bow attacks are tied to Runes within the weapon itself. Here’s how to use the bow in more detail:
- Equip the bow in either a main-hand or off-hand slot
- While in combat, press Ctrl on PC or LB on an Xbox controller to select the bow
- Press the 1,2,3 or 4 keys on PC or the X, Y, A or B buttons on controller to activate an equipped Rune
As you’ll need Focus to use the bow, you still have to rely on using a melee weapon. This is because melee attacks are the most effective way of generating Focus in No Rest for the Wicked. This may be a little frustrating for those looking to play a ranged build, but it is most likely part of Moon Studios’ focus on melee combat and likely a conscious design choice.
We recommend equipping the bow to one of your free off-hand slots so that you can switch to it easily mid-combat. The more basic bows come with regular Arrow runes and a Multi-shot Rune that can deal large amounts of damage to single targets. It’s better to hold off on your multi-shot, as this will quickly drain your focus and force you to close the gap to regenerate it in melee combat. Later on, you will find a variety of Runes for your bow with various effects. It can be useful for applying status effects such as Burn and Plague damage.
How to Get the Bow in No Rest for the Wicked
To get the bow in No Rest for the Wicked, you can find it as loot drops from defeating enemies or opening chests or purchase it from the Blacksmith or Woodworker vendors in Sacrament. As loot drops in No Rest for the Wicked is based on RNG, there is no set location to find one while exploring. In our experience, bows appeared as loot drops often enough.
If you’re looking to find one for yourself, keep playing the game, and you’ll stumble upon one eventually. Alternatively, you can purchase bows from the Blacksmith, Fillmore, and the Woodworker, Whittaker, in Sacrament. They are located just beneath the Town Square. That’s all you need to know about how to get and use bows in No Rest for the Wicked! For more guides like this, check out our Guide Hub.