The role of the Archer in FF12 can be extremely helpful in your party.
Not only can they attack at longer range, but they can attack flying creatures as well.
So below we’ll go through the entire list of bows in the game to keep you well-equipped, ranking them from weakest to strongest.
If you’re looking to find the ultimate bow for your Archer, then you’ll find it here with the Seitengrat.
16. Shortbow
The most basic bow with the lowest power is the Shortbow. It has an attack power of 15.
You’ll receive this weapon for free throughout the course of story events. And it can be found all over the world as well.
License needed: Bows 1 How to get:
– Purchased in Rabanastre, Giza Plains, and Barheim Passage for 450 gil
– Found in the Banks of the Nebra area of Dalmasca Estersand
– Also drops from Slaven in Giza Plains
– Acquired from the bazaar through Bow & Bodkin
15. Silver Bow
The Silver Bow is very similar in effects to the Shortbow, however with greater power of 19.
This bow is a slight upgrade that you can pick up very early in the game, but it also requires the next license to use.
License needed: Bows 2 How to get:
– Purchased in Barheim Passage or Rabanastre and Nalbina Fortress, after Barheim Passage, for 720 gil
14. Aevis Killer
The Aevis Killer is a decent step up from the Silver Bow.
It has an attack power of 25.
You can acquire this bow fairly early on while still in Rabanastre, and it’s a good upgrade on the path to the ultimate bow
License needed: Bows 2 How to get:
– Purchased in Rabanastre, after Lhusu Mines, Bhujerba, and Dreadnought Leviathan, for 1,250 gil
– Drops from Slaven in Lhusu Mines
13. Killer Bow
This next bow of choice has a sizable attack upgrade over the Aevis Killer.
And this Killer Bow has an attack power of 36.
The only benefit here is the attack power, and it will also cost you a new license board slot.
License needed: Bows 3 How to get:
– Purchased in Rabanastre, Bhujerba, and Dalmasca Westersand, after Ondore’s Estate, for 2,500 gil
– Found in the Platform 1 – Refinery area of Ogir-Yensa Sandsea
12. Longbow
The Longbow has a huge attack power of 48 compared to the Killer Bow, but is a little more expensive to get.
The Killer Bow can take you up to the Belias fight, and then afterward you can upgrade to the Longbow in Rabanastre.
License needed: Bows 3 How to get:
– Purchased in Rabanastre, after Belias, and in Nam-Yensa Sandsea, Tomb of Raithwall, Jahara, and Balfonheim Port, all for 4,600 gil
– Acquired from bazaar through Arrows Alight
11. Elfin Bow
The Elfin Bow is a minor upgrade over the Longbow, but if you need to get just a little bit more damage then it might be worth getting.
It has an attack power of 54.
And if you can find it from treasure it will save you a lot of money as well.
License needed: Bows 4 How to get:
– Purchased in Eruyt Village and Mt Bur-Omisace for 5,830 gil
– Found in the Frozen Brook area of Paramina Rift
– Stolen from Malboro in Golmore Jungle
– Reward from Wyvern Lord hunt
10. Loxley Bow
This bow shares the Bows 4 license, and is the higher-end weapon in that group.
The Loxley Bow has an attack power of 60 so it’s worth using if you can.
It can be acquired in many different ways, too, making it the better choice over the Elfin Bow.
License needed: Bows 4 How to get:
– Purchased in Mt Bur-Omisace, after Vinuskar, and Mosphoran Highwaste, after Judge Bergan, for 7,200 gil
– Found in the Silverflow’s End area of Paramina Rift and Walk of Reasons area of Stilshrine of Miriam
– Reward from Viera Matchmaking quest in Rabanastre
– Acquired from bazaar through Hollow-shaft Arrows
9. Giant Stonebow
The Giant Stonebow is a huge upgrade over the Loxley Bow.
This one comes with an attack power of 73.
Both this and the next bow in our list can be acquired in the same areas, too. So it might be worth waiting for the next bow of choice instead of getting this one if you’re around Mosphoran Highwaste or any of the other areas.
License needed: Bows 5 How to get:
– Purchased in Mosphoran Highwaste, after Judge Bergan, and Phon Coast, for 10,650 gil
– Found in the Northern Skirts area of Mosphoran Highwaste and The Skytrail area of Tchita Uplands
8. Burning Bow
The Burning Bow is where things start to get really interesting!
Granted yes, it has a slightly higher attack power of 77.
But what makes this bow so interesting is its potency element. As the name suggests, this bow has the Fire element potency.
You’ll literally burn down your enemies with the fire and attack combination with this bow.
License needed: Bows 5 How to get:
– Purchased in Archades and Balfonheim Port for 11,850 gil
– Found in the Garden of Life’s Circle area of Tchita Uplands and the Cloister of Distant Song area of Necrohol of Nabudis
– Reward from White Mousse hunt
7. Traitor’s Bow
With a step up in damage, the Traitor’s Bow is a powerful weapon that can last you to endgame.
It has an pretty strong attack power of 82.
And at this tier of Bow licenses, either this one or the next bow are both great options.
License needed: Bows 6 How to get:
– Purchased in Balfonheim Port for 13,500 gil
– Found in The Edge of Reason area of Feywood
– Drops from Pumpkin Star in Feywood
6. Yoichi Bow
The Yoichi Bow has an attack power of 89, and it’s a bit more expensive than the last entry.
So it might be worth waiting until the next tier unless you’re definitely able to equip this one.
You can, however, get it easily by doing a sidequest in the Nomad Village. This quest isn’t available until after Draklor Laboratory.
License needed: Bows 6 How to get:
– Purchased in Balfonheim Port, after Treaty Blade, for 15,800 gil
– Found in the Colosseum in Ridorana Cataract
– Reward from Great Cockatrice Escape sidequest
5. Perseus Bow
Focusing on the bazaar system or treasure is the cheaper way to go for this entry.
The Perseus Bow has a slightly higher attack power than the Yoichi bow, sitting at 92. And the increased damage combines well with high-powered arrows such as the Icecloud Arrows.
You can acquire both the bow and arrows from the bazaar system.
License needed: Bows 7 How to get:
– Found in the South Liavell Hills area of Cerobi Steppe and the Wellspring Ravel – 2nd Flight area of Pharos – First Ascent
– Drops from Bug in Lhusu Mines
– Acquired from bazaar through Permafrost Bow & Quiver
4. Artemis Bow
The Artemis Bow is a solid choice for whatever archer you’re running – especially since this bow offers a great attack power of 94.
If you’ve been following through the Hunt Club then this bow will be easy to get as a reward.
It combines well with any high-power arrows but there are no special effects for it.
License needed: Bows 7 How to get:
– Found in the Old Elanise Road area of Cerobi Steppe and the Uldobi Phullam Pratii’dii area of Great Crystal
– Reward from the Hunt Club
– Acquired from bazaar through Bow of the Moon Goddess
3. Sagittarius
The Sagittarius is the original ultimate bow in FF12.
It’s surpassed by the Dhanusha in The Zodiac Age, but for anyone playing on the original PS2 this is a bow worth tracking down.
The Sagittarius bow has a huge attack power of 97, and its own license board slot.
License needed: Sagittarius How to get:
– Found in the Crossfield area of Cerobi Steppe
– Stolen from Luxollid in the Umbra – South area of Subterra – Pharos
2. Dhanusha
The Dhanusha is the upgraded version of the Sagittarius in the Zodiac Age. It’s the 2nd most powerful bow in the entire game.
And here’s the proof: it has a huge attack power of 109. Even better, it’s the first bow that has a critical rate of 20%.
This bow also has an evade of 10, which no previous bows have.
All the stats make it an obvious high-power weapon.
So it’s not the most powerful bow of all, but it’s much easier to acquire than the Seitengrat.
License needed: Dhanusha How to get:
– Acquired from bazaar through Silver Bow
1. Seitengrat
The infamous Seitengrat is not only the most powerful bow, but arguably the most powerful overall weapon in the entire game.
It has an insane attack power of 224 and a critical rate of 25%.
It even has a longer range of 20 compared to the standard 10 of most bows.
If that weren’t enough, it has an evade of 75 and a charge time of 10.
This invisible bow fires faster and with way more damage than any other weapon, by a lot.
This is the secret ultimate bow put in the Zodiac Age version only, and it doesn’t even have a model in-game, meaning you can’t actually see anything in your character’s hands.
As the most powerful bow and weapon in the game, the Seitengrat is mandatory for the ultimate party.
License needed: None How to get:
– Only acquired on the Air Deck of the Skyferry from an invisible chest at a 0.01% drop chance
