Weapon Comparison: Iron Sword vs Hunter Bow
In-depth comparison of melee and ranged armaments: damage output, aerial control, and tactical matchups.
Published October 15, 2026 · Last updated October 15, 2026
Quick Answer: Which Weapon Wins?
In raw standing damage-per-second, the Iron Sword prevails in grounded melees. For safety, aerial suppression, and interrupting deadly charges, the Hunter Bow is unmatched. Adapting your weapon to enemy attack patterns is essential for survival.
| Criterion | Iron Sword | Hunter Bow |
|---|---|---|
| Raw DPS (uncoated) | Higher | Lower |
| Charged-shot interrupt | No | Yes |
| Effective vs hovering/aerial | Poor | Excellent |
| Ammo/coating cost | None | Frost Vials (10g each) |
| Skill floor | Evade timing | Leading shots |
Avoid solely relying on ranged combat against Floating Medusa Heads; their serpentine undulation makes arrows tricky to land without pre-aiming.
Combat Pairing Recommendations
- Gargoyle Sentinel: Hunter Bow with Frost Vial to interrupt aerial sweeps.
- Bloody Ghoul: Iron Sword with Oil Flask to burn through high vitality quickly.
- Floating Medusa Head: Iron Sword with sweeping horizontal slashes on bone ledges.
- The Fallen: Iron Sword for ground phases; Hunter Bow for phantom summons.
- Medusa: Iron Sword during recovery phases; Hunter Bow while jumping between pillars.