The Elven Bow is a favourite mid-game upgrade for archers: 13 base damage, only 12 weight, and a draw speed that still feels lively. It belongs to the elven tier of light-material gear, between the early bows and the Glass Bow.
Built in the same hawk-inspired style as the rest of the elven set, it is a perfect match for Elven Armor on a stealthy marksman. It is also a little odd in the forge, being the only elven weapon that needs no iron at all.
Stats
| Type | Bow |
|---|---|
| Skill | Archery |
| Material | Elven |
| Damage | 13 |
| Weight | 12 |
| Value | 470 gold |
| Speed | 0.69 |
| Stagger | 0 |
| Critical damage | 6 |
| Add-on | Base game |
| Item ID | 0001399D |
Where to find
- Unenchanted elven bows appear from level 19, enchanted ones from level 20, at blacksmiths and general goods merchants or as random loot.
- Archers at Northwatch Keep use them once you are level 20 or higher.
- One sits in an Expert-locked display case in Aela’s room in Jorrvaskr, Whiterun.
- On Solstheim, Redoran guards carry them, including the dead guards outside Ashfallow Citadel during the quest Served Cold.
Crafting and upgrading
Crafting at a forge: 1 × 
Quicksilver Ingot, 2 × 
Refined Moonstone. Requires the Elven Smithing Smithing perk.
Improving at a grindstone: 1 × Refined Moonstone. The Arcane Blacksmith perk doubles the improvement.
Compared with other bows
Base stats of all regular (unenchanted) bows in Skyrim, weakest first:
| Weapon | Damage | Weight | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Bow | 6 | 5 | 30 |
| Hunting Bow | 7 | 7 | 50 |
| Ancient Nord Bow | 8 | 12 | 45 |
| Imperial Bow | 9 | 8 | 90 |
| Orcish Bow | 10 | 9 | 150 |
| Nord Hero Bow | 11 | 7 | 200 |
| Dwarven Bow | 12 | 10 | 270 |
| Falmer Bow | 12 | 15 | 135 |
| Forsworn Bow | 12 | 11 | 145 |
| Elven Bow | 13 | 12 | 470 |
| Nordic Bow | 13 | 11 | 580 |
| Supple Ancient Nord Bow | 14 | 18 | 235 |
| Falmer Supple Bow | 15 | 20 | 410 |
| Glass Bow | 15 | 14 | 820 |
| Ebony Bow | 17 | 16 | 1440 |
| Stalhrim Bow | 17 | 15 | 1800 |
| Daedric Bow | 19 | 18 | 2500 |
| Dragonbone Bow | 20 | 20 | 2725 |
Tips and notes
- Forging needs Smithing 30 and Elven Smithing: two Refined Moonstone and one Quicksilver Ingot. Temper with Refined Moonstone.
- Unique variant: Firiniel’s End, picked up on the balcony of Castle Dour in Solitude during Bound Until Death.
- A known bug on some platforms lets you take Aela’s bow without opening the case by aiming at its right side.
Stats from the Skyrim LE 1.9 master files (Skyrim.esm, record ElvenBow). Values are base values before perks, smithing improvements and enchantments.
