Despite their consistent access to long ranged attacks, bow-wielders have garnered quite the poor reputation in the Fire Emblem series. Until recently, bow users have been incapable of counter-attacking close ranged foes, greatly hindering their potential of gaining experience during the enemy phase. Despite the overwhelming amount of lackluster archers in the series, there are still numerous worthwhile bow users throughout the game's history that are definitely worth a player's time.
So today, we're going to examine the archery standouts in the Fire Emblem series, and examine the strongest and most worthwhile bow-wielders from across the series history.
10 Jeorge - Shadow Dragon
Jeorge represents what bow-users in Fire Emblem should be at the very least. While the majority of bow users in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon possess pitiful base stats that prevent them from dealing significant damage, Jeorge's higher than average stats allow him to contribute to combat from afar.
This is particularly useful in the later chapters of the game which are full of potent manaketes. Due to Jeorge's bow utility, he is able to fight them from a safe distance without sustaining a counterattack.
9 Klein - The Binding Blade
The son of Pent from Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, Klein is easily the best bow user in Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade. Klein is blessed with a combination of solid stats, an A rank in bows that allow him to wield most bows in the game immediately, and circumstance.
While Klein's base stats and growths are far from the most impressive in the game, The Binding Blade is a game swarming with enemy flying units such as hoards of Wyvern Knights, and numerous Pegasus Knights in the game's Ilia route. Due to bow's effectiveness against flying units, Klein is incredibly helpful when it comes to these droves of fliers.
8 Geitz - The Blazing Blade
Archers are particularly weak in Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade due to their unfortunately poor base stats, growth rates, and previously mentioned inability to counterattack close-ranged foes. Geitz on the other hand is a warrior who can be recruited if the total levels of a player's three lords exceeds fifty by the time they reach chapter chapter 23.
Geitz is definitely worth this hurdle, as he totes an impressively high strength stat paired with a B rank in bows that allows him to decimate enemies from afar with weapons like the Brave Bow.
7 Shura - Fates
One of the few units available in each route of Fire Emblem Fates, Shura is a pre-promoted Adventurer with a solid amount of utility that make him more than just a standard bow-user. Due to his class, Shura is able to heal one's allies thanks to his C rank in Staves.
Between staff utility, solid base stats, and an A rank in Staves, Shura is a solid option for a long ranged unit in any route of Fates.
6 Leon - Shadows of Valentia
While archers in Fire Emblem traditionally are only capable of fighting from two-range, in Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, archers are given significantly more range, and by extension, flexibility. By default, all archers such as Leon of Celica's route gain +1 range to all of their bow attacks. This traits only gets better as Leon is used, as upon promoting into a Sniper, this ability becomes +2 range.
As if this impressive range weren't enough, upon promoting into a Bow Knight, Leon's mobility is improved to a significant degree.
5 Python - Shadows of Valentia
The primary bow user of Alm's route in Shadows of Valentia, Python has access to all of the perks that come along with being a bow user in this game such as the excellent range and ability to improve one's mobility upon promotion.
However, Python has a leg up on Leon due to having higher growth rates than his contemporary.
4 Takumi - Fates
A member of the royal family of Hoshido, Takumi is a very impressive bow user with numerous traits in his favor. Possessing his own personal weapon, the excellent Fujin Yumi, Takumi is capable of consistently dealing high damage to foes from afar.
As if this weren't enough, he is capable of promoting into the Kinshi Knight class that provides him with a significant boost to his movement as well as the benefit of flight.
3 Shinon - Radiant Dawn
While Shinon may be a notably underwhelming unit in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, he is without a shadow of a doubt the best bow wielder in the game's sequel, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn. Starting with an exceptional S rank in Bows, excellent base stats, and a constant +10% crit, Shinon can consistently pick off enemies from afar. Shinon even possesses a deceptively high defense stat that allows players to utilize him in the front line.
If a player promotes Shinon into a Marksman, his usefulness will only grow further, as his +10% crit will turn into a +15%, he'll gain access to the phenomenal Deadeye skill, and his bow range will increase by one!
2 Shamir - Three Houses
Shamir is a recruitable Sniper in each route of Fire Emblem: Three Houses and is without a doubt the most useful member of the Church of Seiros. One of the few units in the game who is recruited as an advanced class, Shamir has noteworth base stats and the highest strength growth rate of any other units that excel in bows.
Due to Shamir's immediate access to the sniper class, she can quickly obtain the incredible Hunter's Volley skill that allows her to ensure a consecutive attack. She even possesses high enough bow and lance rank that players can immediately focus on training her riding in order to promote her into a Bow Knight!
1 Claude - Three Houses
The leader of the Golden Deer house and the lord of the Verdant Wind route of Three Houses, Claude possesses some of the most useful skills and utility of any bow user in the entire Fire Emblem series. A great deal of Claude's strengths lie in his personal classes, the Wyvern Master and the Barbarossa.
In conjunction with these powerful flying bow-centric classes, Claude's ability to pass through enemies provides him with unparalleled mobility that allows him to set up shots and maneuver with ease.