Alliance characters learn Crossbows in World of Warcraft: Forever from Woo Ping in Stormwind or Bixi Wobblebonk in Ironforge, and Horde characters learn them from Archibald in the Undercity, the only Horde weapon master who teaches them. Training costs about 10 silver at launch, and only Warriors, Hunters and Rogues can learn it.
The Horde trip is the one that catches people out: a Tauren or Orc Hunter who finds a good crossbow has to cross to the Eastern Kingdoms to use it. Below is where to go for your race, what a crossbow does for each class, and how it compares with a bow or gun. Trainers are as of launch, checked November 8. Our weapon skills guide covers every weapon master and every weapon.
Who Teaches Crossbows
| Faction | City | Weapon master | Where to find them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Stormwind | Woo Ping | Weller’s Arsenal in the Trade District |
| Alliance | Ironforge | Bixi Wobblebonk | Timberline Arms in the Military Ward, about 61, 89 on the map |
| Horde | Undercity | Archibald | War Quarter, about 57, 33 |
In Ironforge, Crossbows are Bixi’s, not Buliwyf Stonehand’s. They work in the same shop and teach different things, so speak to the right one. City guards offer a Weapons Trainer option if you get lost.
Where to Go for Your Race
Alliance:
- Human: Woo Ping is in your home city.
- Dwarf and Gnome: Bixi is in your home city.
- Night Elf: Darnassus has no crossbow trainer. Take the boat from Rut’theran Village to Auberdine, then the ship to Stormwind Harbor. Our guide to getting to Darnassus from Stormwind covers those ships.
Horde:
- Undead: Archibald is in your home city.
- Orc and Troll: take the zeppelin to Tirisfal Glades from the towers just outside Orgrimmar’s main gate. Our guide to getting to the Undercity from Orgrimmar has every step.
- Tauren: there is no zeppelin or portal between Thunder Bluff and Orgrimmar, so reach Orgrimmar first, as our Thunder Bluff route guide explains, then take the same zeppelin.
Skyborne characters use the weapon master for whichever faction they chose. Our flight paths guide explains how to learn new points as you travel.
Which Classes Can Learn Crossbows
| Can learn Crossbows | Cannot learn them |
|---|---|
| Warrior, Hunter, Rogue | Paladin, Shaman, Druid, Priest, Mage, Warlock |
What a crossbow does for you depends on which of the three you play:
- Hunters get Auto Shot, with a range of 8 to 35 yards, and need to stand still for half a second before each shot. Our Hunter leveling guide covers the rest of the class.
- Warriors and Rogues use Shoot Crossbow, which has a range of 8 to 30 yards and a 1-second cast. It is a pulling tool rather than a main attack. Our Warrior and Rogue leveling guides cover how each class fights.
Before you make the trip, press C and check your character sheet, since it lists every weapon skill you already know.
What It Costs and How the Skill Works
- The price: about 10 silver at launch, once. Good reputation with the city’s faction lowers it a little.
- Your starting skill: a new weapon skill starts at 1, and its cap is five times your level, so 300 at level 60.
- Raising it: every shot has a chance to raise the skill. Low skill means more misses, so level it on easy mobs first. Blizzard’s Deep Dive panel recap says weapon skill “still works as it always has.”
- It is its own skill. Training Crossbows does nothing for your Bows skill, even though both fire the same ammo.
Crossbows, Bows or Guns?
All three go in the same ranged slot and can be trained by the same three classes. The difference that matters while you level is usually where you can train it and what drops, so pick the one your faction makes easy:
| Your faction | Crossbows | Bows | Guns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Stormwind, Ironforge | Darnassus | Ironforge |
| Horde | Undercity | Orgrimmar | Thunder Bluff |
Crossbows fire arrows, the same as bows, so you do not need a new stack of ammo if you swap between them. Guns need bullets. Our guide to why your arrows are green has the damage table for every arrow, and our Bows and Guns guides have those trainers. Every Forever guide we have is on our World of Warcraft hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Horde characters learn Crossbows in WoW Forever? From Archibald in the Undercity’s War Quarter. He is the only Horde weapon master who teaches them.
Where do Alliance characters learn Crossbows? From Woo Ping in Stormwind’s Trade District or Bixi Wobblebonk at Timberline Arms in Ironforge. Darnassus does not teach them.
How much does it cost to learn Crossbows? About 10 silver at launch, paid once. Good reputation with the city’s faction lowers the price a little.
Do crossbows use arrows or bullets? Arrows, the same as bows. Guns are the ranged weapon that uses bullets.
Does Orgrimmar teach Crossbows? No. Sayoc and Hanashi teach Bows in Orgrimmar, but Crossbows mean a trip to the Undercity.
Can Rogues use crossbows? Yes. Rogues, Warriors and Hunters can all train Crossbows.
Can Mages or Warlocks use crossbows? No. Their ranged slot is for wands.