Alliance characters learn Bows in World of Warcraft: Forever from Ilyenia Moonfire in Darnassus, the only Alliance weapon master who teaches them, and Horde characters learn them from Sayoc or Hanashi in Orgrimmar. Training costs about 10 silver at launch, and only Warriors, Hunters and Rogues can learn it.
So a Human or Dwarf who wants a bow has a sea crossing ahead, and Tauren and Undead have a trip as well. Below is where to go for your race, what a bow does for each class, and which arrows to buy. Trainers are as of launch, checked November 8. Our weapon skills guide covers every weapon master and every weapon.
Who Teaches Bows
| Faction | City | Weapon master | Where to find them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Darnassus | Ilyenia Moonfire | Warrior’s Terrace, about 57, 46 on the map |
| Horde | Orgrimmar | Sayoc or Hanashi | Valley of Honor, about 81, 19 |
City guards offer a Weapons Trainer option if you get lost. The Darnassus Sentinel we asked had it on the directions list.
Where to Go for Your Race
Alliance:
- Night Elf: Ilyenia is in your home city.
- Human: take the ship from Stormwind Harbor to Auberdine, then the boat to Rut’theran Village, and walk into the glowing portal at the foot of the great tree. Our guide to getting to Darnassus from Stormwind has every step and the way back.
- Dwarf and Gnome: take the Deeprun Tram to Stormwind and follow the same route, or use the older sea route through Menethil Harbor that the same guide covers.
Horde:
- Orc and Troll: Sayoc and Hanashi are in your home city.
- Tauren: there is no zeppelin or portal from Thunder Bluff to Orgrimmar, so ride or fly. Our Thunder Bluff route guide covers the road.
- Undead: take the zeppelin from Tirisfal Glades to Orgrimmar. Our guide to getting to the Undercity from Orgrimmar covers that zeppelin from the other end.
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 Bows
| Can learn Bows | Cannot learn them |
|---|---|
| Warrior, Hunter, Rogue | Paladin, Shaman, Druid, Priest, Mage, Warlock |
Check before you travel. You may already have it. Our Night Elf Hunter’s character sheet listed Bows, Daggers, Defense and Unarmed, and the Bows skill rose from there with no trainer. Press C to see your own list.
What a bow does for you depends on your class:
- 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 how to play the class, and our best Hunter pets and pet taming guides cover your partner.
- Warriors and Rogues use Shoot Bow, 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.
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 newly trained 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.”
Which Arrows to Buy
Bows fire arrows, and so do crossbows, while guns fire bullets. Arrows stack to 200, and Blizzard’s November 2 notes added an ammo count indicator. For most of leveling you want the highest level you can use: Rough Arrows at the start, Sharp Arrows from level 10, Razor Arrows from level 25 and Jagged Arrows from level 40.
Our guide to why your arrows are green has the full damage table for every arrow, and it explains what a green bolt or a green item name means. If you decide you want a gun instead, our Guns guide has those trainers. Every Forever guide we have is on our World of Warcraft hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Alliance characters train Bows in WoW Forever? From Ilyenia Moonfire on the Warrior’s Terrace in Darnassus. No other Alliance city teaches them, so Stormwind and Ironforge characters have to make the trip.
Where do Horde characters train Bows? From Sayoc or Hanashi in Orgrimmar’s Valley of Honor. Thunder Bluff and the Undercity do not teach them.
How much does it cost to learn Bows? About 10 silver at launch, paid once. Good reputation with the city’s faction lowers the price a little.
Do Hunters start with Bows? Our Night Elf Hunter did. Press C and check your character sheet, since the weapon skill you start with may be different on another race.
Can Rogues and Warriors use bows? Yes. They fire them with Shoot Bow, and they need to train the skill like anyone else who does not already know it.
Can Mages or Priests use bows? No. Only Warriors, Hunters and Rogues can train Bows.
Does Stormwind teach Bows? No. Woo Ping in Stormwind teaches Crossbows, but Bows are Ilyenia Moonfire’s in Darnassus.