Dead Cells Wiki

Active mechanics[]

Most ranged weapons have the capability of firing some kind of projectiles, while some use hit-scan mechanics, both of which deal ranged damage. The individual abilities of ranged weapons varies, but generally, projectiles fired using ranged attacks are unable to hit multiple targets, unless the projectile can create an explosion or has some kind of piercing capabilities (e.g. Sonic Carbine and Explosive Crossbow).

Effect scaling[]

All ranged weapons scale with Tactics, however a few of these weapons can also dual-scale with Brutality (e.g Firebrands and Infantry Bow) or Survival (e.g Frost Blast and Heavy Crossbow), meaning their damage will scale off the higher stat between the two.

Ammunition[]

Some Ranged Weapons use ammunition, which will be restored automatically after a short while. Ammunition that is impaled in enemies takes significantly longer to retrieve unless the ammo is removed by a successful parry or the enemy is killed, however, not all ammo based projectiles can be stuck in enemies, these projectiles will eventually refill automatically. Most of these weapons can get affixes that slightly increases their total ammo supply. Ranged weapons without ammo can be fired repeatedly without restriction.

Hokuto's Bow, War Javelin and Boomerang cannot benefit from the effect of the Ammo mutation.

List of ranged weapons[]

This is a list of all obtainable ranged weapons within the game.

Icon Name Description Blueprint location Base DPS Scaling
Beginner's Bow Ammo comes back after enemies are killed.
The Jailer's son was getting pretty good at hunting rats with this...
Always unlocked 113
Multiple-nocks Bow Shoots 3 arrows at the same time. Always unlocked 228
Bow and Endless Quiver Unlimited ammo. Last shot is a critical hit!
"You can never have too many arrows" - Legolas
Drops from Undead Archers (0.03%) 121 (175)
Marksman's Bow Inflicts a critical hit at long range.
Slow, but devastating at long range. A sniper's delight.
Timed Door Room between Promenade of the Condemned and Ossuary 55 (327)
Sonic CarbineRotG Fires through enemies and keeps shooting when held down. Inflict critical hits to the targets behind the first enemy. Secret area in the 5 BSC biome; requires Apex Key 227 (445)
Infantry Bow Inflicts a critical hit at close range.
A bow specially designed for hand-to-hand combat.
Drops from Undead Archers (1.7%) 78 (217)
Quick Bow Inflicts a critical hit if the target has 3 or more arrows stuck in its body.
Speed at the cost of precision.
Secret area at the beginning of Prisoners' Quarters - 3rd run onward only 75 (203)
Ice Bow Briefly freezes enemies. Drops from Undead Archers (0.4%) 46

Heavy Crossbow Shoots several short-range bolts at once.
Secondary Ability: Reload
Reload the Heavy Crossbow. The next shot inflicts a critical hit.
A point-blank blast.
Drops from the Concierge (3rd kill) 280 (560)

Repeater Crossbow Rapid fires bolts inflicting critical hits on rooted targets.
Secondary Ability: Quiver of Bolts
Fires a volley of bolts rooting enemies and inflicting 15 DPS for 3 seconds.
Drops from Dark Trackers (0.4%) 115 (323)
2nd Mode:
73

Ice Crossbow Freezes the enemy.
Secondary Ability: Piercing Shot
Fires piercing bolts, inflicting critical hits and returning bolts lodged in frozen enemies.
Drops from the Time Keeper (4th kill) 60
2nd Mode:
47 (235)

Explosive Crossbow Bolts explode in the area of effect. Any enemy hit by a bolt suffers a critical wound.
Secondary Ability: Cross Hit
Hit 'em with the crossbow.
Puzzle tower in the Promenade of the Condemned; requires 3 Gardener's Keys 143 (243)
2nd Mode:
55 (191)
Alchemic Carbine Poisons its victims (13 DPS for 4 sec). Secret area in the Ancient Sewers 9
Boomerang Comes back to you automatically.
Old faithful.
Ending area of High Peak Castle; requires Castle Key 156
HemorrhageRotG Causes bleeding (25 DPS for 3 seconds). Deals a critical hit if the target is bleeding or poisoned. Drops from Magistrates of Death (10%) 47 (187)
The Boy's AxeRotG Roots the victim. Deals 80 damage when recalled.
Boi.
Drops from Ground Shakers (1.7%) 159
War JavelinRotG Impales all enemies in its path. If they're close to a wall they take 90 extra damage. The javelin must be retrieved (if not, it comes back automatically after 10 seconds). Reactivate to teleport to the javelin. Secret area near the end of the Cavern 110
Hokuto's Bow Marks the enemy, who then takes +52 DPS for 15 sec. If the enemy dies, the mark spreads.
You don't know it yet, but you're already dead.
Drops from Cannibals (1.7%) 25
Nerves of Steel Inflicts a critical hit if the arrow is shot at right moment. Secret area at the end of Ramparts 80 (341)
Throwing Knife Causes bleeding (22 DPS for 3 sec). Automatically targets the nearest enemy. Always unlocked 14
Electric Whip Ignored shields and inflicts 50% of the base damage on nearby enemies. Also inflicts 25 shock DPS around the target for 3 seconds. Always unlocked 112 (201)
Firebrands Burns enemies and the ground (19 DPS for 3 sec).
Light my fire !
Always unlocked 31
Ice Shards Slows down enemies during 3 sec. Inflicts critical hits on targets standing in water or covered in oil. Drops from the Time Keeper (3rd kill) 53 (68)
Pyrotechnics Launches multiple flaming projectiles. Inflicts critical damage on targets covered in oil. Drops from Casters (1.7%) 102 (185)
Lightning Bolt Hold to inflict critical hits. Inflicts 20 shock DPS around the target for 2 seconds.
Join the dark side.
Drops from Inquisitors (1.7%) 111 (362)
Fire Blast Burns enemies and the ground surface in range. Inflicts critical hits when oil is present.
Toasts enemies to a rich golden brown.
Drops from Maskers (1.7%) 169 (223)
Frost Blast Freezes enemies in front of you. No damage if the target is already frozen. Always unlocked 48
Magic MissilesRotG Automatically targets the closest enemy. Drops from Arbiters (0.4%) 164
BlowgunTBS Poison its victims (15 DPS for 2 sec). Inflicts critical hits if you hit enemies in the back. Drops from Blowgunners (1.7%) 57 (343)
Barrel Launcher Launches an explosive barrel. Inflicts a critical hit if the barrel bounces off a wall or has been reflected back and forth before exploding. Drops from Infected Workers (0.4%) 171 (514)
File:Vampire Slayer Icon.png Vampire SlayerRtC The mythical weapon of the Valmont clan! Ignores shields. Deals critical damage to shocked enemies. Enemies killed by this weapon freeze the ground under them. Drops from Dracula (1st kill) (100%) 141 (690)
Killing DeckTQatS Shoots cards in various patterns. The fourth hit recalls all the cards, dealing critical damage.
Using cards as a weapon is quite the gambit...
Drops from Armored Shrimps (1.7%) 71 (84)
Gilded YumiTQatS Fires large arrows that push enemies. Stuns and inflicts critical damage if it bumps its target into a wall or another enemy.
Surprisingly easy to use, considering the tree trunk-sized arrows it fires.
Drops from Euterpe when killed last 69 (208)
Money Shooter Fires 150 gold taken from your pockets to deal critical damage. Won’t fire if you can’t pay.
Shut up and shoot my money!
Drops from Golden Kamikazes (1.7%) 667
Magic Bow Fires homing arrows that deal more damage if they hit the same enemy.
Just close your eyes and shoot!
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters 21
Peril Glyphs This weapon's combo gets longer in proportion to your missing health. Deals critical damage starting from the third hit.
Can also double as domestic incense, even in a foul-smelling prison.
Reward for beating the 1st Stage in Boss Rush 157 (279)
Throwable Objects Stuns any enemy it hits. Recharge 1 ammo every time you kill an enemy.
Vase, flower pot, bottle, knife,... No matter what you can grab, as long as you can throw it, you're game.
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters 382
Laser Glaive Bounces on nearby targets, dealing more and more damage each time and dealing critical damage after 2 bounces.
Weakness in numbers.
Lore room in the Prisoners' Quarters 70 (474)
RotG: Rise of the Giant DLC
TBS: The Bad Seed DLC
FF: Fatal Falls DLC
TQatS: The Queen and the Sea DLC