Overview
The half bow kills men. The longbow kills men wearing helmets, which is a different and much more useful problem to have solved.
The longbow is the reward for the Mythic Tale The Curse of Uchitsune, found in the Izuhara region — not something Sensei Ishikawa hands over. It is a legendary bow said to be cursed, and mechanically it is the answer to armoured Mongol troops: it pierces armour and lands headshots on helmeted warriors that the half bow simply cannot.
The trade is draw speed. It is markedly slower than the half bow, so it is a planning weapon rather than a reflex one — you pick the target, you take the time, and you are rewarded with a kill that would otherwise have cost a fight.
Completing the same tale also unlocks the ability to fire Explosive Arrows from it, which turns the longbow from a precision tool into a way of removing a cluster of troops at range.
The armour-piercing answer. The inability to crouch while aiming is the trade — you are visible for as long as you hold it.
Stats & Performance
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Bow |
| How to get it | Complete "The Curse of Uchitsune" (Mythic Tale, Act 1) |
| Damage | High |
| Zoom | High |
| Draw time | Long |
| Limitation | You cannot crouch while aiming |
How to Get Longbow
- The Curse of Uchitsune Mythic Tale
- 01Hear the ballad of Uchitsune from a travelling musician in the Izuhara region to start the Mythic Tale.
- 02Follow the tale to Mount Hiyoshi and complete its stages.
- 03Finish the tale to receive the longbow and the Explosive Arrow ability.
Builds & Best Uses
Strengths
- Pierces Mongol armour, so helmeted warriors can be headshot
- Fires Explosive Arrows once the tale is complete
- Effective far beyond the range at which enemies can reply
- Kills armoured targets the Half Bow cannot.
Weaknesses
- Much slower to draw than the half bow
- Poor once an enemy has closed to melee
- Arrow supply limits sustained use
- You cannot crouch while aiming it, so every shot is taken standing and visible.
Best uses
- Removing armoured troops before an assault
- Silencing archers and horn-blowers from a ridge
- Explosive Arrows against clustered enemies
Where you get it
- The Curse of UchitsuneMythic Tale — awards this
Tales that call for it
- Shadow of The SamuraiMain Tale — the walkthrough calls for it
Upgrading it
Weapons and tools are improved through the skill trees, spending Technique Points earned as your Legend rank rises. Legend itself comes from tales — main and Mythic Tales give the largest steps, side tales, liberated settlements and cleared encounters the smaller ones.
