Difference between revisions of "Hand Crossbows"

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The pistol crossbow is a class-specific item that can only be used by the [[Demon Hunter]].
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[[File:Dh-cinematic4.jpg|thumb|400px|Demon Hunter using dual hand xbows in her cinematic.]]
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The hand crossbow is a class-specific item that can only be used by the [[Demon Hunter]].
  
Unlike other [[crossbows]], the pistol crossbow is a double item. The item graphic shows two small crossbows together; there are no single pistol crossbows, so it's not possible to use one with a shield or melee weapon. Pistol crossbows have the fastest firing rate of any [[ranged weapon]] in the game, but they do less damage than other [[bows]] or crossbows to compensate.
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Unlike the normal two-handed [[crossbow]], the hand crossbow is a one-handed item which the Demon Hunter can dual wield, or equip with a [[shield]] or [[quiver]]. Hand crossbows have the fastest inherent firing rate of any [[ranged weapon]] in the game, but slightly lower damage per shot in compensation.  
  
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Many Demon Hunters prefer hand xbows due to their faster firing rate. Shooting more quickly allows for more damage output in a short time, and also means that [[Hatred Generator]] skills will restore more resource in the same amount of time.
  
==Dual Wield Only?==
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That said, not all Demon Hunter builds desire [[IAS]]. Some play styles rely on big hitting attacks with a heavy [[Hatred]] cost, and pay for them with Hatred regen or other means of resource regeneration other than Hatred generating skills.
  
[[File:Pistol-xbow-mockup.jpg|frame|Just pretend he's a Demon Hunter.]]
 
At Blizzcon 2010, pistol xbows could <u>only</u> be dual wielded. The bows came in a pair, and looked something like you see in the paperdoll mock-up to the right. A Demon Hunter could only equip both at once, or neither; it was not possible to equip just one pistol xbow with a one-handed a weapon or a shield.
 
  
This was thought to be a balance issue; the pistol xbow was the fastest firing ranged weapon in the game, but as a trade off they had to be used two at a time, trading defense for offense. This may not be the case in the final game though, as [[Bashiok]] explained while answering some forum questions in November 2010. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/blue-on-pistol-crossbow-changes/]
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==Legendary Hand Crossbows==
  
::''[Can the Demon Hunter use] two separate and unique one hand crossbows w/ different stats on them?''
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There are a variety of legendary and set versions of Hand Crossbows, all of which can be viable for the [[end game]] since [[D3v2]] and [[RoS]] introduced item scaling so all gear scales up to the level of the character who finds the item (assuming monsters in the game are around that character's level). Thus Demon Hunters tend to use whichever bow, xbow, or hand xbow the yfind with the best damage, the best stats, and especially the best [[legendary affix]].
::'''Bashiok: '''Yes, that is in. A lot of work is being done right now on demon hunter weapons so some things are still up in the air, but dual-wielding one handed crossbows in each hand, each with their own unique enchants and gems, etc. is now in the game.
 
  
::''So, one could now wield a one-handed crossbow in one hand, and a shield in the other?''
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See the individual pages for specific stats on each item. Items over level 61+ can only be found in Reaper of Souls.
::'''Bashiok: '''Potentially, but some things are still up in the air
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'''[[Legendary Hand Crossbows]]'''<br>
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:8) [[Helltrapper]] {{c_gold|A5 Cache}}<br>
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:8) [[Izzuccob]]<br>
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:29) [[Balefire Caster]]<br>
 +
:31) [[K'mar Tenclip]]<br>
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:41) [[Deadeye]] - [[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]]<br>
 +
:50) [[Dawn]]<br>
 +
:60) [[Calamity_(Item)|Calamity]]<br>
 +
:60) [[Danetta's Revenge]] - {{c_green|Set}}<br>
 +
:60) [[Danetta's Spite]] - {{c_green|Set}}<br>
 +
:60) [[Natalya's Slayer]] - {{c_green|Set}}<br>
 +
:60) [[Hallowed Judgment]] - [[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]] {{c_green|Set}}<br>
 +
:60) [[Blitzbolter]] - [[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]]<br>
 +
:70) [[Hallowed Condemnation]] - [[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]] {{c_green|Set}}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Demon Hunter Dual Wielding History==
 +
 
 +
[[File:Pistol-xbow-mockup.jpg|thumb|250px||Just pretend he's a Demon Hunter.]]
 +
At Blizzcon 2010, hand xbows could <u>only</u> be dual wielded. The bows came in a pair, and looked something like you see in the paperdoll mock-up to the right. A Demon Hunter could only equip both at once, or neither; it was not possible to equip just one hand xbow along with a quiver or one-handed weapon or a shield.
 +
 
 +
This was thought to be a balance issue; the hand xbow was the fastest firing ranged weapon in the game, but as a trade off they had to be used two at a time, trading defense for offense. This may not be the case in the final game though, as [[Bashiok]] explained while answering some forum questions in November 2010. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/blue-on-pistol-crossbow-changes/]
 +
 
 +
<blue>
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 +
<font color="#FFFFFF">[Can the Demon Hunter use] two separate and unique one hand crossbows w/ different stats on them?</font><br>
 +
Bashiok: Yes, that is in. A lot of work is being done right now on demon hunter weapons so some things are still up in the air, but dual-wielding one handed crossbows in each hand, each with their own unique enchants and gems, etc. is now in the game.
 +
 
 +
<font color="#FFFFFF">So, one could now wield a one-handed crossbow in one hand, and a shield in the other?</font><br>
 +
Bashiok: Potentially, but some things are still up in the air
 +
 
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<font color="#FFFFFF">I do wonder what other classes will be able to use 1 handed crossbows.</font><br>
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Bashiok: No other class is planned to use one-handed crossbows. It’s a demon hunter thing. There are two handed crossbows that the witch doctor and wizard can use.</blue>
  
::''I do wonder what other classes will be able to use 1 handed crossbows.
 
::'''Bashiok: '''No other class is planned to use one-handed crossbows. It’s a demon hunter thing. There are two handed crossbows that the witch doctor and wizard can use.
 
  
It's unclear how the developers would balance this out; if a pistol xbow is the fastest firing weapon, <u>AND</u> it can be used with a shield, or two of them can be used at once, that seems like an enormous bonus, since that doubles the item modifiers, gem bonuses, etc.  The damage of the PXB would have to be much lower, the item bonuses limited, the number of sockets capped, etc.
 
  
 
==Demon Hunter Cinematic==
 
==Demon Hunter Cinematic==
  
The Demon Hunter makes extensive use of dual pistol crossbows in her introductory cinematic, devastating a horde of demons with the weapons.  
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The Demon Hunter makes extensive use of dual hand crossbows in her introductory cinematic, devastating a horde of demons with the weapons.  
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<youtube>oK2TIPe2nIE</youtube>
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{{Template:Items navbox|normal}}
  
[[File:Dh-cinematic4.jpg|center|thumb|500px|Demon Hunter using both xbows at once with multishot, in her cinematic.]]
 
  
[[category:crossbows]]
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[[category:Items]]
[[category:weapons]]
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[[category:Weapons]]
[[category:items]]
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[[category:Ranged Weapons]]
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[[category:Class-Specific Weapons]]
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[[category:Hand Crossbows]]
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[[category:Demon Hunter]]

Latest revision as of 15:39, 30 May 2014

Demon Hunter using dual hand xbows in her cinematic.

The hand crossbow is a class-specific item that can only be used by the Demon Hunter.

Unlike the normal two-handed crossbow, the hand crossbow is a one-handed item which the Demon Hunter can dual wield, or equip with a shield or quiver. Hand crossbows have the fastest inherent firing rate of any ranged weapon in the game, but slightly lower damage per shot in compensation.

Many Demon Hunters prefer hand xbows due to their faster firing rate. Shooting more quickly allows for more damage output in a short time, and also means that Hatred Generator skills will restore more resource in the same amount of time.

That said, not all Demon Hunter builds desire IAS. Some play styles rely on big hitting attacks with a heavy Hatred cost, and pay for them with Hatred regen or other means of resource regeneration other than Hatred generating skills.


Legendary Hand Crossbows[edit | edit source]

There are a variety of legendary and set versions of Hand Crossbows, all of which can be viable for the end game since D3v2 and RoS introduced item scaling so all gear scales up to the level of the character who finds the item (assuming monsters in the game are around that character's level). Thus Demon Hunters tend to use whichever bow, xbow, or hand xbow the yfind with the best damage, the best stats, and especially the best legendary affix.

See the individual pages for specific stats on each item. Items over level 61+ can only be found in Reaper of Souls.

Legendary Hand Crossbows

8) Helltrapper A5 Cache
8) Izzuccob
29) Balefire Caster
31) K'mar Tenclip
41) Deadeye - Crafted
50) Dawn
60) Calamity
60) Danetta's Revenge - Set
60) Danetta's Spite - Set
60) Natalya's Slayer - Set
60) Hallowed Judgment - Crafted Set
60) Blitzbolter - Crafted
70) Hallowed Condemnation - Crafted Set


Demon Hunter Dual Wielding History[edit | edit source]

Just pretend he's a Demon Hunter.

At Blizzcon 2010, hand xbows could only be dual wielded. The bows came in a pair, and looked something like you see in the paperdoll mock-up to the right. A Demon Hunter could only equip both at once, or neither; it was not possible to equip just one hand xbow along with a quiver or one-handed weapon or a shield.

This was thought to be a balance issue; the hand xbow was the fastest firing ranged weapon in the game, but as a trade off they had to be used two at a time, trading defense for offense. This may not be the case in the final game though, as Bashiok explained while answering some forum questions in November 2010. [1]

[Can the Demon Hunter use] two separate and unique one hand crossbows w/ different stats on them?
Bashiok: Yes, that is in. A lot of work is being done right now on demon hunter weapons so some things are still up in the air, but dual-wielding one handed crossbows in each hand, each with their own unique enchants and gems, etc. is now in the game.

So, one could now wield a one-handed crossbow in one hand, and a shield in the other?
Bashiok: Potentially, but some things are still up in the air

I do wonder what other classes will be able to use 1 handed crossbows.

Bashiok: No other class is planned to use one-handed crossbows. It’s a demon hunter thing. There are two handed crossbows that the witch doctor and wizard can use.


Demon Hunter Cinematic[edit | edit source]

The Demon Hunter makes extensive use of dual hand crossbows in her introductory cinematic, devastating a horde of demons with the weapons.