Bows

Ranged is the safest opening move against almost everything in Valheim. Bows fire fast and let you move while drawing, crossbows hit far harder per shot but reload slowly and pin you in place. Final damage is weapon plus ammo, so upgrading your arrows matters as much as the bow itself. The Finewood Bow carries the early game, Draugr Fang's poison arrows dominate everything up to the Mistlands, the Arbalest is the first crossbow out of the Black Forge, and in the Ashlands the Fang and Ripper variants add elemental damage to match enemy weaknesses. The Bows skill cuts draw stamina and raises damage as it levels, so committing to one weapon class pays off.