How to use Special Arrows in Dragon’s Dogma 2

You just need the right skills to use them.

An archer in Dragon's Dogma 2 readying an arrow.
Screenshot by Dot Esports.

In Dragon’s Dogma 2, Vocations that utilize bows have the option to purchase, craft, and use special arrows. Each arrow type inflicts a unique debuff on enemies, offering significant benefits to you and your team. Equipping and using them isn’t straightforward, though, so here’s how.

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Special arrows in Dragon’s Dogma 2, explained

A screenshot of the Explosive Arrow description in Dragon's Dogma 2.
They’re self-explanatory. Screenshot by Dot Esports

You can use most special arrows in Dragon’s Dogma 2 only with their corresponding Weapon Skills. For instance, Explosive Arrows only work with Exploding Shot or Erupting Shot. This means you can’t use them with normal attacks or other skills. Additionally, the skill will fail if you don’t have the needed arrows in your inventory.

You must ensure the Archer who needs the special arrows has them in their inventory. This might seem obvious, but it’s easy to overlook. I made this mistake with my Main Pawn, an Archer, by not adding the special arrows to his inventory when I equipped him with the appropriate skills.

The Unmaking Arrow is an exception to this rule. Once you get it by solving one of the Sphinx’s riddles or buy it with Wyrmslife Crystals from The Dragonforged, you can use it by selecting it from your Items menu, not Equipments, and choose “Equip.” Then, the next arrow you shoot with your normal attack will be the Unmaking Arrow. Please note that if you equip the arrow then stow your bow right after, redrawing the bow will force you to equip the Unmaking Arrow again. That means you should equip the arrow at the very moment you’ll use it.

Below is a list of special arrows and the skills you need to use them:

ArrowSkill to use
Explosive ArrowExploding Shot
Erupting Shot
Blighting ArrowBlighting Shot
Nocuous Shot
Drenching ArrowDrenching Shot
Deluging Shot
Tarring ArrowTarring Shot
Incendiary Shot
Unmaking ArrowNone. Equip it from the Item menu and shoot normally to use.

You learn these skills by spending Discipline Points (Dcp) at a Vocation Guild located in any major town. Some skills might not be available immediately because they are advanced versions of basic skills, like Erupting Shot, which is an upgrade to Exploding Shot. Continue playing, rank up your Vocation, and check back at the Vocation Guild for upgrade options.

How to get special arrows in Dragon’s Dogma 2

A screenshot of the store in Dragon's Dogma 2 showing special arrows to purchase.
Spend some gold at shops. Screenshot by Dot Esports

The easiest method to get special arrows is to buy them from weapon merchants in major towns like Venworth and Bakbattahl. The cost and availability of these arrows depend on their type and effect, with Drenching Arrow being the cheapest and Blighting Arrow the most expensive.

Alternatively, you can craft them by mixing Withered Branches with various items. The recipes I’ve found let you create Explosive Arrows with Sunbloom and Tarring Arrows with Lantern Oil. You can’t craft the Unmaking Arrow.

ArrowRecipe
Explosive ArrowWithered Branches + Sunbloom
Blighting ArrowWithered Branches + Poison Pinion
Withered Branches + Asp Toxiscale
Drenching ArrowWithered Branches + Syrupwort Leaf
Tarring ArrowWithered Branches + Oily Slime
Withered Branches + Lantern Oil
Unmaking ArrowCan’t be crafted

We’ll update this guide as more crafting recipes for special arrows are discovered.

Author
Image of Bhernardo Viana
Bhernardo Viana
Bhernardo is senior guides writer and strategist at Dot Esports. He's been working in the gaming industry for over 9 years, with works published on Destructoid, Prima Games, ESPN, and more. A fan of Pokémon since 6 years old and an avid Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch player. Now writing strategy and quests guides for several mobile and PC titles.