Kingdom Come: Deliverance stands apart from most RPGs in its dedication to realism, and one of the most demanding mechanics in the game is archery. Unlike in other games where aiming with a bow is often simplified, here it requires patience, understanding, and above all, practice. If you find yourself struggling with hitting your targets, don’t worry—you’re not alone. This guide is here to help you grasp the fundamental techniques of archery in KCD and develop your skills into something reliable, whether for hunting, combat, or contests.

Understanding the Basics: The Simulation Approach

Archery in Kingdom Come: Deliverance is designed to mimic real-world mechanics, albeit in a more streamlined fashion. At its core, it follows two primary shooting methods:

• Instinctive Shooting – This relies heavily on muscle memory rather than visual reference points. This style is exemplified by archers like Lars Andersen, who can hit moving targets effortlessly without conventional aiming.
• Gap Shooting – A more structured method where you use a fixed reference point, such as the tip of your arrow, to aim at a target. This method is far more practical for beginners and is the focus of this guide.

Most players looking for an easier time may resort to console commands to generate a crosshair or use monitor-based reticles. However, we’ll be using the in-game method—relying on the tip of the arrow as our guide—so that everyone, regardless of platform, can follow along.

Understanding the Factors Affecting Your Accuracy

Before you start shooting, it’s crucial to know that your accuracy in KCD depends on various character stats and equipment factors:

• Strength, Agility, and Vitality – These impact draw speed, stamina, and overall shooting endurance.
• Bow Skill Level – Determines how stable your aim is and how much horizontal sway occurs.
• Equipment Quality – A stronger bow increases range and reduces vertical compensation.
• Stamina Drain – Affected by bow weight and skill level, influencing how long you can hold a full draw.

For this guide, we will demonstrate archery using the Villager’s Ash Bow, a basic weapon accessible to all players. It’s also worth noting that until your bow skill reaches level five, you must wear vambraces to avoid injury from the bowstring.

Establishing Your Aim: The Arrow as a Guide

To shoot accurately, you need to establish a reference point for your arrows. This involves understanding arrow consistency and making adjustments based on where they land:

1. Full Draw Shooting – Always release the arrow when the bow is fully drawn. The best way to identify this is by watching the tip of the arrowhead—it stops moving when fully drawn.
2. Close-Range Targeting – At five paces, aiming the tip of the arrow at the center of the target results in shots landing slightly upper-left. This means you must adjust slightly downward and rightward to compensate.
3. Adjusting for Distance – The farther the target, the higher you need to aim to account for the arrow’s drop.
4. Vertical Adjustments – If shooting at an elevated target (such as a bird’s nest), aim higher than usual. Conversely, if shooting from a high position, aim lower.

Bow quality plays a role in how much compensation is needed. A high-quality bow like Khan’s Hunting Bow requires less vertical adjustment than a weaker one, but horizontal aim remains largely consistent across different bows.

Refining Your Shooting Form

Your shooting stance and positioning play a key role in consistency. Here’s how to maintain an optimal form:

• Align the Target Properly – The target should be placed slightly left of center on your screen. This aligns better with Henry’s natural hand movements, reducing unnecessary aim corrections.
• Let Henry’s Movements Work for You – He naturally sways left and right while aiming. Instead of overcorrecting, allow his movements to guide your shot and focus on releasing the arrow at the right moment.
• Minimal Manual Adjustments – Instead of constantly moving your aim, make only slight tweaks and let Henry settle into position before releasing.

To test your skills, try the archery contest in Uzhitz. The standard competition distance is 15 paces, making it an ideal benchmark to refine your aiming technique.

Applying Archery in Real Scenarios

While static target practice is useful, practical applications of archery require adaptability. One of the best ways to develop this skill is through the “Game of Chumps” challenge in Ledetchko. Here, you’ll be shooting at logs floating down a river, which mimics moving targets in combat or hunting. This exercise trains you in dynamic aiming and quick adjustments:

• Leading Your Shots – Since the logs are in motion, you must anticipate their path and shoot slightly ahead of where they are.
• Elevation Adjustments – Depending on your position on the riverbank, your aiming reference may need tweaking.
• Developing Instinctive Shooting – Over time, your ability to aim without consciously thinking about your reference point will improve, eventually leading to a near-instinctive shooting style.

Final Thoughts: Practice Makes Perfect

Mastering archery in Kingdom Come: Deliverance is not something that happens overnight. It requires patience, adjustment, and, above all, experience. The key takeaways are:

• Use the tip of your arrowhead as a reference.
• Adjust for distance and elevation accordingly.
• Develop a stable shooting form to maintain accuracy.
• Train with both stationary and moving targets to improve adaptability.
• Don’t be afraid to miss shots—learning from mistakes is part of the process.

By consistently practicing at the archery range and engaging in real-world challenges like Ledetchko’s log shooting, you’ll gradually develop an intuitive feel for your shots. Once you reach this level, your skill will not only serve you in competitions but also in combat and hunting scenarios, making archery a powerful and rewarding tool in the world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance.