Overview
Shot Contest: Bow is one of the competitive minigames in Crimson Desert. Players face off against one of Pywel's sharpshooters in a head-to-head archery contest, racing to hit 10 wooden targets before their opponent does. The minigame tests quick reflexes and accurate aim with bows, rewarding winners with Copper that increases with consecutive victories.
The contest is one of two shooting minigames available in Crimson Desert, alongside the Shot Contest: Gun, which uses firearms instead of bows. Both contests share the same core format of racing to 10 target hits, but the bow variant has a lower entry fee and is accessible earlier in the game.
Location
The Shot Contest: Bow is located at Lioncrest Manor, the seat of House Alfonso, in the Hernand region. The manor sits northwest of Hernand City. Players can find the archery grounds on the manor premises where the contest takes place.
Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Region | |
Venue | |
Directions | Northwest of Hernand City |
How to Unlock
The Shot Contest: Bow becomes available after completing the main quest Skilled in Archery, the 52nd mission in the main storyline. This quest falls under Chapter 4, "The Price of Knowledge," in the Daily Life sub-chapter. During the quest, Naira and Duane are at the archery grounds, where Duane is being teased for his poor shooting. Lacking confidence, Duane asks the player to compete in the archery contest on his behalf. The prerequisite for Skilled in Archery is completing the "Disturbance at the Arena" quest.
After winning the archery contest during the quest and speaking with Duane, the Shot Contest: Bow is permanently unlocked as a repeatable minigame. Players can return to Lioncrest Manor at any time to compete again.
Entry Fee and Availability
Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
Entry Fee | 80 Copper per match |
Cooldown | None |
Repeat Limit | Unlimited (as long as you have Copper) |
Each match costs 80 Copper to enter. There is no cooldown or refresh timer between matches, so players can keep competing back-to-back as many times as they want, provided they have enough Copper to cover the entry fee.
Rules and Gameplay
The Shot Contest: Bow is a first-to-10 race. One wooden target appears at a random position at a time, and both the player and the opposing sharpshooter attempt to hit it. The first competitor to successfully hit 10 targets wins the match.
Controls
Hold L2 (or the equivalent aim button on your platform) to draw the bow and enter aiming mode. While aiming, move the reticle toward the target. Release L2 to fire the arrow. The player has an unlimited supply of arrows during the contest, so there is no need to conserve ammunition.
Target Behavior
Targets are wooden boards that pop up one at a time in random positions across the shooting range.
A new target appears immediately after the previous one is hit by either competitor.
Targets can appear to the left, center, or right of the aiming position.
Both the player and the AI opponent fire at the same target simultaneously.
Scoring
Scoring is straightforward. Each successful hit on a target counts as one point. The first competitor to reach 10 points wins the match. There are no bonus points for speed, accuracy, or consecutive hits. Missed shots do not carry a penalty beyond wasting time, which gives the opponent more chances to hit the target first.
Condition | Result |
|---|---|
Player reaches 10 hits first | Victory |
Opponent reaches 10 hits first | Defeat |
Missed shot | No penalty, but opponent may score |
Rewards
Winning the Shot Contest: Bow earns the player Copper. The base reward for a single win is 80 Copper, which effectively refunds the entry fee and provides profit on top. Notably, consecutive wins increase the Copper payout. The longer your winning streak, the more Copper you receive per victory.
Reward Type | Details |
|---|---|
Base Reward | Copper (currency) |
Base Payout | 80 Copper per win |
Consecutive Win Bonus | Reward increases with each consecutive victory |
Loss Payout | None (entry fee is forfeited) |
Because the entry fee is 80 Copper and the base reward is also 80 Copper, the minigame effectively pays for itself on a single win. With the consecutive win bonus, it becomes one of the most efficient early-game methods for earning currency in Crimson Desert. Several community guides highlight the Shot Contest: Bow as the best repeatable money-making activity during the first hours of gameplay.
Comparison to Shot Contest: Gun
Crimson Desert features two Shot Contest minigames with similar formats. The key differences are the weapon used, the entry fee, and character availability.
Feature | Shot Contest: Bow | |
|---|---|---|
Weapon | Bow | Firearm |
Entry Fee | 80 Copper | 1 Silver |
Location | ||
Win Condition | First to 10 targets | First to 10 targets |
Consecutive Win Bonus | Yes | Yes |
Character Restriction | None | Exclusive to Damiane |
The bow variant costs significantly less to enter and has no character restriction, making it the more accessible of the two contests. The gun variant is exclusive to Damiane and costs 1 Silver, which is a higher investment. Both minigames reward consecutive wins with increasing payouts.
Tips and Strategy
Keep your aim centered. Between targets, hold your reticle at the center of the shooting range. Targets can appear to the left, center, or right, so a centered starting position minimizes the distance you need to adjust when a new target pops up.
React quickly, do not overthink. The contest is a speed race. As soon as you see a target appear, flick toward it and release. Waiting for a perfect shot costs time that the AI opponent will not waste.
Use unlimited arrows freely. Since ammunition is infinite during the contest, do not hesitate to take slightly imprecise shots. A quick near-miss followed by a fast correction is often faster than waiting for perfect alignment.
Save before entering. If you are building a consecutive win streak for increased rewards, it is a good idea to save your game before starting a match. If you lose, you can reload to preserve your streak and avoid losing the entry fee.
Play early and often. The Shot Contest: Bow is widely considered the most efficient early-game money-making method. Since there is no cooldown between matches, you can grind multiple wins in a short period to build up your Copper reserves for purchasing equipment and supplies.
Watch for the pattern. While target placement is random, staying alert and focused helps build rhythm. After several rounds, you will develop a feel for the timing between target appearances.
Related Content
Minigames - Overview of all minigames in Crimson Desert
Shot Contest: Gun - The firearm-based shooting contest
Bows - The weapon type used in this contest
Lioncrest Manor - The location where the contest takes place
House Alfonso - The noble house that controls Lioncrest Manor
Hernand - The region where the contest is found
Currencies - Currency system including Copper rewards