Seems like we'll be getting Crossbows alongside a new Bow in Mistlands.
I wonder if crossbows will be its own skill or goverened under bows…
But what do we think?
Personally I'd like to see it share ammo and be goverened by the bow skill, instead working mechanically different to Bows.
I.e it always fires at full power, but needs to be loaded before it'll fire – loading will take time and stamina, and will lower the higher your skill level. Loading will be when you're slow and can't take certain actions.
The main benefit will be having a "bow" that you can essentially keep charged and run around with. To make up for this it will probably reload slower than an actual bow can be drawn (like real life) but do more damage and potentially fly more accurately, making it more of a sniper weapon.
Input-wise this will probably be something like…
Empty crossbow > Tap LMB to load (can right click to stop) > when loaded holding LMB will aim (right click to cancel) and releasing fires.
If they do give it its own ammo I'd like to see aoe-bolts. eg. a toxic cloud bolt, a freezing cloud bolt that slows enemies in the area, a fire explosion bolt, that sort of thing.
This would make crossbows more unique, and give a bit of a fail-safe for when you do miss with it (as it's slower) because it might still catch enemies in the cloud, especially if they "hang in the air" for a bit.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/valheim/comments/x7z3fi/crossbow_predictions/