Archery (Cyberpunk RED)
Definition
Archery covers bows and crossbows, which sounds like an odd fit for a city full of smartguns until you remember what a weapon scanner is looking for. A crossbow has no muzzle flash, no report, no metal signature that a corporate lobby scanner cares about, and no ballistics to match to a database afterwards. At the table Archery is an infiltration skill dressed up as a combat skill. It is the answer to a guard who must go down without alerting the next room, to a checkpoint that will find a pistol, and to a Badlands hunt where a gunshot travels for miles. The tradeoff is real: reloading is slow, the crew will out-damage you in an open fight, and you get roughly one quiet shot before the situation stops being quiet.
How it works
Tips
Frequently asked questions
Is Archery viable in Cyberpunk RED?
As a specialist tool, yes. It is not competitive with firearms in a standing fight, but it does something no gun does: it kills quietly and it passes through scanners that would catch anything with a barrel.
Do bows get past corporate security?
Standard weapon detection is built for firearms, so a broken-down bow or a compact crossbow has a real chance where a pistol has none. A thorough physical search will still find it.
How fast can I shoot?
Slowly, compared to anything with a magazine. Expect a shot and then a meaningful reload, which is why archery characters plan for one decisive shot rather than an exchange of fire.