Summary
- The Bow of the Banshee is a powerful weapon in Baldur's Gate 3, and players may have to kill innocent NPCs like Corsair Greymon to obtain it.
- Corsair Greymon is a Duergar trader and boat captain that players will encounter while traveling by sea. While killing him is the safest way to get the Bow of the Banshee, they can choose to avoid combat and still acquire the bow. To do this, they can trade with Greymon.
- The Bow of the Banshee inflicts Frightened condition on enemies and grants a +1d4 bonus to attack and damage rolls, making it a valuable weapon for ranged party members.
Baldur's Gate 3 is chock-full of NPCs wearing and wielding some of the best armor and weapons in the game. If players want to collect the strongest gear for their party, they're going to have to kill quite a few characters during their journeys. Of course, it helps a lot if the NPC in question is an evil figure or is already on course for a battle with the player's party. It's the Baldur's Gate 3 characters that are innocent or helpful that tend to make gamers second guess whether the loot is worth the kill.
In the case at hand, there is one Baldur's Gate 3 NPC that carries a terrific bow, making his untimely demise particularly appealing for players with ranged party members. The NPC in question is Corsair Greymon, and he's not a bad person, so killing him in cold blood becomes a moral question for those partaking in good-aligned playthroughs. Luckily, however, his death may well be inevitable, and if not, there are other methods of securing the Bow of the Banshee.
There's a Good Chance Killing Corsair Greymon Will Happen Organically
The NPC in question is Corsair Greymon, a Duergar trader and boat captain. The player will first encounter him when traveling by sea to Grymforge in the Underdark. His vessel will pull up alongside the player's, and he will come aboard. There are several options when talking to Greymon, all of which require passing a check to avoid combat, which, of course, is a viable option in its own right to procure the weapon known as the Bow of the Banshee. One choice that should not be selected, though, is to try shoving him into the water, because if this works, all his loot will sink into the deep with him.
Should the player avoid a fight at that initial meeting, Greymon will travel with them to the Grymforge where another opportunity for combat will arise. There is a True Soul named Nere trapped behind some rubble in the area's caves, and if the player successfully rescues him and then sides with him, Greymon will be on the opposing side of the battle that ensues. However, it should be kept in mind that Nere is not a good guy, as is shown by his ruthless murder of a gnome slave once he is freed. So, partnering up with him isn't a great option for those attempting a morally righteous playthrough.
There's More Than One Way to Get the Bow of the Banshee
Should the player make it through the above scenarios without coming to blows with Greymon, they can always attack him at the Grymforge whenever they choose. However, this is completely unnecessary since Greymon is a trader, as mentioned earlier. The player can simply buy the Bow of the Banshee from him at any time after arriving in the region.
Whether looting Greymon's corpse or buying the weapon from him directly, the rare Bow of the Banshee is a must-have for ranged BG3 party members capable of wielding short bows. Its stats are as follows:
- 1d6 + 1 (2-7) Piercing damage
- Blood-Curdling Emission: On a hit, possibly inflict Frightened. Gain a +1d4 bonus to attack and damage rolls against Frightened creatures.
- Weapon Enchantment: +1
- Hamstring Shot (with Proficiency): Shoot an enemy in the thigh and possibly reduce their Movement Speed by 50%.
Frightened is a powerful condition to inflict upon enemies, as it makes them incapable of moving toward the party members and gives them Disadvantage on all Attacks and Ability Checks. The ability of this bow to create this condition, coupled with the bonus +1d4 to attack and damage rolls against those with the condition, makes it a truly formidable weapon. So, however the player chooses to acquire it from Corsair Greymon, it is well worth it.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available now on PC and PS5, with an Xbox Series X/S version also in development.