As a longtime Baldur's Gate 3 player, I have spent far too many nights rummaging through the Underdark, sneaking past duergar, and sweet-talking my way into Baldur's Gate's swankiest estates—all for a handful of tiny ranged weapons. In 2026, with the game's patches long settled, the hand crossbow remains one of the most coveted tools for dual-wielders. There are only six of them in the entire game, scattered from Act One to Act Three. Six. That is the whole roster. So if you see one, do not walk past it. These little death-dealers do not ask for much—just a steady hand and a spare bonus action.
Why hand crossbows still matter in 2026 🎯
Hand crossbows are one-handed light weapons, which means you can dual-wield them or pair one with another weapon while still carrying a ranged option. To get real value from their damage, you need proficiency—level-one bards, rogues, and drow get it automatically. Honestly, if you are building a dual-wielder, proficiency is not optional; it is the whole point. The base hand crossbow deals 1d6 Piercing damage and offers Piercing Shot and Mobile Shot. That is simple, effective, and gone too soon if you sell it by accident.
The full list: all six hand crossbows
| # | Hand crossbow | Damage | Key feature | Where to find |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Hand Crossbow | 1d6 Piercing | Starter dual-wield option | Underdark beach corpses; Derryth at myconid colony |
| 5 | Hand Crossbow +1 | 1d6+1 Piercing | +1 enchantment | Derryth Bonecloak, Underdark (X:53 Y:97), 130 gold |
| 4 | Hand Crossbow +2 | 1d6+2 Piercing | +2 enchantment | Lady Jannath's Estate lockbox, Lower City, 155 gold |
| 3 | Firestoker | 1d6 Piercing +1d4 vs burning | Burned Alive | Grymforge upper level chest (X:-600 Y:443) |
| 2 | Hellfire Hand Crossbow | 1d6+2 Piercing | Hellstalker, Scorching Ray | Yurgir in Shar's Temple, Act Two |
| 1 | Ne'er Misser | 1d6+1 Force | Magic Missile | Roah Moonglow, Moonrise Towers, 589 gold |
6. Hand Crossbow — the humble opener
You can loot a regular hand crossbow from dead bodies around the Underdark beach, or buy one from Derryth at the myconid colony. It does 1d6 Piercing damage. No enchantment, no fireworks—just a reliable off-hand weapon that lets you keep shooting when the fight goes sideways. I still pick one up early every run. It is not glamorous, but it gets the job done.
5. Hand Crossbow +1 — your first enchanted toy
Derryth Bonecloak sells this one for 130 gold in the myconid colony. The +1 enchantment bumps damage to 1d6+1 and makes the weapon magical. That matters when you run into enemies with resistance to mundane attacks. Derryth is a dwarf at X:53 Y:97, and she is easy to miss if you are rushing through the Underdark. Slow down. Buy the crossbow. Thank me later.
4. Hand Crossbow +2 — the late-game upgrade
This is the last hand crossbow you will find in the game, and it hides in Lady Jannath's Estate in Baldur's Gate. To get there, you must reach the Lower City, pass the South Span checkpoint, and make your way to the mansion between the Grey Harbour Docks Waypoint and the Baldur's Gate Waypoint, beside Elerrathin's Home. On the second floor, enter the farthest room and turn around. There is a strong box inside the wall beside the doorway. Unlock it, and you get the Hand Crossbow +2, an Arrow of Fiend Slaying, and an Arrow of Aberration Slaying. The +2 crossbow does 1d6+2 Piercing damage and sells for 155 gold. It is one of the better off-hand weapons in the game, and it is absolutely worth the detour.
3. Firestoker — the arsonist's friend 🔥
Firestoker is in a chest on the upper level of Grymforge, at X:-600 Y:443. You get there by taking the boat from the Underdark Beach, then destroying the rubble that blocks the upper level. The room with the chest is past a ladder, some levers, and a metal platform—and yes, you will have to fight a Merregon Legionnaire. Bring fire. Firestoker deals 1d6 Piercing plus an extra 1d4 against burning enemies. Trust me, that extra 1d4 is no joke when you pair it with a fire spell or a burning surface. It likes its targets crispy.
2. Hellfire Hand Crossbow — Yurgir's parting gift 💥
Yurgir drops this beauty at the end of Shar's Temple in Act Two, behind the House of Healing. You will need to solve puzzles and fight your way through before you reach him. The Hellfire Hand Crossbow does 1d6+2 Piercing damage, comes with Scorching Ray, and has Hellstalker: a chance to inflict Burning when you attack from hiding or invisibility. This is a fitting reward for a hard fight, and it pairs beautifully with a rogue who loves to vanish and reappear. Let's be real: if you are doing a stealth build, this crossbow is a match made in the Shadow-Cursed Lands.
1. Ne'er Misser — the guaranteed hit ✨
Roah Moonglow sells Ne'er Misser in Moonrise Towers for 589 gold. It does 1d6+1 Force damage instead of Piercing, which is a rare and useful damage type. It also grants the Magic Missile spell. The name says it all—this crossbow refuses to miss. It is my personal favorite for Act Two, because Force damage cuts through a lot of resistances and Magic Missile is never unwelcome. Just make sure you have protection from the Shadow Curse before you go shopping in Reithwin Town.
Final thoughts for 2026
Six hand crossbows. That is the entire list, even after all these years. If you are running a bard, rogue, or drow dual-wielder, you owe it to yourself to grab at least the +1 and the Ne'er Misser. The Firestoker and Hellfire are situational but spectacular, and the +2 is a late-game prize worth the lockpicking. Happy hunting—and keep an eye on those lockboxes.