Crossbows are the ranged half of Grim Trials’ dual-weapon combat system, and the current demo lets Avelin fire while moving. That movement rework makes the crossbow especially useful for maintaining damage while repositioning around enemies, projectiles, traps and unsafe melee windows.
The ranged-combat rework
In the February 2026 demo update, the developers specifically called out a ranged attack rework: Avelin can shoot her crossbow while moving. That is a meaningful change in an arena roguelite because it reduces the amount of time ranged pressure forces you to stand still.
The immediate use case is simple: keep firing when you need to create space. Instead of treating movement as pure downtime, the crossbow can help you chip enemies or preserve a damage chain while you wait for a safer scythe opening.
When to use the crossbow
- During unsafe melee patterns. Boss attacks, projectile waves and crowded hexes can make a close-range swing unnecessarily risky.
- While repositioning. Because firing while moving is supported in the current demo, ranged damage can accompany your escape path instead of interrupting it.
- To finish weakened enemies. A ranged option can save a dangerous re-entry into melee when a target only needs a small amount of damage.
- To support a ranged-focused Skill Tree path. Public screenshots of the demo tree show dedicated ranged investment, though exact values should be treated as version-specific until launch.
How to pair a crossbow with a scythe
The official game page says the combat system rewards clever use of the scythe and crossbow together. A useful pair should therefore cover two different combat needs without pulling the build in opposite directions.
| If your scythe... | Look for a crossbow that... |
|---|---|
| Needs close-range setup time | Lets you maintain safe pressure while finding the next opening. |
| Excels at crowd clearing | Helps pick off distant or dangerous priority targets. |
| Leans heavily into one effect | Either reinforces that effect or covers a weakness the scythe cannot handle. |
| Already has excellent general damage | Adds utility, consistency or safer boss uptime instead of duplicating the same role. |
Crossbows and crafting
Crossbows are part of the same crafting-and-equipment economy as other weapons. Materials survive failed runs, and the official demo description says side quests can unlock recipes for new weapons. That creates a progression loop where even an unsuccessful Trial can still move you toward another ranged option.
After release, this site will track recipe unlock source, material cost, effect text, tested damage behavior and which scythes pair well with each crossbow.
See ranged combat in the trailer
The release-date trailer is useful for seeing the speed of movement and the constant transition between attacking and repositioning. Final frame data and balance should still be tested in the launch build.
What is the best crossbow?
There is no verified full-game answer before launch. A credible ranking needs the complete item pool and a stable patch, then should compare damage uptime, movement safety, effect consistency, crafting cost, boss usefulness and synergy with scythes, skills and Blessings.
Related guides
Sources & verification
- Grim Trials on Steam — confirms crossbows and the dual-weapon combat design
- February 2026 demo update on Steam — confirms shooting the crossbow while moving
- Grim Trials Demo on Steam — confirms recipe-unlock side quests and persistent materials
- Soft Source release-date trailer — publisher footage used in the embed