Dread

The Dread is a deadly hunting bow firing bladed arrows, serving as the Stalker's signature weapon.

This weapon can be sold for.

The Dread cannot be purchased separately, but it is included in the What Stalker? bundle. Its blueprint can be dropped by the Stalker upon death or when he is forced to flee.

Characteristics
This weapon deals primarily Slash damage.

Advantages:
 * The highest innate Critical Chance out of all weapons, high enough to proc Red Crits with modding.
 * Silent.
 * High Slash Damage makes it effective versus Infested and Flesh type enemies.
 * Can stagger Ancients on every hit, even uncharged.
 * Can hit multiple enemies in a line.
 * The bow exclusive mod Thunderbolt makes this weapon more devastating against groups of enemies.
 * Innate Punch Through when fully charged.
 * Pinpoint accuracy when aiming.

Disadvantages:
 * Low Impact and Puncture damage, ill-suited against Shields or Armor.
 * Slow fire rate renders Dread ill-suited for close quarters.
 * When charging arrows between each shot, enemy shields will often start to regenerate in between each shot.

Weapon Loadouts
See the user build section for builds using this weapon.

Tips

 * Use the Arrow Mutation mod to compensate for the low ammo capacity and regain lost ammo.

Trivia

 * The Dread is unique in that its 'string' glows. Light runs along the string towards the draw point.
 * This light glows reddish when it is drawn.
 * Unlike the other bows, the Dread uses arrows with a curved blade for a tip, as opposed to the pointed head of Paris and Paris Prime, or the blunted mace-like head of the Cernos.
 * Although these arrows are fired with their blades horizontally, they still appear to cause vertical dismemberment.
 * The Dread appears to be the only bow with an optical assist installed.
 * The cylindrical object near the grip could be a scope, rangefinder or possibly a laser sight of some kind.
 * Despite the Dread being referred to as the Stalker's calling card, it is strangely available for purchase with Darvo having stock. It is never explained where he attained this stock of the Stalker's weapons, or where the Dread, Despair and Hate are produced.