Fully drawing the bow maximizes accuracy, range, and damage. If you're even considering a partial-draw shot, you should use a melee weapon instead.

Originally posted by ThatTimGuy:

Fully drawing the bow maximizes accuracy, range, and damage. If you're even considering a partial-draw shot, you should use a melee weapon instead.

this!

Part draw is pointless, unless your that close and don't want to go melee for some reason.

A missed shot is both a waste of an arrow, stamina, and time in combat.

Yeah, cos I was thinking like against trolls, such a big target can hit at any draw. And just wondered what the optimal dps was ignoring accuracy

I don't find the damage is worth it on a partial draw. I guess if you just had tons of arrows to throw away and really needed to focus on moving, it's feasible, but not optimal.

Originally posted by ThatTimGuy:

Fully drawing the bow maximizes accuracy, range, and damage. If you're even considering a partial-draw shot, you should use a melee weapon instead.

+2

I find that partially drawing your bow is a viable strategy when using FIRE arrows against enemies with high HP (2 star trolls, for example). Yes, it would be IDEAL to fully draw bow EVERY time, but, realistically, this isn't always possible or necessary.

Situational. Definitely go full draw on first shot if it's sneak attack. but up close as a finisher half-draw can work really well on low stamina.

The lower the draw, though, the lower the accuracy. Make sure if you're half-drawing you've got your targets properly painted!

You answered you own question.
Sometimes it makes sense to draw the bow only partially
Specially against Greylings, think about it to understand.

The highest tier bow, Draugr Fang, has a poison passive (and when you upgrade the bow this poison gets stronger). This procs regardless of damage, you only need an arrow to hit for it to work.

This means you can rapidly pop shots off at multiple targets which can be helpful if they are low on health already.