Do not treat Thistle and Vetch as a straight upgrade—Thistle is the Sirin starter Bow (Grace, Common, 44 attack post-P15, no virtue gate) while Vetch is...
Weapon overview
Thistle
Bows · Grace · Common
Common Sirin bow and the Grace pact starter unlocked through Rise, Envoy. Craft with Scrap Iron×15, Dendrit Weave×20, and Knotwood×15 (4h, 1500 Dracs); no Virtue requirement. Post-Preludes 15: 44 ATK, 110 charged, 18 stagger, 5% smite — a lightweight Rood-style recurve tuned for ranged Grace play. Optional whole-bow previews spawn from the same early containers as other starters (Barrel, Basket, Crate, Sword Rack). Mid-game Sirin upgrades: Juniper for higher Grace investment or Avex when you want a faster bow cadence; see pact-selection and beginners guides for Sirin ranged builds. Thistle pairs with the Sirin, Duelo, and Wyld Sirin pacts and is one of three Virtue-gate-free starter weapons alongside Gwylen and Nettle, making it the default ranged pick for new Grace players. Lore calls it a well-worn hunter's bow bearing the mark of a Roods craftsman — its grooved handle shaped to fit like an old friend's grip.
Uncommon Dendrit Long Blade requiring 11 Courage with Grace co-attunement, 48 ATK, and 30 stagger. Forge it from two fragments farmed from Etheldred The Weaver or Seachnall The Widower.
