Hand Crossbows

"Single hand crossbows tend to be less damaging than comparable two-handed bows and crossbows. When demon hunters wield them as a pair, they can fill the air with a continuous salvo of arrows."

- Game Guide

Hand Crossbows are a Demon Hunter-exclusive ranged weapon type in Diablo III. Unlike normal crossbows, hand crossbows are one-handed and therefore can be dual wielded, although nothing prevents a Demon Hunter from wearing it with a quiver or even with a shield (but not with any other weapon). Hand Crossbows are rapid-fire and generally low-damage weapons, designed for those Demon Hunters who value attack speed. Dual wielding Hand Crossbows grants a 15% bonus to attack speed, to compensate for the inability to use a Quiver.

Hand Crossbows may roll Hatred regeneration and maximum Hatred and Discipline (the latter as a secondary stat) in addition to normal weapon affixes. Using the Archery passive, equipping one Hand Crossbow grants a Demon Hunter +5% Critical Hit chance; equipping a second grants an additional +1 Hatred per second.

Hand crossbows may not be transmogrified into any other item type.