Bentley's Crossbow

Lore & Background

Bentley, the turtle who serves as the brains of the Cooper Gang, uses a sleep-dart crossbow as his primary tool for dealing with enemies. In Sly 2: Band of Thieves, Bentley's role is to plan missions and contribute technical skills, and his crossbow is a key part of his equipment. The crossbow fires darts that put enemies to sleep, allowing Bentley to neutralize threats without direct confrontation. This is especially important because Bentley lacks the physical abilities of his teammates—he cannot climb poles or jump very far—so the crossbow gives him a way to contribute to combat from a safe distance. The crossbow is also used for sabotage, as Bentley can use it to disable enemy equipment. This makes him invaluable for missions that require technical precision or stealthy disruption. While Sly focuses on close-quarters stealth and Murray provides brute strength, Bentley's crossbow allows him to support the gang from the shadows, ensuring that their heists go smoothly. The crossbow's sleep darts are a non-lethal option, consistent with the gang's preference for avoiding unnecessary violence.

In Their Own Story

The Cooper Gang had just arrived in Paris, and Bentley was already at work. From the safe house, he studied the blueprints of Dimitri's nightclub, plotting their first move. 'Sly, I'll need to take out the guard near the back entrance,' he said, loading a sleep dart into his crossbow. 'Once he's down, you can slip in and grab the key.'

Sly nodded. 'Just make sure you don't miss.'

Bentley smirked. 'I never miss.' He crept to a balcony overlooking the alley, raised his crossbow, and fired. The dart struck the guard's neck, and the man slumped to the ground, fast asleep. 'Guard down. You're clear.'

'Nice shot,' Sly said, dropping from the rooftop. 'Now let's see what Dimitri is hiding.'

Later, in India, Bentley used his crossbow again, this time to sabotage a security system. 'I'll take out the power box from here,' he said, aiming at a distant control panel. The dart hit its mark, and the lights flickered and died. 'That should buy us some time.'

Murray grinned. 'You're the best, Bentley!'

Reader's Guide

Bentley's Crossbow is a sleep-dart weapon used by Bentley in Sly 2: Band of Thieves. It is a ranged tool that allows Bentley to defeat enemies or sabotage enemy equipment from a distance. The crossbow is especially useful because Bentley cannot climb poles or jump very far, making it his primary means of dealing with threats in combat situations. To use the crossbow effectively, players should take advantage of Bentley's stealth capabilities. The sleep darts allow Bentley to put enemies to sleep without alerting others, making it ideal for clearing a path or disabling guards in a specific area. The crossbow can also be used to sabotage enemy equipment, such as security systems or machinery, which can open up new paths or disable alarms. Bentley's crossbow is most effective when used from a distance or from high ground, as this keeps him out of reach of enemies. Since Bentley has the least health of the three characters, players should avoid direct combat and rely on the crossbow to neutralize threats from afar. The crossbow's darts are a finite resource, so players should use them strategically, saving them for key moments rather than wasting them on every guard. In missions that require collaboration, Bentley's crossbow can be used to support Sly or Murray. For example, Bentley can put a guard to sleep so that Sly can sneak past, or he can sabotage a piece of equipment that Murray needs to destroy. The crossbow is a versatile tool that complements Bentley's role as the gang's planner and technician.

Did You Know?

• Bentley's crossbow fires sleep darts that can put enemies to sleep, allowing for non-lethal takedowns.
• In Sly 2: Band of Thieves, Bentley uses the crossbow to sabotage enemy equipment, not just to defeat enemies.
• Bentley cannot climb poles or jump very far, so the crossbow is his primary means of dealing with threats from a distance.
• The crossbow is part of Bentley's technical skill set, which also includes computer hacking and countdown bombs.
• Bentley has the least health of the three playable characters in Sly 2: Band of Thieves, making the crossbow's ranged capability essential for his survival.