[Rataxes]

For SoA only? Definitely some sort of bow, preferably a Short Bow. Crossbows might do slightly more damage per hit, but bows hit a lot faster, resulting in much more damage over time. I'd take Shortbows because the by far best bows in the game - Tuigan and Gesen Bow - are both shortbows.

Crossbows do have a better selection of ammo, most notably Kua-Toa bolts which Stun and do almost twice as much damage as normal bolts, but also Bolts of Biting and Bolts of Lightning. As has already been mentioned though, Bows get Arrows of Dispelling which are awesome quite simply.