This is a traceable player route, not an in-house test or an official recommendation. Use it as a route to verify in your own run.
The useful short answer
Crossbow is the obvious starting point for players who want a ranged opening. The official store confirms that Sephiria has six weapon branches; the more specific claim that Crossbow is the only non-melee starting weapon comes from player discussion, so treat it as community evidence until reproduced in game.
A documented community route
One shared route combines Explosive Device with Golden Crown of Arrogance and Crown of Humility to pursue Colossal Crossbow. The same player recommends Scythe of Berut, Reloading Wooden Crate and Crossbow Quiver as supporting pieces.
- Core: Explosive Device + Golden Crown of Arrogance + Crown of Humility
- Support: Scythe of Berut, Reloading Wooden Crate, Crossbow Quiver
- Status: community route, not a current-version best-in-slot test
What still needs testing
Unlock conditions, exact current coefficients and how reliably the combination appears are not established by the cited material. Check the in-game tooltip and recipe panel before committing a run, and use the related build below as a route to test rather than a guarantee.