Detailed Guide to Bow and Arrows in Minecraft

The cubic world is as captivating as it is filled with sources of danger, such as neutral mobs, monsters, and in certain game modes — other players. For self-defense, everyone can craft shields and various weapons. You can learn about swords in another article, but in this one, we’ll explain how to make a bow in Minecraft. And of course, about arrows — using the bow without them is only practical for decorative purposes.

What is a Bow in Minecraft?

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A Minecraft bow is a ranged weapon that allows players to attack enemies from a relatively safe distance. However, this advantage does not apply to every enemy encountered. For example, the Warden has special ranged attacks, making fights against it require careful strategy.

Additionally, certain mobs, such as Skeletons, Strays, and Illusioners, can also use bows. Skeletons, in particular, are one of the main threats in the early stages of the game.

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How to Make a Bow in Minecraft

To craft a bow, you will need:

Once you have gathered these materials, go to a crafting table and arrange them in the crafting grid as shown in the image.

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If you have two damaged bows, you don’t need strings or sticks. Instead, you can combine the two to create a repaired bow. The new bow’s durability will be the sum of the two damaged ones plus an additional 5% durability bonus.

Get a Bow from a Villager

You can obtain the item without crafting — a Fletcher of "apprentice" level can sell a regular bow to the player. The cost will be 2 emeralds. An Expert-level Fletcher sells an enchanted bow, but at a higher price. The cost varies between 7 and 21 emeralds per unit.

Get a Bow as a Trophy

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Another way to obtain a bow is by defeating Skeletons or Strays. These mobs occasionally drop bows upon death. However, this method is not very reliable — the drop rate is only 8.5%. To increase your chances, you can enchant your sword with "Looting". This enchantment slightly boosts the drop rate, raising the total probability to 11.5%.

Bow as a Crafting Ingredient

In addition to being a great ranged weapon, a bow is also needed to craft a Dispenser. To create one, gather the following materials:

Arrange these ingredients in the crafting grid as shown in the image below:

Image: ensigame.com 

Arrows in Minecraft

Of course, bows need ammunition. To shoot with the weapon, simply have arrows in your character's inventory. They will be used automatically. You can also craft arrows. To do this, you'll need:

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The combination of these ingredients results in 4 projectiles. However, this is not the only way to obtain them. Skeletons and Strays can drop 1 or 2 arrows upon death. With some chance, the second arrow may have the "Slowness" effect. However, the projectiles fired by these mobs cannot be picked up by the player. 

You can also buy 16 arrows from the Fletcher. The price is quite affordable – only 1 emerald. At the highest level, he sells them with a random enchantment effect. 

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In Java Edition, arrows can also be obtained as a gift if the player has the "Hero of the Village" buff. Villagers will reward the player with either regular arrows or tipped arrows if they help defend the village.

You can also find arrows in structures like Jungle Temples and Bastion Remnants, where chests and dispensers usually generate between 2 to 17 arrows.

Finally, you can simply collect arrows in "Survival" mode. Arrows shot by dispensers or players and stuck in blocks can be picked up. However, arrows shot by Skeletons, Illusioners, or from a bow with the "Infinity" enchantment cannot be collected. In "Creative" mode, arrows are taken, but they do not appear in the inventory and simply disappear from the world.

Using a Bow in Minecraft

To use a bow, you first need to equip it. Arrows only need to be in your inventory. To shoot, first press the right mouse button to draw the bowstring. To fire, simply release the button. The more you draw the bowstring, the higher the damage. A fully drawn bowstring (which takes one second) deals 6 damage, and if you hold it longer, it can deal 11 damage.

The flight distance of an arrow is determined by the draw strength of the bow and the angle to the horizon set by the player. In lava and underwater, the arrow can still travel, but its flight will be slower, and the distance will be reduced.

To launch an arrow for the maximum flight distance (about 120 blocks), you need to fully draw the bowstring and shoot at a 45-degree angle upward from the horizon. If you shoot it vertically upwards with the same draw strength, the arrow will reach its maximum height (about 66 blocks).

To improve the combat effectiveness of arrows, they can be enhanced with potions. For this, you'll need:

Then, arrange the ingredients as shown:

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This type of projectile applies the corresponding effect to the mob or player upon impact. The duration will be ⅛ of the potion's effect duration. When shooting with a bow enchanted with Infinity, the ammo for these types of arrows remains limited.

In the Java Edition, Spectral Arrows are also available. When they hit an object or block, they light up a small area around the impact site. To craft them, you need a regular arrow and 4 Glowstone Dust. You can create two units by arranging the ingredients as shown in the image.

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In this article, we have covered how to craft and where to find bows and arrows in Minecraft, as well as highlighted the main aspects of their use. Make sure that before every journey in the game world, your bow is battle-ready with 100% durability, and that you have enough ammo in your inventory. This way, you'll be able to hunt for food and craft materials, as well as defend yourself from any threats.

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