Pulse Bow

Type	Weapon
Uses ammo	Arrows
Damage	80 / 65 (Ranged)
Knockback	3 (Very weak)
Critical chance	11%
Use time	20 (Very fast) /; 22 (Fast)
Velocity	23.25 (not affected by ammo)
Tooltip	Shoots a charged arrow
Rarity
Buy	45
Sell	9
Research	1 required
Use

PC/Console/Old-gen console/Mobile/Windows Phone/Old Chinese/tModLoader/tModLoader 1.3-Legacy-Only Content: This information applies only to the PC, Console, Old-gen console, Mobile, Windows Phone, Old Chinese, tModLoader, and tModLoader Legacy versions of Terraria.

The Pulse Bow is a unique Hardmode bow that auto-fires a high-velocity glowing light blue bolt, which is unaffected by gravity, will pierce enemies, can ricochet, and flies for 3.5 seconds (about 480 tiles) before dissipating. It is purchased from the Traveling Merchant after all 3 Mechanical Bosses have been defeated for 45gold.

The projectile can pierce or ricochet five times in total, dissipating upon the sixth hit. Each ricochet causes the bolt to pierce one less enemy and vice versa.

Like other bows and repeaters, it can use any arrow type as ammunition. However, the Pulse Bow converts all arrows to its special bolt. Normal effects of various arrow types are canceled, except for their damage statistic. The Pulse Bow has a base 11% critical strike chance as opposed to the usual 4%.

The Traveling Merchant will use it for self-defense once a world is in Hardmode.

Its best modifier is Unreal.

Notes[]

Each ricochet or hit enemy will reduce the projectile's base damage by 10%.^[1] For example, if used with Wooden Arrows, it will only deal 50 / 41 base damage ( 62.5% / 63.08% of the original damage) after five ricochets/enemies.
The Pulse Bow operates differently compared to most other bows. Even though it consumes arrows, its projectiles appear as if they were cast by a magic weapon in that they emit a particle glow, ricochet, pierce, dissipate in midair, and are unaffected by gravity.

Tips[]

Its piercing and ricochet abilities make it useful in confined spaces, such as the Dungeon.
If shot at the right angle, the Pulse Bow's projectiles can ricochet through one-block walls. This appears to happen when the projectile hits a block at an entry angle of 40 to 50 degrees, and is easier to pull off when first bouncing the projectile off of another surface. This useful trick can be used in many situations to attack enemies behind cover.
Because the Pulse Bow cancels additional arrow effects, damage is the only factor that should be considered in choosing an arrow type. The highest base damage of 99 / 82 can currently be achieved with Venom Arrows.
The Endless Quiver will work as usual, allowing the Pulse Bow to fire bolts indefinitely.
This weapon is very similar to the Stake Launcher, both firing piercing projectiles unaffected by gravity and suitable for crowd control on flat arenas. On the Old-gen console, Windows Phone, Old Chinese, 3DS, and tModLoader Legacy versions, their DPS (with Venom Arrows) is approximately equal, but the Pulse Bow is affected by the Archery Potion, pushing its damage higher, while the Stake Launcher is not. On the other hand, Stakes can hit up to ten enemies, while pulse bolts only manage six, and their damage decreases each time they pierce.
- On the PC version, Console version, Mobile version, and tModLoader version, the Stake Launcher is affected by the Archery Potion, and on the PC version, Console version, Mobile version, and tModLoader version the Stake Launcher received a stat increase, thus making it superior to the Pulse Bow in most occasions.

Trivia[]

The Pulse Bow's color scheme is similar to that of Shroomite equipment.
The changelog for 1.4.0.1 claims an increased damage reduction of 20% per hit (instead of 10%). This was not put into effect, however.
The Pulse Bow has the highest listed base damage of all bows in the game.

History[]

PC version

Desktop 1.4.0.1:
- Damage increased from 65 to 85.
- Use time decreased from 22 to 20.

Desktop 1.2.3: Introduced.

References[]

↑ Information taken from the PC 1.4.0.5 source code, method HandleMovement() in Terraria.Projectile.cs. There may be inaccuracies, as the current PC version is 1.4.4.9.

[sourcecode_1-1] Information taken from the PC 1.4.0.5 source code, method HandleMovement() in Terraria.Projectile.cs. There may be inaccuracies, as the current PC version is 1.4.4.9.

[1]

Terraria Wiki

Pulse Bow

Contents

Notes[]

Tips[]

Trivia[]

History[]

References[]

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