Bow

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For the ranged weapon of a similar name, see Crossbow.
For other uses, see Bow (disambiguation).
Bow

Bow.png: Infobox image for Bow the item in Minecraft

Bow (Pull 0).png: Infobox image for Bow the item in Minecraft

Bow (Pull 1).png: Infobox image for Bow the item in Minecraft

Bow (Pull 2).png: Infobox image for Bow the item in Minecraft

Invicon Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Bow
Rarity tier

Common

Durability

384

Renewable

Yes

Stackable

No

A bow is a ranged weapon that shoots arrows.

Obtaining[edit | edit source]

Crafting[edit | edit source]

Ingredients Crafting recipe
Stick +
String
Invicon Stick.png: Inventory sprite for Stick in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Stick with description: StickInvicon String.png: Inventory sprite for String in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to String with description: StringInvicon Stick.png: Inventory sprite for Stick in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Stick with description: StickInvicon String.png: Inventory sprite for String in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to String with description: StringInvicon Stick.png: Inventory sprite for Stick in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Stick with description: StickInvicon String.png: Inventory sprite for String in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to String with description: String
Invicon Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Bow

Generated loot[edit | edit source]

Item Structure Container Quantity Chance
Java Edition
ItemSprite bow.png: Sprite image for bow in Minecraft linking to BowEnchanted Bow[A] EnvSprite trial-chambers.png: Sprite image for trial-chambers in Minecraft linking to Trial ChambersTrial Chambers Vault 1 10.4%
Bedrock Edition
ItemSprite bow.png: Sprite image for bow in Minecraft linking to BowEnchanted Bow[A] EnvSprite trial-chambers.png: Sprite image for trial-chambers in Minecraft linking to Trial ChambersTrial Chambers Vault 1 2.6%
  1. a b Enchantment probabilities are the same as a level-5 to level-15 enchantment would be on an enchantment table that was able to apply treasure enchantments (except Soul Speed, Swift Sneak, and Wind Burst), and where the chance of multiple enchantments is not reduced.

Mob loot[edit | edit source]

Skeletons, strays, bogged and illusioners[edit | edit source]

Skeletons, strays, bogged and illusioners[JE only] have an 8.5% chance of dropping a normal or enchanted bow on death when killed by a player or a tamed wolf.

The chance of dropping a bow is increased by 1% per level of Looting, allowing up to an 11.5% chance of dropping.

The chance of being enchanted depends on the difficulty level, but the random enchantment level (5–22) does not.

Bows of skeleton traps are always enchanted at a random level from 5 to 23. The exact level depends on regional difficulty, as on Easy it is always a level-5 enchantment.

Trading[edit | edit source]

VillagerProbabilityVillager wantsPlayer receives
JEBE
Apprentice Fletcher100%100%2 × Invicon Emerald.png: Sprite image for Emerald in Minecraft linking to EmeraldEmeraldInvicon Bow.png: Sprite image for Bow in Minecraft linking to BowBow
Expert Fletcher100%100%7–21 × Invicon Emerald.png: Sprite image for Emerald in Minecraft linking to EmeraldEmerald Enchanted Bow[t 1]
  1. When creating an enchantment offer, the game uses a random enchantment level from 5 – 19. The enchantments are never treasure enchantments.

Fishing[edit | edit source]

Main article: Fishing

Enchanted bows are obtainable through fishing, with a 0.8% chance per attempt. See fishing for more details. When caught, the bow may be damaged and contain random enchantments equivalent to a level 30 enchantment from an enchanting table, including treasure enchantments like Mending.

Usage[edit | edit source]

Weapon[edit | edit source]

Bows can be drawn back by using them. In order to use a bow, the player must have at least one arrow in their inventory or be in Creative mode. The arrow that is shown inside the bow always looks like a regular arrow, regardless of what kind of arrow is actually being shot from the bow.[1]

When drawing a bow, the display zooms in slightly. Charging the bow to its maximum causes it to visually shake as an indicator. Releasing the button shoots an arrow. Drawing a bow can be canceled by switching to another hotbar slot while holding use. Holding bow at maximum charge for more than 72000 ticks (1 hour) results in charge being reset without shooting arrow.

While the bow is being charged or remains fully charged, the player is forced to move at sneaking speed, unless they are riding a horse, minecart or boat, or flying with elytra. It is not possible to sprint while charging a bow or holding a drawn bow. When the bow is released, normal motion resumes although any prior sprint is cancelled. Sneaking while drawing the bow makes the player move even slower.

If an arrow hits another player, the player that shoots the arrow hears a high-pitched "ding" sound.‌[Java Edition only]

Fully charged shots launch critical arrows that have a trail of particles behind them and deal up to (3x2)+2 damage, where x is the damage after any enchantments. The listed values below describe maximum damage from a bow with no Power enchantments, assuming the target is at a distance where drag and gravity are negligible. The average damage of a shot at critical charge is around 9, as damage is dealt at a random value between x and (3x2)+2 and it is rare to have minimum or maximum values. The damage dealt can ultimately be less than the maximum damage if the arrow slows down after being shot.

Charging time Attack damage
ItemSprite bow.png: Sprite image for bow in Minecraft0.1 s (no charge) 1♥
ItemSprite bow.png: Sprite image for bow in Minecraft0.2–0.9 s (medium charge) 5♥♥♥
ItemSprite bow.png: Sprite image for bow in Minecraft1 s (full charge) 6♥♥♥
ItemSprite bow.png: Sprite image for bow in MinecraftAbove 1 s (critical charge) 6♥♥♥ to 11♥ × 5.5

The game stores the damage of arrows even in values with a decimal point. For example, it is possible for a critical arrow shot to cause damage values such as 6.4. In this case, the game can round up or down and store the amount for subsequent damage sources.

Any projectile thrown by the player is under the influence of momentum in current versions of Minecraft. Naturally, the player's movement speed can be modified under a number of circumstances, affecting the ballistic trajectory of projectiles, and as a result, the damage inflicted by arrows.

In Java Edition Combat Tests, to avoid sniping, arrows shot from fully-charged bows become non-critical if held drawn back for longer than three seconds. Instantaneous effects on tipped arrows are scaled by 1/8, just like the duration of other effects. For example, Instant Damage I arrow deals an additional 0.75♥ × 0.375 magical damage.

Damage caused by the arrow is not affected by the Strength effect.

Few mobs cannot be shot using an arrow, because the arrow either disappears or it gets deflected. This includes:

Also, a shield can block any attack from the bow.

Crafting ingredient[edit | edit source]

Name Ingredients Crafting recipe Description
Dispenser Cobblestone +
Bow +
Redstone Dust
Invicon Cobblestone.png: Inventory sprite for Cobblestone in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cobblestone with description: CobblestoneInvicon Cobblestone.png: Inventory sprite for Cobblestone in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cobblestone with description: CobblestoneInvicon Cobblestone.png: Inventory sprite for Cobblestone in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cobblestone with description: CobblestoneInvicon Cobblestone.png: Inventory sprite for Cobblestone in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cobblestone with description: CobblestoneInvicon Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: BowInvicon Cobblestone.png: Inventory sprite for Cobblestone in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cobblestone with description: CobblestoneInvicon Cobblestone.png: Inventory sprite for Cobblestone in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cobblestone with description: CobblestoneInvicon Redstone Dust.png: Inventory sprite for Redstone Dust in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Redstone Dust with description: Redstone DustInvicon Cobblestone.png: Inventory sprite for Cobblestone in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cobblestone with description: Cobblestone
Invicon Dispenser.png: Inventory sprite for Dispenser in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Dispenser with description: Dispenser
The bow can be of any durability.
Enchantments on the bow do not affect the resulting dispenser.

Repairing[edit | edit source]

Combining[edit | edit source]

Ingredients Crafting recipe Description
2× Damaged Bow
Invicon Damaged Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Damaged Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: BowInvicon Damaged Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Damaged Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Bow
Invicon Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Bow
The durability of the two bows is added together, plus an extra 5% durability.
Ingredients Grinding recipe Description
2× Damaged Bow
Invicon Damaged Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Damaged Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: BowInvicon Damaged Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Damaged Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: BowInvicon Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Bow
The durability of the two bows is added together, plus an extra 5% durability.

Unit repair[edit | edit source]

IngredientsAnvil recipe
Damaged Bow +
Damaged Bow
Damaged BowInvicon Damaged Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Damaged Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: BowInvicon Damaged Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Damaged Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: BowInvicon Bow.png: Inventory sprite for Bow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Bow

A bow can be combined with another bow in an anvil, preserving the enchantments of both.

Enchantments[edit | edit source]

Bows can receive several different enchantments and have a base enchantability of 1. Bow enchantments have no effect on arrow speed or the distance it travels. In Bedrock Edition if a bow is enchanted with any level 1 enchantment, it always gets Power I.[verify for Bedrock Edition]

Name Description Max Level Method Weight
Power Increases the damage dealt by bow-shot arrows. V BlockSprite enchanting-table.png: Sprite image for enchanting-table in Minecraft linking to Enchanting TableEnchanting Table
BlockSprite anvil.png: Sprite image for anvil in Minecraft linking to AnvilAnvil
10
Punch Increases the knockback dealt by bow-shot arrows. II BlockSprite enchanting-table.png: Sprite image for enchanting-table in Minecraft linking to Enchanting TableEnchanting Table
BlockSprite anvil.png: Sprite image for anvil in Minecraft linking to AnvilAnvil
2
Flame Ignites arrows, dealing fire damage to targets hit as well as igniting TNT and campfires. I BlockSprite enchanting-table.png: Sprite image for enchanting-table in Minecraft linking to Enchanting TableEnchanting Table
BlockSprite anvil.png: Sprite image for anvil in Minecraft linking to AnvilAnvil
2
Infinity[note 1] Stops the bow from consuming arrows when shot. I BlockSprite enchanting-table.png: Sprite image for enchanting-table in Minecraft linking to Enchanting TableEnchanting Table
BlockSprite anvil.png: Sprite image for anvil in Minecraft linking to AnvilAnvil
1
Unbreaking Grants a chance to negate durability consumption. III BlockSprite enchanting-table.png: Sprite image for enchanting-table in Minecraft linking to Enchanting TableEnchanting Table
BlockSprite anvil.png: Sprite image for anvil in Minecraft linking to AnvilAnvil
5
Mending[note 1] Repairs the bow when obtaining experience. I BlockSprite anvil.png: Sprite image for anvil in Minecraft linking to AnvilAnvil 2
Curse of Vanishing The bow vanishes on death, not dropping as an item. I BlockSprite anvil.png: Sprite image for anvil in Minecraft linking to AnvilAnvil 1
  1. a b Mending and Infinity are mutually exclusive.

Fuel[edit | edit source]

A bow can be used as fuel in furnaces, smelting 1.5 items per bow in Java Edition or 1 item per bow in Bedrock Edition.

Arrows[edit | edit source]

Main article: Arrow

As in real life, a flying arrow in Minecraft is affected by gravity. Its vertical speed is modified by one block downward every second, resulting in a parabolic flight path. An arrow slows down if shot through water, reducing its damage to near zero unless brought back into the air or otherwise given momentum.‌[Java Edition only]

Arrows that hit solid blocks become stuck and can be retrieved, unless the arrow was shot by a bow enchanted with Infinity, a player in Creative mode, or a mob.

An arrow shot through lava ignites, giving it the effect of the Flame enchantment, igniting any entity it hits. If not extinguished, the fire inflicts up to 4♥♥ damage. Although a wither skeleton does not spawn naturally with a bow, it shoots flaming arrows if given a bow using commands.

On impact, an arrow can trigger a wooden pressure plate, target block, wooden button, or tripwire. Arrows cannot trigger stone pressure plates or stone buttons.

The player can choose the type of arrow to shoot based on its location in the inventory. Arrows in the off-hand, or the selected hotbar slot if the bow is in the off-hand, are prioritized first. If there are no arrows in the off-hand or selected hotbar slot then the arrow closest to slot 0 is selected.

Sounds[edit | edit source]

Java Edition

Sounds
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Arrow hitsFriendly CreaturesWhen an arrow impacts somethingentity.arrow.hitsubtitles.entity.arrow.hit1.01211-4316
​Arrow firedPlayersWhen a bow shoots an arrowentity.arrow.shootsubtitles.entity.arrow.shoot1.043-1.125 [sound 1]16
​Player hitPlayersWhen an arrow shot by a player hits another playerentity.arrow.hit_playersubtitles.entity.arrow.hit_player0.180.4516
​Item breaksPlayersWhen a bow's durability is exhaustedentity.item.breaksubtitles.entity.item.break0.80.8-1.216
  1. Depends on how long the bow has been charging. uncharged bows give 56-0.625

Bedrock Edition:

Sounds
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
PlayersWhen an arrow impacts somethingrandom.bowhit1.01.09-1.3
PlayersWhen a bow shoots an arrowrandom.bow1.00.83-1.25
PlayersWhen a bow's durability is exhaustedrandom.break1.00.9

Data values[edit | edit source]

ID[edit | edit source]

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormTranslation key
ItemSprite bow.png: Sprite image for bow in Minecraft BowbowItemitem.minecraft.bow

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormTranslation key
ItemSprite bow.png: Sprite image for bow in Minecraft Bowbow300Itemitem.bow.name

Achievements[edit | edit source]

Icon Achievement In-game description Actual requirements (if different) Gamerscore earned Trophy type (PS)
PS4 Other
AchievementSprite dispense-with-this.png: Sprite image for dispense-with-this in Minecraft linking to Achievement#Dispense With ThisNewAchievementSprite dispense-with-this.png: Sprite image for dispense-with-this in Minecraft linking to Achievement#Dispense With ThisDispense With ThisConstruct a Dispenser.20GBronze
AchievementSprite sniper-duel.png: Sprite image for sniper-duel in Minecraft linking to Achievement#Sniper DuelNewAchievementSprite sniper-duel.png: Sprite image for sniper-duel in Minecraft linking to Achievement#Sniper DuelSniper DuelKill a Skeleton with an arrow from more than 50 meters.Use a launched arrow to kill a skeleton, wither skeleton, or stray from 50 or more blocks away, horizontally.30GBronze
AchievementSprite archer.png: Sprite image for archer in Minecraft linking to Achievement#ArcherNewAchievementSprite archer.png: Sprite image for archer in Minecraft linking to Achievement#ArcherArcherKill a creeper with arrows.10GBronze
AchievementSprite bullseye.png: Sprite image for bullseye in Minecraft linking to Achievement#BullseyeNewAchievementSprite bullseye.png: Sprite image for bullseye in Minecraft linking to Achievement#BullseyeBullseyeHit the bullseye of a Target block15GBronze

Advancements[edit | edit source]

IconAdvancementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)
BullseyeHit the bullseye of a Target block from at least 30 meters awayBe at least 30 blocks away horizontally when the center of a target is shot with a projectile by the player.
Sniper DuelKill a Skeleton from at least 50 meters awayReceive kill credit for a skeleton that is at least 50 blocks away horizontally and is killed by a projectile.
Take AimShoot something with an ArrowUsing a bow or a crossbow, shoot a mob with an arrow, tipped arrow, or spectral arrow.

Video[edit | edit source]

History[edit | edit source]

Java Edition Classic
June 14, 2009Notch discussed how bows and arrows would work in Survival mode: "Bows and arrows can be made out of wood. To use it, select the bow from your inventory and make sure you’ve got some arrows. Click in front of you, and an arrow goes flying using real physics. To actually HIT something, aim above it."
0.24 SURVIVAL TESTThe player did not need a bow to shoot arrows. Instead, Tab was used to fire arrows. However, arrows still had to be collected to shoot. Launching arrows this way was much slower than the bow that now fires them.
Java Edition Indev
0.3120100110 Added bow texture to items.png.
20100122 Added bows as item with changed texture. The right mouse button can be held down to fire in rapid succession. Each arrow deals 4♥♥ for each hit. They fly in a ballistic trajectory affected by gravity and drag in air or water. They travel approximately 15 blocks when fired parallel to a flat plane. Arrows also have a maximum range of around 52 blocks when fired at a 38 degree angle on a flat plane.
Bows often fail to interact with objects, but instead shoot. This is due to the fact that shooting arrows is an instantaneous action.
At this point, bows have no durability, and can essentially be used infinitely.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.2.6Interacting with objects (door, chest, etc.) while holding a bow no longer shoots the arrow.
Java Edition Beta
1.2Bows are now used to craft dispensers.
1.8July 8, 2011Notch teased hold-to-charge bows.
July 13, 2011Notch indicated that along with bow charging, he would add an achievement based around shooting a skeleton at 50 meters, eventually to be known as Sniper duel.
Pre-releaseBow behavior has been overhauled; they now need to be charged to fire.
Java Edition
1.0.0RC1A fully charged arrow from a bow now consistently deals 9♥♥♥♥♥ damage, with a rare chance of dealing 10♥♥♥♥♥.
Bows now have a durability of 385 uses.
Bows no longer need arrows for ammo in Creative mode.
The bow can now be enchanted via console commands, but no enchantment affects it.
1.1releaseBows can now be legitimately enchanted. Four enchantments have been added: Flame, Punch, Power, and Infinity.
1.2.112w06aSkeletons now have a 2.5% chance of dropping a bow. One fifth of the time, this bow is enchanted with Power I (20%).
1.4.612w50aBows can now be enchanted with Unbreaking using an anvil and an appropriate enchanted book.
preWhen a player hits another player from far away with a bow it makes a high pitched "dinging" sound.
1.7.213w36aBows can now be obtained as a "treasure" item from fishing.
Bows can now be enchanted with Unbreaking directly in an enchantment table without the use of an anvil.
1.814w02aFletcher villagers now sell 1 bow for 2–3 emeralds.
14w25aDrawing a bow immediately after hitting no longer continues the swinging animation.[2]
14w30aBow placement when drawing back has been slightly changed.
1.915w31aWhen shooting, the arrows are no longer offset to the right of the crosshair.
The bow in the hotbar now shows an arrow when being drawn.
Bows can now shoot an additional 14 types of arrows, selected based on the arrow type held in the off-hand or closest to slot 0.
Bows cannot be used in the off-hand.
15w37aThe bow can now be used in the off-hand.
Bows now prioritize the selected hotbar slot for arrows if the bow is in the off hand.
When using the bow in the off-hand, the bow does do the animation, but does not aim at the target.
?Momentum now affects the physics of arrows fired from bows.
1.1016w20aBows are now used by strays and can now sometimes be obtained as a rare drop.
1.1116w33aBows can now be used to fuel furnaces.
1.11.116w50aInfinity and Mending are now mutually exclusive for bows.
1.1217w16aBows are now used by illusioners and can now sometimes be obtained as a rare drop, although unenchanted.
1.1317w47aPrior to The Flattening, this item's numeral ID was 261.
1.13.118w30aMC-88356: Fixed a bug: When using the bow in the off-hand, the bow does do the animation, but does not aim at the target.
1.1419w11aFletcher villagers now sell enchanted bows.
1.20.524w09aMultishot and Piercing enchantments now work on bows.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.3.3 Added bows.
v0.4.0Bows now have a durability of 385 uses.
Bows also now slow down the player while aiming.
v0.5.0Bows are now obtainable after activating the nether reactor.
v0.8.0build 1 The texture of bows has been changed.
build 7Bows can now be used as fuel in a furnace.
v0.11.0build 1Bows can now be obtained as a "treasure" item from fishing.
v0.12.1build 1Fully charged bows now cause particles.
Bows can now be enchanted.
Bows obtained by fishing can now be caught enchanted.
Bows are no longer available from the nether reactor.
v0.15.0build 1Added strays, which are equipped with a bow that can rarely be dropped by them.
Bows can now shoot an additional 14 types of arrows, selected based on the arrow type closest to slot 0.
Pocket Edition
1.0.4alpha 1.0.4.0Bows can now be obtained by trading with a fletcher villager.
1.1.0alpha 1.1.0.0Added the Mending enchantment, which can now be applied to bows and is mutually exclusive to the Infinity enchantment.
Arrows can now be placed in the offhand slot and bows now prioritize the arrows in that slot.
Bedrock Edition
?Momentum now affects the physics of arrows fired from bows.
1.8.0beta 1.8.0.10Bows in the hotbar now show an arrow when being drawn.
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3 The texture of bows has been changed to match Java Edition's texture.
1.11.0beta 1.11.0.4Fletcher villagers now sell unenchanted bows for 2 emeralds, and enchanted bows for 8 emeralds.
1.16.210beta 1.16.210.58Bows in first-person view is now held differently.[3]
1.17.0beta 1.17.0.52Bows are now held like it was before 1.16.210.58 beta.[3]
Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
TU1CU11.001.001.00Patch 11.0.1 Added bows.
TU5Bow behavior is overhauled; they now need to be charged to fire.
TU7Bows can now be enchanted.
TU31CU191.221.221.22Patch 3Bows can now be obtained as a "treasure" item from fishing.
Bows can now be obtained by trading with a fletcher villager.
Drawing a bow immediately after hitting no longer continues the swinging animation.
TU46CU361.381.381.38Patch 15Bows can now shoot an additional 14 types of arrows, selected based on arrow type held closest to slot 0.
Bows are now used by strays and can now sometimes be obtained as a rare drop.
Bows can also be drawn while holding arrows or tipped arrows. The bow is selected based on the closest bow to slot 0.
The bow in the hotbar now shows an arrow when being drawn.
Momentum now affects the physics of arrows fired from bows.
TU53CU431.491.501.49Patch 231.0.3Bows can no longer be drawn while holding an arrow or tipped arrow.
Bows can now be used to fuel furnaces.

Historical sounds:

Sound From to Pitch
0.31 Sound Update 1.0

Issues[edit | edit source]

Issues relating to "Bow" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • Bows were left unchanged in the Texture Update.[4]
  • Dinnerbone got the idea for the high-pitched "ding" sound from playing on a former PvP server called Project Ares.[5][6]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Renders[edit | edit source]

Screenshots[edit | edit source]

In other media[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. MC-87685 — Drawn bow texture does not reflect arrow to be shot — resolved as "Won't Fix".
  2. MC-201394
  3. a b MCPE-116741 — Holding and shooting bow position are incorrect — resolved as "Fixed".
  4. MC-168156 — Bow texture not changed in Texture Update and looks inconsistent with crossbow — resolved as "Works As Intended".
  5. "Also things I learnt from pvping today: Bows need to ding when you hit people (it's so much fun/rewarding!) & arrows don't render far enough"@Dinnerbone (Nathan Adams) on X (formerly Twitter), December 15, 2012
  6. "Minecraft PvP with Dinnerbone & Docm77 - Team DocBone @ 11:52" – docm77 on YouTube, December 7, 2013

External links[edit | edit source]

Navigation[edit | edit source]