Bow

The Old School RuneScape Wiki also has an article on: osrsw:BowThe RuneScape Classic Wiki also has an article on: classicrsw:Bow

This article is about the ranged weapon. For the emote, see Bow (emote).

Bows are weapons used in ranged combat that require a certain Ranged level to wield. They require ammunition in the form of arrows. Bows can be created through the Fletching skill and come in two varieties: shieldbows and shortbows. Some bows, such as composite bows and the dark bow, cannot be fletched, and are instead a possible reward from Treasure Trails and monster drops. Bows are distinct from crossbows, in that all bows are two-handed weapons, but not all crossbows are.

Shortbows

Main article: Shortbow (bow type)

Slot	2-handed
Style	Arrow
Speed	Fast (3.0s)

[view] • [talk]

Shortbows fire at a faster rate than shieldbows and hit harder, but restrict the access of most defensive abilities and have a smaller attack range.

Item		Level	Main-hand			Off-hand			Attributes			Style bonus			Price
			Style	Dmg	Acc	Style	Dmg	Acc
	Shortbow	1	Arrow	43	150	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	1,021
	Oak shortbow	10	Arrow	87	202	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	789
	Willow shortbow	20	Arrow	175	316	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	686
	Maple shortbow	30	Arrow	263	454	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	718
	Yew shortbow	40	Arrow	351	628	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	899
	Magic shortbow	50	Arrow	438	850	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	1,072
	Elder shortbow	60	Arrow	526	1132	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	3,654
	Crystal bow	70	Arrow	1286	1486	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	6,912 + 200,000 - 1,000,000
	Zaryte bow	80	Arrow	1470	1924	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	7,555,950
	Hexhunter bow	80	Arrow	384	1924	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	158,445,947
	Attuned crystal bow	80	Arrow	1470	1924	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	200,000 - 1,000,000
	Decimation	87	Arrow	1598	2287	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	38,861,908
	Noxious longbow	90	Arrow	1147	2458	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	132,154,560
	Seren godbow	92	Arrow	2056	2577	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	974,426,177

Shieldbows

Main article: Shieldbow (bow type)

Slot	2-handed
Style	Arrows
Speed	Average (3.6s)

[view] • [talk]

Effectively, a shieldbow is similar to a one-handed crossbow wielded alongside a shield, although it fires a bit slower, its damage is the same. Its damage is about 33% lower than a shortbow's. They have the unique aspect of being both a two-handed weapon and a shield at the same time.

Item		Level	Main-hand			Off-hand			Attributes			Style bonus			Price
			Style	Dmg	Acc	Style	Dmg	Acc
	Shieldbow	1	Arrow	26	150	-	-	-	30	0	0	-	-	-	1,072
	Oak shieldbow	10	Arrow	53	202	-	-	-	40	0	0	-	-	-	867
	Willow shieldbow	20	Arrow	106	316	-	-	-	63	0	0	-	-	-	582
	Maple shieldbow	30	Arrow	159	454	-	-	-	90	0	0	-	-	-	727
	Yew shieldbow	40	Arrow	212	628	-	-	-	125	0	0	-	-	-	745
	Maple shieldbow (sighted)	45	Arrow	238	732	-	-	-	146	0	0	-	-	-	727 + 10,000 Dungeoneering tokens
	Magic shieldbow	50	Arrow	265	850	-	-	-	170	0	0	-	-	-	1,032
	Magic shieldbow (sighted)	55	Arrow	291	983	-	-	-	196	0	0	-	-	-	1,032 + 10,000 Dungeoneering tokens
	Elder shieldbow	60	Arrow	318	1132	-	-	-	226	0	0	-	-	-	3,623
	Elder shieldbow (sighted)	65	Arrow	344	1299	-	-	-	259	0	0	-	-	-	3,623 + 10,000 Dungeoneering tokens
	Dark bow	70	Arrow	371	1486	-	-	-	297	0	0	-	-	-	71,696
	Strykebow	85	Arrow	450	2178	-	-	-	435	560	0	-	-	-	12,876,969 + 71,696

Composite bows

Main article: Composite bow

Composite bows are identical to shieldbows (except for the composite ogre bow), but they have a longer attack range. Only the ogre composite bow can be fletched, other composite bows must be obtained via Treasure Trails.

Item		Level	Main-hand			Off-hand			Attributes			Style bonus			Price
			Style	Dmg	Acc	Style	Dmg	Acc
	Willow composite bow	20	Arrow	106	316	-	-	-	63	0	0	-	-	-	496,488
	Comp ogre bow	30	Arrow	382	454	-	-	-	0	0	0	-	-	-	3,254
	Yew composite bow	40	Arrow	212	628	-	-	-	125	0	0	-	-	-	410,162
	Magic composite bow	50	Arrow	265	850	-	-	-	170	0	0	-	-	-	408,411

Bow vs crossbow or thrown weapons

Many rangers choose the bow style of range weapon for its higher damage in comparison to crossbows and throwing weapons, and to fight monsters that are weak to arrows. Most bows sacrifice speed in comparison to their crossbow and thrown equivalents. The main disadvantage for bows is the fact they are two handed weapons whereas most crossbows and throwing weapons are only one handed, giving the flexibility to use them with any suitable off-hand weapon or shield. To make up for this, however, bows are able to use two-handed combat abilities that cannot be used with one-handed ranged weapons. Shieldbows are also able to use shield abilities in addition to two-handed abilities, a unique aspect which no other weapon type in the game offers besides the respective combat style defenders.

Trivia

• When Runescape 2 was released, bows had no visible bowstrings. Jagex fixed this together with the RuneScape HD update.
• Bows were formerly held in the player's right hand, implying that they were left-handed archers. This has been changed since the Evolution of Combat update.

See also

• Ogre bow
• Crossbow (weapon type)
• Composite bow
• Boogie bow
• Firebrand Bow
• Hellfire bow

Navbox JSON: {"groups":[{"type":"subgroup","title":"[[Shortbow (bow type)|Shortbow]]","contents":[[],{"text":"Training","image":"Training bow.png","link":"Training bow"},{"text":"Academy","image":"Academy shortbow.png","link":"Academy shortbow"},{"text":"Shortbow","image":"Shortbow.png","link":"Shortbow"},{"text":"Oak","image":"Oak shortbow.png","link":"Oak shortbow"},{"text":"Willow","image":"Willow shortbow.png","link":"Willow shortbow"},{"text":"Maple","image":"Maple shortbow.png","link":"Maple shortbow"},{"text":"Yew","image":"Yew shortbow.png","link":"Yew shortbow"},{"text":"Magic","image":"Magic shortbow.png","link":"Magic shortbow"},{"text":"Elder","image":"Elder shortbow.png","link":"Elder shortbow"},{"text":"Chargebow","image":"Chargebow.png","link":"Chargebow"},{"text":"Quickbow","image":"Quickbow.png","link":"Quickbow"},{"text":"Gravite","image":"Gravite chargebow.png","link":"Gravite chargebow"},{"text":"Crystal","image":"Crystal bow.png","link":"Crystal bow"},{"text":"Attuned crystal","image":"Attuned crystal bow.png","link":"Attuned crystal bow"},{"text":"Zaryte","image":"Zaryte bow.png","link":"Zaryte bow"}]},{"title":"[[Shieldbow (bow type)|Shieldbows]]","contents":[{"text":"Shieldbow","image":"Shieldbow.png","link":"Shieldbow"},{"text":"Oak","image":"Oak shieldbow.png","link":"Oak shieldbow"},{"text":"Willow","image":"Willow shieldbow.png","link":"Willow shieldbow"},{"text":"Maple","image":"Maple shieldbow.png","link":"Maple shieldbow"},{"text":"Yew","image":"Yew shieldbow.png","link":"Yew shieldbow"},{"text":"Magic","image":"Magic shieldbow.png","link":"Magic shieldbow"},{"text":"Elder","image":"Elder shieldbow.png","link":"Elder shieldbow"},{"text":"Dark bow","image":"Dark bow.png","link":"Dark bow"},{"text":"Strykebow","image":"Strykebow.png","link":"Strykebow"}]},{"title":"Other","contents":[{"text":"Seercull","image":"Seercull.png","link":"Seercull"},{"text":"Winds of Waiko","image":"Winds of Waiko.png","link":"Winds of Waiko"},{"text":"Second-Age","image":"Second-Age bow.png","link":"Second-Age bow"},{"text":"Hexhunter bow","image":"Hexhunter bow.png","link":"Hexhunter bow"},{"text":"Decimation","image":"Decimation.png","link":"Decimation"},{"text":"Noxious","image":"Noxious longbow.png","link":"Noxious longbow"},{"text":"Seren godbow","image":"Seren godbow.png","link":"Seren godbow"},{"text":"Hellfire bow","image":"Hellfire bow.png","link":"Hellfire bow"}]},{"title":"Promotional","contents":[{"text":"Barbed","image":"Barbed bow.png","link":"Barbed bow"},{"text":"Boogie","image":"Boogie bow.png","link":"Boogie bow"},{"text":"Exquisite","image":"Exquisite shortbow.png","link":"Exquisite shortbow"},{"text":"Slayer Tower","image":"Slayer Tower shortbow.png","link":"Slayer Tower shortbow"},{"text":"Starfire","image":"Starfire bow.png","link":"Starfire bow"},{"text":"Starfury","image":"Starfury bow.png","link":"Starfury bow"},{"text":"White stag","image":"White stag bow.png","link":"White stag bow"}]},{"title":"Rewards","contents":[{"text":"Kayle's chargebow","image":"Kayle's chargebow.png","link":"Kayle's chargebow"},{"text":"Signed oak shieldbow","image":"Signed oak shieldbow.png","link":"Signed oak shieldbow"},{"text":"Ogre bow","image":"Ogre bow.png","link":"Ogre bow"},{"text":"Comp ogre","image":"Comp ogre bow.png","link":"Comp ogre bow"},{"text":"Sacred clay bow","image":"Sacred clay bow.png","link":"Sacred clay bow"}]},{"title":"Composite","contents":[{"text":"Willow","image":"Willow composite bow.png","link":"Willow composite bow"},{"text":"Yew","image":"Yew composite bow.png","link":"Yew composite bow"},{"text":"Magic","image":"Magic composite bow.png","link":"Magic composite bow"}]},{"title":"God","contents":[{"text":"Guthix","image":"Guthix bow.png","link":"Guthix bow"},{"text":"Saradomin","image":"Saradomin bow.png","link":"Saradomin bow"},{"text":"Zamorak","image":"Zamorak bow.png","link":"Zamorak bow"}]},{"title":"Dyed noxious longbow","contents":[{"text":"Barrows","image":"Noxious longbow (barrows).png","link":"Noxious longbow (barrows)"},{"text":"Blood","image":"Noxious longbow (blood).png","link":"Noxious longbow (blood)"},{"text":"Ice","image":"Noxious longbow (ice).png","link":"Noxious longbow (ice)"},{"text":"Shadow","image":"Noxious longbow (shadow).png","link":"Noxious longbow (shadow)"},{"text":"Third Age","image":"Noxious longbow (Third Age).png","link":"Noxious longbow (Third Age)"}]},{"title":"Dyed Seren godbow","contents":[{"text":"Barrows","image":"Seren godbow (barrows).png","link":"Seren godbow (barrows)"},{"text":"Blood","image":"Seren godbow (blood).png","link":"Seren godbow (blood)"},{"text":"Ice","image":"Seren godbow (ice).png","link":"Seren godbow (ice)"},{"text":"Shadow","image":"Seren godbow (shadow).png","link":"Seren godbow (shadow)"},{"text":"Third Age","image":"Seren godbow (Third Age).png","link":"Seren godbow (Third Age)"}]},{"title":"Recoloured dark bow","contents":[{"text":"Blue","image":"Dark bow (blue).png","link":"Dark bow (blue)"},{"text":"Green","image":"Dark bow (green).png","link":"Dark bow (green)"},{"text":"White","image":"Dark bow (white).png","link":"Dark bow (white)"},{"text":"Yellow","image":"Dark bow (yellow).png","link":"Dark bow (yellow)"}]}],"name":"Bows","title":"[[Bow]]s"}

Navbox JSON: {"groups":[{"type":"subgroup","title":"[[Weapon/Melee weapons|Melee]]","contents":[{"text":"Stab","link":"Stab weapons"},{"text":"Dagger","link":"Dagger"},{"text":"Shortsword","link":"Shortsword"},{"text":"Rapier","link":"Rapier (weapon type)"},{"text":"Hasta","link":"Hasta"},{"text":"Spear","link":"Spear"},{"text":"Defender","link":"Defender"},{"text":"Scimitar","link":"Scimitar"},{"text":"Claws","link":"Claws"},{"text":"Longsword","link":"Longsword"},{"text":"Battleaxe","link":"Battleaxe"},{"text":"Hatchet","link":"Hatchet"},{"text":"Two-handed sword","link":"Two-handed sword"},{"text":"Halberd","link":"Halberd"},{"text":"Mace","link":"Mace"},{"text":"Warhammer","link":"Warhammer"},{"text":"Pickaxe","link":"Pickaxe"},{"text":"Maul","link":"Maul"}]},{"title":"[[Weapon/Magic weapons|Magic]]","contents":[{"text":"Staff","link":"Staff (weapon type)"},{"text":"Wand","link":"Wand"},{"text":"Orb","link":"Orb (equipment type)"},{"text":"Book","link":"Book (equipment type)"},{"text":"Rebounder","link":"Rebounder"}]},{"type":"subgroup","title":"[[Weapon/Ranged weapons|Ranged]]","contents":[{"text":"Bow","link":"Bow"},{"text":"Shortbow","link":"Shortbow (bow type)"},{"text":"Shieldbow","link":"Shieldbow (bow type)"},{"text":"Composite bow","link":"Composite bow"},{"text":"Chargebow","link":"Chargebow (bow type)"},{"text":"Crossbow","link":"Crossbow (weapon type)"},{"text":"Two-handed crossbow","link":"Two-handed crossbow"},{"text":"Repriser","link":"Repriser"},{"text":"Dart","link":"Dart"},{"text":"Throwing knife","link":"Throwing knife"},{"text":"Throwing axes","link":"Throwing axes"},{"text":"Javelin","link":"Javelin"},{"text":"Chinchompa","link":"Chinchompa"}]}],"name":"Weapon","title":"[[Weapon]]s"}