Bow
Bow supports ranged combat with arrows, safe creeper control, skeleton duels, ghast fights, and Ender Dragon crystal shots.
Description
Use Bow with a clear role in your kit. Keep Bow near the resources, mobs, or travel route where its function matters, then combine it with the right supporting items before long trips or dangerous fights. A bow consumes arrows unless Infinity is applied, and even with Infinity at least one arrow must be in the inventory; full power requires drawing the string before release. This makes Bow a practical choice for players who want fewer wasted inventory slots, cleaner preparation, and safer execution during real survival play.
Block properties
| Item ID |
minecraft:bow
|
|---|---|
| /give command |
/give @p minecraft:bow
|
| Stackable | No |
| Renewable | Yes |
Java Edition Guide
How to use Bow in Minecraft
-
1
Craft the Bow
Place three sticks and three string on a crafting grid to craft Bow.
-
2
Stock arrows
Collect arrows from skeleton drops, buy them from a fletcher villager, or craft them from flint, stick, and feather.
-
3
Draw to full charge
Hold the draw for about a second before releasing — an uncharged arrow deals only 1 damage, while a fully drawn one deals 6.
-
4
Enchant the Bow
Enchant the Bow with Power for damage, Punch for knockback, or Flame for burning arrows. Infinity and Mending are mutually exclusive, so pick one.
A Bow of any durability can be crafted into a Dispenser with seven cobblestone and one redstone dust. The Bow's enchantments do not carry over to the Dispenser.
Used in crafts
Related blocks
Frequently asked questions
How to get Bow without crafting?
Skeletons killed by a player drop Bow with an 8.5% chance. Looting adds 1% per level, up to 11.5%. An apprentice fletcher sells one for 2 emeralds, and fishing has a 0.8% chance per catch of yielding an enchanted Bow.
Does Infinity remove the need for arrows?
No. Infinity only stops Bow from consuming regular arrows; at least one arrow must still be in the inventory to shoot, except in Creative mode.
Can Infinity and Mending be combined on one Bow?
No, the two enchantments are mutually exclusive and never appear together through normal enchanting.
How many shots does Bow survive?
Bow survives 384 shots in Java Edition and 385 in Bedrock; combining two bows on a crafting grid merges their durability plus an extra 5%.
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