Updated 23 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Bow vs Crossbow in Minecraft: Which Is Better?
A bow fires faster and takes Power, Punch, Flame and Infinity, so it suits most players. A crossbow takes 1.25 seconds to load (0.5 with Quick Charge III) but stays loaded until you fire, hits a little harder and farther, can shoot firework rockets, and with Piercing its arrows go through shields.
What is the difference between a bow and a crossbow?
| Bow | Crossbow | |
|---|---|---|
| Loading | Draw while holding; full charge at 0.9 s, critical charge at 1 s | 1.25 s to load, then stays loaded |
| Ammo | Arrows, tipped and spectral arrows | Arrows and firework rockets |
| Durability (Java) | 384 | 465 |
| Enchantments | Power, Punch, Flame, Infinity, Unbreaking, Mending | Quick Charge, Multishot, Piercing, Unbreaking, Mending |
| Strengths | Faster repeat shots, Infinity | Pre-load, fireworks, shield-piercing arrows |
minecraft.wiki sums up the crossbow as taking longer to charge than a bow but being slightly more powerful, with a little more range and accuracy.
How do you use a bow well?
Hold use to draw; after 1 second it reaches critical charge and the shot does the most damage. While drawing you move at sneaking speed. Arrows drop under gravity in an arc, and on Java they slow almost to nothing in water. On Java, an arrow that hits a player plays a "ding" for the shooter. Arrows shot with Infinity, by mobs or in Creative cannot be picked back up. Endermen are immune to arrows.
How do you use a crossbow well?
Load it before a fight: a loaded crossbow stays loaded even in another slot, so you can carry several ready to fire. Quick Charge cuts the load time to 1, 0.75 or 0.5 seconds. Multishot and Piercing cannot go on the same crossbow; Piercing arrows ignore blocking shields. Loaded with a firework rocket, it fires a straight shot at 32 m/s that explodes on Java, which can even hurt mobs immune to arrows. See fireworks.
Do bows and crossbows work the same on Bedrock?
Not quite. On Java a crossbow deals a random 7-11 damage; on Bedrock it always deals 9. Java fireworks explode on impact while Bedrock ones slide along the ground, and on Bedrock you must release and press use again to reload. Bedrock items also have 1 more durability than Java. See Bedrock vs Java.
Where do you get a bow or crossbow?
Craft them, or take them from mobs: skeletons and their variants drop a bow 8.5% of the time, and pillagers and piglins drop a crossbow 8.5% of the time (more with Looting). Enchanted bows can also be fished up. See skeletons and best enchantments.
Can you use bows in ArtemisPvP duels?
Frequently asked questions
How long does a crossbow take to load?
1.25 seconds, or 1, 0.75 and 0.5 seconds with Quick Charge I, II and III.
Can Multishot and Piercing go on the same crossbow?
No, they are mutually exclusive.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.