The bow is the first ranged weapon most players make and one of the most useful items in Minecraft. It lets you take out creepers before they reach you, shoot skeletons from cover, hit the Ender Dragon’s end crystals, and fight blazes and ghasts from a safe distance. It only needs sticks and string, so you can have one before your first night is over. This guide shows how to make a bow in Minecraft, where to get string, how to use it well and which enchantments make it powerful.
Quick answer: the bow recipe
Open a crafting table and place:
- 3 string down the right column.
- 1 stick in the top middle slot.
- 1 stick in the middle left slot.
- 1 stick in the bottom middle slot.
The sticks make the curved bow shape and the string makes the bowstring. You can also mirror it, with the string in the left column and the sticks facing the other way.
Materials
Sticks
Two wooden planks stacked vertically make 4 sticks. See how to make sticks.
String
String is the harder part. The main ways to get it are:
- Spiders and cave spiders drop 0 to 2 string when killed.
- Cobwebs drop string if you break them with a sword; with shears you get the cobweb itself.
- Chests in mineshafts, dungeons and other structures.
- Fishing sometimes gives string as junk.
- Cats may bring gifts in the morning.
All the options are covered in how to get string.
Other ways to get a bow
- Skeletons and strays sometimes drop their bow, often damaged and sometimes enchanted.
- Fletcher villagers sell bows and sometimes enchanted bows for emeralds.
- Fishing can give an enchanted bow as treasure.
How to shoot a bow
You need arrows in your inventory. Hold the use button to draw the bow, then release to shoot. The longer you draw, up to about one second, the farther and harder the arrow flies. A fully drawn bow shoots a critical arrow with a particle trail that can do extra damage. Arrows drop with distance, so aim slightly above far targets.
In creative mode, or with the Infinity enchantment, you only need one arrow. Tipped arrows apply potion effects, and spectral arrows make mobs glow.
Bow durability and repair
A bow has 385 durability, and each shot uses one point. You can repair it in three ways:
- Combine two damaged bows in a crafting grid or grindstone. This removes enchantments.
- Combine on an anvil with another bow to keep enchantments.
- Use Mending, which repairs it with experience orbs.
The full comparison is in how to repair tools, bows and tridents.
Best bow enchantments
| Enchantment | Max level | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Power | V | Increases arrow damage. |
| Punch | II | Increases knockback. |
| Flame | I | Sets targets on fire. |
| Infinity | I | Shoot without using normal arrows; you still need one in your inventory. |
| Unbreaking | III | Uses durability less often. |
| Mending | I | Repairs the bow with experience. |
Infinity and Mending cannot go on the same bow. Choose Infinity if you hate crafting arrows, or Mending if you want the bow to last forever. Learn more in what Mending does and the enchanting guide.
Bow vs crossbow
A crossbow takes longer to load but holds the shot until you fire, and it can shoot fireworks. A bow fires faster, scales well with Power V, and works better for quick fights. Many players carry both.
Getting enough string early
String can be hard to find early, especially if spiders keep escaping. Try these tips:
- Hunt at night near the edge of your base with a sword. Spiders are common and easy to beat.
- Look for abandoned mineshafts, which are full of cobwebs and cave spiders. Break webs with a sword for string.
- Tame a cat. Cats sometimes bring string as a morning gift. See how to tame cats.
- Build a simple spider farm later around a spawner from a dungeon or mineshaft.
Crafting arrows to go with your bow
Each craft of flint, a stick and a feather gives 4 arrows. Flint comes from breaking gravel, and feathers come from chickens. A chicken farm and a gravel pile mean you never run out. If you want to stop crafting arrows altogether, enchant your bow with Infinity.
Tips for fighting with a bow
- Shoot creepers before they get close.
- Use a shield against skeletons, then shoot back between their shots.
- Shoot end crystals on the towers before fighting the dragon. See how to beat the Ender Dragon.
- Use a Power and Flame bow on ghasts in the Nether. Blazes are immune to fire, so Flame does nothing to them.
- Shoot from high ground so mobs cannot reach you.
How to aim better
- Lead moving targets by aiming a bit ahead of them.
- Aim above targets more than 20 blocks away to adjust for drop.
- Stop moving before you shoot for better accuracy.
- Practise on a stationary target like a target block or an armor stand before fighting mobs.
Bow in multiplayer and PvP
On servers, a Power V bow is a strong opener in fights, and Punch II can knock players off ledges or bridges. Combine it with a shield and a crossbow for burst damage. Many PvP players also use the bow to finish off players as they retreat.
Common problems
- The recipe does not work: check the string is in a full column and the sticks form a curve, not a straight line.
- The bow will not shoot: you need at least one arrow in your inventory, unless you are in creative mode.
- The bow breaks quickly: add Unbreaking III and Mending.
Bow checklist for your first night
If you want a bow before the first night ends, collect wood for sticks while it is light, then look for cobwebs in any cave entrance or kill the first spider you see at dusk. Three string is enough for one bow. Craft a few arrows from gravel flint and chicken feathers, keep a wooden or stone sword for close fights, and stand on a two block pillar near your shelter. From there you can shoot zombies and creepers safely while they cannot reach you. As you get more string, make a spare bow so you are never caught without one when the first breaks.
FAQ
What do you need to make a bow in Minecraft?
3 sticks and 3 string in a crafting table.
Where do you get string for a bow?
Kill spiders, break cobwebs with a sword, open chests, fish or get gifts from cats.
How long do you draw a bow?
About one second for a fully charged, critical shot.
Can a bow have Infinity and Mending?
No. They are incompatible in vanilla survival.
How much durability does a bow have?
385.
Checked by the Game Respawned editorial team against the current Java and Bedrock versions. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.