Arrow

For other uses, see Arrow (disambiguation).

Arrow

Entity

Item

Rarity tier	Common
Renewable	Yes
Stackable	Yes (64)
Size	Height: 0.5 blocks Width: 0.5 blocks

An arrow serves as ammunition for bows, crossbows, and dispensers. Arrows can be crafted into spectral arrows‌^{[Java Edition only]} and tipped arrows to give status effects to players and mobs.

Obtaining

Crafting

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Flint + Stick + Feather	4

Picking up arrows

Arrows shot by players can always be picked up in Creative mode.

An arrow cannot be picked up by a player in Survival or Adventure mode if:

• It is shot by a player in Creative mode.
• It is shot by any mob able to shoot arrows, such as skeletons, strays, pillagers, or piglins. This includes mobs that do not shoot arrows in normal gameplay, such as illusioners and bow-wielding wither skeletons.
  • This is the case even in Creative mode.^[1]
• It is shot with an Infinity-enchanted bow.
• It is one of the two extra arrows shot with a Multishot-enchanted crossbow.

Arrows that are stuck in a player cannot be retrieved, and the player does not drop them when killed.

After a tipped arrow has been in the ground for 600 game ticks (30 seconds) or more, it becomes a regular arrow and can be picked up as one.

Mob loot

Java Edition:

Mob		Quantity / Chance / Average
		Default			Looting I			Looting II			Looting III
	Skeleton	0–2	66.67%	1.00	0–3	83.33%	1.50	0–4	91.67%	2.00	0–5	94.44%	2.50
	Stray	0–2	66.67%	1.00	0–3	83.33%	1.50	0–4	91.67%	2.00	0–5	94.44%	2.50
	Bogged	0–2	66.67%	1.00	0–3	83.33%	1.50	0–4	91.67%	2.00	0–5	94.44%	2.50
	Parched	0–2	66.67%	1.00	0–3	83.33%	1.50	0–4	91.67%	2.00	0–5	94.44%	2.50

Mob		Quantity / Chance / Average
		Default			Looting I			Looting II			Looting III
	Skeleton	0–2	2⁄3	1	0–3	5⁄6	3⁄2	0–4	11⁄12	2	0–5	17⁄18	5⁄2
	Stray	0–2	2⁄3	1	0–3	5⁄6	3⁄2	0–4	11⁄12	2	0–5	17⁄18	5⁄2
	Bogged	0–2	2⁄3	1	0–3	5⁄6	3⁄2	0–4	11⁄12	2	0–5	17⁄18	5⁄2
	Parched	0–2	2⁄3	1	0–3	5⁄6	3⁄2	0–4	11⁄12	2	0–5	17⁄18	5⁄2

Mob		Amount	Probability
			Default	Looting I	Looting II	Looting III
	Skeleton	0	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		1	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		2	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	5⁄18 (27.78%)
		3	0	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	5⁄18 (27.78%)
		4	0	0	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		5	0	0	0	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		Average	1 (1.00)	3⁄2 (1.50)	2 (2.00)	5⁄2 (2.50)
	Stray	0	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		1	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		2	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	5⁄18 (27.78%)
		3	0	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	5⁄18 (27.78%)
		4	0	0	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		5	0	0	0	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		Average	1 (1.00)	3⁄2 (1.50)	2 (2.00)	5⁄2 (2.50)
	Bogged	0	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		1	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		2	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	5⁄18 (27.78%)
		3	0	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	5⁄18 (27.78%)
		4	0	0	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		5	0	0	0	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		Average	1 (1.00)	3⁄2 (1.50)	2 (2.00)	5⁄2 (2.50)
	Parched	0	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		1	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		2	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	5⁄18 (27.78%)
		3	0	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	5⁄18 (27.78%)
		4	0	0	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		5	0	0	0	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		Average	1 (1.00)	3⁄2 (1.50)	2 (2.00)	5⁄2 (2.50)

Drops		1
Mob		Expected Number of Kills
		Default	Looting I	Looting II	Looting III
	Skeleton	1.00	0.67	0.50	0.40
	Stray	1.00	0.67	0.50	0.40
	Bogged	1.00	0.67	0.50	0.40
	Parched	1.00	0.67	0.50	0.40

Bedrock Edition:

Mob		Quantity / Chance / Average
		Default			Looting I			Looting II			Looting III
	Skeleton	0–2	66.67%	1.00	0–3	66.67%	1.33	0–4	66.67%	1.67	0–5	66.67%	2.00
	Stray	0–2	66.67%	1.00	0–3	66.67%	1.33	0–4	66.67%	1.67	0–5	66.67%	2.00
	Pillager	0–2	66.67%	1.00	0–3	66.67%	1.33	0–4	66.67%	1.67	0–5	66.67%	2.00
	Bogged	0–2	66.67%	1.00	0–3	66.67%	1.33	0–4	66.67%	1.67	0–5	66.67%	2.00
	Parched	0–2	66.67%	1.00	0–3	66.67%	1.33	0–4	66.67%	1.67	0–5	66.67%	2.00

Mob		Quantity / Chance / Average
		Default			Looting I			Looting II			Looting III
	Skeleton	0–2	2⁄3	1	0–3	2⁄3	4⁄3	0–4	2⁄3	5⁄3	0–5	2⁄3	2
	Stray	0–2	2⁄3	1	0–3	2⁄3	4⁄3	0–4	2⁄3	5⁄3	0–5	2⁄3	2
	Pillager	0–2	2⁄3	1	0–3	2⁄3	4⁄3	0–4	2⁄3	5⁄3	0–5	2⁄3	2
	Bogged	0–2	2⁄3	1	0–3	2⁄3	4⁄3	0–4	2⁄3	5⁄3	0–5	2⁄3	2
	Parched	0–2	2⁄3	1	0–3	2⁄3	4⁄3	0–4	2⁄3	5⁄3	0–5	2⁄3	2

Mob		Amount	Probability
			Default	Looting I	Looting II	Looting III
	Skeleton	0	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)
		1	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		2	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		3	0	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	2⁄9 (22.22%)
		4	0	0	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		5	0	0	0	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		Average	1 (1.00)	4⁄3 (1.33)	5⁄3 (1.67)	2 (2.00)
	Stray	0	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)
		1	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		2	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		3	0	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	2⁄9 (22.22%)
		4	0	0	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		5	0	0	0	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		Average	1 (1.00)	4⁄3 (1.33)	5⁄3 (1.67)	2 (2.00)
	Pillager	0	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)
		1	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		2	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		3	0	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	2⁄9 (22.22%)
		4	0	0	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		5	0	0	0	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		Average	1 (1.00)	4⁄3 (1.33)	5⁄3 (1.67)	2 (2.00)
	Bogged	0	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)
		1	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		2	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		3	0	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	2⁄9 (22.22%)
		4	0	0	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		5	0	0	0	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		Average	1 (1.00)	4⁄3 (1.33)	5⁄3 (1.67)	2 (2.00)
	Parched	0	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)
		1	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		2	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄3 (33.33%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		3	0	1⁄6 (16.67%)	1⁄4 (25.00%)	2⁄9 (22.22%)
		4	0	0	1⁄12 (8.33%)	1⁄6 (16.67%)
		5	0	0	0	1⁄18 (5.56%)
		Average	1 (1.00)	4⁄3 (1.33)	5⁄3 (1.67)	2 (2.00)

Drops		1
Mob		Expected Number of Kills
		Default	Looting I	Looting II	Looting III
	Skeleton	1.00	0.75	0.60	0.50
	Stray	1.00	0.75	0.60	0.50
	Pillager	1.00	0.75	0.60	0.50
	Bogged	1.00	0.75	0.60	0.50
	Parched	1.00	0.75	0.60	0.50

Generated loot

Item	Structure	Container	Quantity	Chance
Java Edition
Arrow	Abandoned Camp	Barrel	1–3	35.5% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "1–3", "chance": 0.35542388369628897, "structure": "Abandoned Camp", "container": "Barrel" }
		Common chest	4	27.5% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": 4, "chance": 0.2747977375984192, "structure": "Abandoned Camp", "container": "Common chest" }
	Bastion Remnant	Generic chest	5–17	44.1% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "5–17", "chance": 0.44077588319736705, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Generic chest" }
		Hoglin stable chest	5–17	22.8% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "5–17", "chance": 0.22793887963348602, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Hoglin stable chest" }
		Bridge chest	5–17	47.9% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "5–17", "chance": 0.4794666666666667, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Bridge chest" }
	Jungle Pyramid	Dispenser	2–7	100% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "2–7", "chance": 1, "structure": "Jungle Pyramid", "container": "Dispenser" }
	Pillager Outpost	Chest	2–7	39.1% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "2–7", "chance": 0.391435011269722, "structure": "Pillager Outpost", "container": "Chest" }
	Trial Chambers	Corridor pot	2–8	28.5% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "2–8", "chance": 0.28490028490028485, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Corridor pot" }
		Chamber dispenser	4–8	13.8% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "4–8", "chance": 0.13793103448275867, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Chamber dispenser" }
		Vault and reward chest	2–8	31% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "2–8", "chance": 0.31004057600000007, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Vault and reward chest" }
		Corridor dispenser	4–8	100% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "4–8", "chance": 1, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Corridor dispenser" }
		Entrance chest	5–10	55.1% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "5–10", "chance": 0.5508401920438958, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Entrance chest" }
		Supply chest	4–14	37.3% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "4–14", "chance": 0.37281466804405383, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Supply chest" }
	Village	Fletcher's chest	1–3	23.3% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "1–3", "chance": 0.23252875118681526, "structure": "Village", "container": "Fletcher's chest" }
Bedrock Edition
Arrow	Abandoned Camp	Common chest	4	27.5% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": 4, "chance": 0.2747977375984192, "structure": "Abandoned Camp", "container": "Common chest" }
		Barrel	1–3	35.5% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "1–3", "chance": 0.35542388369628897, "structure": "Abandoned Camp", "container": "Barrel" }
	Bastion Remnant	Generic chest	10–22	11.2% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "10–22", "chance": 0.1123595505617978, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Generic chest" }
		Hoglin stable chest	5–17	22.8% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "5–17", "chance": 0.22793887963348602, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Hoglin stable chest" }
		Generic chest	5–17	48.3% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "5–17", "chance": 0.48259819962491435, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Generic chest" }
		Treasure chest	12–25	33.7% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "12–25", "chance": 0.33668648071940255, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Treasure chest" }
		Bridge chest	10–28	11.2% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "10–28", "chance": 0.11242603550295849, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Bridge chest" }
		Bridge chest	5–17	47.9% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "5–17", "chance": 0.4794666666666667, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Bridge chest" }
	Jungle Pyramid	Dispenser	2–7	100% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "2–7", "chance": 1, "structure": "Jungle Pyramid", "container": "Dispenser" }
	Pillager Outpost	Chest	2–7	39.1% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "2–7", "chance": 0.391435011269722, "structure": "Pillager Outpost", "container": "Chest" }
	Trial Chambers	Entrance chest	5–10	55.1% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "5–10", "chance": 0.5508401920438958, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Entrance chest" }
		Corridor dispenser	4–8	100% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "4–8", "chance": 1, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Corridor dispenser" }
		Vault and reward chest	2–8	37.8% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "2–8", "chance": 0.37846630400000003, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Vault and reward chest" }
		Chamber dispenser	4–8	13.8% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "4–8", "chance": 0.13793103448275867, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Chamber dispenser" }
		Supply chest	4–14	37.3% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "4–14", "chance": 0.37281466804405383, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Supply chest" }
		Corridor pot	2–8	28.5% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "2–8", "chance": 0.28490028490028485, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Corridor pot" }
	Village	Fletcher's chest	1–3	23.3% { "item": "Arrow", "stacksize": "1–3", "chance": 0.23252875118681526, "structure": "Village", "container": "Fletcher's chest" }

Trading

Villager		Probability		Villager wants	Player receives	Trades in stock	Villager experience	Price multiplier
		JE	BE
Fletcher	Novice	67%	50%	Emerald	16 × Arrow	12	1	0.05

Villager gifts

In Java Edition, arrows can be obtained as a reward item from fletcher villagers when the player has the Hero of the Village status effect.

Bartering

In Bedrock Edition, arrows can be obtained through bartering with piglins, and have a ~8.53% (⁴⁰⁄₄₆₉) chance to give the player 6-12 arrows.

Usage

Trading

Villager		Probability		Villager wants	Player receives	Trades in stock	Villager experience	Price multiplier
		JE	BE
Fletcher	Master	67%	50%	2 × Emerald + 5 × Arrow	5 × Tipped Arrow[t 1]	12	30	0.05

Crafting ingredient

Arrows can be used to craft the two variants of arrows, spectral arrows and tipped arrows.

Name	Ingredients	Crafting recipe	Notes
Tipped Arrow	Arrow + Matching Lingering Potion	88888888888888888888888888	Arrows of Decay are exclusive to Bedrock Edition unless obtained via commands. Arrows of Luck are exclusive to Java Edition. A custom potion obtained via commands cannot craft arrows with the potion's custom name, lore, or the CustomPotionColor.
Spectral Arrow	Glowstone Dust + Arrow	2	‌[Java Edition only]

Cauldrons

In Bedrock Edition, arrows can be used on cauldrons that contain potions to create tipped arrows.

Behavior

Technical information related to the arrow entity has been checked in Java Edition and might differ in Bedrock Edition.

Spawning

An arrow entity spawns when an arrow item is shot out of a bow, crossbow, dispenser, or a bow- or crossbow-wielding mob. Arrow entities spawn with a starting velocity calculated using the following process:

• The direction of the velocity is set as the facing vector of the entity that shot it, or the vector pointing straight out of a dispenser.
• The magnitude of the velocity is set as 0 to 3 for bows depending on how far they're drawn, 3.15 for crossbows, and 1.1 for dispensers.
• A random vector is added to the previously determined velocity. This vector ranges from to on every axis. Inaccuracy is 1 for bows and crossbows, and 6 for dispensers.

Because crossbows shoot slightly faster arrows than bows but have the same inaccuracy, crossbows are actually more accurate because their randomness is smaller in proportion to their total velocity.

Critical arrow

For other uses, see Critical.

Arrows fired by players from crossbows (or bows at critical charge) leave a trail of crit particles behind them. Critical arrows deal random damage, between 6HP and 11HP × 5.5 for bows at critical charge, and between 7HP and 11HP × 5.5 for crossbows.

Movement

An arrow entity follows this list of steps in order when calculating its movement each game tick:

• If it is intersecting a block's collision box, its inGround NBT value is set to true.
• If it is on fire and in rain, water, or powder snow (including cauldrons containing water or powder snow), its fire is extinguished.

• If inGround is false:

• Its velocity vector is added to its position vector.
• Its velocity vector is multiplied by 0.99 if it's in air or 0.6 if it's in water (this is the "drag").
• 0.05 is subtracted from its velocity vector's y component (this is the "gravity").

The arrow movement (when not stuck in a block) can be solved as a recurrence relation to obtain the following formulas:

Where is the velocity at tick t and is the position at tick t. These formulas can quickly calculate the position and velocity at a future tick t given an initial position and velocity. To make them work for arrows in water instead, change 0.99 with 0.6 and 100 with 2.5.

Initial conditions[calcnote 1] 1 Angle 0 Vector
X	0	VXYaw	m/tick0 deg
Y	0	VYPitch	m/tick-30 deg
Z	0	VZSpeed	m/tick3 m/tick
Arrow dynamics
Drag-H	0.99	Gravity	-0.05 m/tick2
Drag-Y	0.99
Ticking order	1
TimeRadius	0 0 ticks 0 0 m 1 Time 0 Radius
Position	X = , Y = , Z = Maximum height: m ( ticks)none Horizontal range: m ( ticks)
Velocity	VX = , VY = , VZ = (m/tick) Terminal speed: m/tick
Bow level	0 0		0 Critical charge
Damage	Avg. 6.00 × 3
Launch angle calculator[calcnote 1]
Given a target coordinate and an initial speed, calculate the arrow launch angle to hit the target. Target is hit after ticks and would deal avg. 6.00 × 3 damage.
X	10	Yaw	deg
Y	10	Pitch	degUnreachable 1 Direct hit
Z	10	Speed	3 m/tick

Damage

The damage an arrow inflicts on an entity depends on the damage NBT tag, the crit NBT tag, and the arrow's speed. However, in Bedrock Edition, arrows shot from a dispenser do not scale damage with speed.

The damage NBT tag is determined by the item that shot it: It is 2 for everything except bows enchanted with Power, in which case it's .

The crit NBT tag is given to all arrows shot out of crossbows or fully charged bows.

The damage inflicted on an entity is , rounded up to a whole number. If the arrow has the crit NBT tag, it does an additional random amount of damage between 0 and .

Average damage (fully charged bow, point-blank range)

Source	Damage tag	Crit tag	Starting speed	Average damage
Bow (Power I)	3	Yes		12.25HP × 6.125
Bow (Power II)	3.5			14.75HP × 7.375
Bow (Power III)	4			16HP × 8
Bow (Power IV)	4.5			18.5HP × 9.25
Bow (Power V)	5			19.75HP × 9.875
Bow	2			8.5HP × 4.25
Crossbow				9.75HP × 4.875
Dispenser		No		3.5HP × 1.75

Common properties

Arrows shot from a bow with the Flame enchantment, or shot through lava or fire, catch on fire and show an appropriate animation until they pass through water or rain. They can set other entities they hit on fire for up to 5 seconds (inflicting up to 4HP of fire damage), as well as ignite TNT, candles, and campfires.

Arrows also stick into blocks they come in contact with and remain there for one minute before disappearing. Such arrows may be retrieved. The 1-minute despawn timer is then refreshed, meaning it takes another minute for the arrow to despawn.

Arrows can get visually stuck in players in Java Edition, although not any mobs. They appear as regular arrows regardless of type.^[2]

• 
  Steve covered in arrows
• 
  Alex covered in arrows

If the arrow has any custom potion effects (NBT tag CustomPotionEffects), all potion effects, including vanilla potion effects (NBT tag Potion) are removed 30 seconds after the arrow stops moving.

If a player has more than one type of arrow in their inventory then the arrow fired will be chosen in the following order:

1. Any arrows in the off-hand
2. Slots 1 to 9 in the hotbar in order
3. Top left to bottom right in the players inventory

An arrow shot at a chorus flower or decorated pot breaks the block; a chorus flower drops itself, while a decorated pot shatters into pottery sherds and/or bricks along with dropping any of the items stored inside.

Arrows stuck in blocks drop to the ground in a sharp arc if their supporting blocks are destroyed. Such arrows can still damage entities.

Redstone circuits

An arrow can activate a wooden button, wooden pressure plate, a tripwire, or a target. An arrow continues to power these blocks until it is removed, either due to despawning, or being picked up. Target blocks emit a redstone pulse for one second, as opposed to the static depressed state of the other switches. Non-wooden switches are not affected by arrows.

Mobs immune to arrows

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

• Endermen, if it has an eligible place to teleport to
• Breeze
• Allays while holding an item
• Wither under half health, when it gains wither armor
• Closed shulkers
• Ender dragon, while sitting on top of the exit portal

Sounds

Java Edition:
In Java Edition, arrows use the Friendly Creatures sound category for entity-dependent sound events.

Bedrock Edition:

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Item tags	Translation key
Arrow	arrow	Item	arrows	item.minecraft.arrow

Name	Identifier	Entity tags	Translation key
Arrow	arrow	arrows impact_projectiles	entity.minecraft.arrow

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item tags	Translation key
Arrow	arrow	301	Item	minecraft:arrow	item.arrow.name

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Translation key
Arrow	arrow	80	entity.arrow.name

Metadata

In Bedrock Edition, arrows use the following item data values:

Arrow	Regular	Extended	Enhanced (Level II)
Arrow	0	N/A	N/A
Arrow of Splashing	1	N/A	N/A
Tipped Arrow (Mundane)	2	3	N/A
Tipped Arrow (Thick)	4	N/A	N/A
Tipped Arrow (Awkward)	5	N/A	N/A
Arrow of Night Vision	6	7	N/A
Arrow of Invisibility	8	9	N/A
Arrow of Leaping	10	11	12
Arrow of Fire Resistance	13	14	N/A
Arrow of Swiftness	15	16	17
Arrow of Slowness	18	19	43
Arrow of Water Breathing	20	21	N/A
Arrow of Healing	22	N/A	23
Arrow of Harming	24	N/A	25
Arrow of Poison	26	27	28
Arrow of Regeneration	29	30	31
Arrow of Strength	32	33	34
Arrow of Weakness	35	36	N/A
Arrow of Decay	37	N/A	N/A
Arrow of the Turtle Master	38	39	40
Arrow of Slow Falling	41	42	N/A
Arrow of Wind Charging	44	N/A	N/A
Arrow of Weaving	45	N/A	N/A
Arrow of Oozing	46	N/A	N/A
Arrow of Infestation	47	N/A	N/A
Arrow of Freezing	48	49	N/A

Entity data

Arrows have entity data that define various properties of the entity.

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Entity format.

Achievements

Icon		Achievement	In-game description	Actual requirements (if different)	Gamerscore earned	Trophy type (PS)
PS4	Other
		Archer	Kill a Creeper with Bow and Arrows.	—	10	Bronze
		Bullseye	Hit the bullseye of a Target block	—	15	Bronze
		Sniper Duel	Kill a Skeleton with a Bow and Arrows from more than 50 meters.	Use a launched arrow to kill a skeleton, wither skeleton, stray, bogged, or parched from 50 or more blocks away, horizontally.	30	Bronze

Advancements

Icon	Advancement	In-game description	Actual requirements (if different)
	Not Today, Thank You	Deflect a projectile with a Shield	Block any projectile with a shield.
	Ol' Betsy	Shoot a Crossbow	—
	Take Aim	Shoot something with an Arrow	Using a bow or a crossbow, shoot a mob with an arrow, tipped arrow, or spectral arrow.
	Two Birds, One Arrow	Kill two Phantoms with a piercing Arrow	Use a crossbow enchanted with Piercing to kill two phantoms with a single arrow shot.
	Who's the Pillager Now?	Give a Pillager a taste of their own medicine	Kill a pillager with a crossbow shot.
	Arbalistic	Kill five unique mobs with one crossbow shot	Armor Stand and Mannequin also count for this advancement. This is a hidden advancement, meaning that it can be viewed by the player only after completing it, regardless of if its child advancement(s), if any, have been completed.
	Sniper Duel	Kill a Skeleton from at least 50 meters away	Receive kill credit for a skeleton that is at least 50 blocks away horizontally and is killed by a projectile.
	Bullseye	Hit the bullseye of a Target block from at least 30 meters away	Be at least 30 blocks away horizontally when the center of a target is shot with a projectile by the player.

Videos

History

Java Edition

Java Edition Classic
0.24_SURVIVAL_TEST							Arrows have been added as an object and are fired by pressing ↹ Tab.
0.25 SURVIVAL TEST							The texture of arrows has been changed.
							Arrows now fly further, deal more damage, and can damage the player.
							The player now spawns with 20 arrows; the remaining amount is shown above the hotbar labeled as "Arrows".
							Skeletons now fire purple arrows, instead of hitting the player directly. These arrows can't be collected by the player.
							When a skeleton is killed, it now drops 4-9 normal arrows for the player to gather.
0.29							Arrows can no longer be shot by the player in Creative Mode.
Java Edition Indev
0.31			20100122-2251				Arrows have been added as items alongside with bows.
							The "Arrows" display above the hotbar has been removed.
			20100124-2119				Arrows now have a sound effect. What this sound effect is is completely unknown; it could be for hitting a block, for being fired or for something else entirely.
			20100128-2304				Arrows can now be crafted using apples.
			20100129-1447				Arrows can no longer be crafted.
			20100130				Arrows are once again now craftable. Iron is used instead of flint.
			20100204-2027				Skeletons' arrows now look the same as the player's.
20100219							Arrows are now dropped by skeletons.
Java Edition Infdev
20100316							Arrows now have a high chance of spawning either a sheep, a pig, a skeleton, a creeper, a spider, or a zombie upon hitting a block.
							The player now spawns with 999 arrows.
20100320							The player now spawns with 64 arrows.
20100327							The player no longer spawns with any arrows in new worlds.
20100413-1951							Arrows no longer spawn mobs.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.0.14							The tip of an arrow in crafting is now made from flint rather than an iron ingot.
Java Edition Beta
1.2							Arrows can now be fired by dispensers.
1.6			Test Build 3				Arrows could be used to stick in any block before this update, even some non-solid ones. For example, they could stick in torches, sugar cane and Nether portals.
1.8			Pre-release				Arrows can no longer be rapid-fired from bows; they must be charged first.
							Arrows (with a bow at full strength) can now travel 120 blocks when fired from the optimal angle.
							Arrows now visually stick to mobs and players.
Sound Update							Arrow firing sounds have been changed - see sounds section
Java Edition
November 21, 2011							Exploding arrows are mentioned.
1.0.0			Beta 1.9 Prerelease				Arrows no longer stick to mobs.
			RC1				Arrow landing sounds have been changed.
1.1			release				Arrows on fire now set the entities they hit on fire. Before, arrows could be on fire (like other entities), but they did not set what they hit on fire, and there was no enchantment to fire flaming arrows.
1.3.1			12w21a				Farmer villagers now sell 9–12 arrows for 1 emerald.
			12w22a				Arrows can now be found inside dispensers in the newly added jungle temples.
							5 arrows can now be bought for 1 emerald.
							Fully charged arrows now show their particle effect again.
							Arrows are now stuck at the correct position in the block they hit.
			12w23a				Arrows can now activate tripwire switches and wooden pressure plates.
1.4.2			12w34a				Arrows can now activate wooden buttons.
			12w34b				Arrows on fire can now ignite TNT.
1.4.4			1.4.3				Arrows now stick to players again, but not mobs.
1.4.6			pre				Arrows now make a "ding" sound when they hit a player.
1.8			14w02a				Farmer villagers no longer sell arrows.
							Fletcher villagers now sell 8–12 arrows for 1 emerald.
			14w25a				An underwater arrow now loses all velocity after a few blocks and slowly falls.
							A flaming arrow underwater now gets extinguished.
			14w26a				Fire arrows can now be used to detonate minecarts with TNT.
1.9			15w31a				Arrows can now be used to craft spectral arrows.
			15w33c				Added shields; though they fully block damage from arrows, arrows still visually stick into the player.
			15w37a				Arrows now ricochet off of shields.
			15w44b				Added a method to use arrows to create tipped arrows.
			15w47b				Arrows now ricochet off of creative mode players, whereas before they would pass straight through.
			15w49a				Arrows now take the archer's motion into account. For example, if the player is falling, an arrow fired upward travels slower than if the player was standing still, and an arrow fired downward flies faster.
			15w44b				Arrows are used to create tipped arrows by crafting instead.
1.14			18w43a				Arrows are now used as ammo for crossbows.
							Shot arrows can now break chorus flowers.
			18w47a				Arrows can now be generated inside of pillager outpost chests.
			18w50a				Arrows can now be found in chests in fletcher houses.
			19w11a				Fletcher villagers now sell 16 arrows for 1 emerald.
			19w13a				Regular arrows can be obtained as a reward item from fletcher villagers when the player has the Hero of the Village status effect.
1.14.1			pre2				Flaming arrows can now light campfires.
1.16			20w16a				Arrows now generate in bastion remnant chests.
1.17			21w13a				The unused original texture of the arrow[3] has been removed.
1.20.3			23w41a				Arrows can now break decorated pots.
			23w43a				Arrows keep all of their NBT data when shot and picked up.
1.20.3 Experiment Update 1.21			23w45a				Arrows can now be found in trial chambers in decorated pots, chests and dispensers.
1.20.5 Experiment Update 1.21			24w11a				Arrows can now be obtained from vaults in trial chambers.
			24w13a				Arrows can now be dispensed as projectiles by ominous trial spawners.
1.21.2			24w33a				The texture map for the arrow model was updated to include a mirror side.
			24w34a				Shot arrows now bounce on the world border if hit.
26.3			snap1				Arrows can now be found in abandoned camps in barrels and chests.

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.2.0							Added arrows. They are currently unobtainable and serve no purpose.
v0.3.3							Arrows now serve as ammunition for bows.
							Added skeletons, which drop arrows when they die.
							Arrows are now craftable.
v0.5.0							Arrows can now be obtained after activating the nether reactor.
v0.12.1			build 1				Arrows on fire now set the entities they hit on fire. Before, arrows could be on fire (like other entities), but they would not set what they hit on fire, and there was no enchantment to fire flaming arrows.
							Arrows on fire can now ignite TNT.
							An underwater arrow now loses all velocity after a few blocks and slowly falls.
							Arrows are no longer available from the nether reactor.
v0.13.0			build 1				Arrows now update sand and gravel.
v0.15.0			build 1				Arrows can now be found inside dispensers in jungle temples.
							Arrows can now be dipped in a potion-filled cauldron to make tipped arrows.
Pocket Edition
1.0.0			alpha 0.17.0.1				Arrows can now be used to craft tipped arrows on a crafting table.
1.0.4			alpha 1.0.4.0				Arrows are now sold by fletcher villagers.
Bedrock Edition
1.8.0			beta 1.8.0.10				Arrows can now be used as ammo for the new crossbows.
1.9.0			beta 1.9.0.0				Added pillagers, which drop arrows upon death.
			beta 1.9.0.2				Arrows can now be used to craft fletching tables.
1.10.0			beta 1.10.0.3				Arrows can now be found in pillager outpost chests.
							Arrows can now break chorus flowers.
1.11.0			beta 1.11.0.1				Arrows can now be found in village fletcher chests.
							Flaming arrows can now light campfires.
			beta 1.11.0.4				Fletcher villagers now sell 5 arrows for one emerald.
							Arrows can now be used to obtain tipped arrows via trading.
			beta 1.11.0.7				Arrows can no longer can be used to craft fletching tables.
1.12.0			beta 1.12.0.3				Novice-level fletcher villagers now sell 16 regular arrows instead of 5 arrows.
1.16.0			beta 1.16.0.51				Added piglins, which drop arrows upon death.
			beta 1.16.0.57				Arrows now generate in bastion remnants chests.
							Piglins no longer drop arrows upon death.
1.16.100			beta 1.16.100.54				Arrows can now be obtained through bartering.
1.20.50			Preview 1.20.50.20				Arrows can now break decorated pots.
1.20.60 Experiment Update 1.21			Preview 1.20.60.20				Arrows can now be found in trial chambers in decorated pots, chests and dispensers.
1.20.80 Experiment Update 1.21			Preview 1.20.80.22				Arrows can now be obtained from vaults in trial chambers.
1.21.0 Experiment Update 1.21			Preview 1.21.0.20				Arrows can now be dispensed as projectiles by ominous trial spawners.
26.40			Preview 26.40.27				Arrows fired by mobs with a crossbow now deal the same damage regardless of the shooting mobs.
							Arrows fired by players or other mobs with a crossbow are no longer affected by difficulty.
26.40 Experiment Drop 3 of 2026			Preview 26.40.27				Arrows can now be found in abandoned camps in barrels and chests.
26.50			Preview 26.50.22				All features from the "Drop 3 of 2026" experiment have been fully implemented.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU1	CU1	1.00	1.00	1.00	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added arrows.
TU14		1.04					Farmer villagers now sell 9–12 arrows for 1 emerald.
TU19	CU7	1.12	1.12	1.12			Arrows now stick to players.
TU31	CU19	1.22	1.22	1.22	Patch 3		Farmer villagers no longer sell arrows.
							Fletcher villagers now sell 8–12 arrows for 1 emerald.
							An underwater arrow now loses all velocity after a few blocks and slowly falls.
							A flaming arrow underwater now gets extinguished.
TU46	CU36	1.38	1.38	1.38	Patch 15		Arrows can now be used to craft tipped arrows.
							Arrows now take the archer's motion into account. For example, if the player is falling, an arrow fired upward travels slower than if the player was standing still, and an arrow fired downward flies faster.
							Bows can now be drawn while holding arrows. The bow is selected based on the closest bow to slot 0.
TU53	CU43	1.49	1.50	1.49	Patch 23	1.0.3	Bows can no longer be drawn while holding arrows.
			1.90				Arrows are now used as ammo for crossbows.
							Shot arrows can now break chorus flowers.
							Added pillagers, which drop arrows upon death.
							Arrows now ricochet off of the newly added shields.
			1.91				Arrows can now be generated inside of pillager outpost chests.

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0							Added arrows.

Java Edition Combat Tests

Historical sounds

Data history

Java Edition

Bedrock Edition

Issues

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

Trivia

• By default, arrows fly slightly offset to the right. If the player stands close to a wall and fires several arrows without moving the crosshair, the arrows cluster around a point slightly to the right of the crosshair. If the player switches their main hand to be the left hand in options, the arrows instead cluster to the left.
• Arrows fired at Nether portals often skip through the portal block completely and fail to collide, thus continuing through to the opposite side of the block.
• Arrows stuck in blocks vibrate upon a world reload.^[4]

Gallery

Renders

• 
  An arrow caught on fire.

Screenshots

• 
  Purple arrows in Minecraft Classic
• 
  Examples of custom arrow types using /give
• 
  Some arrows stick into sugar canes. This no longer works since Java Edition Beta 1.6.
• 
  Many arrows stuck in the player, seen through the inventory screen
• 
  Searge with a bunch of arrows summoned above him
• 
  Alex shattering a decorated pot with an arrow^[5]

In other media

• 
  An arrow as seen in Minecraft Earth

References

External links

• "Taking Inventory: Arrow" by Duncan Geere – Minecraft.net, February 4, 2021.