Crossbow in Minecraft

The crossbow is a powerful ranged weapon in Minecraft that shoots arrows or fireworks and impresses with its storable charge and powerful enchantments.

Written on Jun 2, 2025

Production

Ingredients:

3x sticks

2x thread

1x iron ingot

1x hook

Crafting:

Armbrust Herstellen

Use

Load:

  • Right-click (hold down) to load the crossbow

  • After loading, it remains cocked until it is fired

Fire:

  • Another right-click shoots the projectile

Projectiles:

  • Standard: Arrows

  • With "multiple charge" enchantment: Firework missiles

Advantages over bow

  • Projectiles remain stored after loading

  • Higher damage per shot

  • Compatible with fireworks for area damage

Enchantments

  • Quick Charge - Reduces charging time

  • Piercing - Arrows penetrate multiple targets

  • Multishot - Shoots three arrows at once (consumes only one)

  • Durability, repair, infinity (partial)

Areas of use

  • PvP - surprise attacks with preloaded weapon

  • PvE - Against large groups with multi-charge or through-bolt

  • With fireworks - Alternative damage source with area effect

Tips

  • Use crossbows with multiple charges and fireworks for crowd control

  • Ideal for preparing before battles thanks to storable charge status

  • Combine with redstone mechanics (e.g. dispenser with crossbow)

Trivia

  • Illagers also use crossbows

  • The charge status is retained even when changing weapons

  • The crossbow was introduced to the game in version 1.14

Armbrust

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Overview

Developer

Mojang

Studio

Mojang

Release

May 17, 2009

Genres

Adventure, Open-World, Survival, Sandbox

Platforms

Linux, Windows, Mac OS X

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