Wondering how to make a bow in Minecraft? Follow our step-by-step instructions in this post.

Updated September 3, 2019

Answer: How to Make a Bow in Minecraft

Having a bow will allow you to use the ranged style of fighting in Minecraft. To craft a bow, follow these steps:

Step 1: Gather Materials:

You’ll need the following materials to craft a bow:

  • 3 Sticks
  • 3 Strings

You can craft sticks from wooden planks (wood) or find them in villages.

How to Make a Bow in Minecraft - Spiders
Players can obtain string, a key material for crafting bows, by killing spiders like this one, or from spider webs.

You can obtain string from spider webs or by killing spiders.

Step 2: Use a Crafting Table

How to Make a Bow in Minecraft - Use a Crafting Table
Use a crafting table.

Bows require a 3×3 crafting grid, so you’ll need a crafting table to make a bow.

Step 3: Arrange Materials on the Grid

How to Make a Bow in Minecraft - The recipe for a bow.
The recipe for a bow:
Place your materials on the crafting table like this…

Place strings in the first, fourth, and sevenths slots of the crafting grid. Place sticks on the second, 6th, and 8th slots.

Step 4: Craft the Bow

How to Craft a Bow - The Finished Bow
A finished bow.

Click on the craft button to make the bow, then drag it to your inventory.

More Info: Bows & Arrows

Bows are one of several weapons that players can wield in Minecraft. Bows allow players to shoot arrows, which typically deal damage to mobs.

Players can shoot various types of damaging arrows from their bows, including arrows of harming, and arrows of poison.

Players can also shoot arrows that heal or otherwise help, including arrows of strength, arrows of swiftness, arrows of night vision, and arrows of regeneration.

To craft a basic arrow, players need a stick, a flint, and a feather in their inventory. Players can then craft special arrows from basic arrows and other materials.

More Info: Other Minecraft Weapons

Besides arrows, players can yield several different weapons in Minecraft, including swords, axes, tridents, and crossbows.

Players can also use shields for defense and deal damage with fireworks and potions.

An image depicting the recipe for a gold sword.
The recipe for a gold sword includes a stick and two gold ingots.

Weapons have different types of attacks. For example, swords have a sweep attack, while axes have a crushing blow attack.

Some weapons can also be used for non-combat purposes. For example, players can use axes to chop wood and tridents for fast travel.

Using a weapon will typically reduce the weapon’s durability.

Sources: How to Make a Bow in Minecraft

GamerShrewd is an independent gaming site launched in August 2019. We thoroughly research every post we write and every question we answer to make sure you get the best possible gaming advice.

We answered How to Make a Bow in Minecraft based on our own personal experience in-game, as well as research from websites like Gamepedia, DigMinecraft, IGN, and Gamespot.

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