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» Global RuneScape Home » Skill guides » Ranged

Ranged

Introduction

Ranged is a great skill for fighting, because it allows you to attack someone from a distance and them not being able to attack you. This is also a free skill, but there are items only members can equip.

Guide links:

Equipment

Bows

- Crystal Bow

Arrows

Crossbows & Bolts

- Crossbows

- Bolts

- Enchanted bolts

Throwing Weapons

Armour

Dwarf MultiCannon

Equipment

Before you can attack anybody you need a bow and some arrows.
You can buy these in an Archery Shop. Current Archery Shops are:
– Varrock, west of the eastern bank.
– Rimmington, on the main square
– Catherby, west of the Fishing Shop (members only)
– Grand Tree (Members only)
– Ranging Guild (Members only)
– Lathas Camp (Members only)

If you are a member, you can also fletch bows and arrows. See our fletching skill guide for more info.

Bows

Bows are the most used Ranging weapons in RuneScape. There are two types of bows:

Shortbows
Shortbows are for close ranged attacks. If you are just starting out training ranged, it is usually best to use shortbows for a while.

Longbows
These are for long ranged attacks like from one side of Varrock centre to another. If you are attacking someone from long range distance you should use this, it has more accuracy and will hit more on long ranged shots.

Ogres Bows (Members Only)
Ogre Bows can only use Brutal or Ogre arrows.

• The Ogre Bow requires the Big Chompy Bird Hunting quest to be completed before use.
• The composite ogre bows requires the Zogre Flesh Eater quest to be completed before use.

Picture	Name	Needed ranged level to wield	Attack bonus
	Shortbow	1	+8
	Longbow	1	+8
	Oak Shortbow	5	+14
	Oak Longbow	5	+14
	Willow Shortbow	20	+20
	Willow Longbow	20	+20
	Willow comp bow	20	+22
	Maple Shortbow	30	+29
	Maple Longbow	30	+29
	Comp ogre bow	30	+38
	Yew Shortbow	40	+47
	Yew Longbow	40	+47
	Yew comp bow	40	+49
	Magic Shortbow	50	+69
	Seercull	50	+69
	Magic Longbow	50	+69
	Magic comp bow	40	+71
	Dark bow	60	+95
	Crystal Bow	70 (With 50 Agility)	+68
	Zaryte bow	80	+120

Crystal Bow

Elven crystal can be grown into different items, like Crystal Bow. When the Crystal Bow is new, you can trade it, but once you've started to use it, it forms itself to the player, making it untradeable. This bow doesn't require any arrows, and it will become weaker as you use it. After 2500 uses it returns to the original state of Crystal Seed.

This bow has 10 phases to go trough before it returns to the original state. As stated above, it will be weaker and weaker:

Phase	Ranged attack bonus
10/10	+100
9/10	+96
8/10	+92
7/10	+88
6/10	+84
5/10	+80
4/10	+76
3/10	+72
2/10	+68
1/10	+64

Arrows

There are seven types of regular arrows, one for each of the basic metals: Bronze, Iron, Steel, Mithril, Adamant, Rune and Dragon. Only members can use the Rune and Dragon arrows. The better arrows you use, the better bow you need.

When you've fired the arrows, you can pick them up again. However, 25% of the time, your arrows will break, and they will just disappear. If you use the Rapid Attack Style, your arrows will break more often.

Also, members can poison all arrows with weapon poison. Read more in our Herblore guide.

Picture	Name	Required bow	Average Price
	Bronze arrows	Any	6 gp
	Iron arrows	Any	12 gp
	Steel arrows	Oak	30 gp
	Mithril arrows	Willow	45 gp
	Adamant arrows	Maple	120 gp
	Rune arrows*	Yew	280 gp
	Dragon arrows*	Yew	4000 gp

*= Members only

Crossbows & Bolts

There are four kinds of Crossbows. Only the normal crossbow and Phoenix crossbow is available for free players.

• Normal Crossbow
  This crossbow can be bought from any archery shop.
• Phoenix Crossbow
  This bow can only be found by someone with the key to the cellar to the Phoenix Gang, and is not a gang member.
• Metal Crossbows
  These bows are like the normal crossbows, but more powerful. The better the crossbow, the better bolts you can use with it, therefore dealing more damage to your opponent. The Dorgeshuun crossbow is obtainable after completing the Death to the Dorgeshuun quest, but can also be bought from fellow players and used before the quest has been done. The Dorgeshuun crossbow uses bone, bronze and iron bolts.
• Karil's Crossbow
  This is a special crossbow, that you can get from the Barrows. This crossbow use Bolt Racks, which also can be found in the barrows, or bought in the general store in Port Phasmatys. Unlike other crossbows, Karil's one is two-handed and cannot be used with a shield.

The advantage in Crossbows is that you can wield a shield in addition to your crossbow.
The disadvantage is that the crossbow is much less accurate, so you will hit more zeros. However, when they hit, they can even hit more than their corresponding arrows (look at the bolts table).

Crossbows

Picture	Name	Needed level	Range attack bonus	Bolts
	Crossbow	1	+6	Bronze
	Phoenix Crossbow	1	+6	Bronze
	Bronze Crossbow	1	+11	Bronze
	Blurite Crossbow*	16	+17	Up to blurite
	Iron Crossbow	26	+23	Up to iron
	Dorgeshuun Crossbow**	28	+42	Bone & up to iron
	Steel Crossbow	31	+28	Up to steel
	Mithril Crossbow	36	+32	Up to mithril/mithril grapple
	Adamant Crossbow	46	+41	Up to adamant
	Hunters' Crossbow	50	+55	Kebbit bolts
	Rune Crossbow	61	+50	Up to rune
	Karil's Crossbow	70	+84	Bolt Racks

* Must have completed The Knight's sword.

• • The Dorgeshuun crossbow's special attack can only be used after completing Death to the Dorgeshuun.

Bolts

Bolts are made by players using the member's fletching skill, they are also dropped by different monsters such as Iron dragons etc. To tip bolts you must use a chisel with the gem of the tips you wish to make, to make that gems tips, e.g Emerald tips, then use the tips with your bolts. The bolts must be compatible with the tips. Barbed tips are avalible from the Rangers' Guild ticket salesman. To make silver bolts you must use a silver bar on a furnace whilst you have a silver bolt mould in your inventory. All bolts can be poisoned using weapon poison or super weapon poison just like arrows!

Some agility obstacles in RuneScape require a grapple to be used. You can make a grapple from making a mithril bolt (level 53 Smithing needed) then add a feather (level 54 Fletching needed). Then make a mith grapple tip (level 59 Smithing needed), Attach the mithril grapple tip to your mith bolt to make a mithril grapple! Then use a rope on your mithril grapple to complete it. Lastly equip your mithril grapple and crossbow to use the grapple agility shortcuts.
Note: Only bronze bolts are available to free players.

Picture	Name	Available tips to add
	Bronze bolts	Barbed, Opal
	Blurite bolts	Jade
	Iron bolts	Pearl
	Silver bolts	None
	Bone bolts	None
	Steel bolts	Red Topaz
	Mithril bolts	Emerald, Sapphire, Mithril grapple
	Adamant bolts	Ruby, Diamond
	Kebbit bolts	None
	Long kebbit bolts	None
	Rune bolts	Dragonstone, Onyx
	Bolt Rack*	None

* Can only be used with Karil's Crossbow

Enchanted bolts

Some bolts when gem tips have been added and they have been enchanted using the level 4 "Enchant Crossbow Bolt" special have effects which can drain, hit higher, etc. When you use the spell, you will be able to select which type of enchantment you wish to use. The better the enchantment is, the higher magic level you need. Note that all enchanted bolts are untradeable.

Enchanted Bronze + Opal bolts: Lucky Lightning Effect: Chance of a lightning bolt striking your opponent and causing extra damage.	Enchanted Blurite + Jade bolts: Earth's Fury Effect: Chance of knocking your opponent to the ground; agile opponents may resist this. (Must have completed The Knight's Sword)
Enchanted Iron + Pearl bolts: Sea Curse Effect: Chance of a mighty bolt of water crashing down upon your opponent. This is negated by opponents wielding water staves, but is increased against fiery opponents.	Enchanted Steel + Red Topaz: Down to Earth Effect: Chance of lowering your opponent's Magic level. Only works on other players.
Enchanted Mithril + Sapphire: Clear Mind Effect: Chance of lowering your opponent's Prayer points and giving part of them to you. Only works on other players.	Enchanted Mithril + Emerald bolts: Magical Poison Effect: Bolts count as having super poison, with an increased chance of poisoning your opponent.
Enchanted Adamant + Ruby bolts: Blood Forfeit Effect: Chance of losing 10% of your hitpoints to inflict 20% damage on your opponent. Does not work if you can't spare the hitpoints.	Enchanted Adamant + Diamond: Armour Piercing Effect: Chance of negating a sizeable portion of your opponent's defence against Ranged attacks.
Enchanted Rune + Dragonstone: Dragon's Breath No image yet Effect: Chance of inflicting a dragon's breath hit against your opponent, unless they have an anti-dragonbreath shield, or are some type of fiery beast such as a dragon.	Enchanted Rune + Onyx: Life Leech No image yet Effect: Chance of doing extra damage and healing a small amount. Does not work on undead, as they have no life to leech.

Throwing Weapons

All throwing weapons are Members only, and they are a good alternative to bows and arrows. There are 4 types of throwing weapons:

• Throwing Knives
  These are just smithed. You will get 5 throwing knives per bar.
  They are poisonable, and you can wear a shield when using them.
• Darts
  Before using Darts, you must complete The Tourist Trap. To make them, smith some Dart Tips, and then add feathers to it.
  They are poisonable, and you can use a shield when using them.
• Javelins
  These are almost like spears, but you can throw them. You can buy them in the Ranging Guild.
  They are poisonable, and you can use a shield when using them.
  The prices in the table are from the Tribal Weapons Salesman in the Ranging Guild.
• Throwing Axes
  A real barbarian weapon. These can also be bought in the Ranging Guild.
  They cannot be poisoned. You can wear a shield when using them.
  The prices in the table are from the Tribal Weapons Salesman in the Ranging Guild.

Throwing Knives

Picture	Name	Needed Ranging level
	Bronze throwing knife	1
	Iron throwing knife	1
	Steel throwing knife	5
	Black throwing knife	10
	Mithril throwing knife	20
	Adamant throwing knife	30
	Rune throwing knife	40

Darts

Picture	Name	Needed Ranging level
	Bronze dart	1
	Iron dart	1
	Steel dart	5
	Black dart*	10
	Mithril dart	20
	Adamant dart	30
	Rune dart	40

*= You can get these from looting killed Burthorpe guards

Javelins

Picture	Name	Needed level	Ranging attack bonus	Price
	Bronze javelin	1	+5	5gp
	Iron javelin	1	+8	7gp
	Steel javelin	5	+12	31gp
	Mithril javelin	20	+17	83gp
	Adamant javelin	30	+24	208gp
	Rune javelin	40	+38	520gp

Throwing axes

Picture	Name	Needed level	Ranging attack bonus	Price
	Bronze throwing axe	1	+4	3gp
	Iron throwing axe	1	+5	9gp
	Steel throwing axe	5	+8	33gp
	Mithril throwing axe	20	+12	91gp
	Adamant throwing axe	30	+17	228gp
	Rune throwing axe	40	+26	572gp

Armour

Ranged armour can protect you from ranged attacks and some of it can even protect you against Magic attacks.
Both free players and members can craft leather armour, but only members can craft dragonhides. See our Crafting guide for more information.

NOTE: All ranging armour gives 0 to stab, slash and crush bonus.

Leather armour

Everyone can use leather armour.

Picture	Name	Attack bonuses		Defence Bonuses
		Magic	Range	Stab	Slash	Crush	Magic	Range
	Leather cowl	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	+2	+3
	Leather vambraces	0	+4	+2	+2	+1	0	0
	Leather body	-2	+2	+8	+9	+10	+4	+9
	Leather chaps	0	+4	+2	+3	+1	0	0
	Hardleather body	-4	+8	+12	+15	+18	+6	+15
	Coif	-1	+2	+4	+6	+8	+4	+4
	Studded body	-4	+8	+18	+25	+22	+8	+25
	Studded chaps	-5	+6	+15	+16	+17	+6	+16

Dragonhide items are much better than normal leather items, but they're more expensive, and they are harder to get.

They all need 40 defence to wear, but also require a ranged level depending on its colour:

• Green dragonhide armour
  40 Ranged
• Blue dragonhide armour
  50 Ranged - Members only
• Red dragonhide armour
  60 Ranged - Members only
• Black dragonhide armour
  70 Ranged - Members only

Dragonhide Armour

Picture	Name	Attack Bonuses		Defence Bonuses
		Magic	Range	Stab	Slash	Crush	Magic	Range
Green d'hide vamb	Green dragonhide vambraces	-10	+8	+3	+2	+4	+2	0
	Green dragonhide chaps	-10	+8	+22	+16	+24	+8	+22
	Green dragonhide body	-15	+15	+40	+32	+45	+20	+40
	Blue dragonhide vambraces	-10	+9	+4	+3	+5	+4	0
	Blue dragonhide chaps	-10	+11	+25	+19	+27	+14	+25
	Blue dragonhide body	-15	+20	+45	+37	+50	+30	+45
	Red dragonhide vambraces	-10	+10	+5	+4	+6	+6	0
	Red dragonhide chaps	-10	+14	+28	+22	+30	+20	+28
	Red dragonhide body	-15	+25	+50	+42	+55	+40	+50
	Black dragonhide vambraces	-10	+11	+6	+5	+7	+8	0
	Black dragonhide chaps	-10	+17	+31	+25	+33	+26	+31
	Black dragonhide body	-15	+30	+55	+47	+60	+50	+55

Karil's Armour

Karil the Tainted's set is a members only set of ranged armour with large bonuses. 70 defense and 70 ranged are both required to wear it. Note that if you wear the full set (chest, leg, helm, bow) you have a chance to temporarily drain an target's agility level if you hit them. It also loses durability over time, taking a total of 15 hours in combat to break it. You can repair damaged pieces at a few blacksmiths in Runescape or at an armour stand in a house.

Picture	Name	Attack Bonuses		Defence Bonuses
		Magic	Range	Stab	Slash	Crush	Magic	Range
	Karil's Coif	-1	+3	+6	+9	+12	+6	+10
	Karil's Leathertop	-15	+30	+47	+42	+50	+65	+57
	Karil's Leatherskirt	-10	+17	+26	+20	+28	+35	+33

Dwarf Multicannon

The Dwarf MultiCannon is a powerful ranging device allowing you to fire cannonballs (made in smithing by smelting steel bars while having a cannonball mould in your inventory). You have to complete the Dwarf Cannon quest before using it.

The cannon can hit up to 30 hp at once, but the higher ranging level you have, the better will the cannon hit: If you are level 1 ranging, you will mostly hit below 10, if you are ranging level 60, you will often hit over 20.

To set up the cannon, follow these steps:
1. Set up the Cannon Base
2. Use the Stand on the Base
3. Use the Barrel on the unfinished cannon
4. Use the Furnace on the unfinished cannon
5. Use cannonballs on the Dwarf MultiCannon (max 30 at once)
6. Click on the cannon, and it will start firing at enemies.

As stated above, the cannon can not be loaded with more than 30 cannonballs at once. So you will need use more balls on the cannon regularly.
If you are not fighting, the cannon will shoot at ALL enemies. When you are fighting, the cannon will only shoot the enemy you are fighting, unless you are in a multicombat area (it will fire at all enemies anyway).
Note that the cannon can not be used against other players, like dueling, castle wars or fighting in wilderness.

If you use the cannon too much without picking it up, it will eventually decay. If this happens, you can get a new one for free from Nulodion.
If you for some reason don't pick up the cannon, for instance you've teleported from somewhere without picking it up, you can also get one for free.
If you die while the cannon is set up, you will also be able to get a new one.
However, if you die while the cannon is in your backpack, or you drop or trade it with other players, you won't get a new one.

The price for the cannon is 750K (750,000gp). If you buy all parts seperately, you will need to pay 250K (250,000gp) for each part, so it will cost you 1M gp.(1,000,000gp).
The street price is around 500-600K (500,000-600,000gp), so buying it from another player is the cheapest way to get a cannon.
When the cannon is sold to another player, the other player will now own the cannon, and if he dies, teleport or whatsoever, then he (and NOT the old owner) will be able to get a new cannon.

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