Understand Crossbow
Useful when…
- Load an arrow before an encounter, then fire it when useful.
- Use Quick Charge to reduce charge time.
- Use Piercing arrows to pass through targets and bypass shield blocking.
- Load a firework rocket for an explosion on contact in Java Edition.
Loading and firing
Using the crossbow starts charging; while charging, the player moves at sneaking speed. Once it is loaded, movement returns to normal, and a second use fires the projectile. A loaded crossbow keeps its projectile when moved to another inventory slot. It can launch arrows or firework rockets; at least one rocket must be in the offhand to load a rocket.
Ammunition and enchantments
Piercing arrows pass through targets and can bypass shield blocking, but Piercing does not work with firework rockets. Quick Charge III reduces the listed Java charge time to 0.5 seconds. Multishot fires a spread of three projectiles. Rockets without firework stars deal no damage; each rocket shot uses three durability, or nine with Multishot.
Durability and repair
The crossbow has 465 maximum durability. Combining two crossbows at a crafting table loses loaded ammunition, while combining them on a grindstone keeps it. Anvil combination preserves the enchantments of both and the projectile of the target crossbow.
Limits and arrow-immune mobs
In Java Survival, the crossbow cannot receive Power, Punch, Flame, or Infinity. The reading notes that firework rocket explosions can damage certain arrow-immune mobs, including Endermen, Breeze, closed shulkers, and some specified Wither and Ender Dragon states; this is due to indirect rocket explosion damage, not the arrow itself.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- Preloading lets you time a shot, but loading and firing require separate uses.
- Rockets offer explosion damage but use three durability per shot, or nine with Multishot.
- Piercing affects arrows and shield blocking; it does not affect rockets.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the crossbow fires as soon as charging finishes.
- Assuming a rocket must always be in the offhand; the reference requires at least one rocket there to load it.
- Expecting Piercing to affect firework rockets.
- Expecting rockets to damage arrow-immune mobs without relying on explosion damage.