Shahrukh Sial is a gaming content writer at Sparked Host. He covers game guides, tips, and updates to help players improve their skills and enjoy a better gaming experience.

In Minecraft, the crossbow is a powerful ranged weapon introduced in the Java Edition 1.14 update. Crossbows offer higher damage and longer range than bows, although they have a longer draw time and reloading time. The crossbow fires item projectiles like arrows, tipped arrows, spectral arrows, and even firework rockets. This versatility makes it ideal for players in Survival Mode, especially when using enchanted crossbows.

When Were Crossbows Added To Minecraft?

Crossbows were added to Minecraft in the Village & Pillage update (1.14 Java Edition). This version introduced new mobs, block or entity items, and weapons, including the crossbow, which shattered conventional arrows as the dominant ranged attack method. The update also brought projectile path mechanics and the ability for crossbow fires item functionality to include firework rocket explosions.

Is the Crossbow Better Than The Bow?

The answer depends on play style. Crossbows allow you to fire a single arrow shot, but they can be loaded or unloaded, and are often charged before firing. A bow offers quicker reloading time, but crossbows can be enhanced using the Multishot Enchantment, Piercing Enchantment, or Quick Charge III Crossbow.

  • The Multishot Crossbow allows three arrows or shot fireworks rockets at once.

  • The Piercing Crossbow can pass through multiple enemies.

  • With Quick Charge, crossbows achieve faster reloads, nearly matching a bow’s speed.

The Crossbow's increased power also comes at the cost of crossbow durability. Using firework rockets and enchantments can cause increased durability usage stacks, especially if you fire multiple of the same arrows.

How to Craft A Crossbow In Minecraft

Materials Needed:

  • 3 Sticks

  • 2 Strings

  • 1 Iron Ingot

  • 1 Tripwire Hook

This is one of the essential crossbow recipes.

Crafting Steps:

  1. Open the crafting table.

  2. Arrange items in the 3x3 grid:

    • Top row: Stick, Iron Ingot, Stick

    • Middle row: String, Tripwire Hook, String

    • Bottom row: Empty, Stick, Empty

  3. Drag the crossbow into your inventory.

These crossbow recipes also work in the Bedrock Edition of the game. You can generate randomly enchanted crossbows through mob loot or loot chests, or use an enchantment table to create your own.

How to Use a Crossbow in Minecraft

A crossbow in Minecraft functions as a two-stage ranged weapon. It requires manual loading before it can be fired. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how to properly use it, including what projectiles can be used and how various states of the crossbow operate.

Equip the Crossbow

  • Place the crossbow in your main hand inventory slot.

  • Ensure that you have arrows, tipped arrows, spectral arrows, or firework rockets in your inventory or off-hand, depending on the projectile you want to fire.

Start the Reloading Procedure

  • Hold right-click (or the respective button on your platform/controller).

  • The crossbow starts the reloading procedure.

  • During this phase, the game plays a visual and audio cue. The animation indicates that the crossbow is being loaded.

  • The type of ammunition being loaded is based on what’s available in your inventory and off-hand. For firework rockets, it must be placed in the off-hand slot.

  • If you stop holding the button or switch to another item during this phase, the crossbow stops loading the item and will return to its unloaded state.

Wait Until Crossbow Finishes Loading

  • Once the reload completes, the crossbow finishes the loading process and becomes a loaded crossbow.

  • You will see the crossbow visually change to indicate that it is ready to fire.

  • The game also shows subtitles (if subtitles are enabled) that confirm the crossbow is ready.

Fire the Crossbow

  • Press right-click again (or tap the fire button) to release the shot.

  • Once fired, the crossbow becomes an unloaded crossbow, and the loading procedure must be repeated before the next shot.

Ammunition Types You Can Shoot

The crossbow can shoot different types of projectiles:

  • Arrows shot: Standard conventional arrows. No additional effects.

  • Tipped Arrow: Arrows imbued with potion effects (e.g., poison, healing, weakness). On hit, these effects are applied to the target.

  • Spectral Arrow: Highlights the enemy with a glowing outline, making them visible through walls for a short time.

  • Firework Rocket: When fired from a crossbow, it becomes a firework rocket entity and explodes on impact, dealing area-of-effect (AOE) damage within a blast radius.

    • If the firework rocket includes fireworks stars, the damage and explosion size increase.

    • An additional firework star enhances the explosion but consumes more crossbow durability.

Note: Only firework rockets can be placed in the off-hand slot for use with a crossbow.

Crossbow States: Loaded vs Unloaded

  • Unloaded Crossbow:

    • Cannot be fired.

    • It must go through the reloading procedure before it can be used.

  • Loaded Crossbow:

    • Holds one projectile (either an arrow or a firework rocket).

    • Can be stored in the inventory or hotbar and fired later.

    • Retains the projectile until fired or manually reloaded with a different type.

Switching to another item or replacing the crossbow in a loaded state does not unload it; it remains ready to fire. However, interrupting the load mid-way resets it to an unloaded state.

Summary of Functional Notes:

  • A crossbow has a longer reload time compared to bows unless it is enchanted with Quick Charge.

  • The Multishot enchantment allows firing three arrows or firework rockets at once, consuming one unit of durability.

  • Piercing allows arrows to penetrate multiple enemies and shield blocks, except when using Multishot.

  • When using firework rockets, the rocket deals damage depending on its configuration.

  • Crossbow durability decreases with each shot, especially when firing fireworks.

  • Sneak speed remains unaffected during crossbow use, but movement is slightly restricted during load.

Survival Mode Gameplay

In Survival Mode, players must gather materials manually to craft a crossbow. This includes:

  • Killing spiders for string

  • Smelting iron ore for ingots

  • Crafting or finding a tripwire hook

Players can also find crossbows in generated structures or use mob loot as an alternative source.

Java Edition Crossbows

In Java Edition, crossbows follow the same crafting recipe. You can:

  • Craft using the standard recipe

  • Enchant crossbows using an enchantment table or an anvil

  • Use crossbows with shoot subtitles, animations, and ranged weapon mechanics

Java Edition supports unique mechanics like spectral arrows and more detailed entity interactions.

Obtaining Crossbows via Mob Loot

Crossbows can drop from the following hostile mobs:

  • Pillagers: The Most common source of crossbow loot

  • Piglins (in specific cases)

  • Other crossbow-wielding mobs

Dropped crossbows may be damaged, unenchanted, or randomly enchanted, sometimes with Quick Charge or Multishot.

Bedrock Edition Crossbows

In Bedrock Edition, the crafting recipe and usage are the same. Crossbows can:

  • Be crafted from the same materials

  • Drop from pillagers

  • Be used with fireworks, rockets, arrows, and tipped arrows

Enchantments like Quick Charge and Piercing are also supported.

Quick Charge Enchantment

Quick Charge is a crossbow enchantment that reduces reload time. There are three levels:

  • Quick Charge I: Slightly faster

  • Quick Charge II: Noticeably faster

  • Quick Charge III: Maximum reload speed

This enchantment is useful in PvP, PvE, and Survival Mode when rapid firing is needed.

How To Shoot Fireworks In Minecraft With a Crossbow

  • Place a firework rocket in your off-hand.

  • Use a loaded crossbow to fire.

The firework rocket entity will explode with a blast radius that depends on the number of firework stars added during crafting. A crossbow fire with 7 firework stars deals rocket damage up to 18 points. A shot firework rocket can hit a target block or arrow closest to it.

Want more impact? Add a firework star or use higher flight duration rockets. Using a Multishot Crossbow, you can shoot three arrows or shoot firework rocket bursts simultaneously. However, this affects crossbow durability significantly and may reduce sneak speed while aiming.

Special Cases and Fun Facts

  • Oftentimes, fletchless arrows appear when using either an arrow or special types, like a spectral arrow.

  • Players may encounter such crossbows as loot or be dropped by enemies. These crossbows dropped can be unenchanted crossbows or even generate randomly enchanted ones.

  • In combat, using the same weapon repeatedly leads to predictable projectile paths, making piercing arrow strategies more effective.

  • You can carry two crossbows to toggle between multi-shot and piercing enchantment setups.

Conclusion

The crossbow adds depth and strategy to Minecraft combat. With various crossbow recipes, enchantments, and firework rocket damage options, you can dominate in both PvE and PvP. Whether you use fletchless arrows, conventional arrows, or loaded ammunition, the charged crossbow is a must-have tool in any adventurer’s gear.