Minecraft: How to Get a Crossbow

When it comes to ranged weaponry in Minecraft, Crossbows lack the speed of Bows but offer superior damage, along with the capacity to use Fireworks as ammunition. Additionally, the Minecraft Crossbow’s projectiles can reach farther than a Bow’s Arrows and fire with slightly better accuracy. Such qualities can make the Crossbow a favorable weapon when battling challenging foes such as the Ender Dragon, Wither, Evokers, or Warden mob in Minecraft.

There are several ways to get a Crossbow in Minecraft. The first and most accessible method is by making it at Crafting Table. The Crossbow recipe requires three Stick, two String, one Iron Ingot, and one Tripwire Hook. Sticks are the easiest material to obtain, and players can get some simply by using wooden Planks. Strings are slightly rarer, as they are dropped by Spiders or from Cobwebs. Iron Ingot comes from smelted Iron Ore, and the Tripwire Hook is made from an Iron Ingot, Stick, and Plank. Players can combine these materials to get a basic Minecraft Crossbow.

One alternate way to get a Crossbow is by purchasing one from a Fletcher Villager in Minecraft. Once a Fletcher trader reaches the Journeyman Level, they have a chance to sell an unenchanted Crossbow for three Emeralds. At Master Level, they also are able to sell enchanted Crossbows for a much higher price. If a Village doesn’t yet have a Fletcher, players can craft a Fletching Table and use it as a job site block, placing it near any unemployed Villager to have them become a Fletcher. Fletching Tables can be easily crafted using four Planks and two Flint.

Where to Find Crossbows in Minecraft

Minecraft Crossbows can also be looted from certain enemy mobs or found within specific loot chests. Pillagers in the Overworld have an 8.5% chance to drop a Crossbow upon death. Furthermore, Crossbows can be found inside the chests within Pillager Outposts. However, players will need to be careful when killing Pillagers or attacking their outpost, as this action will trigger the Raid status effect.

Another place Minecraft fans can find Crossbows is in the Nether, particularly within Bastion Remnants. The lootable chests found in the area have a slight possibility of dropping a Crossbow, and the nearby Piglin inhabitants wielding Crossbows also can drop one upon death. Similar to Pillagers, there is only a probability of 8.5% that an armed Piglin will drop a Crossbow. While slaying a Piglin won’t activate a Raid, these underworld pig people pack a much stronger punch than the Pillager mobs in the Overworld, making them quite dangerous to deal with, especially in groups.

Minecraft is available on PC, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

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