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Dark bow

Also known as?	D Bow
Release date	11 June 2007 (Update)
Members only?	Yes
Quest item?	No
Tradeable?	Yes
Equipable?	Yes
Stacks?	No
High Alchemy	72,000 coins
Low Alchemy	48,000 coins
Destroy	Drop
Store price	Not sold
Exchange price	1,300,000 coins update
GE Database	Look up price
Examine	A bow from a darker dimension.
Weight	1.8 kg
Click to enlarge

The Dark bow is often considered to be the strongest bow in RuneScape because its powerful special attack can hit a max of 52-52 as of 9 December 2009. However, this was in the early release of extreme ranging potions so it is possible it may hit higher; although no higher hit has been seen on video yet. It is the only bow able to fire Dragon arrows. It is a drop from Dark beasts, which require level 90 Slayer to kill. Level 60 Ranged is required to use it. The dark bow has a very slow rate of fire, but it fires two arrows at once, and its special is useful, as it will always hit, even through very good armour in PvP.

Currently, it is the slowest weapon in game, and due to this slow rate of fire, players using the accurate attack mode when ranging with the dark bow may find their monsters "stolen" by other players with faster weapons. Since it gives the player wielding it +95 range bonus it can be worn with less range gear and still be reasonably accurate. It is somewhat commonly used by the more wealthy ranging pkers.

Bonuses Hover over image for type												A male player wielding a Dark Bow	A player uses the Descent of Darkness special attack.
Attack bonus
0		0		0		0		+95
Defence bonus
0		0		0		0		0		0
Other bonuses
0			0			0			0
Speed:
Item compare not supported

Combat styles

	Name	Combat style	Experience
	Accurate	Accurate	Ranged
	Rapid	Rapid	Ranged
	Longrange	Longrange	Ranged & Defence

Special attacks

The Dark bow has 2 special attacks:

• Descent of Darkness: Inflicts up to 30% more damage. Minimum of 5 damage per arrow.
• Descent of Dragons: When using dragon arrows, inflicts up to 50% more damage. Minimum of 8 damage per arrow.

Each special attack drains 65% of the special attack bar. It used to be 55%, but this changed in the updates of 7 October 2009 to prevent players from performing two special attacks in a row by using the Restore Special potion. For lower level range pures this is the best knock-out weapon: it hits 16 for sure, and, if you use a magic short bow, it can be used like a 2h.

The Dark bow is one of the 2 weapons in RuneScape with special attacks that change under certain circumstances, the other one being the Zanik's crossbow.

If the attacked player uses Protect from Missiles Prayer, the minimum hit of the special is lowered to 3-3 for normal arrows and 4-4 for Dragon arrows.

Other uses

Strangely, the Dark bow can be used for the archery contest minigame although it only fires one arrow at a time there. It can also fire as fast as a player can shoot the target and close the score window, allowing the dark bow to be just as fast as any other bow that can shoot a bronze arrow (only in this minigame though).

When you try to light a fire using your dark bow it says "The innate darkness of the bow sucks all the heat from your firemaking attempt. You realise that this type of bow is useless for firelighting."

The Special attack can be used while Lootshare is active to ensure you hit the monster.

The Dark bow is also a very popular weapon in PvP combat, since the special attack Descent of Dragons inflicts up to 50% more damage due to the fact that the special will never miss and will deal a minimum damage of 16, unless one uses range protect as said above.

Development Diaries

The Impetuous Impulses development diary contains a description of the development of the dark bow. The diary contains artist impressions of the dark bow, which form the basis for the development of the bow itself and its special effect.

Gallery

Concept art - Dark bow.

Concept art - Special attack.

A still image of a player using the Descent of Dragons special attack.

Trivia

• An ogre composite bow with rune brutal arrows will fire the same number of arrows per minute as the dark bow (if using the Rapid style), and will deal the same maximum hit as dragon arrows (despite being significantly cheaper). The ogre composite bow's accuracy, however, is lower, and it has no special attack.
• When first introduced, the Dark bow sold for upwards of 60 million coins. Later, it sold for around 20 million coins in mid day and then around 8 million by the end of the day.
• After Bounty Hunter was introduced, its price dropped dramatically, reaching an astounding 1 million coins.
• Players cannot use the special attack if they only have one arrow in the quiver.
• Hitting with the special on a player with the Protect from Missiles Prayer on without Dragon Arrows would hit a minimum of 3, and with the Descent of Dragons move the minimum is 4.
• It is somewhat popular against monsters who use Protect prayer styles (such as Tormented Demons or the Kalphite Queen) because the Dark Bow's specials always hit.
• It is one of two weapons in the game that has two different special attacks, the other being Zanik's crossbow.
• On 7 October 2009, Jagex changed the Dark bow's special attack usage to 65% instead of 55%. As a result, some players began to rant about the increase.
• A few players who did not know the proper name for Dark Bows thought they were "Dragon Bows", however, dragon bows do not exist.
• The special attack of the dark bow resembles the head of a black dragon
• In theory, 125 people wielding Dark Bows and dragon arrows using the special attack simultaneously on the Corporeal Beast would guarantee a kill. It could probably be done with 60-80 people assuming they have high range levels.

References

• Grand Exchange Database - Current price
• Max hit Youtube video