Dark bow

The dark bow is a ranged weapon that requires level 60 in Ranged to wield. It is only received as a drop from Dark beasts. It is the slowest weapon in the game, with an attack speed of 1 (5.4 seconds). Its speed on rapid mode is 4.8 seconds. It shoots two arrows per attack. The dark bow has an attack range of 10. Longrange does not increase attack range.

Assuming that both weapons are set to the Rapid attack style, the dark bow has a firing time of 2.4 seconds per arrow, whereas a shortbow such as the magic shortbow (i) takes only 1.8. Because of this, the dark bow is only fairly popular for Player killing. It has the highest max hit of any weapons in the game by means of special attack (although Twisted bow and Dharok's greataxe can hit harder with regular attacks and Dragon 2h sword is able to deal more total damage with its special attack).

Bonuses

Attack bonus

+0

+95

Defence bonus

+0

Other bonuses

+0

+0%

+0

Slot

List

Attack speed

Combat styles

Combat style	Experience	Boosts
Accurate	Ranged and Hitpoints	Accuracy and damage
Rapid	Ranged and Hitpoints	Attack speed by 1 tick
Longrange	Ranged, Hitpoints and Defence	Attack range by 2 squares

10 tiles is the maximum distance for any attack in RuneScape. The dark bow's attack range on Accurate and Rapid is 10, therefore Long Range can have no effect on this.

Special attack

The dark bow has a unique special attack comprised of two different attacks, both of which consume 55% of the player's special attack energy.

The 1st special attack, Descent of Darkness, deals up to 30% more damage with a minimum of 5 damage per arrow. The Descent of Darkness special attack animation shows the arrow shafts surrounded in a black shroud being fired at the target.

The 2nd special attack, Descent of Dragons, can only be used if the player has dragon arrows equipped. This attack deals up to 50% more damage with a minimum of 8 damage per arrow, while capping the max hit at 48 damage per arrow^[1]. The Descent of Dragons special attack animation shows black dragon heads being fired at the target.

Colouring

On 18 September 2014, dark bows could be recoloured using a special paint obtained from Bounty Hunter. The colouring will make the bow untradeable; however, to remove the colouring, simply use a cleaning cloth and the bow will return to its regular state. Buying a colour paint for the dark bow costs 500,000 points.

Dropping monsters

Monster	Combat level	Quantity	Rarity
Dark beast	182	1	4; Rare (1/512)
Night beast	374	1	4; Rare (1/512)

Comparison between other ranged weapons

Name	Levels to equip	Ranged Attack bonus	Notes
Twisted bow	75	+70	Has a passive effect where the higher the target's Magic level is, the more accurate and damaging the bow becomes Uses arrows as ammunition up to and including dragon Offers an attack speed of that of a longbow
Toxic blowpipe	75	+60	Requires Zulrah's scales (up to 16,383) and any unpoisoned darts to charge. Bonuses stack with the darts that are used to charge the blowpipe (up to +78 ranged attack and +60 ranged strength with dragon darts). Has an attack speed of 7 (same as darts) in a non-pvp encounter or attack speed of 6 in a pvp encounter (same as shortbows). Offers a special attack where damage is increased by 50% and heals the wielder by 50% of the damage dealt. Costs 50% special attack energy. Has 25% chance to inflict venom on an opponent.
Heavy ballista	75	+125	Has the highest ranged bonus of any ranged weapon, including a +15 Ranged Strength bonus. The ballista is 2-handed, forfeiting your options to use any type of shield. Requires completion of Monkey Madness II to equip. Only accepts Javelins as ammunition Ava's accumulator and device will not retrieve fired javelins, neither can they be picked up. Offers a special attack which increases accuracy and damage by 25% each for one shot. Costs 65% special attack energy.
Armadyl crossbow	70	+100	Has a slightly longer attack range than other crossbows. It is the only crossbow that offers a prayer bonus. Offers a special attack where the player's accuracy is increased by 100% (dependent on ranged level and gear used). Costs 40% special attack energy.
Crystal bow	70	+100	The bow must be imbued or fully charged to maintain its highest ranged bonuses. Offers a ranged strength of +70 when imbued or in top condition. Has the attack speed between that of a shortbow and crossbow. Has the furthest attack range of any bow or crossbow in the game (tied with composite bows) of 10 squares.
Karil's crossbow	70	+84	It is the only two-handed crossbow in the game and is also the fastest crossbow. Can only be fired with bolt racks. If worn with the rest of Karil the Tainted's equipment, it offers a set effect which lowers the target's agility level (only works on players). Like all Barrows equipment, it degrades and will fully degrade after 15 hours of combat. It is repairable.
Dragon hunter crossbow	65	+95	Offers the second highest one-handed Ranged attack bonus in the game, outclassed only by the armadyl crossbow Increases accuracy and damage by 30% when fighting dragons (excluding revenant dragons, as well as wyverns and the Great Olm.
Dragon crossbow	64	+94	Offers the third highest one-handed Ranged attack bonus in the game, outclassed only by the armadyl crossbow and dragon hunter crossbow Offers a special attack where the player can hit any target in a 3x3 area, while in a multicombat area, making it one of three range weapons that can hit multiple targets. This costs 60% of special attack bar.
Rune crossbow	61	+90	Offers the fourth highest one-handed Ranged attack bonus in the game, only behind the armadyl, dragon crossbow, and dragon hunter crossbows. It is considerably cheaper than the armadyl and dragon hunter crossbows.
Dark bow	60	+95	Offers the third highest Ranged attack bonus in the game, behind the Heavy ballista, which offers +125 ranged attack, and the crystal bow and armadyl crossbow, both offering +100 ranged attack. It is the slowest weapon in the game, offering only an attack speed of 2. Has the ability to shoot two arrows at a time. Offers a powerful special attack, where if used with dragon arrows, it increases damage dealt by 50% with a minimum hit of 8 (30% with any other arrow with a minimum hit of 5). Costs 55% special attack energy.
Magic shortbow	50	+69	It is the only shortbow to offer a special attack. The special attack fires 2 shots, but with reduced accuracy in rapid succession. Costs 55% special attack energy. The bow can be imbued by using a magic shortbow scroll on a normal magic shortbow. The imbued version increases accuracy to +75 and lowers the special attack cost to 50%.
Chinchompas	45 (Grey) 55 (Red) 65 (Black)	+45 (Grey) +70 (Red) +80 (Black)	It is the only one of three ranged weapons that offers the ability to hit more than one opponent at a time (similar to burst or barrage ancient spells), the others being the special attack of the dragon crossbow, with a similar attack, and Rune thrownaxe, with a ricochet type attack. Regarded to be the best way of training Ranged at the cost of it being expensive. Has the attack speed of 6 (same as scimitars or the abyssal whip). If a player dies with chinchompas equipped or in their inventory, they will disappear as they are live animals. Dying with black chinchompas to a player in the wilderness does not make them disappear.