The rune crossbow is a crossbow requiring 61 Ranged to wield. It can fire up to and including Runite bolts. It is equipable with a shield, a great advantage for player killing, and fighting monsters such as dragons which require an anti-dragon shield. The crossbow has an attack range of 7. Longrange increases attack range by 2.
Rune crossbows can be made through the Fletching skill at level 69; a player must first cut a yew stock for the crossbow from yew logs, granting 50 Fletchingexperience. Then, a player must add runite limbs with a hammer to the stock, granting 100 experience and making an unstrung rune crossbow. Finally, they must string the crossbow with crossbow string, granting 50 experience.
A common method for Ironmen to obtain a rune crossbow without the requirements to create one is by defeating the Crazy archaeologist. The rune crossbow is commonly used among low level and Ironman Mode players to complete the TzHaar Fight Cave due to its low price or ease of access, as well is its very cheap ammunition. You can also obtain this item from elite clues.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.