Crystal bow
Crystal bow | |||||||||||||||||||
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Released | 7 February 2005 (Update) | ||||||||||||||||||
Members | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||
Quest item | Roving Elves | ||||||||||||||||||
Properties | |||||||||||||||||||
Tradeable | No | ||||||||||||||||||
Equipable | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||
Stackable | No | ||||||||||||||||||
Destroy | Drop | ||||||||||||||||||
Examine | A nice sturdy magical bow. | ||||||||||||||||||
Values | |||||||||||||||||||
Value | 300,000 coins | ||||||||||||||||||
Alchemy | Not alchemisable | ||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 1.814 kg | ||||||||||||||||||
Advanced data | |||||||||||||||||||
Item ID | 23983 | ||||||||||||||||||
The crystal bow is a bow made from enchanted elven crystal. It requires the completion of Roving Elves to wield, as well as 50 Agility and 70 Ranged. Along with the crystal shield, crystal halberd and the crystal saw, it is one of many pieces of crystal equipment in Gielinor.
A crystal bow is created when an elf sings to a crystal weapon seed and enchants it into a bow. The most prominent elf with this talent is Ilfeen, who will perform this service for players for a price.
Because it is blessed by the elven goddess Seren, the crystal bow does not require any arrows to use, as it generates its own when fired. The bow's fired shots are coated in a green aura, similar to Craw's bow.
The crystal bow can be considered the final bow in the composite bow family. Sharing the same 10-square attack range on any style as well as a 5-tick attack speed, placing it between popular ranged weapons like the shortbow (4-tick) and crossbow (6-tick.)
The crystal bow is required to complete the Hard Western Provinces Diary.
The crystal bow is also used for two Master Clue steps: an emote step and as a possible item to show Falo the Bard
The damage boost when wearing pieces of the crystal armour set scales multiplicatively with the Slayer helmet (i) and Salve amulet(i)/Salve amulet(ei) boosts.
![]() | ![]() A player wielding a crystal bow. | |||||||||
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+0 | +0 | +0 | +0 | +100 | ||||||
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+0 | +0 | +0 | +0 | +0 | ||||||
![]() | Slot | |||||||||
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+0 | +70 | +0% | +0 | List | ||||||
Attack speed | Range | |||||||||
![]() | 10 squares | |||||||||
Contents
Combat styles[edit | edit source]
Combat Options | Combat Style | Attack types | Style | Experience | Boosts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Accurate | Ranged | Accurate | Ranged and Hitpoints | Accuracy and Damage |
Rapid | Ranged | Rapid | Ranged and Hitpoints | Attack speed by 1 tick | |
Longrange | Ranged | Longrange | Ranged, Defence, and Hitpoints | None |
Creation[edit | edit source]
Skill | Level | XP | |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | 78 (b) | 2,000 | |
![]() | 78 (b) | 2,000 | |
Members | Ticks | ? (edit) | |
Tools | None | Facilities | ![]() |
Item | Quantity | Cost | |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Crystal weapon seed | 1 | 298,340 |
![]() | Crystal shard | 40 | N/A |
Total Cost | 298,340 | ||
![]() | Crystal bow | 1 | N/A |
Uses[edit | edit source]
Along with being extremely accurate and providing a Ranged bonus of +100, the crystal bow also has one of the longest ranges in the game, the same as a longbow, able to hit targets up to 10 squares away. However, longrange does not increase attack range. This makes it ideal for battles which require long-range attacks such as Dagannoth Kings or the TzHaar Fight Cave. Destroying the respiratory system of Abyssal Sire is also another situation where the long range is advantageous. The only attack which can be performed from a further distance is the dragonfire shield special attack, with a range of 13 squares. Not needing ammo, it allows the use of a blessing, effectively giving the bow a +1 or +2 prayer bonus, compared to other ranged weapon and can be used without Ava's device, which can make simpler switching in situations requiring multiple combat styles, such as fighting Demonic gorillas, furthermore can be brought to Wilderness without risking any ammo. With the accuracy and damage bonus provided by crystal armour, the bow becomes a very powerful weapon usable in many high-level situations requiring ranging, but it's not very popular to do so due the high maintenance cost of the crystal armour.
Degradation[edit | edit source]
The crystal bow degrades over time, in which it reverts into a crystal weapon seed and must be recharged before it can be used again.
Ilfeen will recharge crystal weapon seeds into crystal bows, crystal halberds, or crystal shields. Before Song of the Elves is started, she can be found teleporting back and forth between two clearings in Isafdar. After the quest, she is found in south-west Prifddinas.
Initially, Ilfeen charges 900,000 coins to re-enchant a crystal seed into a crystal bow. However, the price is decreased by 180,000 coins each time Ilfeen re-enchants a seed for a player, in the following manner, until reaching the minimum recharge cost of 180,000 coins:
Enchantment | Cost for re-enchantment | Cost per charge |
---|---|---|
1st | 900,000 | 360 |
2nd | 720,000 | 288 |
3rd | 540,000 | 216 |
4th | 360,000 | 144 |
5+ | 180,000 | 72 |
The amount that Ilfeen charges is dependent on the number of crystal seeds she has re-enchanted, not the number of crystal bows she has recharged. For example, a player who pays Ilfeen 900,000 coins to re-enchant a crystal seed into a crystal shield will only have to pay her 720,000 coins to recharge a seed into a crystal bow.
For players who have completed Song of the Elves, an alternative way of making crystal weapons is using a crystal weapon seed and 40 crystal shards along with 78 Smithing and 78 Crafting on a singing bowl in Prifddinas. Players who do not meet the skill requirements can pay a nearby elf to create the weapon for an additional 20 shards. Crystal shards can be used to recharge the weapon to a maximum of 20,000 charges, with each shard providing 100 charges.
However, it is far more cost efficient in the long term to instead use the crystal shards on potions and use the money from selling them to re-enchant your crystal equipment.
Obtaining crystal bows[edit | edit source]
A crystal bow is a possible reward for completion of Roving Elves. (Players who choose a crystal shield can choose to let the shield revert into a seed, then re-enchant that seed into a crystal bow.) Additionally, players can buy new crystal bows from Islwyn just north of the south-east Prifddinas bank for 900,000 coins each. Unlike Ilfeen's recharge price, the price of a new crystal bow does not decrease.
As crystal weapon seeds are tradeable, players can buy them from other players and pay Ilfeen to re-enchant them into crystal bows. Ilfeen's possible locations are below.
- Isafdar (before Song of the Elves)
- The clearing just south of the quest start point for Roving Elves.
- South of the Iorwerth Camp (just north-east of the leaf trap).
- Prifddinas, south of the house portal (after Song of the Elves)
- Lletya, in the south west corner (after reaching a certain point in Song of the Elves but before the completion of it)
Analysis and strategy[edit | edit source]
Although crystal bows do not require any ammunition, they still have a cost associated with their use, in the form of their recharge cost. When the recharge price is 900,000 coins, the cost per shot (at 2,500 shots) is 360 coins. However, when the recharge price decreases to 180,000 coins, the cost per shot is 72 coins. Compare this to rune arrows, with a +49 bonus to Ranged Strength, whereas the crystal bow has a Ranged Strength of +70.
The chief disadvantages that crystal bows have, compared to other bows, are the requirements for using them. Crystal equipment has the second shortest lifespan of any equipment in the game (ahead of Iban's staff). One crystal bow will last for 1 hour and 40 minutes of continuous shooting on Rapid, or 2 hours and 5 minutes on Accurate or Longrange. Players who plan to use crystal bows on extended trips may wish to bring more than one bow. Additionally, players who would normally pick up their ammunition (either manually or through an Ava's device) may not save money by using a crystal bow, which requires no ammunition and therefore leaves behind no arrows to pick up.
Comparison between other ranged weapons[edit source]
Picture | Name | Levels to equip | Ranged Attack bonus | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Twisted bow | ![]() |
+70 |
|
![]() |
Toxic blowpipe | ![]() |
+60 |
|
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Heavy ballista | ![]() |
+125 |
|
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Armadyl crossbow | ![]() |
+100 |
|
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Crystal bow | ![]() |
+100 |
|
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Karil's crossbow | ![]() |
+84 |
|
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Dragon hunter crossbow | ![]() |
+95 |
|
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Dragon crossbow | ![]() |
+94 |
|
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Rune crossbow | ![]() |
+90 |
|
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Dark bow | ![]() |
+95 |
|
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Magic shortbow | ![]() |
+69 |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chinchompas | ![]() |
+45 (Grey) |
|
Treasure Trails[edit | edit source]
Tier | Emotes | STASH Location | Items | Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
Master | Bow | North-west tent in the Iorwerth Camp | ![]() |
298,340 |
The crystal bow (doesn't have to be fully charged) is the item Falo requires players to show him when he sings about: A bow of elven craft was made, it shimmers bright, but will soon fade.
Update history[edit | edit source]
Date | Changes |
---|---|
25 July 2019 (update | poll) |
Crystal equipment stats no longer become gradually lower as the weapon degrades, converting all imbued crystal bows into crystal weapon seeds and removing the ability to imbue them through Nightmare Zone. The crystal bow can now alternatively be made through crystal shards instead of paying Ilfeen. |
13 March 2014 (update) |
Crystal equipment now reverts to a seed when dropped on death. |
26 September 2013 (update | poll) |
Crystal bows and shields can be imbued, making them keep their combat stats unchanged as they degrade. |
22 February 2013 (update) |
This content was included when the Old School RuneScape servers officially launched. |
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Attempting to cast Low Level Alchemy or High Level Alchemy on a crystal bow results in the message "You can't do that to elven crystal!" This is due to a glitch that allowed players to alchemise crystal bows on free-to-play worlds for 540,000 coins each. Players could buy crystal seeds, enchant them into bows for 180,000 coins, and alchemise the bows for significant profit. Because of this, Jagex made it impossible to alchemise members' objects on free-to-play worlds, and made it impossible to alchemise crystal equipment.
- The crystal bow requires 50 Agility to equip, however it is impossible to navigate the forests of Tirannwn during the required quests without level 56 Agility (or as low as 51 with a summer pie boost).
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