The dark bow is a two-handed ranged weapon needing 60 Ranged to wield. It fires two arrows per attack with independent accuracy rolls, and at attack speed 9 (5.4s, 4.8s on rapid) it is the slowest weapon in the game. With +95 Ranged attack and a devastating two-arrow special, it is a staple PKing burst weapon. It drops only from dark beasts and their superior night beasts, and trades around 875K on the Grand Exchange.
Equipment bonuses
The dark bow's only offensive bonus is +95 Ranged attack — it carries no Ranged strength of its own, so your damage comes entirely from the arrows you load and your Ranged level.
Attack bonuses
Defence bonuses
Other bonuses
At attack speed 9 (5.4 seconds per attack, 4.8 on rapid) it is the slowest weapon in OSRS, but it fires two arrows each time and only requires 60 Ranged.
Grand Exchange price history
How to get the dark bow
The dark bow is obtained as a drop from dark beasts and their superior variant, night beasts — those are its only sources in-game. Because it is fully tradeable, most players simply buy it on the Grand Exchange rather than farming the drop, where it sits around 875K.
You can repaint the bow using dark bow paint from the Last Man Standing shop, but doing so makes it untradeable until the paint is removed with a cleaning cloth.
Dark bow special attack
The dark bow has two special attacks, each costing 55% special energy and requiring more than one arrow equipped. Both fire two arrows at the target.
- Descent of Darkness — the default special. It deals up to 30% more damage with a minimum of 5 damage per arrow.
- Descent of Dragons — used automatically when dragon arrows are equipped. It deals up to 50% more damage with a minimum of 8 damage per arrow, but caps the max hit at 48 per arrow.
This burst gives the dark bow one of the highest max hits in the game by means of special attack, alongside the crystal halberd and dragon dagger — though weapons like the twisted bow and Dharok's greataxe hit harder on regular attacks. That heavy two-arrow burst, despite the slow speed, is why the dark bow stays popular for player killing.
Dark bow FAQ
What level do you need for the dark bow?
You need 60 Ranged to wield the dark bow. It has no other requirements.
How do you get the dark bow?
It drops from dark beasts and their superior variant, night beasts — its only in-game sources. Since it is tradeable, most players buy it on the Grand Exchange instead.
What is the dark bow's special attack?
It has two specials, both costing 55% energy and needing more than one arrow. Descent of Darkness deals up to 30% more damage (min 5 per arrow). With dragon arrows, Descent of Dragons deals up to 50% more damage (min 8 per arrow) but caps each arrow at 48.
Why is the dark bow so slow?
At attack speed 9 (5.4 seconds, 4.8 on rapid) it is the slowest weapon in OSRS. It makes up for this by firing two arrows per attack and by its powerful special, which is why it is mainly used for burst PKing rather than sustained DPS. See more ranged gear.
Is the dark bow worth it?
For player killing it remains valuable thanks to one of the highest special-attack max hits in the game with dragon arrows. For PvM, faster bows generally out-damage it. Compare prices on the GE tracker or browse other OSRS items.
How much is the dark bow worth?
The dark bow trades around 875K on the Grand Exchange, though the live price moves — check the chart above for the current value.
Update history
Source: OSRS Wiki — Dark bow (Changes).
