Dark bow



The Dark bow is often considered to be the strongest bow in RuneScape because of its powerful special attack which can hit a max of 48-48 as of October the 6th 2009. It can Hit higher due to the use of Extreme ranging potion which requires 92 Herblore to create and is untradble. 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 the 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.

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 2009 October 7.

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 ranged 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 realize 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.

Trivia

 * 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 1 million.
 * Players cannot use the special attack if they only have one arrow in the quiver.
 * Hitting with the special on a player with Protect from missiles 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 attack styles because the bow's specials always hit.
 * It is one of 2 weapons in the game that has two different special attacks, the other being Zanik's crossbow.
 * As of 2009 October 7, the Dark bow's special attack requires 65% special attack energy instead of 55%.