Magic shortbow

The Magic shortbow is the strongest shortbow and can use arrows up to rune. The magic shortbow requires a Ranged level of 50 or higher to wield. This weapon also has a special attack, Snapshot, which will shoot 2 arrows in rapid succession but with lowered accuracy, using 55% of a player's special attack energy. With perfect timing, this bow can hit three times in one game tick.

Members can make a magic shortbow through the Fletching skill at level 80. First, a player must cut an unstrung magic shortbow from magic logs, granting 83.3 Fletching experience. Then, the player must string the unstrung magic shortbow with a bow string, granting a further 83.3 experience.

This is the most frequently used bow by middle to high level rangers for training due to its speed and special attack, not to mention its use by many well-known player killers. The price and availability of magic shortbows also contributes to their popularity. It was a common player killing weapon until the Wilderness update in December 2007, but has recently regained much of its former popularity with the release of PVP worlds. Since the release of barbarian abilities, it has also been used to cook local food in remote places by lighting a fire with the bow.

Trivia

 * A player can very effectively PK an opponent by switching to a dark bow immediately the special attack has been clicked (via the F keys), this however only increases the accuracy and not the max damage due to the fact that the strongest arrow to be used by this method is the rune arrow.
 * When the Magic Shortbow was first released the special attack only used 50% of the player's special attack energy. This allowed for two quick shots, that with enough luck, could one shot another player. This was said to be too powerful and Jagex changed it to the current 55% usage.