This Minecraft tutorial explains how to craft a crossbow with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, a crossbow is a new weapon that will be available in the Village & Pillage Update (Java Edition 1.14). Similar to a bow, you use your crossbow to shoot arrows in Minecraft.

Let’s explore how to make a crossbow.

Where to find a Crossbow in Creative Mode

Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)

Here is where you can find a crossbow in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform Version(s) Creative Menu Location
Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.14 – 1.20
  • Platform is the platform that applies.
  • Version(s) is the Minecraft version numbers where the item can be found in the menu location listed (we have tested and confirmed this version number).
  • Creative Menu Location is the location of the item in the Creative Inventory menu.

Required Materials to make a Crossbow

In Minecraft, these are the materials you can use to craft a crossbow:

1 Iron Ingot
3 Sticks
2 Strings
1 Tripwire Hook

How to craft a Crossbow in Survival Mode

1. Open the Crafting Menu

First, open your crafting table so that you have the 3×3 crafting grid that looks like this:

2. Add Items to make a Crossbow

In the crafting menu, you should see a crafting area that is made up of a 3×3 crafting grid. To make a crossbow, place 3 sticks, 2 string, 1 iron ingot and 1 tripwire hook in the 3×3 crafting grid.

When making a crossbow, it is important that the items are placed in the exact pattern as the image below. In the first row, there should be 1 stick in the first box, 1 iron ingot in the second box and 1 stick in the third box. In the second row, there should be 1 string in the first box, 1 tripwire hook in the second box and 1 string in the third box. In the third row, there should be 1 stick in the middle box. This is the Minecraft crafting recipe for a crossbow.

Now that you have filled the crafting area with the correct pattern, the crossbow will appear in the box to the right.

3. Move the Crossbow to Inventory

Once you have crafted a crossbow, you need to move the new item to your inventory.

Congratulations, you have made a crossbow in Minecraft!

Item ID and Name

Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)

In Minecraft, a crossbow has the following Name, ID and DataValue:

Description
(Minecraft ID Name)		 Data Value Stack Size Version
Crossbow
(minecraft:crossbow)		 1 1.14 – 1.20
  • Description is what the item is called and (Minecraft ID Name) is the string value that is used in game commands.
  • Data Value (or damage value) identifies the variation of the block if more than one type exists for the Minecraft ID.
  • Stack Size is the maximum stack size for this item. While some items in Minecraft are stackable up to 64, other items can only be stacked up to 16 or 1. (NOTE: These stack sizes are for vanilla Minecraft only. If you are running a mod, some mods may change the stack size for an item.)
  • Platform is the platform that applies.
  • Version(s) is the Minecraft version numbers that the Minecraft ID and Name are valid for.

Give Command for Crossbow

Give Command in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)

In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.20, the /give command for Crossbow is:

/give @p crossbow 1

Attack Damage and Durability

Attack damage is the amount of damage the item will deal when attacking a mob.

Durability represents how long the item will last. For tools, weapons and transportation, durability is the number of useful actions before the item is destroyed. For armor items, durability is the number of hits (that can be blocked by armor) before the item is destroyed. So the higher the durability number, the longer the item will last.

The following table shows the attack damage and durability for each weapon in Minecraft:

Name Attack Damage Durability
Netherite Sword 8 2031
Diamond Sword 7 1561
Bow <varies> 384
Crossbow <varies> 326
Iron Sword 6 250
Trident 9 250
Stone Sword 5 131
Wooden Sword 4 59
Golden Sword 4 32

Enchantments for Crossbow

In Minecraft, you can enchant a crossbow with the following enchantments:

Enchantment Description
Curse of Vanishing Cursed item will disappear after player dies
Mending Uses xp to mend your tools, weapons and armor
Multishot Shoots 3 arrows at once but only costs 1 arrow (from your inventory)
Piercing Arrow can pierce through multiple entities
Quick Charge Reduces the amount of time to reload a crossbow
Unbreaking Increases durability of item, in effect, by decreasing the chance of the tool, weapon, or armor taking durability damage when used
  • Enchantment is what the enchantment is called.
  • Description is the description of what the enchantment does.

See a complete list of Minecraft Enchantments that is interactive and searchable.

Things to Make with Crossbows

You can use crossbows to make items in Minecraft such as:

How to make an Enchanted Crossbow

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 2 Average: 5]