The Hunting Bow is the first ranged weapon almost every Rust player makes. It needs no workbench, every player knows the blueprint from spawn, and two wooden arrows drop a naked player. It wins the first hour of a wipe, feeds you through hunting, and with fire arrows it even burns twig and wooden doors for zero sulfur.
This Rust bow guide covers the exact recipe and craft times, damage for every arrow, what each arrow really costs per 100 damage, how it compares with the crossbow, compound bow and mini crossbow, fire arrow raid counts, hunting, loot chances, repair and recycle values, and the habits that win bow fights.
- What It Is
- How to Craft
- Damage & Arrows
- Arrow Cost
- Bow vs Crossbow
- Fire Arrows
- Hunting
- Loot & Recycle
- Tips
- FAQ
What Is the Hunting Bow in Rust?
The Hunting Bow is a wooden recurve bow for short to medium range fights and hunting. In the game files it is bow.hunting with item ID 1443579727. It stacks to 1 and despawns 5 minutes after you drop it, much faster than the 20 minutes of a crossbow, so do not leave it on the ground. Every other short name is in our Rust item IDs list.
You hold right mouse to draw, then left click to loose the arrow. The draw is short, so the bow can fire again in about a second, which is much faster than any crossbow. It holds one arrow at a time, uses all four arrow types, and has no attachment slots: no holosight, no scope, no laser. It sits in the D tier of our Rust weapons tier list as a starter weapon. Everybody uses it on wipe day, nobody keeps it for long. The full lineup is in our Rust weapons guide.
How to Craft a Hunting Bow in Rust
- Farm 200 wood. Hit trees with your rock, or a stone hatchet once you have one.
- Get 50 cloth. Five wild hemp plants give 10 cloth each. Skinning animals also gives cloth. Our Rust cloth guide has every source.
- Craft it. Open your inventory (Tab), find the Hunting Bow under Weapons and craft it. It is a default blueprint, so it is there from the moment you spawn.
- Make arrows. Wooden arrows are 25 wood and 10 stones for 2, also with no workbench.
| Stat | Hunting Bow |
|---|---|
| Recipe | 200 Wood, 50 Cloth |
| Workbench | None (default blueprint) |
| Craft time | 30 s by hand, 15 s at WB1, 7 s at WB2 or WB3 |
| Damage (wooden arrow) | 50, 75 on a headshot |
| Damage (HV, bone, fire arrow) | 40, 60 on a headshot |
| Arrow speed | 50 wooden, 80 HV, 45 bone, 40 fire |
| Magazine | 1 arrow, fast draw |
| Attachments | None |
| Despawn | 5 minutes |
| Short name / ID | bow.hunting / 1443579727 |
Admins can spawn one from the F1 console:
inventory.give bow.hunting 1Want to plan a whole wipe day kit? Our Rust crafting calculator adds up the bow, arrows, bag and clothes in one go, and the Rust beginner’s guide shows where the bow fits in your first hour.
Hunting Bow Damage and the Best Arrows
All four arrows fit the Hunting Bow, and every one gets a 1.5x headshot multiplier. These are the Facepunch wiki numbers for the hunting bow:
| Arrow | Damage | Headshot | Speed | Recipe (per craft) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wooden Arrow | 50 | 75 | 50 | 25 wood, 10 stones (2 arrows), no bench | Players and animals |
| High Velocity Arrow | 40 | 60 | 80 | 20 wood, 5 metal frags (2 arrows), WB1 | Long and moving shots |
| Bone Arrow | 40 | 60 | 45 | 25 wood, 10 bone fragments (3 arrows), no bench | Cheap hunting ammo |
| Fire Arrow | 40 | 60 | 40 | 20 wood, 2 cloth, 10 low grade fuel (2 arrows), WB1 | Burning twig and wood |
How many arrows to kill? A player has 100 health. Two wooden arrows to the body kill a naked player, and so do two to the head. HV, bone and fire arrows need three body shots, or two headshots. Clothing changes that fast: even a burlap set or a Wolf Headdress adds a third arrow, and full wood or bone armor makes a bow fight drag on. The Rust ammo chart compares every arrow with the bullets you will move on to.
What Each Arrow Really Costs
We took the arrow recipes from the Rust game files and worked out what 100 damage from a Hunting Bow costs with each arrow. That is two body shots with wooden arrows, or two and a half with the others.
| Arrow | Cost per arrow | Damage | Cost per 100 damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bone Arrow | 8.3 wood, 3.3 bone fragments | 40 | ~21 wood, ~8 bone fragments |
| Wooden Arrow | 12.5 wood, 5 stones | 50 | 25 wood, 10 stones |
| High Velocity Arrow | 10 wood, 2.5 metal fragments | 40 | 25 wood, ~6 metal fragments |
| Fire Arrow | 10 wood, 1 cloth, 5 low grade fuel | 40 | 25 wood, 2.5 cloth, 12.5 low grade fuel |
The takeaway: wooden arrows are the best value for fights, because stones are free and 50 damage means fewer shots. Bone arrows are the cheapest per point of damage and you get the bone from every animal you kill, so they are the natural hunting ammo. Save HV arrows for long shots and fire arrows for raids, since they cost metal and fuel you need elsewhere.
Hunting Bow vs Crossbow, Compound Bow and Mini Crossbow
| Weapon | Wooden arrow damage | Fire rate | Recipe | Workbench |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting Bow | 50 | 1 arrow, fast draw (about a second) | 200 wood, 50 cloth | None, default |
| Crossbow | 60 | 1 arrow, about 3.6 s reload | 200 wood, 75 frags, 2 rope | WB1, default |
| Compound Bow | 50, more when fully drawn standing still | 1 arrow, long draw | 100 wood, 75 frags, 2 rope | WB1, research |
| Mini Crossbow | 50 | 4 arrows per load | 200 wood, 150 frags, 1 rope, 1 gears | WB1, research |
Hunting Bow vs Crossbow. The crossbow hits harder (60 against 50) and its arrows fly faster, but it reloads for about 3.6 seconds between shots. In a close fight the Hunting Bow lands its second arrow, and the kill on a naked player, while the crossbow is still reloading. At range the crossbow wins, and it takes a holosight or scope. Most players carry the bow on the beach and switch to the crossbow the moment their Workbench 1 is down.
Hunting Bow vs Compound Bow. The compound bow does extra damage and arrow speed only when you draw it fully while standing still. On the move it is no better than the hunting bow and it costs metal fragments, rope and a research. It is a sniping tool, not a brawler.
Hunting Bow vs Mini Crossbow. The mini crossbow, added in the Primitive update, holds four arrows and wins most close range arrow fights, but it needs gears, which you only get from loot or recycling.
Fire Arrows: Raiding With a Bow
Fire arrows light when you draw them and set wooden things on fire where they hit. The count is the same from any bow; the bow only changes how fast you get there. They are the cheapest sulfur free raid tool you can make at a Workbench 1, since molotovs need a Workbench 2.
| Target | Fire arrows | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Twig wall, floor or foundation | 1 | 10 wood, 1 cloth, 5 low grade fuel |
| Wood Storage Box | 4 | 40 wood, 4 cloth, 20 low grade fuel |
| Sleeping Bag | 5 | 50 wood, 5 cloth, 25 low grade fuel |
| Tool Cupboard | 6 | 60 wood, 6 cloth, 30 low grade fuel |
| Wooden Door | 50 | 500 wood, 50 cloth, 250 low grade fuel |
| Wooden Wall | 125 | 1,250 wood, 125 cloth, 625 low grade fuel |
The fuel adds up. Fifty fire arrows for a wooden door burn 250 low grade fuel, more than the 100 in two molotovs, so fire arrows are best for twig, sleeping bags and a tool cupboard you can see through a window. For walls and doors, check the cheapest route in our Rust eco raid calculator.
Hunting With a Bow
The bow is still the best hunting weapon you can make on day one. It makes almost no noise, and arrows that hit or land in the ground can usually be picked back up, so a hunting trip costs you next to nothing. Bone arrows from your kills keep you supplied.
- Chickens die to one wooden arrow.
- Boar are slow and easy. They drop meat, animal fat, leather and bone.
- Deer sprint away after the first hit. Lead your shot and aim a little ahead of them.
- Wolves hunt in packs and stalk you before they attack. Keep your distance and carry a torch, since fire scares them off.
- Bears take a lot of arrows. Only fight one from a rock or a building it cannot climb.
Animal fat and cloth turn into low grade fuel for your furnace, and the meat keeps you fed. Our Rust food guide covers cooking and what each animal is worth.
Where to Find a Hunting Bow, Repair and Recycle
| Source | Chance or yield |
|---|---|
| Tool crate (roads and monuments) | 4.9% |
| Underwater Lab tool crate | 4.9% |
| Underwater basic crate | 3.3% |
| Halloween medium loot bag (event only) | 5.6%, with arrows |
| Recycler | 120 wood, 30 cloth |
| Safe zone recycler | 80 wood, 20 cloth |
| Repair Bench | 40 wood, 10 cloth, each repair costs 20% of max condition |
The tool crate chances come from the Facepunch wiki loot tables, and our Rust loot tables list everything else in those crates. During the Halloween event you can also pull one from loot bags. A worn bow is worth recycling at the recycler for 60% of its wood and cloth.
Legacy Bow. The Legacy Bow is a skin of the Hunting Bow based on the very first bow model in Rust. It has the same stats and recipe and was sold in the item store in December. Read more in our Rust Legacy guide.
Hunting Bow Tips
- Draw fully before you shoot. A rushed release flies short and weak. Wait for the draw, then click.
- Aim high at range. Arrows drop. Past about 30 metres, hold over the target, more for wooden and fire arrows than HV.
- Carry a few HV arrows. They fly 60% faster than wooden arrows, which makes moving targets and long shots far easier.
- Pick your arrows up. After a fight or a hunt, walk the area. Most arrows survive and stack back into your inventory.
- Strafe while you draw. A standing archer is an easy target. Keep moving and peek only to release.
- Wear something. A wolf headdress, burlap or hide set adds an arrow or more to the kill on you, which is often the whole fight.
- Upgrade on time. The bow loses to anything with a magazine. Rush a Workbench 1 for a crossbow, pistol bullets or a Double Barrel, then keep the bow in a box for hunting trips.
- Plan your wipe. Bow fights decide the first hour after every Rust force wipe, so have your 50 cloth ready before the map resets.
Rust Hunting Bow FAQ
How do you craft a bow in Rust?
Open your inventory and craft the Hunting Bow from 200 wood and 50 cloth. It needs no workbench and is a default blueprint, so every player can make it from spawn. It takes 30 seconds by hand, 15 at a Workbench 1 and 7 at a Workbench 2 or 3.
Do you need a workbench for a bow in Rust?
No. The Hunting Bow crafts from your inventory anywhere. A workbench only makes the craft faster. The compound bow and crossbow need a Workbench 1.
How much damage does the hunting bow do in Rust?
50 damage with a wooden arrow and 75 on a headshot. High velocity, bone and fire arrows do 40, or 60 on a headshot.
What is the best arrow for the hunting bow?
Wooden arrows for fights, because they do the most damage (50) and only cost wood and stones. HV arrows for long or moving shots, since they fly at 80 against 50. Bone arrows for hunting, and fire arrows for burning twig, sleeping bags and tool cupboards.
How many arrows does it take to kill a player in Rust?
Two wooden arrows kill a naked player with 100 health, to the body or the head. HV, bone and fire arrows need three body shots or two headshots. Any clothing or armor adds more.
Is the crossbow better than the hunting bow?
The crossbow hits harder, 60 against 50, and takes attachments, but it reloads for about 3.6 seconds after every shot. The Hunting Bow fires again in about a second, so it is better up close and on the move, while the crossbow is better at range.
Can you put attachments on a hunting bow in Rust?
No. The Hunting Bow has no attachment slots. If you want a holosight or scope on an arrow weapon, use the crossbow.
How many fire arrows does it take to break a wooden door?
Fifty fire arrows, which cost 500 wood, 50 cloth and 250 low grade fuel. Six fire arrows destroy a tool cupboard and one burns a twig piece.
What does a hunting bow recycle into?
120 wood and 30 cloth at a normal recycler, or 80 wood and 20 cloth at a safe zone recycler.
Sources
- Facepunch Rust Wiki: Hunting Bow
- Facepunch Rust Wiki: Compound Bow
- Facepunch Rust Wiki: Fire Arrow
- Facepunch Rust Wiki: Bone Arrow
- Rust game files (items.craft.json), bow and arrow recipes, workbench levels and blueprints, October 2026