Ranging Guide

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Weapons
- - Bows
- - Arrows
- - Crossbows
- - Bolts
- - Ogre bows and arrows
- - Throwing knives
- - Darts
- - Javelins
- - Throwing Axes
- - Dwarf cannon
Armour
- - Leather armour
- - Dragonhide armour
- - Special armour
- - Best Range Outfits
Rangers Guild
Associated Guides
Holy Water
Arrow Thieves

Introduction:

Ranging is a really neat skill which allows you to attack things from long distances using
various projectiles. This gives an advantage if you are fighting something that can't range or
mage you back - letting you hide behind an object and not get hit while your opponent is
killed. Currently, you have your choice of range equipment: bow and arrows, crossbow and
bolts, throwing knives, darts, javelins, throwing axes, holy water and a dwarf cannon.

Range armor consists of leather and dragonhide armour. Dragonhide armour will provide more
protection than basic leather - especially when fighting mages. However, dragonhide armour
takes certain levels to wear it. There are 4 different dragonhide types: green, blue, red, and
black, that offer progressively higher levels of protection. The armour can be made by
members with the appropriate crafting level.

April 2005: Jagex updated Free to Play (F2P) to even up the Wilderness Player Killing (PK)
triangle (Rangers own Mages, who own Warriors, who own Rangers). F2P now has Willow and
Maple bows, and more arrow options, too. The updates are reflected in the tables below.

Now let's get to the Ranging info.

(* = Members Only)

Weapons

Bows:
 These are definitely the most popular ranged weapons in the game. They
come in two different varieties: long and short. Both will use arrows as ammo.

Type Ranged Level to Wield Ranged Attack Boost Picture

Shortbow Any +8

Longbow Any +8

Oak Shortbow 5 +14

Oak Longbow 5 +14

Willow Shortbow 20 +20

Willow Longbow 20 +20

Maple Shortbow 30 +29

Maple Longbow 30 +29

*Yew Shortbow 40 +47

*Yew Longbow 40 +47

*Magic Shortbow 50 +69

*Magic Longbow 50 +69

*Crystal Bow 70 (And 50 Agility) +68

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Arrows:
They are used with bows and can be poisoned.

Type Minimum Bow Required Cost (approx) Picture

Bronze Arrows Any 2-7gp

*Bronze Arrows (p) Any ?

Iron Arrows Any 3-20gp

*Iron Arrows (p) Any ?

Steel Arrows Oak 10-80gp

*Steel Arrows (p) Oak ?

Mithril Arrows Willow 30-100gp

*Mithril Arrows (p) Willow ?

Adamant Arrows Maple 80-200gp

*Adamant Arrows (p) Maple ?

*Rune Arrows Yew 300-500gp

*Rune Arrows (p) Yew ?

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Crossbows

The only Crossbows that can be used by non-members are the normal "Crossbow" and the
"Phoenix Crossbow", all the other Crossbows are all members. The better Crossbow you wield
the better bolts you can fire which will result in doing more damage. The Dorgeshuun
Crossbow can only be obtained after completing The "The Death to Dorgeshuun" quest. Karil's
crossbow is two-handed and uses bolt racks.

Ranged Level to Ranged Attack

Crossbow Name Picture Bolts
Wield Boost

Crossbow 1 +6 Bronze bolts

Phoenix Crossbow 1 +6 Bronze bolts

*Bronze Crossbow 1 +11 Bronze bolts

*Blurite Crossbow 16 +17 Up to Blurite bolts

*Iron Crossbow 26 +23 Up to Iron bolts

*Dorgeshuun Bone and Bronze

28 +42
Crossbow bolts

*Steel Crossbow 31 +28 Up to Steel bolts

*Mithril Crossbow 36 +32 Up to Mithril bolts

*Adamantite Up to Adamantite
46 +41
Crossbow bolts

*Runite Crossbow 61 +50 Up to Runite bolts

*Karil's Crossbow 70 +84 Uses Bolt Racks

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Bolts

Introduction

Bolts can be player made, their also dropped by various monsters around Runescape. If you
want them tipped, you must first obtain the additional tips (sold in some stores). Take your
gem and use a chisel on it, you will now have a cut one, use your chisel on it again to make
bolttips. Use the tips on the appropriate bolts to make the special tipped bolts. Barbed tips can
be bought from the ticket merchant in the ranging guild. To make Silver bolts you will need to
use a Silver bar on a furnace whilst carrying a Silver bolt mould. Any kind of bolts can also be
poisoned using a weapon poisen on it.
Note: when you put a tip on a bolt you may no longer poison it

Enchanting bolts

Any gem tipped bolt can be enchanted using your Magic skill. Enchanting your gem tipped
bolts will result in it having a special effect. These special effects are different for each
enchanted gem tipped bolt. To enchant a gem tipped bolt you must be wielding or carrying it,
click on the level 4 spell and a interface will pop up, click on the bolt you wish to enchant (you
must be carrying or wielding it).

The following image shows the requirements (level and runes) you will need to enchant a gem
tipped bolt.
In the following table you will find more info about what effect the enchanting has on the
certain gem tipped bolts (this table is sorted from lowest magic level needed to the highest).

Magic Magic
Runes
Bolt type level Effect exp
needed
required gained

1 Cosmic A chance of a lightning bolt

Opal 4 rune, 2 Air striking your opponent (this will 9
runes result in extra damage).

1 Cosmic
Chance of lowering your
rune, 1 Mind
Sapphire 7 opponent's Prayer level (a part 17
rune, 1
of that is given to you).
Water rune

1 Cosmic Chance of knocking your

Jade 14 rune, 2 Earth opponent to the ground (some 19
runes players might ignore it).

A chance of a bolt of water

coming down on your opponent
1 Cosmic
(the opponent will ignore it if
Pearl 24 rune, 2 29
its wearing a water staff, but
Water runes
will get hit harder when
wearing a fire staff).

1 Cosmic Bolts being poisoned (starting

rune, 1 at 3 damage), with an
Emerald 27 37
Nature rune, increased chance of poisoning
3 Air runes your opponent.

Red Topaz 29 1 Cosmic A chance of lowering your 33

rune, 2 Fire opponent's Magic level.
 runes

A chance of losing 10% of your

1 Cosmic
Hitpoints to do 20% damage to
rune, 5 Fire
Ruby 49 your opponent (does not work 59
runes, 1
if you have 10% or less of your
Blood rune
Hitpoints left).

1 Cosmic
A chance of ignoring a bit of
rune, 1 Law
Diamond 57 your opponent's defence 67
rune, 3 Air
against Ranged attacks.
runes

A chance of inflicting a
1 Cosmic dragon's breath hit against
rune, 1 Soul your opponent (doesn't work if
Dragonstone 68 78
rune, 15 they have an Anti-
Earth runes dragonbreath shield, or against
fire monsters like dragons).

1 Cosmic A chance of doing extra

rune, 1 damage and healing a small
Onyx 87 97
Death rune, amount (does not work on
20 Fire runes undead creatures).

Mith grapples

Some Agility shortcuts you will encounter require you to use a Grapple (ranging). A grapple
can be made using your smithing and fletching skill. First make a Mithril bolt using the
smithing skill (level 53 needed and gives 50 exp), then add a feather with your fletching skill
(level 54 needed and gives 5 exp). Now make a Mithril Grapple Tip (level 59 needed and gives
50 exp) by using your smithing skill again. Attach the Mithril Grapple Tip to the Mithril boltto
make a Mithril grapple. Now use a rope on the Mithril grapple to make it ready for use. Wield
the Mithril Graple and get a Crossbow of mithril or better (can be player made, explained in
the fletching skill guide). Equip both the Mithril grapple and your Crossbow to use the Grapple
shortcuts. The levels required to use the shortcut can be found in the agility skill guide.
Note: you get to keep the Mithril grapple.

Plain Bolts

Plain bolts can be made using your Smithing skill. Simply use the appropriate bar on a anvil
(must be carrying a hammer) and smith the bolts. Now use your fletching skill to attach
feathers. You can also make normal bolts (unfeathered bolts) poisoned by adding a weapon
poisen to them. Another thing you can do is add tips to the bolts, this will make them stronger
and you will be able to enchant them using your magic skill (enchanting is all explained in a
section above and in the magic skill guide).

The following table shows you which tips can be added to plain bolts.

Bolt name Bolt image Tips able to add

Bronze bolts Barbed and Opal

 *Blurite bolts Jade

*Iron bolts Pearl

*Silver bolts None

*Bone bolts None

*Steel bolts Red Topaz

*Mithril bolts Emerald, Sapphire, and a Mithril Grapple

*Adamantite bolts Ruby and Diamond

*Runite bolts Dragonstone and Onyx

*Bolt Racks None

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Ogre bows:
Each of these is first obtainable via a quest. These are used for hunting
Chompy birds, although they can be used against regular enemies as well.
They require Ogre arrows or Brutal arrows (see next table).

Ranged Level to Ranged Attack

Type Picture Quest Required
Wield Boost

Big Chompy Bird

Ogre bow 30 +38
Hunting Quest

Comp ogre Zogre Flesh Eater

30 +38
bow Quest

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Ogre and Brutal arrows:

They are used with Ogre bows (see above table) and are associated with the
same quests. Brutal arrows are far more effective than regular arrows against
Zogres.

Type Minimum Bow Required Cost (approx) Picture

Ogre arrows Ogre ?

Bronze brutal arrows Comp Ogre 5

 Iron brutal arrows Comp Ogre 10

Steel brutal arrows Comp Ogre 20

Black brutal arrows Comp Ogre 35

Mithril brutal arrows Comp Ogre 50

Adamant brutal
Comp Ogre 95
arrows

Rune brutal arrows Comp Ogre 450

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Throwing Knives:
Can be smithed (1 bar = 5 knives) and can also be poisoned.

Type Picture

*Bronze Throwing Knives

*Bronze Throwing Knives (p)

*Iron Throwing Knives

*Iron Throwing Knives (p)

*Steel Throwing Knives

*Steel Throwing Knives (p)

*Black Throwing Knives

*Black Throwing Knives (p)

*Mithril Throwing Knives

*Mithril Throwing Knives (p)

*Adamant Throwing Knives

 *Adamant Throwing Knives (p)

*Rune Throwing Knives

*Rune Throwing Knives (p)

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Darts:
These can be made after completing the Tourist Trap Quest - however, you
can use them before you finish the quest. They are made by smithing dart tips
(1 bar = 10 dart tips) and then adding feathers. They can also be poisoned.

Type Picture

*Bronze Darts

*Bronze Darts (p)

*Iron Darts

*Iron Darts (p)

*Steel Darts

*Steel Darts (p)

*Mithril Darts

*Mithril Darts (p)

*Adamant Darts

*Adamant Darts (p)

*Rune Darts

*Rune Darts (p)

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 Javelins:
Can be purchased from the Tribal Weapons Salesman in the Ranging Guild.

Type Ranged Attack Boost Cost Picture

*Bronze Javelin +5 5gp

*Iron Javelin +8 7gp

*Steel Javelin +12 31gp

*Mithril Javelin +17 83gp

*Adamant Javelin +24 208gp

*Rune Javelin +38 520gp

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Throwing Axes:
Can be purchased from the Tribal Weapons Salesman in the Ranging Guild

Ranged Level to Ranged Attack

Type Cost Picture
Wield Boost

*Bronze Throwing
Any +4 3gp
Axe

*Iron Throwing Axe Any +5 9gp

*Steel Throwing Axe 5 +8 33gp

*Mithril Throwing Axe 20 +12 91gp

*Adamant Throwing
30 +17 228gp
Axe

*Rune Throwing Axe 40 +26 572gp

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*Dwarf Cannon parts

Type Picture
 Cannon Base

Cannon Stand

Cannon Barrel

Cannon Furnace

Cannonball

Ammo Mould

To acquire and use a Dwarf Multicannon, you must have completed the Dwarf Cannon Quest.
Refer to the quest guide for more info about that. The whole cannon costs 750k.

The ammunition for the cannon is made by heating a steel bar in a furnace, while having a
cannonball ammo mould in your inventory.

Cannonballs can be bought from the Dwarf engineer, who can be found by the entrance of the
Dwarven mines, for very few coins. Each steel bar makes 4 cannonballs, and you get 25,5
experience per bar.

How to set up a cannon:

1. There must be 9 vacant adjacent squares forming a square, and you must
position yourself in the middle of them.

2. Click the Cannon base to begin deploying the cannon.

3. After the Cannon base is set up, you use the Cannon stand on it, then the
Cannon barrels, and finally the Cannon furnace.

The cannon is now ready to shoot, except that it needs ammunition. Use your cannonballs on
the cannon, and it will automatically deposit 30 cannonballs. Now you can fire the cannon by
clicking on it.
NOTE: If you pick up your cannon, and it still has ammunition left, this ammunition is returned
to your inventory, do not worry.

The cannon has the best range of all ranged forms of combat in the world of RuneScape, and
in firepower it is only beaten by Iban. Everybody, regardless of ranged level, can hit up to 30
using the cannon, though higher range might cause higher hits to occur more often. The
cannon rotates clockwise and fires at every available target, meaning enemies not in combat if
in non-multi zone. If you are in a fight with an enemy, the cannon will only shoot at the enemy
you are fighting, and nothing else.

The greatest drawback with the cannon, is that every 400 cannonballs or so, it decays. But do
not give into peril! The Dwarf engineer will replace your cannon, as long as it is you who has
set it up. It does not matter whether you bought the cannon cheap from a player or found it
on the ground, as long as it is you who has set up the cannon, you can get it replaced. This
question has been answered MANY times, but we hope we have made it clear enough.

If you manage to position your opponent right, or get him to follow the cannon on its' round,
you can get it to hit your opponent additional times a round, giving you the possibility to
seriously kick some monsters butt. Experiment and find out what suits you best!

If your cannon has been lost, after or during being set up, the Dwarf engineer will replace the
parts, however Cannon parts that were given away or dropped will not be replaced for free.
Though you can set up your cannon virtually anywhere, there are certain areas in which you
can not place your cannon thus far.

• The King Black Dragon's Lair. The KBD will destroy the cannon by sending a fireball at
it, so do not attempt it unless you want a broken cannon.

• TzHaar. The volcanic grounds are too hot for you to put down a cannon, so you are
unable to do it while in the TzHaar Fight cave and Arena.

• The Kalphite Queen.

• Slayer Mansion.

• Slayer Dungeon.

• Zogre Burial Grounds.

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Armour:

Leather:
 R Attack Stat Defense Stat
ang Enhancements Enhancements
Defe
e
nse
Lev Pictu
Type Level
el S C R S C R re
to S M S M
to las rus ang las rus ang
Wear tab agic tab agic
Wea h h e h h e
r

Vambr
1 1 0 0 0 0 +4 +2 +2 +1 0 +0
aces

Chaps 1 1 0 0 0 0 +4 +2 +3 +1 0 +0

Body
armou 1 1 0 0 0 -2 +2 +8 +9 +10 +4 +9
r

Cowl 1 1 0 0 0 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +2 +3

Hard +1
1 10 0 0 0 -4 +8 +15 +18 +6 +15
body 2

Coif 20 1 0 0 0 -1 +2 +4 +6 +8 +4 +4

Studd
+1
ed 20 1 0 0 0 -5 +6 +16 +17 +6 +16
5
Chaps

Studd
+1
ed 20 20 0 0 0 -4 +8 +25 +22 +8 +25
8
Body

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Dragonhide Armour:
The best ranged armour in the game, also the hardest to make (see Crafting
Skill Guide). You must have completed the Dragon Slayer Quest to wear the
body.

R Attack Stat Defense Stat

ang Enhancements Enhancements
Defe
e
nse
Lev Pictu
Type Level
el S C R S C R re
to S M S M
to las rus ang las rus ang
Wear tab agic tab agic
Wea h h e h h e
r

Green 40 1 0 0 0 -15 +8 +3 +2 +4 +2 +0
Vambr
aces

Green +2
40 1 0 0 0 -10 +8 +16 +24 +8 +22
Chaps 2

Green +4
40 40 0 0 0 -10 +15 +32 +45 +20 +40
Body 0

*Blue
Vambr 50 1 0 0 0 -15 +9 +4 +3 +5 +4 +0
aces

*Blue +2
50 1 0 0 0 -10 +11 +19 +27 +14 +25
Chaps 5

*Blue +4
50 40 0 0 0 -10 +20 +37 +50 +30 +45
Body 5

*Red
Vambr 60 1 0 0 0 -15 +10 +5 +4 +6 +6 +0
aces

*Red +2
60 1 0 0 0 -10 +14 +22 +30 +20 +28
Chaps 8

*Red +5
60 40 0 0 0 -10 +25 +42 +55 +40 +50
Body 0

*Black
Vambr 70 1 0 0 0 -15 +11 +6 +5 +7 +8 +0
aces

*Black +3
70 1 0 0 0 -10 +17 +25 +33 +26 +31
Chaps 1

*Black +5
70 40 0 0 0 -10 +30 +47 +60 +50 +55
Body 5

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Special Armour (random reward from Treasure Trail)

R Attack Stat Defense Stat

ang Defe Enhancements Enhancements
e nse
T Pictu
Lev Level
ype S C R S C R re
el to to S M S M
las rus ang las rus ang
Wea Wear tab agic tab agic
h h e h h e
r

Robi
n
Hoo 40 1 0 0 0 0 +8 +4 +6 +8 +4 +4
d
Hat
 R
ang
er 40 1 0 0 0 -10 +8 +2 +3 +4 +2 0
Boot
s

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Ranged Guild

You must have 40 range to enter the guild for ranging. For a complete guide on this, please
view the Ranged Guild Guide.

Other Associated Guides:

Crafting
Fletching
Woodcutting
Range Guild
Dwarf Cannon Guide

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Best Range Outfits

Here is the best range outfit, regardless of money or range level:

Item Stats gained Requirements to wear/use

Robin Hood
+8 Range Attack and Defence None
Hat

Ranger Boots +8 Range Attack and Defence None

They both have +30 Range

Black D-Hide 70 Range and 40 Defence for Black
Attack, Black D-Hide Body has
Body or Karil's D-Hide Body, 70 Range and 70
+55 Range Defence and Karil's
Body Defence for Karil's body
Body +57

They both have +17 Range

Black D-Hide 70 Range for Black D-Hide Chaps,
Attack, Black D-Hide Chaps has
Chaps or 70 Range and 70 Defense for Karil's
+31 Range Defence and Karil's
Karil's Skirt Skirt
Skirt +33

Barrows 175 Quest Points and have finished

+6 Range Attack and Defense
Gloves Recipe for Disaster

+1 Range Attack and +11

Fire Cape None
Range Defense.

+4 Range Attack and +15

Archer Ring None
Defense
 +10 Range Attack and +15
Amulet of Fury None
Range Defense.

When full, it gives +100 Range

Crystal Bow 70 Range and 50 Agility
Attack and 0 Defence

Best range outfit for people on a somewhat tight budget:

Item Stats gained Requirements to wear/use

Archer Helm +6 Range Attack and Defence 45 Defence

Snakeskin Boots +3 range Attack and 0 Defence 30 Range and 30 Defence

Black D-Hide +30 Range Attack and +55

70 Range and 40 Defence
Body Range Defence

Black D hide +17 Range Attack and +31

70 Range
chaps Range Defence

Black
+11 Range Attack and 0 Defence 70 Range
Vambraces

+10 Range Attack and +3 Range

Amulet of Glory None
Defence

+69 Range Attack for Magic

Magic Shortbow requires 50
Magic Shortbow Shortbow 0 Defence, +100
range, Crystal Bow requires 70
or Crystal bow Attack for Crystal Bow (if full) 0
Range and 50 Agility
Defence

Best range outfit for poor people:

Requirements to
Item Stats gained
wear/use

+6 Range Attack and +4 30 Range and 30

Snakeskin Bandana
Range Defence Defence

The best D-Hide Body you can

N/A N/A
wear

The best D-Hide Chaps you can

N/A N/A
wear

The best D-Hide Vambraces

N/A N/A
you can wear

+3 Range Attack and 0 30 Range and 30

Snakeskin boots
Defence Defence

+6 Range Attack and

Amulet of Power None
Defence

The best Bow you can wield N/A N/A

 and Bronze arrows

To get an Amulet of power, either buy one for around 10k, or Mine until you get a diamond.
Then mine gold ore and get a ball of wool. Find a level a person with level 70 crafting and
have them make an Amulet of power for you, be careful you don't get scammed. To get a bow,
pick some flax, spin it into a bowstring using a Spinning wheel. Then pick up an axe and chop
the tree of the bow you want. If you cannot chop the tree for the wood that you need for the
bow you want, you can buy a log. Take the bowstring and a log to a fletcher and have them
fletch it for you, most will do it for free because they want the exp. If you do have the
fletching and woodcutting level needed, cut your log into a bow (u), then use the bowstring on
the bow (u) to make your finished Bow.

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Holy Water

Holy Water is a powerful ranged weapon that is used just like throwing knives. It is only
effective against Demons, just like Silverlight. Holy water is untradable.

How to Make It: To make Holy Water you must have completed the Legends Quest or be at
least halfway through it.

Items Needed: Book of Binding, a Machete, a hatchet, your Bull roarer, a Blessed golden bowl,
some empty vials, prayer potions and restore potions.

Book of Binding:

If you dropped your Book of Binding you can obtain another by collecting one of every gem
except Dragonstone and placing them on the stalagmites again in the cave.

Bull roarer:

If you dropped your Bull roarer you can get another from a Forester.

Blessed golden bowl:

If you dropped your Blessed golden bowl you can make another by using two bars of gold on
an anvil then taking the bowl to the Kharazi Jungle and have Gujuo help you bless it {requires
42 prayer}.
Enchanting Vials

Note: I recommend you enchant all of your vials in front of an altar so you do not waste
prayer potions. Then you can bring them to Shilo Village/Kharazi Jungle and the sacred pool.

Read the Book of Binding and turn to the last page. At the bottom is a picture of a vial labeled
Activus.

Click this and enchant as many vials as you have. (This will drain magic and prayer for each
vial.) [Update: some people report that you can just right-click on the Book of binding to
enchant vials.]
Filling Enchanted Vials

Enter the Kharazi Jungle, go to the sacred pool and then cut a hollow reed with the machete.
Use it with the pool and you will fill your Blessed Golden Bowl. Now use your Enchanted vials
with your Blessed Golden Bowl filled with water. (10 vials per bowl)

(You cannot leave the jungle with a full bowl so you must add it to the vials here)

Now you have Holy Water!

What it Does: Holy Water is a powerful ranging weapon that hits Demons hard. It is useless
against all other creatures and each vial can only be used once before it shatters (You are
throwing glass, what did you expect?)

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Arrow Thieves:

In ranging some low level people will try and take your arrows they all called "Arrow Thieves."
This part is written to help you avoid Arrow Thieves.

Lets start out by saying what a arrow thief is. They are people who are low level, annoying, or
just want free arrows, they also might just steal your arrows to annoy you and not for a
reason. Most of them are usually levels 3-40, but sometime they can be higher levels such as
levels 41-90. I have seen level 100's stealing arrows. They are all over the place in free
worlds, even in member worlds there can still be a good number of them, to avoid them you
could use the following tips:

To avoid arrow thieves:

• Pick up your arrows before they disappear/or telegrab them.

• Use a Crystal bow or Karils Crossbow.
• Use a Cannon
• Use cheap arrows when training.
• Go to an empty training spot.
• Ask people if there are any arrow thieves around.

When using a Crystal Bow, Karils Crossbow, Or a Cannon, You do not have to worry about
picking up arrows. If you don't have 70 range, use a cannon. It will be sweet revenge on the
melee arrow stealers because you are now stealing all of the monsters that they train on.

Those are the best tips we can give you. If you steal arrows please stop and think about what
people think about you. When you get to a higher level think about what you did when you
were a low level stealing arrows.