View source for Magic shortbow

{{External|rs|rsc=Magic Shortbow}}
{{Infobox Item
|name = Magic shortbow
|image = [[File:Magic shortbow.png]]
|release = [[25 March]] [[2002]]
|update = Latest RuneScape News (25 March 2002)
|members = Yes
|quest = No
|tradeable = Yes
|placeholder = Yes
|equipable = Yes
|stackable = No
|noteable = Yes
|options = Wield, Drop
|examine = Short and magical, but still effective.
|value = 1600
|weight = 1.360
|exchange = Yes
|id = 861
}}
[[File:Magic shortbow detail.png|left|153x153px]]
The '''Magic shortbow''' is a bow that requires level 50 [[Ranged]] in order to use and can fire arrows up to [[Amethyst arrow|amethyst]].  It is one of the few [[Shortbow (weapon)|shortbows]] in the game with a [[Special attack]]. The bow has an [[attack range]] of 7, with  longrange increasing attack range by 2.

To make this bow, players must use a [[magic shortbow (u)]] on a [[bow string]]. This requires 80 [[Fletching]], and grants 83 experience. They can also be received from [[hard clue scroll]]s, or as a rare drop from [[spiritual ranger]]s.

The Magic shortbow can be [[Magic shortbow (i)|imbued]] by using a [[magic shortbow scroll]] on it to make a [[magic shortbow (i)]]. The imbue increases its ranged attack bonus to +75 and lowers the special attack cost to 50%.

The magic shortbow is often the most powerful ranged weapon available to mid-level players. Because of its fast attack speed and ability to fire [[Rune arrow|rune]] and [[amethyst arrow]]s, it is usually the most effective ranged weapon for completing Slayer tasks. The [[rune crossbow]] is a viable alternative for players who desire a shield, the special effects of [[enchanted bolts]], or the easy availability of [[broad bolts]].

Despite its low max hit, the magic shortbow is popular for [[player killing]] due to the ease of stacking its damage with a more powerful melee attack for a knockout blow.

==Combat stats==
{{Infobox Bonuses
|astab = 0
|aslash = 0
|acrush = 0
|amagic = 0
|arange = +69
|dstab = 0
|dslash = 0
|dcrush = 0
|dmagic = 0
|drange = 0
|str = 0
|rstr = 0
|mdmg = 0
|prayer = 0
|slot = 2h
|speed = 4
|attackrange = 7
|combatstyle = Bow
|altimage = [[File:Magic shortbow equipped female.png|140px]]
}}

{{CombatStyles|Bow|speed=4|attackrange=7}}

==Special attack==
[[File:Snapshot.gif|thumb|250px|A player performing the magic shortbow's special attack, ''Snapshot''.]]
This weapon also has a [[special attack]], ''Snapshot'', which will shoot two arrows in rapid succession, using 55% of a player's special attack energy. While the in-game tooltip states that ''Snapshot'' has reduced accuracy, it actually likely has an accuracy boost of <math>\frac{10}{7}</math> or about 43%.{{CiteTwitter|author=Mod Ash|url=https://twitter.com/JagexAsh/status/1042029374428639232|date=18 September 2018|archiveurl=https://archive.is/drdmT|archivedate=23 May 2021|quote=Looks to me like it's a 43% buff, not a nerf.}}

''Snapshot'' uses a custom form of damage calculation that does not take into account offensive Prayers (such as [[Eagle Eye]]) when determining a player's [[Maximum ranged hit#Calculating your maximum ranged hit|maximum Ranged hit]],{{CiteTwitter|author=Mod Ash|url=https://twitter.com/JagexAsh/status/1167133164642480131|date=29 August 2019|archiveurl=https://archive.is/N4QyN|archivedate=23 May 2021|quote=[The special attack for rune throwing axes, magic shortbow, and magic longbow all ignore the active range boosting prayers for the special attack, and this ends up with a lower max hit during special attack. is this intentional?] They always had their own special calculations for effective accuracy/damage (...)}} but its accuracy is still affected.{{CiteTwitter|author=Mod Ash|url=https://twitter.com/jagexash/status/1396397301925662723|date=23 May 2021|archiveurl=https://archive.is/gl7hL|archivedate=23 May 2021|quote=Correct, it does now affect that spec, and every other custom attack I've seen so far.}}

The following formula can be used to calculate the max hit of ''Snapshot'': <br/>
<br/>
<math>\text{Maximum Hit} =\left\lfloor 0.5+\frac{\text{Visible Ranged Level} + 10 *(\text{Ammo Ranged Strength} +64)}{640} \right\rfloor</math> {{efn|name=level|Only the player's visible ranged level matters. Boosts given through prayers and Void Knight armour are ignored.}} {{efn|name=stance|A stance bonus of 10 is used regardless of attack style used.}} {{efn|name=ammo|The ranged strength bonus of the player's armour and gear is ignored. Only the ranged strength bonus of the player's ammo is used. In the case of Rune thrownaxes, the weapon's ranged strength is used instead.}} {{efn|name=slayer|The bonus damage usually provided by wearing a Slayer helmet (i), Salve amulet (i) or Salve amulet (ei) is ignored.}}

{{notelist}}

==Creation==
{{Recipe
|skill1 = Fletching
|skill1lvl = 80
|skill1boostable = Yes
|skill1exp = 83.3
|members = Yes
|ticks = 2
|mat1 = Magic shortbow (u)
|mat2 = Bow string
|output1 = Magic shortbow
}}

==Products==
{{Uses material list|Magic shortbow}}

==Item sources==
{{Drop sources|Magic shortbow}}

==Used in recommended equipment==
{{Used in recommended equipment|Magic shortbow}}

==Comparison between other ranged weapons==
{{Ranged weapons comparison}}

==Changes==
{{Subject changes header}}
{{Subject changes
|date = 26 January 2005
|update = Slayer Skill
|change = The item was graphically updated.
}}
{{Subject changes
|date = 14 June 2004
|update = Special Attacks
|change = The item was given a special attack, ''Snapshot''.
}}
{{Subject changes footer}}

===Gallery (historical)===
{|style="text-align: center" cellpadding="15"
|[[File:Magic shortbow detail (historical).png|center|300x150px]]
|[[File:Magic shortbow detail.png|center|300x150px]]
|-
|[[File:Magic shortbow (historical).png|center]]
|[[File:Magic shortbow.png|center]]
|-
|29 March 2004 ⁠–<br/>26 January 2005
|26 January 2005⁠–<br/>present
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ranged weapons}}
[[Category:Weapons with Special attacks]]