How Bow Access Actually Works
Smelting your first Bronze Bar opens major crafting upgrades, including the Fletching Bench used for the ranged crafting route.
The Fletching Bench is the station that matters for ranged play: an Ash Shortbow is made with a Fletching Bench, and arrows are crafted alongside it.
Bow Unlock FAQ
- What unlocks the Fletching Bench?
- Smelting your first Bronze Bar is the documented step that grants access to the Fletching Bench, along with the Blacksmith Bench, Armor Bench, and Mystic Forge.
- What do you craft for a bow?
- For ranged, you make an Ash Shortbow with a Fletching Bench and then craft arrows. That is the documented ranged starting point.
- Which arrows should you make?
- Fang Arrows are ideal if you have already picked up a few Kebbit Fangs, but regular arrows are just fine. You only really need one set, so make a single batch rather than overproducing.
- Is farming flax worth doing for ranged?
- Getting ahead of yourself by farming flax is described as something that really helps in the long run, which pairs well with crafting your Ash Bow and arrows early.
From Ore Node to Ash Shortbow
- On entering Fractured Plains, make your first objective finding either a copper ore node or a tin ore node. You do not need both immediately, because mining one of them unlocks the Furnace and Bronze Bars.
- Spend a little time exploring safely and gather as much copper and tin ore as you can before heading back to base.
- Build the Furnace, and get charcoal from the Kiln using any type of log.
- Smelt your first Bronze Bar. This is the step that opens the Blacksmith Bench, Armor Bench, Mystic Forge, and Fletching Bench.
- At the Fletching Bench, craft an Ash Shortbow and then craft arrows. Fang Arrows are ideal if you have Kebbit Fangs, but regular arrows are just fine.
- Keep progressing through the quest system, which guides you through narrative content while you make better gear and improve your base at each step.