Terraria Arrows: A Comprehensive Description
Arrows in Terraria serve as ammunition launched from either a bow or repeater. While the majority of arrows are created through crafting, others may be obtained as drops from enemies, bought from NPCs, or discovered in Chests and Pots found all over your Terraria Server. Similar to other items that are automatically consumed, the arrow type utilized is dictated by its placement in the inventory: the top-left represents the highest rank, while the bottom-right signifies the lowest.
Pre-Hardmode:
Wooden Arrow
The foundational ammunition for bows, are versatile and obtainable through crafting, Pots, chests, defeating enemies, or purchasing from the Merchant. The Skeleton Merchant also sells them during specific moon phases for 5 coins each.
Fired Wooden Arrows have a 1/3 chance of recovery after hitting an enemy or block, but only when launched one at a time. Specific bows can transform Wooden Arrows into specialized projectiles, such as the Molten Fury converting them into Flaming Arrows. Bows like the Pulse Bow can alter any arrow type into their unique variant.
Flaming Arrow
Flaming Arrows, an upgrade from Wooden Arrows, deal more damage and have a chance to inflict the On Fire! debuff. Crafted with Torches and Wooden Arrows, they emit light when fired or dropped, providing temporary cave lighting. Recoverable 1/3 of the time after hitting a wall or enemy, only 1/3 stay lit, while the rest become Wooden Arrows.
Unholy Arrow
Crafted from Wooden Arrows, are stronger with a piercing effect, hitting up to five enemies and damaging multiple sections of multi-section monsters. Fired Unholy Arrows have a 1/4 (25%) chance of recovery. Dropped by the Eye of Cthulhu in Corruption worlds, they're also sold by the Arms Dealer for 40 coins at night after defeating the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu. In Hardmode, they become available during the day.
Jester's Arrow
Jester's Arrows surpass Unholy Arrows, offering limitless piercing, especially effective against multi-section enemies like the Eater of Worlds. Despite emitting light and rivalling stronger arrows, such as Hellfire Arrows, they explode in a firework display on impact or at max range. Unlike other arrows, they cannot be recovered after hitting (As of 1.4, no arrows can be recovered after being fired). Craftable and found in Gold Chests in the Underground and Cavern layers.
Hellfire Arrow
Explosive Arrows, akin to Grenades, create a small explosion upon impact, damaging all nearby entities except the player. Particularly effective against dense groups of enemies and segmented creatures like Bone Serpents, as the explosion can harm multiple segments.
These arrows are always destroyed on impact and exhibit a significantly higher velocity than other arrow types. Obtainable by finding them in Shadow Chests and Pots in The Underworld, crafting at an anvil, or purchasing from the Demolitionist for 1 coin each after defeating the Wall of Flesh.
Frostburn Arrow
Frostburn Arrows, a type of ammunition, can potentially inflict the Frostburn debuff when hitting an enemy.
Similar to Flaming Arrows, there's a 33.33% chance that Frostburn Arrows drop as items upon impact, making them recoverable. However, only 1/3 of the dropped items will stay as Frostburn Arrows; the remainder will transform back into Wooden Arrows. On average, one out of nine fired Frostburn arrows may be recovered.
Bone Arrow
Bone Arrows, available for purchase at 15 each from the Skeleton Merchant during moon phases 1 (full), 2, 5 (new), and 6. In the PC version, Console version, Mobile version, and tModLoader version, these arrows can pierce one enemy. In the Old Chinese version and tModLoader 1.3-Legacy version, they hold a 33.33% chance of being recoverable after use.
Spectral Arrow
Spectral Arrows, dropped by Ocram, can also be obtained by using the Sharanga bow, which transforms any arrow into a Spectral Arrow. These arrows create a glowing effect and inflict the Cursed Inferno debuff on enemies.
Heart Arrow
Heart Arrows, available for 50 coins each from the Merchant during the Valentine's Day seasonal event, always induce the Stunned debuff on enemies hit, stunning them for 1.5 seconds.
Shimmer Arrow
Shimmer Arrows are acquired by immersing regular arrows in a shimmering pool. When launched, these arrows exhibit reversed gravity, traveling in an upward trajectory instead of the usual downward path.
Hardmode:
Holy Arrow
Upon entering Hardmode, players can craft Holy Arrows using materials dropped by surface Hallow enemies. While not particularly powerful on their own, these arrows summon two falling stars upon hitting the target.
Cursed Arrow
Hardmode arrows that inflict the Cursed Inferno debuff upon hitting an enemy, Cursed Arrows persist even when striking water, distinguishing them from Flaming Arrows. They serve as the Corruption's counterpart to the Crimson's Ichor Arrows.
Like many other arrows, Cursed Arrows have a chance to remain intact. When shot, there's a 16.67% chance of dropping and becoming recoverable. However, 66.67% of the time, they will drop as regular Wooden Arrows instead of cursed ones.
Chlorophyte Arrow
Crafted post-defeating all three mechanical bosses, Chlorophyte Arrows, made from Chlorophyte Bars, rank as the game's third-strongest arrow. They ricochet once upon hitting blocks, are affected by gravity, and can bounce up to four times with a "Smart Bounce" feature redirecting them to nearby targets.
After a bounce, they deal 66% damage. Unlike Meteor Shots, they either pierce one enemy or bounce once, always returning to their firing point in a 180° angle. These arrows are destroyed upon impact.
Ichor Arrow
Ichor Arrows, inflicting the Ichor debuff (except in PvP), serve as the Crimson's equivalent to Cursed Arrows, which induce the Cursed Inferno debuff. Unfortunately, Ichor Arrows are destroyed upon firing, making them unrecoverable.
Venom Arrow
Post-Plantera arrows, intended for bows and repeaters, boast the highest base damage and apply the Acid Venom debuff upon striking an enemy.
Remarkably easy to craft among the Hardmode arrows, they require ingredients purchasable from NPCs: Wooden Arrows (5 each, available from the Merchant) and a Vial of Venom (15 each, obtainable from the Witch Doctor). This totals 1675 for 35 Venom Arrows (roughly 48 per arrow) or 478,524 for a complete stack of 9999 Venom Arrows.
Endless Quiver
The Endless Quiver, a Hardmode item categorized as ammunition, can be placed in the ammo slots of the player's inventory. While in the user's possession, it functions as a single Wooden Arrow that can be fired indefinitely from any suitable bow or repeater without being depleted.
Bows with special shot conversions, like The Bee's Knees, will continuously fire their unique shots. Similar to Wooden Arrows, arrows shot from an Endless Quiver are occasionally recoverable, enabling the continuous production of new arrows. Crafting this item necessitates 3,996 Wooden Arrows.
Luminite Arrow
Among the most potent arrow types, Luminite Arrows unleash a laser-like projectile shortly after firing. Both arrows and lasers exhibit swift travel times and possess the ability to pierce through three enemies, dissipating only upon striking the fourth. Notably, Luminite Arrows are annihilated upon use.
Vulcan Bolt
Exclusive to Vulcan Repeaters, Vulcan Bolts are a specialized arrow type that transforms all appropriate ammo into explosive projectiles. These bolts detonate upon impact, causing damage to nearby enemies and even the player. Distinguishing themselves from typical arrows, Vulcan Bolts explode, rendering them unrecoverable after use.