How to craft a bow

Build a Spinning Wheel under a roof, craft Coarse Thread to unlock bow recipes, then make an Ash Shortbow.

2026-09-08

A bow is one of the most useful early tools in RuneScape: Dragonwilds. It lets you fight from range, knock floating rune essence down safely, and gather materials without rushing into melee.

Build a Spinning Wheel first

To craft thread — and unlock the bow recipes — you need a Spinning Wheel.

Important: place the Spinning Wheel under a roof. Out in the open it will not work the way you need; put a simple lean-to or other roofed structure over it.

Spinning Wheel placed under a wooden roof

Craft Coarse Thread

Use the Spinning Wheel to make Coarse Thread (for example from Flax or Coarse Animal Fur).

After you craft Coarse Thread, new recipes unlock — including the bow. Until that first thread is made, the Ash Shortbow recipe may not show up yet.

Craft the Ash Shortbow

Open your Crafting Table once the bow recipe is unlocked. Ash Shortbow is a power level 2 ranged weapon.

Requirements:

- 12 Ash Logs - 3 Coarse Thread

Ash Shortbow recipe on the Crafting Table

What the bow is good for

Knocking essences to the ground

Floating rune essence rocks are easy to bring down with a bow. Shoot them once so they fall, then mine them on the ground instead of struggling in the air.

Using a bow to knock floating essences down

Feathers from chickens

Need feathers for arrows or other early crafts? Chickens are an easy source — they spawn in starter areas and are quick to kill.

Claws from Giant Rats

If you need claws, farm Giant Rats. They are common low-level enemies in grassy fields and drop claws reliably for early crafting.

Quick checklist

1. Build a roofed shelter. 2. Place a Spinning Wheel under that roof. 3. Craft Coarse Thread to unlock new recipes. 4. Craft Ash Shortbow (12 Ash Logs + 3 Coarse Thread). 5. Use the bow on essences; farm chickens for feathers and Giant Rats for claws.