Highest-damage bow tier. Single-shot, slow reload, hits hard. The stealth-sniper option.
By Frozen · checked in-game on the live patch · Updated 3 July 2026
Highest-damage bow tier. Single-shot, slow reload, hits hard. The stealth-sniper option.
| Tier | T1 workbench |
|---|---|
| Ammo | Same arrow types as bows (Wooden / Bone / HV / Fire) |
| Magazine | 1 (single-shot) |
| Reload | ~2.5s (slowest of the bows) |
| Range | Medium-long (~120m effective) |
| Recoil | None |
| Acquisition | Craft at T1 workbench (default-known) — 200 wood + 75 metal frags |
| Stealth | Silent |
| Damage | ~60-70 body / ~150 headshot (community-consensus) |
The Crossbow is the heaviest-hitting bow in Rust — slower than the Compound but with significantly more damage per shot. Single hit can drop a naked, two-shot a road-sign-armoured player. The slow reload is the trade-off: miss and you're committed to a 2.5s reload before you can shoot again. Best used for stealth sniping rather than sustained combat.
More damage and accuracy than the bow for a bit more cost — the best silent option before guns. Slow reload, so make the first shot count.
— Frozen · playing on the live patch
Yes. All bows in Rust are silent — Hunting Bow, Compound Bow and Crossbow all make virtually no sound when fired.
Roughly 60-70 body damage with a Wooden Arrow at full draw, ~150 headshot damage. Bone Arrows hit harder. Crossbow is the highest-damage bow in Rust.
Compound Bow has a faster draw cycle and is better for sustained ranged combat. Crossbow has higher single-shot damage and is better for stealth sniping. Pick based on playstyle: hit-and-run vs slow-aim.
Default-known recipe at any T1 workbench. 200 wood + 75 metal frags + 1 rope. Total craft time ~30 seconds.