Bowcraft

Bowcraft is Tideward's fletching trade — turn logs into bow-staves into bows, arrow shafts into arrows, crossbow stocks into crossbows, gem-tipped bolts at high levels. Renamed from RuneScape's "Fletching" in May 2026 because that name was too distinctive. The mechanic: cut, attach, complete. A capped Bowcraft character keeps a Ranged build supplied with ammunition for life.

How Bowcraft works

Bowcraft has three production chains. Bow-making: log → bow-stave (cut with a knife) → bow (string with a bowstring from Farming flax). Arrow-making: log → arrow shafts → arrows (with feathers + arrow heads from Forging). Crossbow-making: similar to bows, with bolts using gem-tip variants from Handicraft.

The bow ladder runs Shortbow (Bowcraft 5) → Longbow (10) → Oak (20) → Willow (35) → Maple (50) → Yew (70) → Magic (85) → Crystal (90). Each tier matches the wood log it requires and the Ranged level needed to wield the resulting bow. Tideward's arrow ladder is similar (Bronze through Dragon arrow heads).

For pure Bowcraft XP, arrow shaft production is the AFK champion — single action, infinite logs, fast tick rate, steady XP. For producing actual usable gear, players cycle: cut shafts, then assemble arrows with feathers and heads as inventory permits. A 1,000-stack of Dragon arrows is the kind of overnight Bowcraft session that funds a week of Ranged training.

Tips for training Bowcraft

1. Arrow shaft cutting is the AFK XP champion for mid-Bowcraft levels — single action, full inventory throughput.
2. Yew longbows at level 70 are the gold-per-XP sweet spot — bowstrings cost less than the bow sells for.
3. Stock up on feathers from Farming chickens before any serious arrow-assembly session.
4. Crystal bows at level 90+ are the end-game ranged weapon — they don't consume arrows during use.
5. Most max-combat Ranged builds prefer crafting their own arrows — the per-arrow cost is lower than buying.

Skills that pair with Bowcraft

The 23 trades aren't isolated. Bowcraft works best alongside these:

Frequently asked about Bowcraft

Why renamed from Fletching?

"Fletching" was too distinctive a coinage in the genre. "Bowcraft" is the same mechanic with a more descriptive name, chosen during the May 2026 rebrand.

Can I AFK Bowcraft?

Yes — arrow shaft cutting and bow-stringing both run for full inventory cycles. Set the action and close the app.

Do I need bowstrings to make bows?

Yes. Bowstrings come from spinning flax at a spinning wheel (a Bowcraft sub-action) or from the in-game market. Most Bowcraft training assumes a steady bowstring supply.