Blowpipe vs Bowfa vs Crossbows: Ranged DPS Breakpoints

The debate over Blowpipe vs Bowfa vs Crossbows is one of the most important for ranged players in Old School RuneScape. Each weapon has a moment where it outperforms the others, depending on the enemy’s defense level, your gear setup, and the type of content you’re doing.

The Toxic Blowpipe is famous for its speed and efficiency, especially on Slayer tasks and low-defense monsters. The Bow of Faerdhinen (Bowfa) becomes the best choice once bosses get tankier and crystal armor is in play. Meanwhile, crossbows—from Dragon Hunter to Armadyl and Zaryte—remain situational powerhouses, excelling with dragonbane effects or enchanted bolts.

Quick Answer

• Toxic Blowpipe is the best choice for low- to mid-defense monsters thanks to its extremely fast 2-tick attack speed.
• Bow of Faerdhinen (Bowfa) outperforms Blowpipe once enemies reach higher defense levels (around 180–200+), especially when paired with the crystal armor set.
• Crossbows (Dragon, Armadyl, Zaryte) shine in specific niches—such as dragonbane bonuses, enchanted bolt procs, or situations where maximum accuracy is needed.

Each weapon has a DPS breakpoint where it overtakes the others. Knowing these thresholds saves GP and ensures you’re using the right tool for the right fight.

How Ranged DPS Is Calculated

The basic formula looks like this: DPS=Max Hit×Hit ChanceAttack Speed\text{DPS} = \frac{\text{Max Hit} \times \text{Hit Chance}}{\text{Attack Speed}}

• Max Hit = your highest possible hit, based on ranged strength and gear.
• Hit Chance = how often you actually land those hits, depending on enemy defense.
• Attack Speed = measured in ticks (1 tick = 0.6 seconds).

If you want to test numbers directly, the OSRS Ranged DPS Calculator makes it easy to compare Blowpipe, Bowfa, and crossbows in real scenarios.

Weapon Stat Overview

Weapon	Attack Speed	Notable Strengths	Weaknesses
Toxic Blowpipe	2 ticks	Very high DPS on weak targets, cheap with amethyst darts	Accuracy drops on tanky bosses
Bow of Faerdhinen	4 ticks	High accuracy, crystal armor synergy, ammo-free	Requires crystal armor investment
Dragon/Armadyl Crossbow	5 ticks	Dragonbane bonus, enchanted bolts, high accuracy	Slower, ammo cost, situational
Zaryte Crossbow	5 ticks	Best-in-slot accuracy, passive effects	Expensive, niche PvM focus

DPS Breakpoints in Practice

Blowpipe

• Dominates Slayer and low-defense mobs.
• Even with cheap amethyst darts, DPS is unmatched below ~180 enemy defense.
• Starts falling behind Bowfa and crossbows against tankier bosses like Nex or high-level raids.

For Slayer-focused efficiency, you can also compare setups with the OSRS DPS Calculator for Slayer Tasks.

Bow of Faerdhinen

• Becomes superior once enemy defense is high enough that Blowpipe’s accuracy falls off.
• Crystal armor boosts accuracy and damage, making Bowfa the best general bossing weapon once unlocked.
• Breakpoint: roughly at defense 180–200+, Bowfa overtakes Blowpipe in consistent DPS.

Crossbows

• Dragon Hunter Crossbow: unmatched against dragons and similar bosses.
• Armadyl Crossbow: reliable option when enchanted bolt effects matter more than raw DPS.
• Zaryte Crossbow: top-tier accuracy and niche effects, often used in elite PvM setups.
• Breakpoint: surpasses Bowfa and Blowpipe only in content where special effects or dragonbane multipliers apply.

DPS per GP: Value Efficiency

• Blowpipe with amethyst darts is still the most cost-efficient ranged weapon for Slayer and mid-tier PvM.
• Bowfa requires a high upfront cost (and crystal armor), but becomes a long-term BIS option for serious bossing.
• Crossbows are situationally worth it but less efficient for general training due to bolt costs.

If you want to understand efficiency across all combat styles, check out the OSRS DPS per GP guide for a broader view of gear value.

Practical Recommendations

• Training and Slayer: Use Blowpipe with affordable darts for the best efficiency.
• High-defense bosses: Switch to Bowfa with crystal armor once you unlock it.
• Dragons and niche fights: Bring the Dragon Hunter Crossbow or other crossbows with enchanted bolts.
• Elite PvM setups: Zaryte Crossbow fills the ultra-high-accuracy role.

FAQs

1. When does Bowfa beat Blowpipe?
Once enemies reach ~200 defense, Bowfa’s higher accuracy and crystal armor bonuses overtake Blowpipe’s speed.

2. Is Blowpipe still good in 2025?
Yes. For Slayer and low-defense content, Blowpipe remains unmatched, especially with amethyst darts.

3. Which crossbow is best for DPS?
Dragon Hunter Crossbow against dragons, Armadyl for enchanted bolt utility, Zaryte for endgame accuracy.

4. Which weapon has the best DPS per GP?
Blowpipe with amethyst darts. Bowfa is stronger overall but requires a heavy investment.

5. Should I always use Bowfa for bosses?
Not always. Some bosses are weak to dragonbane or bolt procs, where a crossbow is more efficient.